Anarchy!

We see protests, riots and blogposts about a thing called anarchy. There are numerous symbols being used by anarchists: The circle-a, a raised fist in an art deco design and most commonly, the black flag. The black flag traces its origins with the white flag. The white flag is used to signify surrender or submission to a superior force. The black flag symbolizes the opposite of this. It represents defiance and a strong opposition to surrender.

Since the black flag has no design whatsoever, it may symbolize the rejection of representations. There are some flags that have colors other than black. These are the bisected anarchist flags. Black and red represent anarcho-communism. Black and yellow represent anarcho-capitalism. Other combinations include: Black with green, dark pink, light pink and white which represent anarcho-primitivism, anarcha-feminism, queer anarchism and pacifist anarchy respectively.

Another common flag is the Jolly Roger. This iconic flag was used by pirates at sea in olden days. Now the flag is being used again for internet anarchy and a support for piracy and defiance of copyright laws. Some internet activists now refer to themselves as pirates because of their free lifestyles in the technological world.

Lastly, there is the red flag. The red flag has been used to connote communism. Many states in America have passed laws banning the hoisting or flying of red flags. In Oklahoma, a statute states that flying “any red flag or other emblem or banner, indicating disloyalty to the Government of the United States or a belief in anarchy or other political doctrines or beliefs, whose objects are either the disruption or destruction of organized government, or the defiance of the laws of the United States or of the State of Oklahoma”. However, these conflicts with the usage of the red flag in motor sports and bullfighting as well as the USAF’s annual Operation Red Flag exercise.