David Solnit Remembers Becky Tarbotton

by David Solnit, OI Fellow

Much love and rage at the too-soon loss of dear old friend and comrade--to many good folks--Becky Tarbotton.

I have been remembering going together the WTO Ministerial in Hong Kong in 2005 to support Asian social movements help derail the WTO and write reports for the Oakland Institute.

In our first report, "Globalize Hope," we wrote:

"Zapatista spokesman Subcomandante Marcos described the conflict, "two projects of globalization are in dispute. The one from above globalizes conformity, cynicism, stupidity, war, destruction, death and amnesia. And the one from below globalizes rebellion, hope, creativity, intelligence, imagination, life, memory and building a world where many worlds fit."

On the last night of the WTO we marched with the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union contingent--fearless young women who were risking a lot. With Hong Kong locals and other internationals (with less at risk) we created defensive lines of banners when police threatened. The street battle-seasoned Korean farmers led thousands of us through numerous lines of riot cops, intended to keep us a half mile away, right up to the front entrance to the WTO Ministerial--which was in a state of panic (WTO delegates were trapped inside and had looted the snack bar). Farmers, workers, and environmentalists from every continent confronted the final defensive line of 10-deep riot police. A Korean farmer tore off lengths of saran wrap so people could withstand the foam pepper spray, which we promptly wrapped over Becky's contact-lensed eyes. She was fearless, smiling as we took our own photo in front of police lines. The authorities became desperate, shot exploding teargas canisters, engulfing us all. Becky simply asked, "What should we do now?"

Faces covered in bandanas against the teargas, we ran back out of the teargas and watchful of police lines and looked for how we could be of use. As farmers and allies calmly withdrew out of the teargas and began an all-night sit-down occupation, we helped accompany a few of our migrant worker friends through police patrolled streets safely to trains.

Becky, I sorely miss you, your rebellion, hope, creativity, intelligence, imagination, life, memory and building a world where many worlds fit. In your brilliant, empathetic, graceful way, like the Korean farmers, you have helped us break through many of defensive lines to directly confront those who globalize conformity, cynicism, stupidity, war, destruction, death and amnesia.

I am imagining what you might say if I asked, "Becky, what should we do now?"