BRISTOL WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER OUR MUCH-LOVED REVOLUTIONARY ANNA CAMPBELL

3 years ago, the Turkish state murdered Anna: a life-long anarchist from Bristol committed to a free and dignified life for everyone. Anna and her comrades, Sara Merdin and Serhildan, were murdered by an airstrike as they tried to help refugees flee the besieged city of Afrin in north-east Syria.

North-east Syria, also known as Rojava in Kurdish, was liberated by an anti-fascist revolution led by women in 2012. Roughly 3 million people there use a model of democracy based on communities of around 100-200 families, centring women's liberation, religious tolerance, minority protection, and valuing both the collective and individual good. All of this under economic embargo and continuous attack from Turkey, while leading the fight against ISIS.

It was anti-fascism, peoples' democracy and women's liberation that first attracted Anna to Rojava.

Anna had been involved in every type of resistance in the UK and Europe from distributing food, protecting the environment, resisting detention and deportation of refugees and immigrants, to prison abolition. She was an inspiration to everyone who knew her and one of the kindest, most beautiful souls we have ever known. She knew how to fight fascism, but that fight was not limited to street punch ups or macho posturing. Anna was humble and she gave meaning to every action, serving the people.

Since Anna died, the situation in Afrin got worse and worse. Mercenaries that had supported ISIS are supplied with air support and weapons from the Turkish army. Turkey is alleged to have used chemical weapons. Til Ra'fat, the region most refugees from Afrin fled to, was targeted with artillery on a near-daily basis. Civilians in Idlib died from Turkish drone attacks.

Turkey continues the war in Libya and bombing Iraqi Kurdistan. The Turkish state and its proxies remain the biggest threat to the revolution in Rojava and to stability in the Middle East.

Remembering those we have lost in the struggle against capitalism, fascism, and patriarchy reminds us of the need for revolutionary commitment, grief and love. The present is born in every moment from the past, and we walk in the paths trodden by those who came and left before us.

We miss Anna every day, not just at the time of this anniversary. Her loss leaves a legacy; we must keep revolutionary fires burning.

THIS CITY KNOWS HOW TO RESIST, THIS CITY KNOWS HOW TO ORGANISE! LET'S KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING IN 2021 IN THE NAME OF ANNA
CAMPBELL, OF SARA MERDIN, OF SERHILDAN, AND OF EVERY PERSON WHO HAS FALLEN IN OUR STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM AND DIGNITY.

If you want to know more, chat or get involved, we'd love to hear from you:

bristolkurdistansolidarity@protonmail.com
baseandroses@riseup.net

Solidarity,

Some friends of Anna,
Bristol Kurdistan Solidarity Network,
BASE and Roses