Bob McGlynn: New York Anarchist

New York anarchist Bob McGlynn died of a heart attack on the 23rd of August 2016 at the age of sixty. He was involved in many struggles: Anti-nuclear agitation, the first bike messengers’ union in New York and ‘and fighting riot kkkops in Tompkins Square with the rest of us during riot days from 1988-1991.’[1]

The anti-nuclear stuff led to building links with activists inside what was then the ‘Soviet Bloc’ (as well as getting arrested in Moscow), led on to worldwide solidarity efforts with Neither East Nor West. In a recently published history of NENW-NYC, he described it as a ‘de facto Anarchist Black Cross section.’ [2]

Bill Weinberg’s obituary in The Villager ends with the words ‘He will be remembered for his boundless love of freedom, and intransigent hostility to all dictatorships and superpowers.’ [3]

Syndicalist on Libcom.org paid him this tribute:

Bob and our NY comrades go back to the late 1970s from bike messengers, to east-west stuff, the Awareness League, so many other campaigns and good times. A hard drinker and wild at that in his prime, but you would not have found a more dedicated soul… both to the movement and those he had a special relationship with.

‘Dear friend, comrade, I never would’ve thought it would come to such a short end. You fought your demons, your demons fought you. You fought the good fight for freedom, be it in the capitalist world or the so-called “communist”. You were such a nutter at times, but no one could every question your sincerity, your heart and funny ass soul. Time may not have always been good, but brother, you were “there” in so many ways. Big hug comrade, many tears to shed, many good memories to recall and write about, but the fight will go on, just as you would wish.

‘Those of us who knew you well will miss you in ways that go beyond words. Until we are on the same side of the barricade again… Bob McGlynn… PRESENTE!’ [4]

Our thoughts go out to his family, friends and comrades.

1, Chris Flash of The Shadow https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10210926022973698&set=a.2038462248307.127826.1446785946&type=3&theater

2 see “Neither East Nor West NYC: A De Facto Anarchist Black Cross History, 1980-1994.” Published by the Anarchist History Nerd Brigade: https://anarchisthistory.noblogs.org/post/2015/06/29/new-zine-neither-east-nor-west-nyc/

3 Bob McGlynn, linked Tompkins protests and glasnost http://thevillager.com/2016/09/08/bob-mcglynn-linked-tompkins-protests-and-glasnost/

4 https://libcom.org/forums/north-america/bob-mcglynn-has-died-26082016