Group A (Finland)
{{Short description|Anti-authoritarian political group}}
{{Infobox organization
| name =
| full_name = Group A
| native_name = A-ryhmä
| native_name_lang = fi
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| formation = {{start date and age|2006||}}
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| location_city = Helsinki
| location_country = {{flag|Finland}}
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| key_people = Antti Rautiainen,
Suvi Auvinen
| main_organ = Sytyke
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| affiliations = The Platform
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| website = {{URL|a-ryhma.org}}
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Group A ({{langx|fi|A-ryhmä}}) is an anti-authoritarian political group based in Helsinki that organizes demonstrations and political campaigns, among other things.{{cite web|url=https://a-ryhma.org/tietoa/|title=Tietoa – A-ryhmä|website=a-ryhma.org|access-date=17 November 2020|language=fi|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030213837/https://a-ryhma.org/tietoa/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hs.fi/sunnuntai/art-2000002781409.html|title=Sortoa, narsisteja ja tuleva romahdus – näin anarkistit näkevät maailman|publisher=Helsingin Sanomat|date=30 November 2014|access-date=17 November 2020|language=fi}} It is part of the Platform, a national anarchist organization in Finland, of which it was a founding member. The "task force" was set up over social media in 2006.{{cite web|url=https://avtonom.org/fi/news/anarkistit-perustivat-liiton|title=Anarkistit perustivat liiton|author=A-ryhmä|publisher=Автономное Действие|date=7 June 2015|access-date=17 November 2020|language=fi}}
The group has organized lectures, demonstrations and political campaigns, aiming to make anarchist action easily approachable.{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/a/2014092318687546|title=A-ryhmä bussi-iskun takana: "Ihmisiä otettu tosi väkivaltaisesti kiinni"|website=www.iltalehti.fi|access-date=17 November 2020|language=fi}} It also offers food in a folk kitchen and publishes a magazine called Igniter. The group has operated on the premises of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki. Many of its members are also students at the University of Helsinki.
Well-known people who have worked in Group A include Antti Rautiainen and Suvi Auvinen.
Ideas and values
Group A saw in 2014 that the state was waging a class war for the rich. The group holds that Finland's national unity is an illusion and that Finnishness corresponded only to the values of the white middle class. The group saw the activities of the Confederation of Finnish Industries as declaring strikes effectively illegal, the purpose of which was to guarantee the property of the owning class at the expense of others. In place of the capitalist system, Group A strives for the implementation of direct democracy in Finland.{{cite web|url=https://www.kansanuutiset.fi/artikkeli/3270371-a-ryhma-valtio-kay-rikkaiden-luokkasotaa|title=A-ryhmä: ”Valtio käy rikkaiden luokkasotaa”|publisher=Kansan Uutiset|date=3 December 2014|access-date=17 November 2020|language=fi}}
Demonstrations and political activity
=Labor movement support activities=
Group A has organized and participated in the May Day marches for several years, demonstrating against a hierarchical class society. In 2014, police destroyed Group A anarchist flags at the demonstration in Vappu, claiming they were being used as weapons. The incident caused a stir in the media, as police had also destroyed the red flags of the Left Youth.{{cite web|url=https://www.sss.fi/2015/04/anarkistit-vastustavat-vappuna-luokkayhteiskuntaa/|title=Anarkistit vastustavat vappuna luokkayhteiskuntaa {{!}} SSS.fi|publisher=STT|access-date=17 November 2020|language=fi}}
In 2015, Group A supported a trade union's strike action by stopping a bus transport for strike breakers. As part of a major demonstration against government blackmail, trade unions had cut off the Helsinki Metro. Police action against Group A protesters was violent, with the police strangling the protesters. But the police denied these allegations.{{cite web|url=https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000000994709.html|title=Video: Anarkistit ja poliisi ottivat yhteen Helsingin keskustassa|publisher=Ilta-Sanomat|date=18 September 2015|access-date=17 November 2020|language=fi}}{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/yksitoista_anarkistia_otettiin_kiinni_helsingissa__poliisin_voimankaytto_suhteetonta/7486523|title=Yksitoista anarkistia otettiin kiinni Helsingissä – "Poliisin voimankäyttö suhteetonta"|publisher=Yle Uutiset|access-date=17 November 2020|language=fi}}{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/a/2014092318687350|title=Poliisi raivasi anarkistit ronskisti Rautatientorilta - kuvakooste|website=www.iltalehti.fi|access-date=17 November 2020|language=fi}}{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/anarkistit_aikovat_estaa_korvaavan_bussiliikenteen__poliisi_on_varautunut/7486120|title=Anarkistit aikovat estää korvaavan bussiliikenteen – "Poliisi on varautunut"|publisher=Yle Uutiset|access-date=17 November 2020|language=fi}}
=Antifascism=
In addition to the Crow Network, Group A was a supporter of the Helsinki Without Nazis demonstrations. The 2018 procession, which gathered 2,000 to 3,000 participants, flew red-black anarchist flags at the head of the demonstration.{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/291d954b-b311-45a5-862a-b9f624558a9f|title=Helsinki ilman natseja -marssi irtisanoutuu anarkismista, mutta sallii punamustat liput: ”Emme halua kärjistää sillä tavalla”|website=www.iltalehti.fi|access-date=17 November 2020|language=fi}} Group A also donated a white sheet to Olli Immonen, who was temporarily suspended from Finns Party because of racism, in a reference to the costume of the Ku Klux Klan.{{cite web|url=https://www.ts.fi/uutiset/823864|title=Anarkistit lahjoittavat PS:n Immoselle lakanan|website=Turun Sanomat|date=23 October 2015|access-date=17 November 2020|language=fi}}
=Action against cuts and poverty=
In a protest against pension cuts, in 2015, there was an anarchist bloc organized by Group A.{{cite web|url=https://avtonom.org/fi/news/anarkistit-elakelaisiin-kohdistuvien-leikkauksien-vastaisessa-mielenosoituksessa|title=Anarkistit eläkeläisiin kohdistuvien leikkauksien vastaisessa mielenosoituksessa|author=A-ryhmä|publisher=Автономное Действие|date=9 October 2015|access-date=17 November 2020|language=fi}} In 2014, the group took part in a "Class Trip" from the Suburbs to the Castle on Independence Day, which involved a lot of damage, such as vandalizing a dozen cars and destroying the windows of several shops. The demonstration set off from Itäkeskus and sought access to the Presidential Palace for the Independence Day Reception.{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/poliisi_pysaytti_luokkaretki-mielenosoittajat_etelarantaan__matkan_varrella_ilkivaltaa/7673811|title=Poliisi pysäytti Luokkaretki-mielenosoittajat Etelärantaan – matkan varrella ilkivaltaa|publisher=Yle Uutiset|access-date=17 November 2020|language=fi}}{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/itsenaisyyspaivan_mellakasta_isot_vahingot__23_edelleen_putkassa/7674138|title=Itsenäisyyspäivän mellakasta isot vahingot – 23 edelleen putkassa|publisher=Yle Uutiset|access-date=17 November 2020|language=fi}}{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/mielenosoittaja_sabotaasi_on_yksi_toiminnan_muoto__video/7674319|title=Mielenosoittaja: Sabotaasi on yksi toiminnan muoto – video|publisher=Yle Uutiset|access-date=17 November 2020|language=fi}}