Murray Bookchin 1921-2006, RIP

“I pondered how men fight and lose the battle and the thing that they fought for comes about in spite of their defeat and when it comes turns out not to be what they meant, and other men fight for what they meant under another name.” ~ William Morris, The Dream of John Ball

Murray Bookchin, my dear friend and mentor, died at approximately 1:20 AM on July 30, 2006. Although he and I had some important differences at the time of his death, I never ceased to love him nor to feel tremendous gratitude for all the support, guidance, and insight that he gave me.

I traveled to Burlington, Vermont to participate in the memorial service held for Bookchin on August 13. I made the trip with Yvonne Liu (my compañera) and Michael Diamond, our mutual friend.

The main ceremony took place in Burlington’s City Hall, where approximately 150 people listened to Bookchin’s family and closest friends give moving speeches about his life and legacy. We then moved next door to the Firehouse Center for the Visual Arts, where we spoke informally and snacked for an hour or so. We assembled in one of the Center’s rooms at about three in the afternoon and anyone who felt like making a statement was encouraged to do so. I read comments on behalf of my friends Paul Glavin and Joe Lowndes. I also attempted to say a few words of my own, although I was too overcome by emotion to do more than declare how indebted to Bookchin I am, how much I loved him, and how deeply I will miss him. Janet Biehl hugged me as I ceded the floor to the next speaker. Her gesture meant a lot to me.

The photos below are from the event. I took the first moments before the ceremony began in City Hall (I didn’t take more then because I realized that doing so would be disruptive). I took the second photo during our assembly in the Firehouse Center. Yvonne Liu took the third photograph just before we all departed (those present, from left to right, are Brian Tokar, Peter Staudenmaier, Brooke Lehman, Chaia Heller, and myself).