Members of the Anarchist Communist Group (UK) are shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Sean Kealiher.
Sean, who I came to know through ultra-left circles on social media, went by different names online, some of these referring to past, Italian anarchists. Although the names might have changed, behind them all was the same knowledgeable, courageous, funny, interesting person. We shared laughs at the nonsensical world of politics, modern anarchism, and leftist drama. It was obvious that Sean was a militant anti-fascist and principled anarchist – an enemy of this society, with its cops, prisons, and oppression – whilst being completely unpretentious and down-to-earth.
When we chatted, he told me he was interested in translating Italian insurrectionary texts, and I posted his account of the 2017 J20 protests on libcom (https://libcom.org/news/j20-portland-report-comrade-22012017). I suspect most of his writings were published pseudonymously or anonymously. I only wish I had gotten to know him more, but I write this for his family/friends, to let them know that even though we are thousands of miles away, he mattered to us as a friend and anarchist, and the Anarchist Communist Group expresses our condolences to them.
“Right now I see tension, and it is the role of anarchist to incite this tension, to build love and rage against this society and all it stands for. Regardless of tendency, the time is ripe for attack and propaganda.” – Sean Kealiher, 2017.
Craftwork for the Anarchist Communist Group