Anarchy tattoos are very popular with those who have considered themselves to be on the fringes of accepted society due to their beliefs or lifestyles. Anarchist value the rights of the individual over that of the majority. Just a few of the groups that have embraced the symbols of anarchy are punks, skin-heads, labor activists, and environmental activists.
The most common symbol of anarchy is a stylized "A" within the letter "O". The "A" stands for anarchy and the "O" stands for order. Together they stand for "Anarchy is Order".Black flags, a raised clenched fist and black cats are also found in anarchy tattoos. The black flag tattoo symbolizes no flag or an aversion to the very notion of nation-states. It basically says that no group of people could possibly represent one individual person. The black cross with a raised fist is associated with defiance of authority and personal empowerment. It also represents union and many week fingers that come together in a strong fist. The black cat symbol is also called the wild cat or the sabot-cat and is usually shown with an arched back and claws and teeth bared. One story of the origin of the black cat symbol is that during a strike that was going very badly, a stray cat wandered into the strike camp. Strikers fed and took care of the cat and as it grew stronger, the strike made a turn for the better. Eventually they got their demands and adopted the cat as their mascot.
