For Anyone attending the RNC-NYC protests

[Capn Sunshine]

This is circulating in the city and I thought it might help for the extended DU audience to see it also. Have fun on those barricades , kids!

PROPOSED 10 MUTUAL ASSURANCES
BETWEEN GROUPS & ORGANIZATIONS PLANNING RNC RELATED ACTIVITIES

The undersigned groups and organizations planning RNC related activities
agree:

1. To maintain solidarity with and respect the guidelines of all permitted activities, recognizing that there are many individuals who seek a safe and peaceful protest environment.

2. To support and participate in efforts to assure civil liberties for everyone in NYC, including the right to organize civil disobedience and nonviolent direct action without that organizing being criminalized or disrupted.

3. To speak out against any pre-emptive arrests, raids on activist
spaces,or attacks on independent journalists and other media.

4. To be conscious of and speak out against police targeting and
differential treatment of people based on race, gender, sexual
orientation, or appearance.

5. Not to turn people over to the police, or share information with the police about other groups.

6. Not to publicly criticize the tactics used by other parts of our
movements or cooperate with media efforts to be divisive or portray good protester/bad protester.

7. To publicly condemn police repression and brutality.

8. To publicly support rights of free speech, the right to organize, and the right to dissent for all.

9. To be conscious that if violence or property destruction does occur, we can help to prevent it from being blown out of proportion and dominating the media coverage.

10. To remember that, when all is said and done, our greatest win will be an activist community with a renewed sense of strength and unity.






Solidarity in Practice,
Revised 9/23/03


We are very different groups. We are not necessarily immediate allies nor are we each other's greatest enemy. There are many things on which we do not agree. But, we will be in the streets together during the RNC protests in New York We know that the police and media are trying to divide us in order to crush our movements. Solidarity is the way in whichour diversity becomes our strength, we build our movements and we protect each others' bodies, lives and rights.



We believe we have some things in common. We believe in basic human
rights and the need to live with respect and dignity. We believe we must protect this planet - our air, water, earth and food or we will all die.We believe these global corporate and political institutions are servingonly the interests of the rich. We all agree it's time for fundamental and radical change.



As we take to the streets together, let us work to be in solidarity with one another. The following suggestions offer ways in which we can make our solidarity real.



Personal

a.. Challenge and critique other groups and individuals in constructive
ways and in a spirit of respect b.. Listen without getting defensive.
Be open in thinking, not rigid in positions c.. Don't make assumptions
no matter what a person looks like or what groups they belong to d..
Don't assume tactics are the only way to measure militancy or
radicalness e.. Refrain from personal attacks, even with people whom
strongly disagree. (Focus on how you feel, not what they did.) f..
Understand that even though we may disagree we have come to our
politics, strategies and choice of tactics through thoughtful and
intelligent consideration of issues, circumstances and experiences.
Street

a.. Do not intentionally put people at risk who have not chosen it b..
Do not turn people over to the police
c.. Do not let people within our own groups interfere with other groups
d.. Respect the work of all medics, legal observers, independent media
people e.. Share food, water, medical and other supplies
f.. Support everyone who is hurt, gassed, shot or beaten.
g.. Respect other groups' rights to do a certain type of protest at
certain times and places. If you choose to participate, do so within
the tone and tactics they set. If you do not agree, do not participate
in that protest or bring another protest into that time and space. h..
Understand that our actions and tactics have repercussions that go
beyond ourselves and our immediate groups. And that some tactics
overrun the space of others. i.. If you choose to negotiate with the
police, never do so for other groups to which you are not a part.
Media
a.. Do not denounce other demonstrators.
b.. Talk about your strategy, not others.
c.. Acknowledge other groups' existence and role they play in creating change
d.. Acknowledge that we sometimes disagree about strategy and
tactics. e.. Avoid using the word violence
f.. Condemn police repression and brutality
g.. Share media contacts and do not monopolize the media's attention


Jail Solidarity: No one is free until everybody is free.

[Cheswick2.0]

1. kick

be careful out there.

[Warpy]

2. I see two problems!

5. Not to turn people over to the police, or share information with the police about other groups.

GOP brownshirts will be out in force, trying to start trouble. If you see violence, link arms around the perp and march him to police lines. Tell them you've made a citizen's arrest and descrbe what you saw. Give your names. It won't show up on the police blotter if he's GOP, and the tactic can keep innocent people from getting skull fractures. This tactic is used only when someone starts violence, like smashing shop windows or throwing brickbats. Obviously, if the violence has already spun out of control, leave the area.

6. Not to publicly criticize the tactics used by other parts of our
movements or cooperate with media efforts to be divisive or portray good protester/bad protester.

If some loudmouth starts screaming about police brutality against the bay-bees somewhere else, you can pretty much be sure he's a brownshirt. Make sure everybody around you knows he may be a GOP plant.

These were lessons we learned the hard way in the late 60s and early 70s. Keep the protest disobedient but nonviolent. Good luck to you all. Wish I could be there.

[Capn Sunshine]

3. There's plenty of experienced demonstrators there

They are more than aware of the troublemaker strategy from what they have said.