[mgj-discuss] MGJ DEMO's <report back from the streets>

[Chuck Munson]

"Chris Version II.O" wrote:

> *The Cops
> On Saturday the cops were manageable.  Sunday,
> however, was a disgusting display of force and I
> actually got physically ill from the fumes being
> spewed out by the more than 100 police motorbikes that
> surrounded our contingent.
> 
> >From the 4/21/02 Washington Post:
> ***
> Hundreds of police officers from more than a
> half-dozen departments encircled the procession every
> step of the way.
> 
> Officers in squad cars were at the head. Ramsey, baton
> in hand, walked in front of the lead banner. Officers
> pedaled bicycles at the rear, and police motorcycles
> formed a solid line on both sides. At various points,
> double lines of officers, some in riot gear, flanked
> the marchers. Nearby, police reinforcements waited on
> foot, on horseback and in vehicles. Helicopters
> churned overhead.

We have to do something to remove Ramsey from the streets. Every time that
Ramsey walks down the street in front of our marches is another march
where we have totally failed. While I wasn't part of the MGJ march on
Saturday, I saw Ramsey doing this bullshit all weekend. When we don't
challenge him and play the permit game, we only allow the media to write
those fucking awful articles about the cops.

We lose alot of respect from our supporters around the world when we play
footsy with the cops. The cops are our class enemies. We shouldn't go out
of our way to make their jobs easier, but we shouldn't make them the focus
of our dissent.

> Ramsey, at one point, stood on the sidewalk pumping
> his fists into the air as dozens of officers on
> motorcycles and bicycles streamed past.
> "Good job," he screamed. "All right. . . . So far, I
> couldn't ask for anything better than this."
> ***

Yeah, he's really fucking happy that he's managed to get activists to
participate in their own disempowerment.

Let me tell you all something. This will probably be the last time that
Ramsey will be able to do something like this. There are many of us out
there who are opposed to permits and collaboration with the police. We
will not allow this to continue. We aren't going back to that long period
of time when activism never made the headlines because we played along
with the cops. I say fuck permits, fuck the cops, and fuck the media.

> I approached Terry Gainer, Asst. Police Chief, soon
> after the march about my turning stomach and fiery
> lungs.  He gave his word that there, 'will be no
> motorbikes at MGJ's next march' and we shook on it.
> We need to see that he holds his word.

That is really pathetic! Who are you to negotiate with the cops on behalf
of billions of people around the planet who want us to stop these
corporations and capitalist institutions?

Do you have any understanding of the long history of social struggle? The
police always attack working people. You can't make any agreements with
them. Did the huge show of force by the cops this weekend totally escape
you? Do you think they turned out because we play their game? No, it's
because we have been fighting back against them and taking the streets
without their permission.

This really, really upsets me after I was almost arrested last night for
simply walking by the black bloc at the wrong time. It really pisses me
off after seeing a small black bloc group detained for simply walking down
a sidewalk for being who they were.

Can we at least ridicule the police a bit more?

Sorry to be so cranky, because alot of people did some excellent work this
weekend for all the various events and actions. But as a lon time activist
I feel very compelled to bring up these criticisms, so we don't slip back
into the margins.

<< Chuck0 >>

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