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

[Luke Kuhn]

>From: "Luke Kuhn" <lukekuhn at hotmail.com>
>To: chuck at tao.ca, chrisotten2 at yahoo.com
>CC: mgj-discuss at lists.mutualaid.org
>Subject: Re: [mgj-discuss] MGJ DEMO's <report back from the streets>
>Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 17:44:54 +0000
>
>
>
>
>>From: Chuck Munson <chuck at tao.ca>
>>To: "Chris Version II.O" <chrisotten2 at yahoo.com>
>>CC: mgj-discuss at lists.mutualaid.org
>>Subject: Re: [mgj-discuss] MGJ DEMO's <report back from the streets>
>>Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 12:09:18 -0400
>>
>>"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.
>>

***************************************************************
This is where my words start and the previous posting stops. Sorry about the 
confusion, but I have only limited computer skills.
******************************************************************

  One thing about the permits for the Saturday march-they
>>weren't easy
>>to get. The cops tried to deny us the route at the last minute but were
>>told "we can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way."  They
>>gave us that permit bacuse they did not want a battle. In a fight, we 
>>would
>>have won Saturday but been defeated Sunday due to lack of sufficient
>>people.
>    In October we need to remember that only one really big day seems to be
>the rule, and plan the unpermitted action to climax on that day-which 
>should
>be the first day of the meetings. That way, we can WIN on the first day, 
>and
>bust their morale for the second-like in Prague.
>
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