[mgj-discuss] re: April action proposals

[michael at mutualaid.org]

in response to nadine's proposals, specifically:

"*to mobilize a LARGE delegation to march --and do significant education
and outreach--with beautiful puppets and a flag brigade behind the MGJ
Banner on SUNDAY with the March for WOmen's LIves, highlighting the IFI's
(
international financial institutions) role in reducing the quality of
women's lives globally. It can be a feeder march if we plan it right, from
the WB to the Mall..."

i would like to point out that there is already feeder marches underway to
coincide with the march for women's lives on sunday.  the "radical
pro-choice" contingent of the larger march will likely act as a feeder
march and will hopefully be comprised of radicals in town for the IMF/WB
demos.  this radical march IS themed towards women's autonomy and abortion
rights, and is not specifically about the WB/IMF, but due to the cross
pollination of activists, the message of the WB/IMF's role in women's
lives WILL be highlighted.

my concern is that is we plan TWO feeder marches on the same day, we will
split our numbers which will already be dwarfed in comparison to the
larger march for women's lives which aims to have over 1,000,000 people. 
since the politics of both the MGJ proposed feeder, and the radical
pro-choice contingent are very similar, i do not want to create a division
where we could create mass.

as one of the organizers of the radical pro-choice feeder/contingent, i do
have a personal interest in having the march be large, but from a purely
strategic viewpoint, i still hold my claims to be true.  though i can not
speak for anyone but myself, i assume that our planning crew would be
willing to work with MGJ to create a march that suits both our needs,
while providing ONE place for our folks to go.  we are planning a
pre-march mini-rally at a local park (possibly with food) and we are doing
our best to be VERY visible in sundays march.  this will only be possible
with great visuals, and a lot of people.  the main march will be so large,
that i am concerned that if we split, we will be totally invisible.

on another note, both our group and MGJ could share the burden of
logistical arrangements and other needs.  we are already planning fund
raisers to purchase art supplies, and we hope to make sunday a radical day
to remember.

i hope we can continue this dialogue, so that the two groups can work
complementary, and not competitively.  if we have one march then we have
one place to assemble, one action to flyer for and folks coming from out
of town (which will make up the VAST majority of those in attendance) will
have one place to go.  let's try and avoid creating divisions where they
need not be.

for more information on the radical pro-choice action, please visit:
http://radicalcheer.org, and please send any questions, comments,
suggestions, criticisms, etc to the action organizers at
RCDC at mutualaid.org.

- in peace, with love, for revolution:

michael
RCDC collective