Consider: Where do we stand when G8/NATO comes?

[bebop]

It would be irresponsible for us NOT to get involved with the g8/NATO protests come May 2012, but there are some very big problems with getting involved.

1.) The demonstrations will be extremely large, hence more police
2.) The demonstrations ALWAYS turn violent
3.) There are ALWAYS indiscriminate arrests, police brutality, and federal-level provocateurs
4.) Potential "Secret Laws" like Toronto, Genoa, and London had

So, given that it will definitely become violent, how do we differentiate ourselves from the violence? How would we ensure we wouldn't be randomly targeted for pepper spray sweeps and arrests? How would we stop a federal provocateur?

 

 More information:

http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/what.....ation.html

http://www.fightbacknews.org/2.....15-22-2012

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G8

From the second link, regarding a "Call to Protest:"

Several Chicago area groups have co-sponsored this call. The initial list is below. To add your group to the list of endorsers, email UNACpeace@gmail.com.

[Randles]

It's been 18 days. Now is not the time to be talking about something that is in 202 days.

[MickD]

"Where do we stand when G8/NATO comes?"

You save $1/day, buy a gas mask, and stand in the streets.

[Billy]

This type of thing was discussed at and after tonight's GA. We need to get more people familiar with police interactions and crowd security and handling. We need to be more responsible for the people we lead into protest.

 

     The bulk of the police force is with us on this. If we can find a way for the police to have the confidence that we will stay nonviolent we may be able to be largely left alone. Keep in mind staying non-violent doesn't just mean us not being violent but knowing how to keep those around us either non-violent or separate them from us.

 

     Someone said it tonight at the GA. The police want us to succeed. Their pensions are being threatened. They do not want to beat us but they also don't want to be beaten themselves. If we are to ever really affect any real change we will eventually need the police on our side.

 

     I am not saying blindly obey and follow the police. At the GA I said something along the lines of " Show the cops that if they use their discretion to the fullest extent possible without loosing their jobs to help us and police their own ranks to out any asshats that exist within then we should work as hard as we can to support them as long as it does not compromise our movement."

 

     If we want to be the 99% that controls our own world then we need to act as if we are responsible enough to handle it. I realize that something like the G8 will bring cops from out of town but if we develop a good enough relationship with the CPD in the mean time we will likely be left out of the shit or at least maybe given a heads up on how to avoid it.

 

     Certainly though our best weapon that we can use against the G8 military invasion is the camera. Video cameras are the real peace guns. The only weapon that I know of that one can shoot for peace.

 

     Also we need to develop closer ties with other occupations. We will likely see a huge in flux in our ranks from other occupations. We need to get contacts from and lines of communication going. I plan on going to NYC soon. I could start there.