– xx
Joanne
Chicago, activists prepare for 2012 NATO summit
The NATO summit is being paid for by a $19.1 million grant from the federal government, security grants and private donors, including donations from 36 private companies. Donors include military-industrial giants Boeing and Raytheon, as well as FedEx and General Electric. The average contribution is thought to be around $1 million or an in-kind donation of manpower, but donation amounts will not be disclosed until after the summit concludes. At least 11 of the corporate donors have ties to World Business Chicago, whose board is chosen by Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Other donors, such as Duke Energy, Caterpillar, and General Electric, have personal ties to either Mayor Emanuel or the Democratic party.
With this appearance of blatant cronyism, coupled with traditional criticisms against NATO, it is not surprising that large-scale rallies and protests are planned for the summit. These include a two-day Counter-Summit For Peace and Economic Justice with plenary speakers and workshops, a Shut Down Boeing event (time TBD), and a large march and rally organized by National Nurses United.
Despite approving the NNU march route several months ago, the city revoked the permit on May 8, citing the addition of musician Tom Morello to the schedule. The city’s proposed changes to the route would effectively nullify its impact by shielding NATO participants from the protesters, something the United States criticizes other countries for doing. On May 12, the NNU compromised with the city to keep the permit, though still agreeing to limit its First Amendment rights by agreeing to abandon the march.
This map includes planned events from Thursday, May 17 until Monday, 21 and a full list of events for the week can be found at the Protest NATO site.
The city is heavily prepared for these demonstrations. The NATO summit is a National Special Security Event, reports the Chicago Sun-Times, with its own flight restrictions and assistance from police coming from as far away as Philadelphia and North Carolina. An event with this designation is considered by the Department of Homeland Security to have an elevated threat of terror attacks. Security is the responsibility of the Secret Service, the FBI is in charge of intelligence and counter-terrorism, and there is additional cooperation between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. The ACLU notes that protesters may find themselves facing the implications of H.R. 347 – the new questionable new law that carries possible penalties of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The ambiguous language in H.R. 347 is of concern to the ACLU and others. The previous version of this law, the Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act, required that the person act willfully and knowingly to be considered in violation. H.R. 347, notes the ACLU, removed “willfully” from the text, meaning that someone who is in a restricted zone but does not know that their remaining there is in violation of the law may be considered to have acted criminally. This NATO summit will be the first real test of H.R. 347.
Kade Ellis of PrivacySOS has detailed the preparations the city has made for the expected influx of protesters, including the militant attitude adopted by Sergeant William Schield after training at the DHS Center for Domestic Preparedness facility.
The facility, located in Anniston, Alabama, trains police and emergency responders to handle mass casualty events, hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction, suicide bombers, pandemics, and CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) Incidents. What it does not seem to provide is training for law enforcement officials, who are the under the stress of working overtime in tense conditions, to deal with large-scale but peaceful protests. This outside training, focused on terrorism, is the result of budget cuts and the continued encroachment of the DHS into civilian police departments.
Given the conditions, jurisdictional confusion, the focus of Chicago police training, and the popular portrayal of anti-NATO and anti-globalization protests as violent, anarchic riots, the possible intensity of security enforcement is of concern to activists. The city only recently settled a lawsuit with more than 800 plaintiffs who were part of mass arrests in the 2003 Iraq War protests. Aon, the insurance broker who had contracted with the city, only received one bid from the 70 possible carriers to insure police against lawsuits.
Some resources for activists and those attending NATO protests:
- ACLU Report: Know Your Right to Protest in Chicago – includes an overview of the fundamental right to protest, restrictions (including time, place and manner), street and sidewalk protests, and information about specific places in Chicago
- The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has launched a hotline for journalists covering the NATO protests
- The RCFP media hotline, 312-251-1000, will be staffed by volunteers on Sunday (May 20) and Monday (May 21)
- The National Lawyers Guild will provide legal support and a hotline for NATO demonstrators
- Chicago Action Medical will staff a Wellness Center, providing first aid and holistic care, until the 21st
First and Sixth Amendments Prevail in Iowa
A jury has found Occupy Des Moines protester and former state representative Ed Fallon not guilty of trespassing for violating an 11 pm curfew. Fallon and 14 other members of Occupy Des Moines were arrested after knowingly remaining on the grounds of the Iowa state Capitol on October 9, 2011.
Although Mercer Lewis of Occupy Denver was earlier acquitted by a jury on March 7, the Fallon case is a victory for the movement. Fallon admitted under oath that he violated the curfew, but a jury of his peers upheld his and the other protesters’ rights, finding, “[t]he Constitution supersedes all state laws and regulations.”
This is the first of many jury trials expected for Occupy movement, as arrested protesters are increasingly choosing to demand their Sixth Amendment rights in tandem with the protections afforded under the First.
– xx
Joanne
ahimsa
In the foreword to “Nonviolence: The History of a Dangerous Idea”, Mark Kurlansky asserts:
Responding to violence with more violence is rarely appropriate. However, discussing nonviolence when things are going smoothly does not carry much weight. It is precisely when things become really difficult, urgent, and critical that we should think and act with nonviolence.
A February 3 piece in the Guardian highlights the apparent divide within the Occupy movement. Occupy Wall Street protesters in New York marched in solidarity with Occupy Oakland, where over 400 demonstrators were arrested on February 1.
As they marched, and occasionally sprinted, through lower Manhattan, masked protesters were seen pulling debris into the road. A small minority of demonstrators threw bottles at police officers, while larger numbers chose to berate the cops with chants of “fuck the police” and “racist, sexist, anti-gay/NYPD go away.” The combative attitude and aggressive tactics, justified by some by ongoing police violence, upset a number of demonstrators.
Timothy Pool, a well-known citizen journalist in the Occupy Movement, was accosted by some protesters who demanded he stop filming their actions – releasing air from the tires of an NYPD vehicle. He had been assaulted by a masked assailant just days earlier. These incidents, as well as the attacks on and intimidation of other citizen journalists have brought to light an underlying tension within the Occupy movement. While much of the media focuses on the more radical elements, Occupy needs to address this division and the tactics used by the few that put all of us at risk.
Citizen journalists often do not have the protections offered to the credentialed main stream media. While events in New York and Oakland, as well as in other cities, have shown that police are sometimes willing to arrest and brutalize these credentialed and well-known journalists, the larger number of us are always at risk of arrest and censorship. For further risk to come from within the movement itself is disturbing.
The identity of Tim Pool’s attacker and some others caught on tape committing destructive acts is questionable. The first reaction I usually get is that they are law enforcement infiltrators, sent in to commit acts of violence, discredit the movement, and give the waiting police an excuse to brutally crack down on the protest action.
The FBI Counterintelligence Program (COINTELPRO) was created in 1956 and officially ended in 1971 (more on that in a moment). COINTELPRO is often referred to as a surveillance program, but that was not its primary aim. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, agents regularly infiltrated activist groups with the goal of subverting the organizations. The main goal of COINTELPRO was never surveillance – monitoring alone does not require the level of infiltration employed by the program. Agents sought to disrupt activist groups by instilling fear and distrust, causing internal collapse. COINTELPRO was exposed in March 1971 and declared officially over later in the year.
The program – or at least, its tactics – has almost certainly continued, and it targets activists. Sophisticated technology, the acceptance of warrantless wiretaps, surveillance vehicles, and smaller hidden cameras and microphones all reinforce the theory that surveillance itself is not the aim of counterintelligence programs.
In fact, the exposure of COINTELPRO and the assumption that it continues may itself be a tactic. We know about these programs and see undercover agents exposed, as recently occurred in the Supreme Court protest on January 20. The mere presence of DHS vehicles on-site and the assumption that infiltrators are among Occupy is enough to cause some people to panic. These agents have been visible or revealed largely because that is their role. The point of COINTELPRO has always been to create paranoia within the group.
What concerns me is the seemingly automatic assumption made by many people that any action considered violent or destructive is done by infiltrators. This is naive. The Occupy movement embraces and prides itself on being of the 99% – we are quick to apply that label to nearly everyone, but apparently refuse to acknowledge that destructive, radical people are indeed the 99%. Occupy is a populist movement without central leadership, open to everyone, that acts in the public squares and streets. It is the perfect movement for infiltrators – not only law enforcement, but Black Bloc and others inclined to violence.
I have always argued that the General Assembly and consensus process would protect us from these elements, but the attack on Tim Pool and threats on other citizen journalists has led to discussions about diversity of tactics. While this seems to be largely a euphemism*, the conversation is important and needs to be public. On Sunday, January 29, members of Occupy Wall Street held a Diversity of Tactics meeting in Washington Square Park around 3 pm. Pool told me that he and others were told cameras “were not a good idea.”
The Guardian quotes Occupy Wall Street protester Ted Hall as saying, “our strengths are not in secrecy. Our strengths are in transparency…. [anything] that’s secretive is going to attract instigators and undercovers like a moth to a flame.”
I am personally in favor of asserting our commitment to nonviolence. Nonviolence is not an ideology, does not require us to ‘roll over’ and does not weaken us. Nonviolence is a tactic. It is active and demanding and powerful. More powerful, in fact, than throwing bottles and breaking windows.
Kurlanksy notes the absence of a positive English term that properly conveys the principles of nonviolence. “Nonviolence” itself seems to suggest that violence is the norm, or an eventuality. The Sanskrit ahimsa, which Gandhi used as the basis for the Indian Satyagraha civil resistance movement, is active – the avoidance of violence – the choice to act without harming others. Gandhi makes clear in his translation of “Satyagraha in South Africa” that Satyagraha is an active, not passive, civil resistance. He further considered Gita, the concept of a just war, to be allegorical, interpreting it as an internal struggle and ahimsa to mean violence in all states – including dishonesty, wrath, and hatred.
The movement needs to make choices. If we recommit to nonviolence we can then address how to protect both journalists and the masses from retaliation. Will this cause a schism? Possibly.
A contingency calling itself the White Bloc announced its intentions for the February 4 Occupy Oakland FTP march. The amount of anger directed as this decision seemed to highlight the divisions within the Occupy movement.
Subsequent conversations I had with Occupy Oakland protesters revealed that the name White Bloc could easily be interpreted to mean something other than what I believe its original intentions to be – specifically against the Black Bloc. Coming from a privileged background, I too quickly overlooked how this designation would affect persons of color. It is evident to me that, while the White Bloc may have been an important experiment, a group labeling itself as white (or any color) has broader implications. Persons of color and other minority groups have for years been the targets of law enforcement profiling and narrow-minded surveillance programs and the onus is on the rest of us to be sensitive to anything that could cause people to feel further disenfranchised. Journalist Ayesha Kazmi puts it best:
As tempted as many white Occupy protesters are to proclaim “we are all one and the same!”, you cannot expect minorities, whose communities have been subjected to intimidation and abuse, to suddenly throw away the race card and jump on the bandwagon. These are critical times, and as such, it is important for Occupy to get it right. We are all part of the 99% – and the concerns of some should fast transform into the concern for all.
However, with the NDAA and EEA looming, we need to make a decision now about what kind of movement we are, and act accordingly. The transparency and nonviolence that were behind the White Bloc idea are what is most important. Defacement, vandalism, and the use of projectiles are not self-defense. If we want protect ourselves from the destructive elements, we need to reaffirm our commitment to nonviolence and make it evident, always, to those outside the movement. This means the media, the public at large, and law enforcement. Along with everything else, Occupy is fighting an information war.
There is more information on nonviolent ideology, tactics, and its dynamics available from Nonviolence International.
– xx
Joanne
*interestingly enough, ‘Diversity of Tactics’ came into widespread use at the height of the anti-globalization movement in the 1990s, right around the time when Black Bloc tactics were increasing in western United States.
The Beginning
Do you know
This is just the beginning?
Do you realize
What has started?
The groans of the people
are getting louder and more numerous.
Even the fact we are struggling through
A winter that is unforgiving
Shows us
We are still here.
Without struggle how do you expect innovation?
Someone said, in an article I read, that #occupy stands on the shoulders of giants,
referencing the people of the Middle East uprisings,
and I would add
on the shoulders of every other movement that ever came before us.
But we have something that movements throughout history did not. We have the Internet.
This sets us apart.
Our journalists are our own people, many actively participating in the movement as functioning journalists because what they see in the corporate media is government-controlled information. Propaganda. And not just any propaganda, but propaganda harmful to the very foundations of our nation.
Look what they do when we attempt to gather to express our grievances.
Our First Amendment expression is met with police brutality. These civil servants are actively acting against the Constitution.
And it is not their decision to do so.
They are given orders which come from higher levels, coordinated with #DHS and other LEA’s.
The Congressional approval rating is at one of, if not the very, lowest points in history. They know we are angry. They know we are displeased. They know we have valid grievances.
They crack down on us to try to squash our spirit and determination.
Yet they don’t comprehend that all they are doing and have done up to this point is actually a dumping of fuel onto the fires of injustice.
Bitches, please. The Internet is mightier than the bullets, the tear gas, the flash bang grenades. The Internet transcends governments and the Internet transcends national boundaries.
We are the voices of reason in the twisted, corrupt government systems.
We do not forgive. We do not forget. We do not stand idly by when our fellow humans are being beaten, tortured and murdered.
We are legion. And we are not going away. We are only getting stronger. Take heart, spring is just around the corner.
We come from the Internet, and we love. Expect us.
But the law is never free from passion
Photographs from the January 20, 2012 Occupy the Courts demonstration at the Supreme Court
Supreme Court police said eleven people were arrested in the demonstration and a twelfth was later arrested inside the court. That man, Scott Fitzgerald, was reportedly already wearing the jacket that said “Occupy Everything” when he went through security upon entering the court and was not attempting to be disruptive.
On October 16, Dr. Cornel West was arrested along with eighteen others for demonstrating on the Supreme Court steps.
– xx
Joanne
Occupy Congress – #J17
After a 14-hour drive, two of which were spent in northern Virginia traffic, we arrived back in DC.
McPherson Square, three months after we were last here
McPherson Square had changed dramatically since our departure. The park, which had seemed so large when we were only sleeping on the ground in one quadrant, had been filled with tents.
We made our way to the Capitol building, where the day’s demonstrators were planned. The group was filled with both young and old, seasoned protesters, Occupiers, children and grandparents – people had traveled from across the country to attend the protest.
Crowd gathers outside of the U.S. Capitol
Capitol Police Civil Disturbance Unit van
Capitol Police surveillance van
Retired Philadelphia Police Captain Ray Lewis was in attendance, and quickly stopped and held by Capitol Police. Assuming his arrest was imminent, protesters rallied behind him.
Cpt. Ray Lewis, though detained, leads Capitol Police to the vans at the base of the Capitol
Protesters demand Capitol Police release Cpt. Lewis, chanting "Red Rover, Red Rover, send Captain Ray over!"
USMC Sgt. Shamar Thomas joined the crowd calling for Cpt. Lewis to be released
Protesters breach the line between the two walls and run to 'de-arrest' Cpt. Lewis
Captain Lewis was released to cheers and told protesters Capitol Police were confirming his identity and that he was not carrying a weapon. In a later interview with Occupy San Diego, he gave protesters some advice about dealing with police:
“Don’t be shouting things at them that rile them up. I understand the frustration, I understand the anger…we worked within the system, we elected Obama…but if you’re ever involved, do not become physical with the police. You will not win. You will come out worse.”
He also spoke about the Occupy Wall Street eviction, the increasing militarization of police, and the use of tasers and the LRAD system.
After the initial breach, the atmosphere around the Capitol steps turned jubilant, with protesters feeling they had achieved a small victory for the day.
First protester decides to climb a tree - for freedom
This officer, who was amiable and had fun with protesters, told the girl to get out of the tree. "You're going to get hurt," he said. "It's just common sense."
Protesters chant, "take the wall back" and urge others to cross over the wall
Protesters dance the Hokey Pokey on the Capitol wall
Capitol Police quickly lined up to contain the situation. Most were professional, calm, and even seemed to be enjoying the revelry, but several arrests did occur.
Protester tackled and arrested
Another young man was arrested shortly after. “I’m not resisting!” he said, “I’m standing here.”
After 2 pm, groups formed for planned autonomous actions and meetings with their Congressional Representatives, including at the Rayburn Office Building, which houses the offices of 169 Representatives. The group decided to forgo the crosswalks to the Rayburn Building and took to the street instead.
Protesters chant, "whose streets? Our streets!" as they cross to the Rayburn Building
Protesters outside of the Rayburn Building call for others to cross
Capitol Police clash with protesters outside of the Rayburn Building
One officer offered to allow us to cross to the Rayburn Building. "Are you trying to get us arrested?" one person asked. "No, you seem like the sane ones. I'm offering to let you go before we open the street back up," he chuckled.
Protesters at the Rayburn Office Building
– xx
Shortly after leaving the Congressional offices, protesters held an impromptu march through the streets. The police response was unprecedented. This was not the first time that an Occupy had taken the streets, but Capitol Police seemed more interested in containing the march than preventing it.
Protesters marching in the street at Jefferson
The march rounding Jefferson
Motorcycle police on the sidewalks
The march at 3rd and Pennsylvania Avenue
Protesters cheer and raise their fists at 3rd and Pennsylvania Ave
Back at the Capitol, protesters mic checked, "we, the people, found our voice!"
Already people were mic checking for another march, but the group decided to wait until the planned time on the permit.
Just before 7 pm, protesters again took to the streets for the planned march following a route from the Capitol to the Supreme Court and ending at the White House. I lost battery at this time, but still ran ahead of the march with other media. Police presence, perhaps in response to the earlier march, was heavier and more aggressive. At one point an officer forced me off of the sidewalk and into the street. When I told him I was covering the action he said, “if you’re covering it, you’re with them.” Another citizen journalist was similarly forced into the street.
The march ended at the White House.
Protesters demonstrate in front of the White House
After chanting and singing, the crowd began to dissipate slightly, with some people leaving for a planned party at the Capitol lawn and others demanding President Obama make an appearance. What we didn’t know at the time was that the President was out to dinner for the First Lady’s birthday. The security demanded by his motorcade returning may explain the events that followed.
Both Park and DC Metro Police were on scene but allowed normal pedestrian traffic to flow through the street in front of the White House and Lafayette Park. As protesters lingered, police presence began to intensify, with Secret Service mobilizing. One person mic checked that he was informed (through sources unknown) that riot police were on their way, bringing dogs, to disperse and presumably arrest any remaining protesters. Several of us decided to remain on site to document the events, aided by our ‘Ninja Backpack’ with its portable military-issue personal generator. After some time we began to see police donning riot gear and there were indeed vehicles marked as K9 units, but there were no signs of dogs or even police mobilization. There were, however, a number of fire trucks and ambulances staged on 17th Street, and police moving in from that area (Note – I lived in DC for a year and saw this many times when the Presidential motorcade was due to pass through a particular street).
Police donning riot gear tell us to "move on" as we attempt to document them
Tension steadily increased and we decided to leave the scene, as there were about 20 – 30 people remaining at the White House gate.
As we were walking back on H Street, on the north side of Lafayette Park, police informed us that the park and Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House were closed because “one of you Occupy people” lobbed a smoke device onto the lawn.
The corporate media has reported extensively on that incident, and I was not there, so I will not attempt to recount it. However, I do wonder if there is any correlation between mainstream media’s coverage of #J17 being almost entirely limited to this event and that members of the White House press pool held while the device was investigated.
I can also assert that there were not 1500 people present at the White House at that time, as Secret Service spokesperson George Ogilvie has been quoted as saying.
When we left, the remaining demonstrators were hanging paper hearts on the fence, confident that #J17 had been a success.
Demonstrators hang hearts with their 'wishes' to President Obama on the gates at the White House
– xx
Joanne
