Tactical Briefing #25
Hey you redeemers, rebels and radicals out there,
Against the backdrop of a global uprising that is simmering in dozens of countries and thousands of cities and towns, the G8 and NATO will hold a rare simultaneous summit in Chicago this May. The world’s military and political elites, heads of state, 7,500 officials from 80 nations, and more than 2,500 journalists will be there.
And so will we.
On May 1, 50,000 people from all over the world will flock to Chicago, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades and #OCCUPYCHICAGO for a month. With a bit of luck, we’ll pull off the biggest multinational occupation of a summit meeting the world has ever seen.
And this time around we’re not going to put up with the kind of police repression that happened during the Democratic National Convention protests in Chicago, 1968 … nor will we abide by any phony restrictions the City of Chicago may want to impose on our first amendment rights. We’ll go there with our heads held high and assemble for a month-long people’s summit … we’ll march and chant and sing and shout and exercise our right to tell our elected representatives what we want … the constitution will be our guide.
And when the G8 and NATO meet behind closed doors on May 19, we’ll be ready with our demands: a Robin Hood Tax … a ban on high frequency ‘flash’ trading … a binding climate change accord … a three strikes and you’re out law for corporate criminals … an all out initiative for a nuclear-free Middle East … whatever we decide in our general assemblies and in our global internet brainstorm – we the people will set the agenda for the next few years and demand our leaders carry it out.
And if they don’t listen … if they ignore us and put our demands on the back burner like they’ve done so many times before … then, with Gandhian ferocity, we’ll flashmob the streets, shut down stock exchanges, campuses, corporate headquarters and cities across the globe … we’ll make the price of doing business as usual too much to bear.
Jammers, pack your tents, muster up your courage and prepare for a big bang in Chicago this Spring. If we don’t stand up now and fight now for a different kind of future we may not have much of a future … so let’s live without dead time for a month in May and see what happens …
for the wild,
Culture Jammers HQ
CANG8.org / ChicagoMassAction.org / Occupy Chicago
Adbusters / Facebook / Twitter / Reddit
388 comments on the article “Tactical Briefing #25”
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greg_2
But it is all we have and it is the one and only thing worth fighting over.
For without it we will have to live by what those in power say we have to live by.
Yes, this is slowly happening, the erosion of the Constitution. Can you imagine what will happen if the likes of Newtron Gingrich gets in power? You think things are bad now....
Come on people! SOPA and PIPA got MILLIONS of people to contact Congress! Thanks to the likes of Wkipedia and Google and EFF. Why can we not get MILLIONS of people to continue to keep after Congress to protect more of our liberties?
We now know, or should know, that no next President -- especially that kook Ron Paul -- is going to protect our Constitution for us. We the People must do it for ourselves.
DON'T YOU GET IT? We the People must do it for ourselves!
Anonymous
Shrub? Is that you?
Anonymous
Maybe you were in the bathroom when we shut down the city of Portland. Or ports all along the West Coast.
Anonymous
Don't you mean Oakland?
Anonymous
Yeah, those two messages collided.
Anonymous
or in NYC when they marched right past the police warning them to not go on the bridge, where they were greeted with the 99% message flashing onto the Verizon building. I think New York has more police than Chicago. Yet, we marched right over them. They just got the hell out of the way. Nothing was damaged.
At least not by the OWS.
greg_2
And just who are you? And try what in Chicago? And get squashed by whom or what? For what?
The entire thing is that we want to get real. We, well, many people, I don't and can't speak for anyone else -- same as you -- want a more just, more equitable, America. An America less controlled by Corporations.
What do you want?
Chicago is just a place to go where the news cameras will be. That is why Chicago. This is nothing personal dude.
Anonymous
try what? Coming to Chicago? I think we will, thank you. Why would a poor man like yourself spend so much time defending those who hate you and write laws to ensure that you will never be part of the 1%? U need to quit watching fox news. Really.
Why do your types always want violence? What has your 10,000 police officers done to the OccuChi so far? Why would that change? Why do you want to see violence? What is wrong with you?
Anonymous
like the man said,
"MAY 15 - MAY 21 NATO G8 CHICAGO MAY 15 - MAY 21..."
Anonymous
I have a suggestion: instead of coming to Chicago and doing the usual downtown protest and inviting another 68 style clash, why not channel those resources and into positive actions around the city?
Instead of protesting outside the G8/Nato as expected, go everywhere but there. The city has many opportunities to do things which are not only symbolic but make a real difference.
Imagine thousands of protesters not showing up in Grant Park, but in some neglected neighborhood to help residents clean the streets. Or marching in support of immigrant rights in Little Village. Or in favor of unions in a factory district. Or in support of libraries all over the city. Or rallying around local credit unions. Or doing any number of actions which would get as much attention without being a cover band version of 68.
It would counter the stereotype of summit protesters who follow events like sports fans, caring little about the places where they take place.
The Occupy Movement is meant challenge every status quo, and the typical G8 protest has become part of the status quo, a reliable element in the media narrative and excuse for those in power.
Chicago is a big city, about 230 square miles. The Downtown/Grant park area is 4 or less, and that 1% of the city gets all the attention from every privileged tourist. Why not be different?
It would subvert the security force, if they cam dressed for a riot which doesn't happen. It would show how the cops serve the powerful few rather than the public.
There would still be arrests and confrontations, but it would be harder for them to justify overkill, especially if protesters are working with residents.
Imagine the message:
"The G8 and NATO care about themselves, Occupy cares about the people."
"They use public funds to look powerful, we use our power to make a difference."
"They never think about how they impact the host city, we do."
If Occupy is really about change, then a change of tactics should be part of it. Some may feel skipping downtown for scattered lovey dovey stuff might be less effective, but come on. Protest is not supposed to be a classic rock cover band, sticking to whats familiar because people will show up even if they aren't inspired.
Everyone expects 1968 part two - some of those in power are counting on it. Which is reason enough to defy them and try out something else.
So sure, Occupy Chicago, but ignore the G8 and Nato. At this point they are like popular bullies, they feed off your attention. If you take it away from them, it may make an impact.
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