[IMC-News] IMC NEWS BLAST | VIOLENCE AND / OR NONVIOLENCE?
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Sat, 11 Aug 2001 16:23:41 -0400 (EDT)
IMC NEWS BLAST | Saturday, August 11, 2001
VIOLENCE AND/OR NONVIOLENCE?
by Indymedia News Blast Team
A compilation of notices, stories and opinions posted to
the Independent Media Center network, http://www.indymedia.org
Online version of this IMC NEWS BLAST with clickable links:
http://indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=58460
CONTENTS
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A. DEVELOPMENTS: URGENT AND UPCOMING
B. FEATURE: VIOLENCE AND/OR NONVIOLENCE?
C. FROM IMC NEWSWIRES
D. ADDITIONAL IMC COVERAGE
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A. DEVELOPMENTS: URGENT AND UPCOMING
After two decades of increasing militarization towards communities of color
and the poor, and more recently towards the emerging global justice
movement, there is growing awareness, dissatisfaction and outrage towards
the U.S. urban assault machine. See the first two links below for actions
around these issues. Other important upcoming events are listed.
1. ANTI-ACA COALITION ANNOUNCES PLANS (8/11-15)
Beginning Saturday, August 11, protests will be held in Philadelphia
against the U.S. prison industrial complex. The Coalition Against the
American Correctional Association is staging actions and a
counter-convention, http://www.stoptheaca.org, in conjunction with the
annual meeting of the ACA, August 11-15. See Philly IMC center column for
ongoing coverage: http://philly.indymedia.org/
2. MUMIA COURT APPEARANCE AND RALLY (8/17-18)
by Anon August 9 2001, Thu, 5:45pm
http://sf.indymedia.org/display.php?id=102894
Rally while Mumia is in court and then march on Market to the federal
building. Events in Philly and also SF. For more news on Mumia, see:
http://www.phillyimc.org/article.pl?sid=01/08/07/1616225
http://indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=58362
3. STOP THE REPRESSION OF THE POLITICAL ACTIVISTS IN ARGENTINA
by Stop 11:11am Fri Jul 6 '01
http://argentina.indymedia.org/display.php3?article_id=914
This post presents a petition to stop the repression of political activists
in Argentina. "Over the last few weeks the national and local governments
in Argentina have stepped up the repression of workers and political
activists, and their organizations. The response to the justified demands
of unemployed and employed workers has been police raids and the
imprisonment of their leaders and activists'." For current coverage, see
global IMC center column: http://www.indymedia.org
4. GLOBAL ACTION DAY FOR GENOA--OUR RESISTANCE CONTINUES! (8/20)
by Anti capitalist activists 4:50am Sat Aug 4 '01
http://uk.indymedia.org/display.php3?article_id=8873
"Over 40 activists arrested because of the anti-G8 protests are still in
jail in Italy. Let's keep up international pressure to free the prisoners
and to remind the public of the torture and murder..." Also, see updated
listing of G8 solidarity protests: http://g8solidarity.protest.net.
5. WORLD BANK/IMF PROTEST IN DC (9/29-30) AND OTHER EVENTS.
http://www.protest.net/
Lists of upcoming mobilizations including against the World Bank / IMF:
9/28 to 9/29.
Note: World Bank/IMF released a press statement,
http://dc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=10890, August 10 stating that
meetings have been scaled back to just two days, 9/29-30. Mobilizations
continue as before with and counter-summit(s) planned before the WB/IMF
meetings. See: http://www.september30.org/s30/
B. FEATURE: VIOLENCE AND/OR NONVIOLENCE?
In the aftermath of last month's large-scale protests in Genoa (see recent
NEWS BLASTs, section D.), many posts on Indymedia turned to discussion of
strategies and tactics, old and new. This feature comprises posts that
discuss issues of violence and/or nonviolence at the levels of specific
tactics, strategic aims, and philosophies of freedom, democracy and
resistance. Future NEWS BLASTs will offer features on media criticism and
new models for society.
The attribution of violence has become a central mainstream media concern,
occluding issues of pervasive global injustice and the variety of
resistances to such. It is necessary to struggle with this media bias. Many
in the alternative globalization movement argue that protesters are not
acting violently. The vast majority protest nonviolently. A small minority
act with nonviolent force through nonviolent direct action. A very very
few, who are often agents provocateurs, act with violence. It is important
to clarify that the black bloc (see post 2. below), who destroy corporate
property such as bank windows, are not acting violently in such acts.
However, police at protests increasingly act with organized, planned
violence against the vast majority of nonviolent protesters.
The increase in militaristic-style police violence and violent infiltration
raises difficult questions. What should be done? Some argue that the use of
violence is necessary for challenging domination. Others argue that
nonviolence is the only way. Others take a middle ground approach. There do
not seem to be easy answers here. Central to the discussion is the issue
of how the alternative globalization movement can maintain a place for
diverse strategies and tactics. The first two posts below are compilations
of diverse views on tactics and the black bloc.
1. COMPILATION OF POSTS ON TACTICS DEBATE
by ana Thu Jul 26 '01
With commentary: http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=55654
With clickable links: http://nyc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=8096
These posts offer links for a number of recent posts on the Indymedia
newswire regarding tactics and strategy.
2. BLACK BLOC CO-LECTION
by Prism 1:15am Fri Aug 10 '01
http://chicago.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=3982
A collection of articles debating black bloc tactics. Some focus on
defining violence and resistance and some focus on strategy.
3. CONSIDERATIONS ON VIOLENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF MASS MOBILIZATIONS
by Collectif de reflexion sur l'air des lampions 2:33pm Tue Jul 31 '01
http://indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=56552
"Protesters [have been] divided between the "good and law-abiding" citizens
and the "bad and violent" anarchists. It seems to us that the situation
deserves an analysis that goes beyond this simplistic dichotomy."
4. AFTER GENOA: THE DEBATE ON STREET TACTICS
by Brian Becker / Workers World 6:17am Thu Aug 9 '01
http://indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=58106
After the highly publicized street clashes in Genoa, Italy, the
capitalist-owned media have served as the vehicle for a highly coordinated
campaign against "violent protesters" and "anarchists." (See comments.)
5. ON VIOLENCE
by Ignasi Ribó 6:14pm Wed Aug 8 '01
http://indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=58025
This is an opinion article on the pros and cons of protest tactics that
utilize force and violence. It tries to recap the main arguments used by
the people defending or condemning violent protest and put them in
perspective in order to spark further debate.
6. ON GLOBALIZATION AND VIOLENCE AND NONVIOLENCE
by Arthur J. Miller 9:26am Thu Jul 26 '01
http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=55532
"...the Black Blocs, Red Blocks [sic], Green Blocs or any other blocs are
only manifestations of the storm of resistance. They represent a natural
factor; with or without them that natural factor would still exist."
7. DEBATES ON NONVIOLENCE: BILL MOYERS, STARHAWK
Genoa, Corporate Globalization & Violence/Nonviolence by Bill Moyers
published by ana August 3 2001, Fri, 3:57pm
http://sf.indymedia.org/display.php?id=102732
Genoa Debate continued by Bill Moyers and Starhawk
published by ana August 3 2001, Fri, 5:41pm
http://sf.indymedia.org/display.php?id=102734
After Genoa: Diversity and Solidarity
by Starhawk 8:06am Sat Aug 11 '01
http://indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=58454
"Why We Need to Stay in the Streets."
8. NONVIOLENT ACTION AS THE SWORD THAT HEALS
by George Lakey, Director, Training for Change 2:01pm Wed Aug 8 '01
http://vancouver.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=3442
This long essay challenges Ward Churchill's book "Pacifism As Pathology"
and the argument that nonviolence cannot win. (See comment: "These two
[Ward and Lakey] are debating the polar extremes in the violent vs. non
violence debate... but there are many shades of gray in the middle... ")
9. CLASS WAR AT DC IMF/WB PROTEST?
by yeah right. 9:14pm Tue Jul 31 '01
http://indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=56622
In response to some Internet banners for the Anti-Capitalist Convergence
that say "Class War in Washington D.C."
10. PROTECTION: FOR PEOPLE ATTENDING THE SEPT. WORLD BANK PROTEST
by Wolfgirl 5:36pm Mon Aug 6 '01
http://indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=57689
Advice for nonviolent protesters on dealing with police repression at the
upcoming September World Bank/IMF protests in DC and other large protests.
C. FROM IMC NEWSWIRES
1. GENERAL STRIKE AND HUGE PROTESTS IN ARGENTINA.
by Gatherer of information 1:11am Thu Aug 9 '01
http://indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=58069
News of continuing strikes: Many demonstrators marched through Argentina's
capital of Buenos Aires at the peak of a two-day strike and rallies across
the country. Links to coverage.
2. BOMBS EXPLODE AT THREE MEXICO CITY BANKS.
by tigrepapel 1:41pm Thu Aug 9 '01
http://indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=58164
People's Revolutionary Armed Forces claimed responsibility for bombs that
exploded at three Mexico City BanaMex banks. "[T]his comes a day after
nationwide demonstrations by farmers protesting the lack of support by the
Fox administration for small farmers. Mexico currently has more 'free
trade' agreements than any other country..."
3. BONN VOYAGE.
by Ronald Bailey, Reason Science Correspondent 7:51pm Wed Aug 8 '01
http://vancouver.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=3446
This re-post argues that last month's international greenhouse gas
reduction plan--negotiated without U.S. participation is full of hot air.
4. FULL COVERAGE OF PNWER
by Vancouver IMC 9:15pm Thu Jul 26 '01
http://vancouver.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=2872
List of Vancouver IMC newswire posts relating to demonstrations at the
Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) conference.
5. MARCO'S BEST OF INDY'S NEWSWIRE.
http://indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=56802
D. ADDITIONAL IMC COVERAGE.
For ongoing coverage of world events see IMC global,
http://www.indymedia.org, with links to over 50 IMC local websites. Also see:
IMC Radio
(for special coverage on Genoa, Philadelphia and other developments):
http://radio.indymedia.org
IMC Print
(weekly news summaries in distributable newsletter/flier format):
http://print.indymedia.org
Current edition (#16, 1 August 2001)
ˇ International organizations denounce media repression
ˇ Genoa officer admits police abuses
ˇ Psychiatric drugs forced on protesters
Recent IMC NEWS BLASTs
Sunday, 29 July 2001--GENOA LEGAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES:
http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=56210
Monday, 23 July 2001--GENOA G8: WHAT HAPPENED?:
http://italy.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=10074
(English, Italian versions)
Future IMC NEWS BLASTs
We will be surveying Indymedia newswires for strategy posts for two future
NEWS BLAST features on these topics:
ˇ MEDIA CRITICISM AND ACTIVISM
ˇ GLOBAL JUSTICE STRATEGY: CHALLENGE THE CORRUPTION, BUILD NEW MODELS
As previously, future blasts also will continue to report on specific
social movement mobilizations.
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INDEPENDENT MEDIA CENTER
The IMC is a decentralized network of independent media makers, organizers,
and activists working to increase democracy and social justice by reporting
events and producing information as acts of autonomy, resistance, and
liberation.
The IMC was established to cover the WTO protests in Seattle in November,
1999. Hundreds of media activists have since set up more than fifty
independent media centers around the world, including London, Canada,
Chiapas, Prague, Belgium, France, and Italy, with more to come.
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