[Seattle-editorial] FEATURE PROPOSAL: N30

[jonathan lawson]

subtitle: N30: PEOPLE'S HOLIDAY, DAY OF ACTION
title: Day of Action: Resisting Neoliberalism at Home

Novemeber 30, 1999 represented a triumphal moment for worldwide civil 
resistance against a <a 
href="http://www.corpwatch.org/issues/PID.jsp?articleid=376">global 
economic system</a> which gives private corporations more power than 
governments and eschews all value systems which could slow the 
concentration of wealth by a small class of corporate masters. In the 
morning hours of N30, 1999, tens of thousands of activists from across the 
globe converged in the streets to shut down meetings of the World Trade 
Organization, the undemocratic, international governing forum of neoliberal 
globalization. The conflict became infamous around the world, partially 
because of the disproportionately violent police response to the largely 
peaceful demonstrations.

<p>In years since, N30 has been remembered in the streets of Seattle with 
marches, rallies and celebrations of resistance. This year, community 
activists have called for a <a href="http://www.riseup.net/n30"><b>Day of 
Action</b></a>. One group of N30 organizers charge that previous years' 
commemorations have been "self congratulatory, self referential, largely 
ineffective day of 'protest,'" in which activist messages have devolved 
into simplistic faceoffs with police, resulting in needless police violence 
and arrests. These organizers hope to focus on issues demonstrating the 
negative local effects of the global neoliberal economic system, reserving 
the hotspot of Westlake Park for a day-long Resource Share and designated 
"safe space." At the same time, the group's >a 
href="http://www.riseup.net/n30/n30.html">website</a> describes local 
police as "the enemy" and encourages affinity groups to develop <a 
href="http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=20129">independent 
plans</a> for disruptions around the city. Weekend events are listed <a 
href="http://www.brizone.com/buynothing/events.html">here</a>. Highlights:<br>

<b>Friday</b> 6:30 pm, Grand Lodge Hall,, 117 15th Ave. S: potluck dinner 
to commemorate the N30 BATTLE OF SEATTLE through INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY.
<b>Saturday</b> Noon, Westlake Park: WTO ANNIVERSARY & DO SOMETHING! <a 
href="http://www.riseup.net/n30/index1.html">Resource Share</a> (march at 
1pm) <br>
1 pm, 4th And Jackson St: N30 RADICAL STREET FESTIVAL<br>
4-5 pm, Westlake Park: 911 Peace Coalition PEACE VIGIL
6-9 pm, SCCC: WTO Anniversary Candlelight Vigil
7:30, IMC: Screening of <a 
href="http://www.geocities.com/urbanwarrior_northwest/film.html">Urban 
Warrior</a>

Candlelight vigil at SCCC, 6-9pm n30
http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=19908

<p><a href="http://www.riseup.net/n30">N30 2002 Day of Action</a> | <a 
href="http://seattle.indymedia.org/n30/">Peoples Holiday events, N30 
2001</a> | <a 
href="http://seattle.indymedia.org/display.php3?article_id=1592">Report 
from the street, N30 2000</a> |
<a href="http://www.permitthis.org/">Permit This! Lawsuit info</a>  | 
IMC/Bruderhof Radio: <a 
href="http://www.indymedia.org/display.php3?article_id=11730">Looking Back 
at N30 1999</a> | Blind Spot WTO coverage (pdf):
<a 
href="http://seattle.indymedia.org/local/webcast/uploads/blindspot1.pdf">1</a>
<a 
href="http://seattle.indymedia.org/local/webcast/uploads/blindspot2.pdf">2</a>
<a 
href="http://seattle.indymedia.org/local/webcast/uploads/blindspot2.pdf">3</a>
<a 
href="http://seattle.indymedia.org/local/webcast/uploads/blindspot2.pdf">4</a>
<a 
href="http://seattle.indymedia.org/local/webcast/uploads/blindspot2.pdf">5</a>
<a 
href="http://seattle.indymedia.org/local/webcast/uploads/blindspot_wrap-up.pdf">5</a>