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Street Report from the G20
The G20 in Pittsburgh showed us how pitifully fearful our leaders have become.
What no terrorist could do to us, our own leaders did.
Out of fear of the possibility of a terrorist attack, authorities militarize our towns, scare our people away, stop daily life and quash our constitutional rights.
For days, downtown Pittsburgh, home to the G20, was a turned into a militarized people-free ghost town. Sirens screamed day and night. Helicopters crisscrossed the skies. Gunboats sat in the rivers. The skies were defended by Air Force jets. Streets were barricaded by huge cement blocks and fencing. Bridges were closed with National Guard across the entrances. Public transportation was stopped downtown. Amtrak train service was suspended for days.
In many areas, there were armed police every 100 feet. Businesses closed. Schools closed. Tens of thousands were unable to work.
Four thousand police were on duty plus 2500 National Guard plus Coast Guard and Air Force and dozens of other security agencies. A thousand volunteers from other police forces were sworn in to help out.
Police were dressed in battle gear, bulky black ninja turtle outfits - helmets with clear visors, strapped on body armor, shin guards, big boots, batons, and long guns.
In addition to helicopters, the police had hundreds of cars and motorcycles , armored vehicles, monster trucks, small electric go-karts.
There were even passenger vans screaming through town so stuffed with heavily armed ninja turtles that the side and rear doors remained open.
No terrorists showed up at the G20.
Since no terrorists showed up, those in charge of the heavily armed security forces chose to deploy their forces around those who were protesting.
Not everyone is delighted that 20 countries control 80% of the world's resources. Several thousand of them chose to express their displeasure by protesting.
Unfortunately, the officials in charge thought that it was more important to create a militarized people-free zone around the G20 people than to allow freedom of speech, freedom of assembly or the freedom to protest.
It took a lawsuit by the Center for Constitutional Rights and the ACLU to get any major protest permitted anywhere near downtown Pittsburgh. Even then, the police "forgot" what was permitted and turned people away from areas of town. Hundreds of police also harassed a bus of people who were giving away free food - repeatedly detaining the bus and searching it and its passengers without warrants.
Then a group of young people decided that they did not need a permit to express their human and constitutional rights to freedom. They announced they were going to hold their own gathering at a city park and go down the deserted city streets to protest the G20. Maybe 200 of these young people were self-described anarchists, dressed in black, many with bandanas across their faces. The police warned everyone these people were very scary. My cab driver said the anarchist spokesperson looked like Harry Potter in a black hoodie. The anarchists were joined in the park by hundreds of other activists of all ages, ultimately one thousand strong, all insisting on exercising their right to protest.
This drove the authorities crazy.
Battle dressed ninja turtles showed up at the park and formed a line across one entrance. Helicopters buzzed overhead. Armored vehicles gathered.
The crowd surged out of the park and up a side street yelling, chanting, drumming, and holding signs. As they exited the park, everyone passed an ice cream truck that was playing "It's a small world after all." Indeed.
Any remaining doubts about the militarization of the police were dispelled shortly after the crowd left the park. A few blocks away the police unveiled their latest high tech anti-protestor toy. It was mounted on the back of a huge black truck. The Pittsburgh-Gazette described it as Long Range Acoustic Device designed to break up crowds with piercing noise. Similar devices have been used in Fallujah, Mosul and Basra Iraq. The police backed the truck up, told people not to go any further down the street and then blasted them with piercing noise.
The crowd then moved to other streets. Now they were being tracked by helicopters. The police repeatedly tried to block them from re-grouping ultimately firing tear gas into the crowd injuring hundreds including people in the residential neighborhood where the police decided to confront the marchers. I was treated to some of the tear gas myself and I found the Pittsburgh brand to be spiced with a hint of kelbasa. Fortunately I was handed some paper towels soaked in apple cider vinegar which helped fight the tears and cough a bit. Who would have thought?
After the large group broke and ran from the tear gas, smaller groups went into commercial neighborhoods and broke glass at a bank and a couple of other businesses. The police chased and the glass breakers ran. And the police chased and the people ran. For a few hours.
By day the police were menacing, but at night they lost their cool. Around a park by the University of Pittsburgh the ninja turtles pushed and shoved and beat and arrested not just protestors but people passing by. One young woman reported she and her friend watched Grey's Anatomy and were on their way back to their dorm when they were cornered by police. One was bruised by police baton and her friend was arrested. Police shot tear gas, pepper spray, smoke canisters, and rubber bullets. They pushed with big plastic shields and struck with batons.
The biggest march was Friday. Thousands of people from Pittsburgh and other places protested the G20. Since the court had ruled on this march, the police did not confront the marchers. Ninja turtled police showed up in formation sometimes and the helicopters hovered but no confrontations occurred.
Again Friday night, riot clad police fought with students outside of the University of Pittsburgh. To what end was just as unclear as the night before.
Ultimately about 200 were arrested, mostly in clashes with the police around the University.
The G20 leaders left by helicopter and limousine.
Pittsburgh now belongs again to the people of Pittsburgh. The cement barricades were removed, the fences were taken down, the bridges and roads were opened. The gunboats packed up and left. The police packed away their ninja turtle outfits and tear gas and rubber bullets. They don't look like military commandos anymore. No more gunboats on the river. No more sirens all the time. No more armored vehicles and ear splitting machines used in Iraq. On Monday the businesses will open and kids will have to go back to school. Civil society has returned.
It is now probably even safe to exercise constitutional rights in Pittsburgh once again.
The USA really showed those terrorists didn't we?
61 Comments so far
Show AllGod Bless Merika land of the free!
Business as usual in the land of the "free".
Your "pitifully fearful leaders" aren't nearly so fearful as the populace they lead -- which is, of course, the whole point of the exercise.
They've simply discovered that many of the same tactics of fear and intimidation that they've always used elsewhere in the world can also be employed against their domestic targets. And, having been very successful so far with little or no consequences for themselves, and in the complete absence of any obvious likelihood of any future reprisals on the home front, you ain't seen nuthin' yet.
Americans have reached the "point of no return" so far as I can see. The U.S. establishment system has made itself impervious to any remedies that its citizenry isn't too fearful even to try.
In July of 2001 at the G-7 summit in Genoa Italy for the first time ever American anti-aircraft missile defenses were set up to protect the summit. On at least one night George W. Bush was flown out to an American aircraft carrier surrounded by its attack group to sleep (there was no “Mission Accomplished” moment). An American aircraft carrier and its attack group is the strongest anti-aircraft defense system on planet Earth.
The next week it was announced that Attorney General John Ashcroft would no longer fly aboard Commercial Airliners due to an unspecified “threat assessment”.
On the afternoon of 9/11/2001 George W. Bush and members of his cabinet started taking the antibiotic Cipro, the specific antibiotic to prevent the contraction of anthrax if one is exposed to the disease.
Thank you for the perspective and the reminder re 9/11 --
and the still "unsolved" Anthrax attack on our Congress which
permitted the fascist Patriot Act to go forward.
Both of which blurred and buried challenges to the stolen election of 2000.
.
"According to all myth, the female - not the male -- gives life"
thats it folks! if you have a preplanned event you give
them the time needed. if we are to have successful demonstrations
they are going to have to be the flash type where thousands
show up with no warning demonstrate and leave as quickly as
they came disbursing around planned bus and train schedules.
this how it must be done.if we do nothing now the whole
world will fall into this as well and then things would get
really drastic.
Fantastic! I saw one of those viral crowds taking place in Toronto, one afternoon. It's the most creative use for cell phones I can think of.
Of course, the notion of "unlawful assembly" in your own public streets is outrageous, isn't it?
genicon
When enough people have nothing left to lose, protesting will be replaced with insurgency.There is a limit on how many thugs will be willing to face armed and pissed off fellow citizens, especially if they number in the millions.
What is the ratio of occupiers vs. insurgents for an occupation to succeed? anybody know
1 to 1 might do it.
2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston: Americans were put into protest pens. George Bush was in power and the Democrats were silent.
2009 in Pittsburgh: Nothing much has changed except Obama is in power.
Exactly.
Obama is just as committed as Bush was in stopping anyone who dare question those who rule the world.
That's why it's called "change you can believe in."
Pitiful citizens herded like cattle at the slaughter of Freedom at the hands of other citizens. America, to dumb to survive. Fascism lives!
Thank you Mr. Quigley. You hit the nail right through the head on the issue of terrorism and class. People who are not monied and are defenseless are ready to be persecuted at while those with the stolen loot will buy themselves out of trouble any day and if they don't have enough, Uncle Sam will "bail" them out ! Makes me want to give Uncle Sam a big boot kick !
There was a spontaneous anti-cop march by the arrested students and others Saturday night - this time no arrests. So, on the bright side, a lot of formerly apathetic suburban white college kids have now been radicalized.
Good accounts of the Friday cop-riot here:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09270/1001203-482.stm
Got to thank those who protested in Pittsburgh. Good show. Well done.
Perhaps what happened did not make the evening news but there are now thousands in Pittsburgh that saw the police state in action.
One protester Luke Rudowski stood between the police and the protesters speaking to the people about the loss of their constitutional rights to freedom, assembly and right of free speech. He then turn on the cops and admonished them for taking a oath to support the constitution and then suppressing the rights of the protesters. He then turned to the crowds and told them if they wanted to support the cops suppression of their rights to go shopping and use a credit card. All this while a LRAD sound weapon was attacking the crowd. Luke pointed out that it damages hearing and was used in Iraq and Afghanistan against our enemies and now is being used in the US against it people.
Excellent show of police brutality, good example of American fascism and the people of Pittsburgh now know all about it first hand. As the city was shut down and protests were not allowed and those that took place were not allowed anywhere near the summit they happened in the streets in residential neighborhoods where everyone could see the faces of the ninja turtles that were attacking their own people. Protect and serve my ass. The children of Pittsburgh were watching and now know what their country is really like.
Dittoes on Thank you, Pittsburgh Protesters!
The Miami demonstration against "free" trade (in support of its opposite, _Fair_ trade) on November 17-21 in 2003 was attacked by John F. Timony and "Timoney and (Miami Mayor Manny) Diaz suspended the constitution to achieve their version of 'homeland defense,'" said Brenna Bell, a lawyer with a group called Miami Activist Defense. Timony became an instant crowd-control hero among American fascists and was hired to manage other cities during events like the National Democratic and Republican conventions, and the G-20 in Pittsburgh.
Mayor Diaz said that the massive Miami police operation to avoid a repeat of the riots that marred a 1999 World Trade Organization meeting was a model for post-Sept. 11, 2001, U.S. defense against domestic attack.
John Sweeney, former president of the U.S. labor federation AFL-CIO (now Mr. Trumka), which represents around 13 million trade union members, said that the crushing of dissent in Miami enabled him to understand, "that the protesters' basic right to have their voices heard was severely restricted, and that all Americans' civil liberties" are threatened by such police actions as we have recently witnessed.
It is as if our professional killers (Marines, Blackwater mercenaries, and returning soldiers) who were hired to manage Iraq, Afghanistan, torture in black sites, etc. have come back home to staff police forces led by such people as Mr. Timony. Fearful authorities (such as the mayor in the movie "Battle in Seattle") plan strategy long in advance of such gatherings as G-20. The plan is to put experienced-with-killing troops in battle gear on the streets to squirt spray, tear-gas, and shoot rubber bullets and sound cannons at ordinary citizens. The experience these men have with killing the enemy easily enables them to map onto their fellow citizens the demeaning, dehumanizing label of "enemy."
In order to combat this fascist take-over of America, we who object must convince the individual policemen who brutally throw people onto the pavement, etc. that we are in fact fellow citizens--on the same side--and that the enemy is a chimera, a phantom created by Mr. Bush and other fearful authority figures to push unity and coherence onto our society.
Pittsburgh does not belong to the people of Pittsburgh just because the police presence disappeared (temporarily). Nowhere in America does the site belong to the citizens and property owners. These things are illusions, phantoms. We do know who it really belongs to. And we know John Timoney will be in charge at the next gathering and that ever newer experiments in crowd control and dispersal will be used against us.
>>
The experience these men have with killing the enemy easily enables them to map onto their fellow citizens the demeaning, dehumanizing label of "enemy."
<<
These same people spit out the word 'civilian'; they have great disdain for non-military personnel. And, finally, they are joining our local police forces. And, in their own way, they are clueless. They have no idea how brainwashed they have become by 'authority' and authoritarians. None of this bodes well.
You have hit upon a very important point. What are all these "contractors" going to do in the future? Many will end up here in our own backyard, and they have no problem pulling the trigger. You're worried about the criminal element? Worry about the people in bullet proof vests.
Bill, did the G20 meeting take place in Pittsburgh? I thought it was taking place in Tegucigalpa??? Silly me, I guess?
Where the hell is V when you need him.
I don't watch the MSM, but my guess is they didn't cover the terrorism of innocent kids by our very own Gestapo.
They prefer to focus on street protests in Iran and the undemocratic tactics of an oppressive Iranian regime.
All this leads me to believe, that the teabaggers protest was staged by the government!
thats it folks! if you have a preplanned event you give
them the time needed. if we are to have successful demonstrations
they are going to have to be the flash type where thousands
show up with no warning demonstrate and leave as quickly as
they came disbursing around planned bus and train schedules.
this how it must be done.if we do nothing now the whole
world will fall into this as well and then things would get
really drastic.
I can't help but wonder what might have happened in the total absence of a huge militarized police presence. If those demanding peaceful protests were then able to "police" the so-called "anarchists" allegedly intent on symbolic property destruction.
I suspect that the actual total economic costs to Pittsburgh and the nation would have been a fraction of the costs of militarization of a major American city, and some other meaning would have come out of this fiasco.
-30-
Sioux Rose
A ways back CD published a Pentagon report that stated that urban warfare would be the thing of the future.
It's not just Miami or Pittsburgh. There were the "pre-emptive" arrests of persons intending to protest at the Republican National Convention.
There is the grim evidence of a city left to fall into its own equivalent sewer displayed for all the world to see. (New Orleans after Katrina).
There was the Rodney King beating and the crowd scenes of protest that followed.
I remember a "60 Minutes" program years ago that explained how small towns could purchase out-dated military equipment very cheaply.
The militarization of our nation is almost complete. It's been a slow, seamless threading into the fabric of life, often so subtle that few recognize its presence. Events like these expose the sinister design.
Imagine if those nations that have been on the receiving end of America's military-style "spreading of democracy" abroad, get a glimpse of how it's now being practiced here at home?
Eisenhower rang the warning. Too many towns traded in profits from military contractors over conscience, and the result is that this beast now runs it. Between the military's insatiable lust for profit (and this speaks mostly to the private armies and weapons' contractors), and the bankers' passion for greenbacks, an unsavory marriage has come to replace the faintest notion of that which at rare and precious times passed for a reasonably representative style democratic republic.
There's video on Youtube of a kid getting abducted by military police. They just grab him right off the street.
The American citizens are now being treated by their own government the same as Palestinean citizens are treated by the Israeli government. I think the same gangsters run both countries.
Why didn't those people exercise their right to bear arms? It is clear from what happened in Pheonix that, if you want your free speech, you get the NRA on your side and the police melt away like hot butter.
Somehow though, I suspect that they would take a much different view if G20 protesters showed up armed than if you show up armed in front of a Presidential venue.
Glad Pittsburgh got to see our great nation in action though! maybe a few more eyes were finally opened.
Big Demonstrations need lots of organization and a way to discourage trouble makers.
A big demonstration without permits is asking for trouble and some want that so they can say "see we have no freedom". So, the big one on Friday was peaceful and permitted but then the Anarchists can take off and do damage whenever they get the spirit.
I have been to lots of them and I can usually tell if it is going to turn out looking good or bad beforehand.
Even shouting insults can start off the cops coming down on the crowd.
All it takes is one person to throw something and Bam!
Maybe a Free Speech zone for the Anarchists since they are out to start trouble.
But the peace movement does not have any real authority so the police always have the upper hand and are just waiting for the trouble to start so that they can carry out their trained actions. Sometimes police agents are dressed like Anarchists to start the chaos too.
Small demonstrations are better in that respect, but without permits, the media will not show up at all, but the cops will and they will smack it down... Unless the demonstrators have arranged an understanding with the Mayor. I know folks down here in Florida that would protest every week and even daily but they were peacefully disciplined so they avoided violence. lots of them were silent vigils that seemed to get more positive reaction from the cars driving by.
The main thing that causes a bad image is a mob scene with lots of noise.... it looks bad and scary for the millions who might see it on TV. If you block traffic the commuters hate you and they vote too. A serious silent march is the most effective and peaceful.
We have had some big ones Down here with thousands and no trouble.
I wonder how the people in the Pittsburgh neighborhoods felt about the cops chasing demonstrators through their streets?
I am sure many would blame the protesters since not a great many Americans even know what the the G20 is.
Well, now they know what the War is.
The beat goes on... never give up.
Jim,
Can you give me a single example where the "anarchist trouble" was not in retaliation to the attacks from the pigs? The police violence against us on Thurdsay was completely unprovoked, OK?
I have seen our formerly effective local organizing center reduces to irrelevance by nonviolence-extremists like you. Saying "fuck", setting up dumpster barricades, and breaking a little glass owned by the corporations that oppress us is not violence, OK?
Meanwhile the permitted demonstration of Friday was an utter waste of my time - and, later Friday, the head organizer for the permitted action got arrested anyway. Hopefully, it has been an education for him.
Recall Oakland, California this last January? Which type of action got the killer of Oscar Grant arrested? Singing kumbaya or burning some cars?
You say "setting up dumpster barricades, and breaking a little glass owned by the corporations that oppress us is not violence, OK?"
Well you just made my point, if you set up barricades and break windows that is against the law so the cops will come after you and you know it, so don't give me that crap!
Burning cars will get you arrested too and that is fine with me.
Yes, getting arrested goes with it - that is fine. Please understand that you also get arrested if yout actiuons are completely "nonviolent", and indeed it most of the viscios police actions occurred before a single thing was vandalized. You seem to have trouble understanding the significance of this chronology of the events.
You didn't reply to my remark about the effectiveness of your Oscar Grant actions in Oakland, California.
We do know, from many, many examples over the past few decades, that your apporach is ineffective. Another apporach is needed. You seem to be an unwitting victim of the corporate media's smear campaign. Please get acquainted with some anarchists in your local community. Her in Pittsburgh, I dont agree with all their politics, but they are the only people who are axctually walking the walk and building real alternative commuiity.
www.organizepittsburgh.org
My Grandfather was an Anarchist but he didn't hurt nothin or nobody. I am talkin about the vandals and trouble makers, the provocateurs.
Oakland again... OK so you think burning cars forced the arrest of a murder suspect? That's ridiculous. You sound disappointed that you didn't get to burn cars in Pittsburgh.
Of course you can get arrested just standing near when the confrontation gets out of hand... that is why protests need discipline.
If you are violent you deserve what you get. That does not mean innocents will not get in trouble but the chances of violence increase with your actions of breaking the law because the police have their job to do, so you make it easy for them to arrest bystanders or Peaceful Demonstrators. Yes, not all Anarchists start the trouble but what you are defending (burning cars and breaking windows) what the vandals do is run leaving the nonviolent protesters to get arrested... and your brave heros run. That is cowardly! get it? .... COWARDLY!.
Your tactics are not only ineffective, they are harmful to the Peace and Justice movement.
Your actions also justify the hiring of more cops. The police state depends on you.
People got arrested plenty in the civil rights movement for non violent resistance and it was effective... so in my opinion if you want violence go do it but keep out of the the demonstrations until you learn to be a responsible citizen.
My friend Anne Feeney was there she was conducting herself the way it should be.
So don't come cryin to me when you get what's coming. No sympathy here for your attitude and harmful tactics.
What would Hitler do? What will you do? You have a chance to prove who you really are--come to DC and see--Help reveal the true heart of this republic--make history while there is history to be made--don't listen to those who say it can't be done they already have enough ears--listen to the call of freedom and put away your fears, Sing the songs of righteousness, dance the evil powers down--when the tanks come swarming in don't listen to their sound.
Call out to the whole wide world and say do you trust them now--their cloak and mask are stripped away--it's an evil power.
SEVEN DAYS AND COUNTING
When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
2.1 We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
2.2 That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.
2.3 Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
2.4 But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. "Live free or die"
Sorry Bill. It's not fear of "the possibility of a terrorist attack" at all. It's fear of the people finally rising up and resisting their oppression by the moneyed class.
I keep telling you to rent and watch "Children of Men" - do it already.
The rebels among the populace will be labelled "terrorists"; the habit is already in place.
Gaza is coming to a city near you. I hope that at least some among the members of Pittsburgh's Finest, all dolled-up like warriors from outer space the other night, feel some shame. The video showed a few who certainly didn't.
Bring back the pillory. The mayor would benefit from a couple of days in the stocks.
Based on past articles by Bill Quigley that I've read, you're surely not teaching him anything. And it's a joke to think that "Gaza is coming to a city near you" when speaking of the USA. I wouldn't compare the U.S. even under martial law with the situation of Palestinians. The government of the USA is not going to start bombing cities, towns and villages in the USA; and it's not going to fire white phosphorous, cluster and massive bombs in the USA.
The government of the U.S. also won't demolish homes or neighbourhoods. Heh, you're safe from that. After all, bankers would want to repossess these properties and try to sell them to whoever would buy them. We know that bankers only make money from other people's money and possessions.
Whew! what relief! I was worried there, for a moment, distracted by a memory of state police gunning down students armed with flowers.
Toronto had a similarly shameful scene at Queen's Park a couple of years ago - space invaders versus the poor.
Overwhelming force is all the rage these days.
We do not want the MSM to be there, they will only distort the facts to fit their ideology. The alternative media should be there. Those who are interested will find the truth. To the rest, give them football.
It interesting how the United States of America can spent literally BILLIONs and War and security.
They have militarized their Police forces and Given them Body armor and helicopters and Armored vehicles.
They call out the national Guard and forcibly BEAT citizens into small "Free Speech Zones".
They wail into groups of unarmed Citizens with batons and tear gas and mass arrests.
They in fact make WAR on the people. A war on dissent.
They are not defending the LIFE of any persons. They are defending the system that has been created .
They defend Capitalism and the "Rights" of the few to control all the wealth over the rights of the many to control any.
There are as I see it 4 distinct groups.
Those with the power and money the ultimate masters and who the police State will defend to the end. This a distinct minority.
Those without either whom are seen as the enemy and whom the Police State wars upon. These people muster in the streets and protest the injustice.
Those that out of fear for their own jobs and their own security who remain on the sidelines , in their hearts allies of those that march but whom fear the repercussions of making a stand.
Those that are COMPLIANT and side with the State in the belief their own Stature will be increased by the benevolence of those in power.
In the end the buck must stop at Obama.
In the end the buck must stop at Obama.
Thanks Jim Glover for explaining some of the strategies and tactics of organized peaceful protest these days.
Back in the Sixties I never actually took part in protests on the two big issues of the day: the War against Viet Nam, and the Civil Rights Movement. I merely was in the streets with camera and notepad, and in some meetings of organizers and many meetings of local legislative bodies, as a reporter. Back then I also did a lot of reading.
Back then, one of the strategic arguments was that if your own organization was ever going to gain sufficient "legitimacy" to actually "negotiate with the enemy" (in this case The Government) it usually helped to have a more ragtag group of "fringe elements" to your so-called Left. Back then they were often referred to as "Anarchists" as they are today.
I suspect that this basic paradigm remains today. The "Anarchists" perform at a certain level intended to "legitimize" the main opposition to the policies of the prevailing system. In a sense they are equivalent to "black ops" of the government. Of course this can never be organized and must be spontaneous, else it will be held to be a conspiracy.
Two events stand out here: Chicago, 1968, and Seattle. The events became totally and utterly spontaneous. We need more of this. Much more. We need an uprising.
-30-
Thanks OleManRiver,
I was at some of the demonstrations in Chicago and learned some things.
The main thing is to not give up and show the public that the peace movement is an uprising of more civil, common sense than the policies of War.
If the uprising becomes the violent angry mob, we come closer to the future we all fear.
Our forefathers knew this well because it took a lot of courage, letters, organization, many representatives, Congresses, state militias and the Continental Army along with a slim majority of the people to win and more... and yet the struggle still goes on against Empire.
Demonstrations that show us to be leaders for peace are needed and we should not rely only on the streets for our message
because that is another trap.
The Peace movement sure helped get Obama elected, so no more contributions for big parties until they end the War. That is a message that they might understand.
Obama should not be re-elected in 2012 and probably expects little support then; however, the ruling "elites" decide who becomes president and if they want him again, then they will be able to manage to appoint him, as they did with Bush Jr in 2000, and Bush Jr also did not really win in 2004, either. Obama must surely know this bit of msm news media-ignored history.
I am familiar with your work for human rights, justice and peace, Bill Quigley, and appreciate you and your wife's courage and compassion.
Thank you and the brave protesters at the G20 in Pittsburgh.
Don't forget with the MSM reporting this as much & such that they will, it will be on the lawlessness of the protesters and the necessity of strong armed force to allow the gutless20 to meet in peace and devious planning.
But what is really marked by the great show of force is that this will be what is dished out with any protest on american soil for any reason; reason? the right to protest and object are not a citizen right any more it only belongs to those criminal elitists that believe they are the aristocracy and can't be bothered with people whose lives this new aristocracy has ruined.
And the sad part are the people who are 'protecting' the 20 and sadder still the eagerness in which 1000 from other police forces volunteered to get in on the action without I am sure any questioning of who was really the terrorists here and that is what the protesters are classified as, terrorists, false label but that never bothers liars, crooks, thugs and creeps, all of which makes me wonder just who and what makes up the police who are the law enforcement and what laws they are enforcing.
"A thousand volunteers from other police forces were sworn in to help out." Vuluneers; like unpaid for this so-called work? Geesh. These so-called law enforcers sure evidently enjoy, pervertedly, to work for the real ruling "elites". Heh, such "law" enforcers might be dumb animals alright, but they sure do seem to know where the big money is and who allows them to keep their jobs.
The GW Bush-Cheney administration finalised being able to place the U.S. under martial law with the mere blink of a President's eye; with the "help" of the Congress and Senate, of course. And the Obama admin. seems to enjoy what the previous admin. established for such Presidential privilege. Plenty of articles by different writers were posted at, f.e., www.globalresearch.ca for several years about this.