n16 arrests

Just three comments about the mobilzation agasint the TABD in Cincinatti:

1) The turnout was quite low and part of the reason is that so-called "liberal" constituencies that have serious membership -- e.g., organized labor and mainstream enviro groups -- were concerned about the confrontations between so-called "radical" (self-styled "anti-capitalist blocs") and the police. Tear gas, property destruction, arrests, etc. So they stayed away.

2) The events that were organized by CHE and Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch -- namely, the rally/press conf at Fountain Sq and the Teach-In at St. Peter in Chains, both on Thursday -- were successful. A multi-sectoral critique of corporate globalization was described and proclaimed at both events, which the mainstream media covered fairly well.

3) The "direct action" seems to have consisted of some folks leaving the permitted march route on Friday, knocking some stuff over and moving some barricades, maybe breaking a window or two, and then getting gassed and divided up by riot-geared and mounted cops. I'm a little surprised that nothing more creative was planned by the CDAC or any of the affinity groups who came to Southern Ohio to help expose the pernicious agenda of the TABD. There were probably some more clever and energetic actions that haven't been reported in the Cincy rags; I look forward to hearing about them.

Concl: the elements of the anti-corporate gloablization "movement" need to coordinate better and avoid marginalizing one another in the planning of these big tent actions.

Mike Dolan

pretty cozy comments for one that isn't in cincinnati. as an iww union organizer i find your excuses a little bit arrogant and condescending. go vote for nader and make the poor suffer!

All the following links are clickable at the OhioValleyIMC.org message linked to at the end. CLICK the link at the end to get in the loop.

N16 TABD. LINKS, latest PHOTOS, AUDIO, and more.

N16.org is easy to remember, and the links there eventually lead to all the links below. N16.org homepage also has an updated calendar and schedule of events.

TransAtlantic Business Dialog (TABD) protests in Cincinnati, Ohio. November 15-18, 2000.

N16 TABD PHOTOS. Day 2. November 17, 2000. And a report.
http://blackleatherrain.tripod.com/DayTwo.html

N16 TABD PHOTOS. Day 1. November 16, 2000. And a report.
http://blackleatherrain.tripod.com/DayOne.html

Live audio webcast of TABD coverage. News and music. From Media Bridges in Cincinnati, and its cable access studios. To call in live reports or comments, dial (513) 651-4171. Email n16_dan [at] yahoo.com
http://www.microradio.net/metafile/ecb.pls

Ohio Valley IndyMedia Center.
http://ohiovalleyimc.org

N16.org and Cincinnati Direct Action Coalition CDAC).
http://n16.org

Coalition for a Humane
Economy. One of the main organizers of the TABD protests and events.
http://che-2000.org

Cincinnati CityBeat. Alt-weekly. November 16 issue is all about TABD and protests.
http://www.citybeat.com/issue/index.shtml

Cincinnati Direct Action egroup (around 200 subscribers).
http://www.egroups.com/messages/CincinnatiDA

CHE2000 (Coalition for a Humane Economy) egroup (around 70
subscribers).
http://www.egroups.com/messages/che2000

Go to N16.org and CHE-2000.org and especially
OhioValleyIMC.org for much more TransAtlantic Business Dialog (TABD) protests info, such as calendars, schedules, trainings, meetings, food, shelter, convergences, live web-radio, and many more links. Go to egroups CincinnatiDA (around 200 subscribers) and che2000 (around 70 subscribers) to get in to some of the activist loops and to see the email list archives. Click the direct egroups links above, or use the search engine at the egroups.com home page, and search for the egroup name. Then go to that egoup's homepage and subscribe. Then click the subscriber-activated "messages" link to see the up-to-date list archives. Click CityBeat link above for current (November 16) issue of alt-weekly Cincinnati CityBeat which is all about TABD and protests.

Please copy, mirror, forward, or paste this list of links and info everywhere! This is a portable temporary autonomous zone.
Copy and paste away. :)

=============

N16 TABD PHOTOS. Day 2. November 17, 2000. And a report.
http://blackleatherrain.tripod.com/DayTwo.html Mirror copy follows:

TABD Protests

Cincinnati, Ohio

Day 2: March and Protests

Here are a quick collection of pictures taken from November 17th's march on 4th street, past the Omni Netherland (where the TABD is meeting), and a protest on Fountain Square.

I'm going to share a few personal experiences from this afternoon, both positive and negative, and recount my observations. Number one, I did not make it to the rally this late morning that led to the march, as I was working, so I met the march near the beginning of their route and followed them to fountain square.

Here are some things I noticed along the way:

Before I met the march, I took a few photos of the cops that were waiting in preparation for the people to arrive. There were, to say the very least, a considerable number of them (for Cincinnati standards -- Seattle, DC and LA crowds would have laughed at the number of cops here). As I walked down 4th street, I encountered an officer who was explaining logistics to a cameraman (both were waiting for the marchers to arrive), saying "If they're wearing all black with a black mask on, they go around and SMASH stuff," 'SMASH', of course, being accompanied by this wild hand gesture akin to a sledgehammer coming down with great force.

I met the crowd as they wound their way past the Taft museum on 4th and was happy with the numbers. For those of you who don't know Cincinnati, you may think 1-1.5 thousand (and that's a high estimate, by the way) people showing up is measly -- but in Cincinnati it's rare to get crowds of that number that aren't around to drink or watch fireworks. I heard many comments from passersby about the lack of numbers, so public opinion may be that it's a failed protest. Those of us who have lived here all our lives know better.

One thing that struck me about the crowd was both the plethora of diversity, and the -lack- of it. Here we have those who would be the black bloc wearing black with hoods and masks and chanting mightily, you have the environmentalists, human rights organizers, economic justice fighters -- a plethora of causes and emotions in this huge mass of energy that is bewildering to behold, but what we're also seeing is a crowd that is, unfortunately, also 95% or more caucasian. When I get time, I'll link to some articles here from Z Magazine regarding "where was the color in Seattle?", and it will most likely be applicable here. Diversity of ages, beliefs and even religions is not enough if American protesting is limited to a largely white constituency.

Another thing that was incredibly obvious was the amount of spirit the crowd had. I found myself wishing more than once that I had brought a tape recorder of some sort, so I could replay the chants, the songs and the rhythms that were emerging from the crowd. "Sounds of Democracy". :-)

I will add more to this when I have a chance..

-----------------------------------


Without further ado, here are pictures from today's march & protest. They were taken by yours truly, but are free for anyone's use. Feel free to use these in webpages, in print or in other alternative media. I would appreciate it if you'd let me know at
RuneWitch [at] hotmail.com
if you'll be using this, and let me know where I can see it. Thanks.


Picture #1: Before the protests, officers are on duty to ensure that the entrances to the Omni are well guarded.

Picture #2: More well-guarded territory outside of the Omni.

Picture #3: Officers on Fourth Street chat with a passerby as they wait for the marchers to arrive.

Picture #4: The well-informed cop who was teaching the cameraman how to spot a destructive activist ("If they wear all black with a black mask, they go around and SMASH stuff...").

Picture #5: The march begins!

Picture #6: Close-up of activists and their messages.

Picture #7: More close-ups.

Picture #8: Rounding
the bend to the financial district.

Picture #9: Marching for justice!

Picture #10: Amen, brother.

Picture #11: Unite!

Picture #12: Legal observers and camerapeople walk ahead of the marchers, keeping an eye on the protests.

Picture #13: More march shots.

Picture #14: Outside of the Omni, the people send their message.

Picture #15: Free Peltier!

Picture #16: Scrawled on the walls of the Omni, "Dismantle the World Beast".

Picture #17: #17 and #18 are some interesting shots of a playful activist and an oblivious or extremely patient officer.

Picture #18: Would this be considered dancing, or prancing?

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This, of course, is all I have for now. I hope to get more pictures up of the other pieces of the protest as they come in.

In Solidarity,

Laura

--------------------------------

Go Back to Day One

==============

Mirror of webpage with Day 2 photo links ends.

What would you know about it ass hole we had 1500 activists from the region throw down without any nationwide support. Go to hell. I want to meet you, greet you, and ??????

go ninja go! for the ammount of organizing that went into anti-TABD protests. i think we kicked some ass....and the people had power. we talked abotu building an anti-capitalist movement not just anti-globalization at the ralley. and then we did actaully attack capitalism...not just globalization. and then people when everyone decided that the way the polcie were goign was not the way wanted to ..that we we infact autonomous free peopel that we coudl infact DO WHAT WE WANTED TO. and neither their horses our their riot gear stopped us! ...........their teargas and burtality and pepper spray did....by sepperating us. but hey this is suposed to be inspirational. we didnt shut down the TABD. but we did punish the banking district/city, and discover that we do have power!. hope the rockin keeps up for everybody!

As a sympathetic reporter who filed a story live from Fridays events I must contest the estimate of 1,500 people attendinmg that demonstration. I have attended scores of demos in many cities and am a pretty good judge of crowd sizes. I even video-taped that demo from a high vantage point and could count heads to substantiate my estimate of just under 500. I was wholeheartedly in support of the protest and attended the anti-World Bank/ IMF event in D.C. as a participant but as a journalist I strive for accuracy and I believe it serves no good purpose to inflate numbers - even when law enforcement often deflates them.

it is way harder in corporate, conservative cities than in SF or Seattle or some other progressive cities where there are large groups of people who always are organizing against globalization/capitalism issues. there is little activism and it is hard to get people out in cities where things are already so fucked no one cares anymore, or they want it that way. maybe all those great progressive/radical organizers who can be cocky and get 500 people out in a weeks notice in their cities should move somewhere where it isn't so comfortable to be active, where there is little support, and even less actions than groups in the city. maybe they should come try and work their magical charm on people that would just assume drink and watch tv as to actually care about anything. see how well they hold up here where there is no support base, welcome to the rust belt.

Mike Dolan needs some constructive critisim himself. He complains about numbers, for what must be the largest, most untied, and militant protest the city of Cincinnati has seen in a long long time. Maybe if we were willing to deal with facsits like Pat Buchanan or union busting industrialist like Andrew Milikan like Mr. Dolan is we would have had higher numbers. But I don't want to live in a tent that big Mr. Dolan .... I don't share my tent with racists, union-busters, and anti-semites .... why do you?

You shit!!! Can't wait to meet you some day! You don't live here you arent here and you tried to discourage folks from coming here. Fuck you

I just got back from N16 and I'd like to say
Mr. Dolan is simply wrong.
First of all, yes - turnout was not gigantic. But
given the amount of publicity this was given, which in
my opinion wasn't nearly as much as most other national
protests, the turnout was good and a diverse crowd. I, a anarchist (the "anti-capitalist" euphemism is not needed)
proudly march hand in hand with a fifty year old peace
activist.
As for the mainstream "liberal" environmental and labor
groups - yes - they would have added numbers - but let
us remember that it is their lack of taking real stands
for their beliefs and their continual compromises which
have let any type of real social and environmental change
be sold down the river. We took a stand against corporate globalization and its attendant institutions, and
we realize those are but the latest phase of the
growth of capitalism. If they're views are too mild
to join us and they are too lily-livered to take to the
streets b\c they fear the police, then that's their fault
and not ours.
As for the self-proclaimed "anti-capitalists", let me
say that we, as anarchists, are just as vital as any more
mainstream group for the movement. As long as we march
down the path the police( the state, and multi-national
corporations) tell us too, we are going to be marching
straight to our own graves. The black bloc did the right
thing by showing the authorities that their veneer of control was but an illusion. I myself saw people
inspired by our march jump out of their cars and stare, glued to their windows, and take note of our message -
and many who applauded our actions. Success will not be gained through piece-meal appeasal of main-stream groups,
over hierarchical organization, or "playing by the rules"
the police or DAN set for them, but by seizing the streets
and their communities through their own autonomous action.
So, while career activists sit back and drink their
Starbucks Fair Exchange Coffee while critiquing protests,
I say seize the streets, rally, and throw that brick
through the Starbucks Window - b/c Mr. Dolan, we
need no more "by the books" protests. The TABD and the
rich are raging a war against humanity and we must fight back. So, sit back and drink that Coffee and whine - but the
Black Bloc knows that "in all your decadence people die"
and we're going to act on that belief - like it or not.

Hairball

Mike Dolan's assessment of why "liberal" and trade union forces weren't a major factor in the convergence in Cinn. ignores the painfully obvious. Having devoted enormous energy, money, and time to turning out the vote for Al, these forces are now trying to assess the kind of damage control that will be necessary if Bush wins, and are in a state of acute paralysis..everywhere.

(Just for starters,imagine a Bush Justice Department investigation into the AFL-CIO leadership's financial shinanigans with the Democratic National Committee during the Carey-Hoffa election in the Teamsters..you get the drift.)

Dolan's usual regional (left coast) chauvinism also is a factor here. Efforts at mass mobilizations in the Midwest cities have historically received little attention from movement folks on both coasts..whose preceptions of the organizing in the heartland are often shaped by the view at 30,000 feet as they jet from San Francisco to Washington. The success or failure of the Ohio mobilization must be measured by local conditions and circumstances. And using these guidlines, the mobilization was a victory for the anti-globalization movement in the Midwest..and everywhere else.

So here's a challenge to Dolan. Instead of whining about the Black Bloc and the relative size of the convergence in Cinn., why don't you roll up your sleeves and start working to build for a Counterinaugural convergence in DC on Jan 20th to greet whatever clown our corporate overlords finally decide to install in the Oval Office. Check DC-IMC for more details. That's what many midwest activists are beginning to do. Perhaps you can also take the opportunity to point out to those distressed liberals and labor bureaucrats (and your donor base) that if Dubya wins..they'll have no place else to go..but back into the streets.

Yes, I was in Cincy. It was a lot of fun!! Very positive. The Cincy Police over-reacted to a lot of stuff. But who cares about them? They're a bunch of assholes. And about voting for Nader-- I voted for him twice now. You say I should vote for him again? O.K. I think I will. Ralph Nader is trying to help poor people. And HAS done just that in the past. The only thing that suffers is your poor confused mind. ....... Fitz

I flew to my hometown Cincy for N16 and have mixed feelings about it that will no doubt piss everyone off.
Postive Note: it was great seeing Cincy having to react to some real progressive discourse. We call call this a success. Of course Cincy is ground Zero for right-wing media, but our messege filtered through. CityBeat's coverage was fun and informative, Channel 5 news was as good as could be expected...
Negative Note: Cincy progressives have to take a good look at themselves and assess why exactly didn't they get the trade-union/church/eco support (hell, high school support) they could have.
How extensive was and IS the diplomacy to these institutions? How much of our message is being ignored because the messengers are all anti-religious, slacker punk animal rightists anarchists?
Our visual language, our dress, our radical cliches are all a different language to the average Cincinnatian who NEVER comes into contact with our progressive ideas and people. Because Cincy is so conservative, the reaction against Cincy as embodied by our local punk/anarchist scene is that much more extreme. It is an existential reaction in which people's personal expression takes precedent over the attempt to build bridges between young idealists and our natural constituencies (Unions, Churches, Mainstream liberals, Young people). Someone above was right, there wasn't much besides rally and march for people to do.
What is the plan now? How will we build a progressive force in Cincy that can appeal and endure? To be good activists we must sacrifice our pride and sometimes our personal preferences for the good of the cause. I suspect few will do this, citing some mythological system that they on principle (read: dispositionally) do not want to be part of. Sad. But the heavy-lifting of organizing requires smart activism, not dumb activism. You let down those who suffer when you hold your ground against prudent decision-making. For example, we needed more American flags -- and not upside down ones; we needed *readable* signs, not sloppy, yet oh, so personally crayon ones; we needed less peace and love, anarchist posing, hippie-dippie bullshit and more arguments, outreach, concrete organizing, clarity in message (How is Mumia going to forward our cause? Not one iota), and smart, smart organzing. We must check ourselves...
eratzman [at] princeton.edu

hahaha.. boy, yeah, it was so fun.. yeah, until i got indirectly maced in the police brutality march and then arrested for trying to walk back to my car with 2 other people and 1 poor tagalong we didn't know who turned out to be a minor, poor guy. i just wanted to get the fuck out of cincy and they fucking forced me to spend 2 nights in jail. i did what the asshole pigs told me to do, gave them my purple bandana (jeez, it wasn't even black) and walked south but gosh, i wasn't able to do so until i "hit the water" because there were some pigs on horses up ahead who trapped some other random protestors trying to leave.

ok... i started writing this a couple hours ago and then got caught up in reading the DA list and such and now i don't feel like writing anymore. i wrote out a brief description of what happened on the list, though.

-katy

fitz,
sorry dude. you don't help the poor by dictating to them. you listen to them. that is why there aren't any minorities in the Green party, oops over generalization from my poor little feeble mind that doesn't agree with your condescending ass.