Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
AFP reports: Protestors rethink strategies after deadly US attacks.
Here is an Agence France Presse report on implications of S11 on upcoming protests.
Thursday September 13, 6:20 AM
Protesters rethink strategies after deadly US attacks
LOS ANGELES, Sept 12 (AFP) -
This week's deadly terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington are prompting
activists to postpone protests and rethink their strategies, groups said Wednesday.
The first casualty could be planned anti-globalization demonstrations at the September
29-30 meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in the US capital.
"Things are definitely on hold," said Patrick Reinsborough of the San Francisco-based
Rainforest Action Network.
"I think it's premature to talk about cancellation," Reinsborough said. "We're in a sort of
wait-and-see mode."
A World Bank spokeswoman said Wednesday that no decision has been made on how to
handle the annual financial meetings of 183 countries, but she added that the issue "of the
timing of the meetings certainly will be discussed in the coming days, giving the tragedy that
has happened."
Activists expressed concern that a loud, possibly violent protest in Washington later this
month -- like recent ones in Genoa, Italy, Quebec City, Canada and Prague -- could
damage support for their causes generated since the 1999 World Trade Organization
protests in Seattle.
"We are not in a position to predict what kind of mood the country will be in (by late
September)," said Soren Ambrose of Washington-based anti-IMF group "50 Years Is
Enough."
"We don't want to violate those sensibilities," Ambrose said Wednesday.
"Previously, we were not in a conversation about whether we should proceed or not,"
added Robert Weissman of Essential Action. "Now we are."
No activist group has pulled out of the IMF-World Bank protests but, "I think you're
hearing the beginnings of that conversation," said Carol Welch of Friends of the Earth, an
environmental group.
"I think people will be a little concerned for their safety," Welch said.
Organizations like the AFL-CIO -- the country's largest labor federation -- "are grappling
with getting financial assistance to the (terrorist) victims' families, and so I think that could
potentially take some resources away that they might have dedicated to the protests."
Reinsborough said his group canceled a public protest this week against paper and lumber
conglomerate Boise Cascade.
"We don't want it to be confused with any doubts that people may have that we stand
united against violence in all its forms, whether it's terrorist violence (or) institutional
violence," he said.
Weissman's Essential Action group was created by Ralph Nader.
Nader's office said Wednesday that the veteran consumer activist and the 2000 Green
Party presidential candidate would be unavailable for comment on the attacks for at least
two more days.
Activists expressed sympathy Wednesday for those killed in Tuesday's multiple strikes,
though some groups used the attacks to repeat opposition to US policies.
The War Resisters League, a small pacifist group, stated on its web site, "may these
profound tragedies remind us of the impact US policies have had on other civilians in other
lands."
Protesters rethink strategies after deadly US attacks
LOS ANGELES, Sept 12 (AFP) -
This week's deadly terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington are prompting
activists to postpone protests and rethink their strategies, groups said Wednesday.
The first casualty could be planned anti-globalization demonstrations at the September
29-30 meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in the US capital.
"Things are definitely on hold," said Patrick Reinsborough of the San Francisco-based
Rainforest Action Network.
"I think it's premature to talk about cancellation," Reinsborough said. "We're in a sort of
wait-and-see mode."
A World Bank spokeswoman said Wednesday that no decision has been made on how to
handle the annual financial meetings of 183 countries, but she added that the issue "of the
timing of the meetings certainly will be discussed in the coming days, giving the tragedy that
has happened."
Activists expressed concern that a loud, possibly violent protest in Washington later this
month -- like recent ones in Genoa, Italy, Quebec City, Canada and Prague -- could
damage support for their causes generated since the 1999 World Trade Organization
protests in Seattle.
"We are not in a position to predict what kind of mood the country will be in (by late
September)," said Soren Ambrose of Washington-based anti-IMF group "50 Years Is
Enough."
"We don't want to violate those sensibilities," Ambrose said Wednesday.
"Previously, we were not in a conversation about whether we should proceed or not,"
added Robert Weissman of Essential Action. "Now we are."
No activist group has pulled out of the IMF-World Bank protests but, "I think you're
hearing the beginnings of that conversation," said Carol Welch of Friends of the Earth, an
environmental group.
"I think people will be a little concerned for their safety," Welch said.
Organizations like the AFL-CIO -- the country's largest labor federation -- "are grappling
with getting financial assistance to the (terrorist) victims' families, and so I think that could
potentially take some resources away that they might have dedicated to the protests."
Reinsborough said his group canceled a public protest this week against paper and lumber
conglomerate Boise Cascade.
"We don't want it to be confused with any doubts that people may have that we stand
united against violence in all its forms, whether it's terrorist violence (or) institutional
violence," he said.
Weissman's Essential Action group was created by Ralph Nader.
Nader's office said Wednesday that the veteran consumer activist and the 2000 Green
Party presidential candidate would be unavailable for comment on the attacks for at least
two more days.
Activists expressed sympathy Wednesday for those killed in Tuesday's multiple strikes,
though some groups used the attacks to repeat opposition to US policies.
The War Resisters League, a small pacifist group, stated on its web site, "may these
profound tragedies remind us of the impact US policies have had on other civilians in other
lands."
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$210.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network
Here are some questions we should start considering and acting upon: How will our political opponents use this terrorist act against our movement; and how will we respond? How will this sudden change in the American political scene curtail the support of liberals and labor in our anti-globalization protests and organizing? How will a change in movement-focus impact out anti-poverty, environmental, and other work not directly related to the crisis of the moment? And what strategy will we employ to not further isolate our movement from the American people, on whom we are totally dependent if any political transformation is to occur?
In addition, now is time for us to respond with compassion to the victims of this violence. It is not time for us to tack our priorities to this crisis. Nor is it a good idea to have our movement associated with such horrible acts of terror. I am against violence in all its forms, precisely because of the terror and horror inherent in violent acts such as what occured on Tuesday. I am sick with sadness as I grieve for the loss of life and the pain and suffering of the loved ones of those dead or injured on Tuesday. I call for all participants in anti-oppression movements to treat any and all responses to the bombings in a serious and respectful manner, and to provide the same level of care and concern that we provide to victims of other violent acts (such as state or corporate forms of violence). I recognize that some who are attracted to the current protest movement in the United States do not share my disdain for violence and exploitation of violence, but I for one am determined to separate myself and my movement from the oppressive political movement of which any supporters of violence are inherently involved.