ACC/RTS Joint Call To Action for April 20th!

RTS/ACC Joint Call To Action for April 20th!
Call To Action: APRIL 20TH!
Joint Statement by the Seattle Chapters of ‘Reclaim The Streets’ and ‘The Anti- Capitalist Convergence’

We must increase and escalate our opposition to corporate capitalism locally, this means being visible, and affirming our rights as citizens. Most of all we declare we have the right to assemble, and have our voices heard. We will exercise this right on the 20th.

We are calling for, and planning a regional day of action for social, economic, and environmental justice on Saturday April 20th. Seattle Reclaim The Streets will be throwing a free street party and celebration, complete with live music, and all sorts of fun events occurring- chalk art, butterfly wings, face painting, juggling, piñatas, etc. RTS events are participatory. What happens is up to you. What is your artistic vision? Reclaim The Streets events always prove a break from the normal “march and get ignored” type events. Many surprises await you. Afterwards, the Seattle Chapter of the Anti-Capitalist Convergence will be staging a march against the start of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund meetings in Washington, DC. We must continue to hold these institutions responsible for the injustices they, in conjunction with global Corporations, are perpetrating locally and throughout the world. Argentina is only the latest example of the failure of a system driven by an exploitative logic that sees human beings as capital, streets as mere conduits for commerce, ecosystems as resources, and culture as simply a commodity. We reject the idea that our world is only valuable in terms of profit, competition and efficiency. We want a world of non- hierarchical structures, based on mutual aid, cooperation, and in balance with the environment. The 20th is also our celebration of the anniversary of the Quebec City protests that showed the world what is possible when the various strands of the global justice movement join together in actions that respect tactical differences. We need a diversity of tactics to challenge corporate power and it’s various manifestations.

With these two events we will show the world our vision of the future while we raise our voices in rejection of the suffering occurring under the current one. If you would like to get involved please contact us immediatetly. We are calling all: medics, affinity groups, collectives, artists, poets, pacifists, punks, anarchists, progressives, socalists, anti-authoritareans, greens, etc. Whatever you call yourself- whatever others label you-whatever your talents- We need everyone interested in creating a better world, so if you want to be a part of the many events of A20 please contact us and come to Seattle. We will be holding a Spokescouncil meeting as the event approaches to shape the days events.

Nothing for us! Everything for Everyone! It's our day: to share and to struggle, to unite and resist, to strive and to triumph. Argentina, Bolivia, Toronto, Quebec, and Seattle: Continue the battle for justice.

Another World Is Possible

-Seattle RTS and Seattle ACC

Contact info:
Umbrella group voice mail: (866) 841-9140 x4918 [toll free]
Anti-Capitalist Convergence: yellowblock [at] riseup.net
Reclaim The Streets: rtsseattle [at] hotmail.com
Local G8 organizing: seattleg8 [at] hotmail.com

General Schedule for April 20th, 2002:
2:00 PM: Seattle G8 is having a Teach-In on the G8 and the effects of
globalization, as well as the massive protests planned for June. They will be showing a video on the G8 protests in Genoa last year. Speakers are confirmed from Halifax, Vancouver, and the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty.
4:00 PM: Reclaim The Streets will be having a free street party with bands and live music, food, puppets, and other hilarity. This is planned as a non-violent event, but people should be aware the cops used massive violence at the last RTS in Seattle so please be prepared.
6:00 PM: The ACC (in conjunction with other groups) will be having a Green and Yellow zoned march against the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Again, please be prepared for the possibility of illegal police violence.

We encourage people to start showing up at 2:00 PM and attending the Teach-In or help prepare for the two later actions. There will be a safe place to eat/talk/relax/plan near SCCC. If you are coming from outside the Seattle area, housing is available for the night of April 19, upon request.

More/older sent out info on the two groups/events
RTS 2: The march/party will be meeting April 20th at SCCC (Seattle Central Community College- corner of Broadway and Pine) at 4PM Email: rtsseattle [at] hotmail.com for more info or to be added to our email Reclaim The Streets events are FREE parties that seek to reclaim what was meant as public space (the street) for public use. To have fun building community at the same time you show people that another world is possible. A RTS party is not about talking about what is wrong with corporate capitalism but showing it. No one RTS is the same -beyond the fact that everything is free- as another and each is the sum total of every participants vision. They are also peaceful protests because they point out for all to see that the street should (and historically did) have other uses then merely the facilitation of commerce through the environmental destruction of the automobile. We are going to have a loose theme (not yet decided) for this RTS but creativity is our strength. So grab/put on: your butterfly wings, your bubbles, your stilts, your bandanna, your Lt. Whelan mask, your poetry, your cleanest pair of socks, your bicycle, and join us for free food, free music, free non-boring speakers, free fun, free kisses, and free freedom. Solidarity- RTS. For more about RTS events visit http://www.reclaimthestreets.net

ACC-
A very brief report. Today was the first action of the Seattle chapter of the ACC (Anti-Capitalist Convergence). The aim of today’s action was to bring needed items directly to those on the streets while hopefully getting a better perspective on the struggles they face. We talked to around 23 people. The low number seemed to be due to the rain/chilly weather and partially us not knowing the best places to go. We started out from near SCCC shortly before 5 in teams of two, and later 6 of us walked the university district. One of the most talkative people we met was a man selling real change on Univ Way. He makes just enough working as a team with his wife to afford a place to sleep every night, but has nothing left over for food and other essential items. He just barely makes do with with Food Banks and free feedings. He told us of the difficulty of street life and how every once in a when it's been raining his feet will get foot rote. It's no fun when your feet are molding, and we gave him 4 pairs of socks. He said he has it better then most people he knows but he hasn't got much hope for the future. A lot of people seemed skeptical of what exactly our agenda was. To them is seems anyone who wants to give them something wants something in return. Some people and groups have had a religious motive while most have just wanted them off the streets so business would improve. We said we were from the ACC but that was it and we all agreed afterwards that it's important when you do stuff like you not have an ulterior agenda.

We distributed:
13 pairs of socks/9 Sewing needles/6 oranges/5 grapefruits/6 packages of floss (for teeth and as thread)/3 pens/12 chapsticks/1 package of anti-fungal foot cream/10 one gallon size Ziploc bags/and 7 condoms.
In the future people told us they need (in case you can donate any):
Chap stick-Foot anti-fungal spray/cream-mini sewing kits/

Our next action will be Sunday Feb 24th.
If you would like to participate in future actions please email us at:
yellowblock [at] riseup.net Our barebones website will be done soon and you'll be able to link to it from http://www.abolishthebank.org