Defy Columbus Day 2002 - CACC Call to Action

There is a tradition in the United States. A
tradition that dates back longer than any of us can remember. A tradition that celebrates events that lead to the annihilation of entire groups of people, slavery of thousands, violent conquest of land and the beginning of the end of vibrant cultures throughout the Americas. Indeed the beginning of what we now know as Westernization began with the landing of Christopher Columbus. The American values of cultural, economical and ecological domination were set on that day in 1492.

Now, 510 years later, the American government and its hordes of capitalist fat cats continue in the fashion of their hero, Christopher Columbus. When US corporations worm their way into local marketplaces of Third World nations across the globe, the US military is not far behind to secure the place for their own way of life.

Just as it was long ago, indigenous peoples and
cultures are threatened in the name of progress. From the oil fields to the banana fields, people are forced to play ball with Western capitalists or starve as their lands are stripped out from under their feet by organizations like FTAA NAFTA), IMF, and if it comes to it, the CIA.

It is for these reasons that the Anarchists, Socialists, and other activists of the Colorado Anti-Capitalist Convergence reject the celebration of Columbus Day. We cannot, as part of the Anti-Capitalist and Anti-Globalization movement, allow the celebration of domination, genocide and colonization continue. The fact that the annual parades began in Colorado make us feel a certain responsibility to end them in Colorado.

Festivals in the name of Columbus destroy all that we anti-capitalists and anti-authoritarians hold in our hearts and in our minds. This is why we are calling out to anti-capitalists and anti-authoritarians of all stripes to converge on Denver, Colorado, for a weeklong festival of total liberation from the ghost of Christopher Columbus. The colonization of out people, land, hearts and minds end in October 2002 as we unite in opposition to the celebration of Columbus Day and to the system of domination itself; as we take the streets back from the Columbus Day parade and from the neo-colonists, the Capitalist State.

This call to action goes out in solidarity with thestruggle against the IMF and the World Bank in
Washington DC. We see each as an equal part of thesame struggle, which is why we are calling for a Westcoast mobilization to Denver.

Join us to liberate out culture from this sick
festival! Join us to create an NEW tradition! Join
us to turn October into a month that celebrates life, diversity, equality and liberation!

As the Phoenix Anarchist Coalition has stated, we are not trying to trump or out-organize the mobilization in D.C. In fact, some of the anti-Columbus Day organizers will be attending the action against the IMF/WB. Unfortunately big actions far away only leave room for a couple activists in a collective to attend. We intend to create a space for those in the West to converge for a weekend, make some solid connections and hopefully communicate more effectively in the future.