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Calling All Peacekeepers - Non-Violent Direct Action
Calling All Peacekeepers - Non-Violent Direct Action
Calling All Peacekeepers - Non-Violent Direct Action
by Emerald Matra
Please Forward This To Anyone Participating In Peace Protests:
I was standing in a line at a store in Oakland today and the woman standing in front of me said to the cashier, "I don't understand it; they say that they want peace but they are violent!" I interrupted her conversation and told her that the police are the ones being violent. She told me that she saw on the news someone pulling people out of a passing car and beating them up. I told her that it was probably an isolated incident that the press picked up on to sensationalize the protests. Someone else in the store line reported about the cops that are in the hospital after the demos today.
I am in favor of civil disobedience. I am in favor of direct actions and peaceful protest. I believe that it is an important part of our movement for peace. I believe that social change happens as a result of education, consciousness raising and social evolution. The actions that the public sees on TV and reads about in the daily paper has the potential to raise a lot of awareness. As a grassroots movement we can't pay for that kind of advertising and media coverage. I am also aware that the press will portray our movement in a negative way and will sensationalize, exaggerate and outright lie to serve their own interests. Many times I have seen first hand what has been completely distorted in the news. We can't rely on the mainstream press to tell the truth or portray our story in a positive or neutral way. Our actions must speak for themselves. I realize that I am probably singing to the choir here. I am sending out a call for everyone participating in peace protests to do everything we can to maintain peace and non-violence regardless of any actions that may be directed toward us and other protesters around us.
If you see someone being violent grab two or three others and surround that person. Isolate that person before the cops get to them and before the person does harm to anyone. Create a kind of hug around that person and move closer and closer toward the person. The person will try to fight against you but will become unable to strike out if being held in a hug with three people. Talk to the person and calm them down. Refuse to let go of the person until they agree to be peaceful or, preferably, go home. We must take responsibility for the participants of our own protest movement so the cops don't have to. Also, be on the *alert* for agente provocateurre. These are people who deliberately attend to incite people to riot and deliberately try to undermine our movement and make us look bad. Don't allow them to do damage to our movement.
If you encounter a police officer be as courteous as possible. Remember that the cop in front of you did not wage the war that we are protesting. The cop may agree with the war but is not responsible for creating the war. Try to see the cop as a worker who is doing a very difficult job under stressful and dangerous conditions. I don't like cops and I despise the system that they are part of, but when you are facing a cop who has the power to harm you it is a good idea to address that cop in a civil way, maintain eye contact, and be as passive as possible so as not to threaten or entice violence from that cop. The cop is trained in using force. If you fight with a cop you will lose. If a cop is violent toward you go into a passive response. Sit down, cross your legs, put your head down toward your lap, cross your arms over your head. Hold this position as tightly as you can regardless of what the cop is doing to you. This non-violent pose protects the soft parts of your body, minimizes the threat to the cop, and makes it very obvious who exactly is being violent. In nearly all circumstances a cop will immediately stop attacking someone who is in this pose. If people see that on the news they will not be asking why peace protesters are being violent and far less people will be getting hurt at the demos.
Everyone... Everyone who attends a peace protest must take responsibility for what occurs at the protest. Don't leave it to the police to maintain the peace. More than likely the opposite will happen. Everyone at a peace protest is a peacekeeper. If you practice the two techniques I described at home before you go it will be easier to do at the demo. Find a couple of friends and practice isolating a violent protester as a role play. Alone or with friends, practice the non-violent pose by going to the floor and into the non-violent pose as quickly as possible. Learning this pose could save your life. If you get arrested, talk to the cops who are arresting you as best as you can. Be sure to say out loud, "I am not resisting arrest." This will minimize the amount of force that is used against you. If you don't want to talk to the cops then sing. Help them to remember that you are a human being. If they don't relate to you personally in some way they are more likely to treat you with harm or disregard.
Better yet, attend one of the many non-violent direct action trainings before going to a protest. Even if you don't commit civil disobedience you could get arrested.
Our movement, your movement, must stay peaceful or we will give the wrong message to the public. In the past 30+ years our movement has grown beyond what we ever dreamed possible. We must consider the long term impact of everything we do.
The whole world is watching us!
Peace is possible.
Love,
Emerald
Please forward this to anyone who is participating in the peace protests.
by Emerald Matra
Please Forward This To Anyone Participating In Peace Protests:
I was standing in a line at a store in Oakland today and the woman standing in front of me said to the cashier, "I don't understand it; they say that they want peace but they are violent!" I interrupted her conversation and told her that the police are the ones being violent. She told me that she saw on the news someone pulling people out of a passing car and beating them up. I told her that it was probably an isolated incident that the press picked up on to sensationalize the protests. Someone else in the store line reported about the cops that are in the hospital after the demos today.
I am in favor of civil disobedience. I am in favor of direct actions and peaceful protest. I believe that it is an important part of our movement for peace. I believe that social change happens as a result of education, consciousness raising and social evolution. The actions that the public sees on TV and reads about in the daily paper has the potential to raise a lot of awareness. As a grassroots movement we can't pay for that kind of advertising and media coverage. I am also aware that the press will portray our movement in a negative way and will sensationalize, exaggerate and outright lie to serve their own interests. Many times I have seen first hand what has been completely distorted in the news. We can't rely on the mainstream press to tell the truth or portray our story in a positive or neutral way. Our actions must speak for themselves. I realize that I am probably singing to the choir here. I am sending out a call for everyone participating in peace protests to do everything we can to maintain peace and non-violence regardless of any actions that may be directed toward us and other protesters around us.
If you see someone being violent grab two or three others and surround that person. Isolate that person before the cops get to them and before the person does harm to anyone. Create a kind of hug around that person and move closer and closer toward the person. The person will try to fight against you but will become unable to strike out if being held in a hug with three people. Talk to the person and calm them down. Refuse to let go of the person until they agree to be peaceful or, preferably, go home. We must take responsibility for the participants of our own protest movement so the cops don't have to. Also, be on the *alert* for agente provocateurre. These are people who deliberately attend to incite people to riot and deliberately try to undermine our movement and make us look bad. Don't allow them to do damage to our movement.
If you encounter a police officer be as courteous as possible. Remember that the cop in front of you did not wage the war that we are protesting. The cop may agree with the war but is not responsible for creating the war. Try to see the cop as a worker who is doing a very difficult job under stressful and dangerous conditions. I don't like cops and I despise the system that they are part of, but when you are facing a cop who has the power to harm you it is a good idea to address that cop in a civil way, maintain eye contact, and be as passive as possible so as not to threaten or entice violence from that cop. The cop is trained in using force. If you fight with a cop you will lose. If a cop is violent toward you go into a passive response. Sit down, cross your legs, put your head down toward your lap, cross your arms over your head. Hold this position as tightly as you can regardless of what the cop is doing to you. This non-violent pose protects the soft parts of your body, minimizes the threat to the cop, and makes it very obvious who exactly is being violent. In nearly all circumstances a cop will immediately stop attacking someone who is in this pose. If people see that on the news they will not be asking why peace protesters are being violent and far less people will be getting hurt at the demos.
Everyone... Everyone who attends a peace protest must take responsibility for what occurs at the protest. Don't leave it to the police to maintain the peace. More than likely the opposite will happen. Everyone at a peace protest is a peacekeeper. If you practice the two techniques I described at home before you go it will be easier to do at the demo. Find a couple of friends and practice isolating a violent protester as a role play. Alone or with friends, practice the non-violent pose by going to the floor and into the non-violent pose as quickly as possible. Learning this pose could save your life. If you get arrested, talk to the cops who are arresting you as best as you can. Be sure to say out loud, "I am not resisting arrest." This will minimize the amount of force that is used against you. If you don't want to talk to the cops then sing. Help them to remember that you are a human being. If they don't relate to you personally in some way they are more likely to treat you with harm or disregard.
Better yet, attend one of the many non-violent direct action trainings before going to a protest. Even if you don't commit civil disobedience you could get arrested.
Our movement, your movement, must stay peaceful or we will give the wrong message to the public. In the past 30+ years our movement has grown beyond what we ever dreamed possible. We must consider the long term impact of everything we do.
The whole world is watching us!
Peace is possible.
Love,
Emerald
Please forward this to anyone who is participating in the peace protests.
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Comments
(Hide Comments)
I am personally NOT a pacifist.
"We" are not as homogenous as the media likes to portray us.
I'm not attempting to be dismissive of your stance against the war on Iraq, but I think that it is pretty likely that the media will give the anti-war movement a negative spin no matter how polite the protestors are.
For example, the corporate media has consistently dubbed the few pro-war nationalist rallies "support our toops" rallies. I have yet to see even the most radical elements in the antiwar movement publicly call for the death of American troops.
As someone who grew up in a poor region of this country, I remember being enticed by the glossy Army recruitment posters. that lined the walll of every hallway. I wanted to go to college, but my family didn't exactly have a trunk of money hidden under their trailer to send me to the college of my choosing. Although I turned the recruiters down, I would be lying if I said that I didn't seriously consider the idea of enisting.
IMost of the troops are members of oppressed groups who were simply trying to build a better life. They took what they saw as their only option. Most of the troops are poor and working class kids who took a gamble and lost.
I support them all. I want them to be brought home.
"We" are not as homogenous as the media likes to portray us.
I'm not attempting to be dismissive of your stance against the war on Iraq, but I think that it is pretty likely that the media will give the anti-war movement a negative spin no matter how polite the protestors are.
For example, the corporate media has consistently dubbed the few pro-war nationalist rallies "support our toops" rallies. I have yet to see even the most radical elements in the antiwar movement publicly call for the death of American troops.
As someone who grew up in a poor region of this country, I remember being enticed by the glossy Army recruitment posters. that lined the walll of every hallway. I wanted to go to college, but my family didn't exactly have a trunk of money hidden under their trailer to send me to the college of my choosing. Although I turned the recruiters down, I would be lying if I said that I didn't seriously consider the idea of enisting.
IMost of the troops are members of oppressed groups who were simply trying to build a better life. They took what they saw as their only option. Most of the troops are poor and working class kids who took a gamble and lost.
I support them all. I want them to be brought home.
all due respect, this is not the view of all people in our movement(s). remember the south african struggle, the black panthers, AIM? If you don't, i suggest you look into those struggles closer. please don't do the work for the police and the war machine by surrounding us if you don't like what we're doing -- which is what this would translate into, i've seen it before. "surround the violent ones" becomes "surround the person slamming their hand on the hood of the car trying to ram through the crowd" becomes "we're handing you over to the cops because you tipped over a newsrack". what you are proposing is far more disasterous than any amount of bad PR from a media that is determined to make us look bad and divide us along race and class lines. look before you leap. please.
anon
anon
If you think taking your advice will somehow cause the corporate media to see your side of the issue more clearly, I think you are mistaken. If you continue to do what you think they want you to do, you will eventually act like a conservative, because that's what they want.
We all could be the next incarnation of Ghandi or MLK, and the corporate media would still find something slam us on.
As it stands now, peace police such as yourself are being used to divide and conquer the movements. I'm sorry that you have fallen for it, hook, line, and sinker.
We all could be the next incarnation of Ghandi or MLK, and the corporate media would still find something slam us on.
As it stands now, peace police such as yourself are being used to divide and conquer the movements. I'm sorry that you have fallen for it, hook, line, and sinker.
before you attempt any of your violent tactics against "violent" protestors (an unwanted group hug IS violence, ok?) perhaps you ought to look into the groups who are organizing these large demos, like ANSWER and NION. ANSWER is actually the Workers World Party. Go and see for yourself what their positions are on violence and things like tiannamen square, joe stalin, kim il sung, and milosovic.
you are in no position to talk about nonviolence if you marched even one step in an ANSWER-led march. i know that ignorance is pandemic in your fucking pathetic country, but it is not an excuse.
your position, besides being violent, is also extremely racist. it's fine for you to live without disruption while the bombs are dropping in iraq and the people there are resisting by ramming their pickup trucks into US tanks? fuck no, it's not fine.
i assure you that if you assault me in the manner you detail above that you will regret it politically, personally, and physically.
fuck the racist peace nazis!
don't listen to bullhorns!
fulfill your OBLIGATION to resist!
you are in no position to talk about nonviolence if you marched even one step in an ANSWER-led march. i know that ignorance is pandemic in your fucking pathetic country, but it is not an excuse.
your position, besides being violent, is also extremely racist. it's fine for you to live without disruption while the bombs are dropping in iraq and the people there are resisting by ramming their pickup trucks into US tanks? fuck no, it's not fine.
i assure you that if you assault me in the manner you detail above that you will regret it politically, personally, and physically.
fuck the racist peace nazis!
don't listen to bullhorns!
fulfill your OBLIGATION to resist!
So violence is OK if it gets us what we want, eh? A lot of found we didn't really need to use violence to shut down the city last week. There are other very effective ways if you use a little imagination. Violence brings the hammer down and can trap you in one place. But if you keep moving you can keep the action going... and keep enough numbers to do more actions.
The SFPD has demonstrated conclusively that their own violent and illegal tactics are not deterred by non violence. Au contrair, When the BB tried to demonstrated peaceably and legally, on the sidewalk, obeying all laws, more and not fewer were arrested.
What brings the hammer down is being all in the same place and standing still. The police have learned how to deal with a black bloc. They have not learned how to deal with black squads.
Nor can they.
What brings the hammer down is being all in the same place and standing still. The police have learned how to deal with a black bloc. They have not learned how to deal with black squads.
Nor can they.
Okay, so this is interesting. Whether or not you believe that Coalition action against the 30-year dictatorship will lead to more peace and justice for Iraqi civilians, there's a completely different issue right here: a "peace" movement is getting hijacked by people who threaten others.
Here we see some people threatening violence against people who share the same goals, just because they differ on method to achieve those goals. "Violence for peace" is the message, which implies that some in the movement will fight for violence regardless of what else happens in the real world.
So that brings up the next question: how does a movement dedicated to peace and justice deal with the inevitable presence of some who eat it from within? Is there a code of conduct they have to show to back up their words about the goal? Is it sufficient to talk the talk, or is there also a responsibility to walk the walk? Or will you give up and say the end justifies the means?
Groups like the LaRouchites see the power concentrated in the movement, the donations, the mailing lists, the media interviews -- they will also target the movement for personal gain. How can you avoid being exploited by those who find the attention and power to be attractive?
Here we see some people threatening violence against people who share the same goals, just because they differ on method to achieve those goals. "Violence for peace" is the message, which implies that some in the movement will fight for violence regardless of what else happens in the real world.
So that brings up the next question: how does a movement dedicated to peace and justice deal with the inevitable presence of some who eat it from within? Is there a code of conduct they have to show to back up their words about the goal? Is it sufficient to talk the talk, or is there also a responsibility to walk the walk? Or will you give up and say the end justifies the means?
Groups like the LaRouchites see the power concentrated in the movement, the donations, the mailing lists, the media interviews -- they will also target the movement for personal gain. How can you avoid being exploited by those who find the attention and power to be attractive?
First of all, I need to point out the illogical argument for peacekeepers to promote nonviolence by assaulting activists, or by turning them over to the police. You are being more violent than the so-called "violent protesters" when you engage in actions like this, especially if you try to get the extreme violence of the state to further your goals. Any activist who sees a self-appointed peacekeeper turning activists over to the police should treat that peacekeeper as just another violent police officer.
Much of this tension between different varieties of peace and anti-war activists could be lessened if we all made an effort to understand that there are many movements against the war, not this monolithic single PEACE MOVEMENT that people talk about all the time and which people struggle to gain control of. I consider myself to be part of the radical anti-capitalist anti-war movement, which has ties with the anti-capitalist anti-globalization movement. I do not consider myself to be part of the peace movement, because my goal is not peace and I'm not a pacifist. On the other hand, there are other anti-war and peace movements, ranging from the traditional pacifist peace movement to the religious peace movement to the leftists who are against war. There is the liberal anti-war movement (Win Without War). We are all working for similar goals, but we have different styles, messages, tactics, and objectives. I have no expectation that liberals should join the black bloc, but they shouldn't expect me to change my message to fit their electoral goals. If we want unity between the movement, it will have to be predicated on accepting diversity within the ranks of those who oppose war.
Much of this tension between different varieties of peace and anti-war activists could be lessened if we all made an effort to understand that there are many movements against the war, not this monolithic single PEACE MOVEMENT that people talk about all the time and which people struggle to gain control of. I consider myself to be part of the radical anti-capitalist anti-war movement, which has ties with the anti-capitalist anti-globalization movement. I do not consider myself to be part of the peace movement, because my goal is not peace and I'm not a pacifist. On the other hand, there are other anti-war and peace movements, ranging from the traditional pacifist peace movement to the religious peace movement to the leftists who are against war. There is the liberal anti-war movement (Win Without War). We are all working for similar goals, but we have different styles, messages, tactics, and objectives. I have no expectation that liberals should join the black bloc, but they shouldn't expect me to change my message to fit their electoral goals. If we want unity between the movement, it will have to be predicated on accepting diversity within the ranks of those who oppose war.
For more information:
http://chuck.mahost.org
One more reason to think twice before using the group hug strategy: If you group hug an undercover cop and restrict his movement, you WILL be arrested for APO. Instant felony charge to which you have no usable defense.
Emerald, I really think you need to cut back on your Prozac - I really do.
Many of us can understand your concerns about how people view protesters' actions. Yes, some will be put off - especially at first - by more militant actions. You must remember, though, that plenty of people are put off by the fact that you're doing ANYTHING. There's just as strong an argument to be made that militant action insures that ordinary people get a wake-up call. There are those who are willing to do MUCH MORE than register their opposition...
Anyway, I encourage you to read Ward Churchill's book, Pacifism as Pathology. It may change your mind, it may not. But it will certainly broaden your thinking.
Please don't dare attack people who are conducting themselves in a way you don't agree with. Please retract your call. Don't direct violence against people who are probably working to achieve objectives you agree with.
Anyway, I encourage you to read Ward Churchill's book, Pacifism as Pathology. It may change your mind, it may not. But it will certainly broaden your thinking.
Please don't dare attack people who are conducting themselves in a way you don't agree with. Please retract your call. Don't direct violence against people who are probably working to achieve objectives you agree with.
The blac block technique is the new old school. We had the peace loving hippies, that's done. There is a valid reason to fuck shit up in the name of dissent. The most effective way to do it is the question.
what does Joe Cop from the corporate media Chronicle say:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/03/21/MN277582.DTL&type=printable
Officer Drew Cohen, who was documenting the police response on his camcorder for the department, said he came away with a respect for demonstrators' tactics.
"They succeeded this morning -- they shut the city down," Cohen said. "They're highly organized, but they are totally spontaneous. I think police are doing a great job, but the protesters are always a few steps ahead of us.
"Our success will come when we arrest so many of them we have depleted their ranks," Cohen said. "Otherwise, we can only play catch-up."
what does Joe Cop from the corporate media Chronicle say:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/03/21/MN277582.DTL&type=printable
Officer Drew Cohen, who was documenting the police response on his camcorder for the department, said he came away with a respect for demonstrators' tactics.
"They succeeded this morning -- they shut the city down," Cohen said. "They're highly organized, but they are totally spontaneous. I think police are doing a great job, but the protesters are always a few steps ahead of us.
"Our success will come when we arrest so many of them we have depleted their ranks," Cohen said. "Otherwise, we can only play catch-up."
...you could walk up and down market street and see the anti war graffiti everywhere. that, in a small way, is not business as usual.
someone hit the poster advertising the vapid new movie 'what a girl wants' with 'a girl wants an end to this stupid war.'
but noooooooooo. that's violence againt property!!!!
give me a break. you just want to march around in the sun, wave your peace sign in the air, and then go home and feel good about yourself while continuing to ignore the actual causes of these wars.
someone hit the poster advertising the vapid new movie 'what a girl wants' with 'a girl wants an end to this stupid war.'
but noooooooooo. that's violence againt property!!!!
give me a break. you just want to march around in the sun, wave your peace sign in the air, and then go home and feel good about yourself while continuing to ignore the actual causes of these wars.
"Please don't dare attack people who are conducting themselves in a way you don't agree with. Please retract your call. Don't direct violence against people who are probably working to achieve objectives you agree with."
The result of George Bush's actions will be more human choice for the people in Iraq, and fewer attacks on civilians worldwide. If you agree with this, then you might reconsider attacking on a personal basis, and instead research better means to reaching these shared goals.
The result of George Bush's actions will be more human choice for the people in Iraq, and fewer attacks on civilians worldwide. If you agree with this, then you might reconsider attacking on a personal basis, and instead research better means to reaching these shared goals.
"The result of George Bush's actions will be more human choice for the people in Iraq, "
and if you believe that i have a pharmecutical plant in the sudan to sell you, i'll throw in 10 pounds of newly re-available afghani heroin!
and if you believe that i have a pharmecutical plant in the sudan to sell you, i'll throw in 10 pounds of newly re-available afghani heroin!
"If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without demand. It never did and it never will."
Study the methods of Cesar Chavez. They had an effect, and it is an effect that lasts to this day.
Study the methods of Cesar Chavez. They had an effect, and it is an effect that lasts to this day.
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