Red Flag: Protest RNC 2008 asking for respect for diversity of tactics

Update: Copy of actual unity pledge & more details

While nearly every peacemaker group has focused on elections, one small group, Protest RNC 2008 has been focussed on protesting the Republican National Convention(RNC), which is normally a good activity except this time. I wrote of the importance of nonviolence and peace pledge previously. Now all groups who are participating with this group are being asked to commit to a unity pledge

• respect the diversity of tactics (ignore the people who state on public email lists that violence to property like throwing bricks through windows is ok)

• separate activities (please don't stand next the person throwing bricks or you too will probably get arrested)

• don't criticize publicly (like I am doing right now, no free speech, no request for peace pledge, no request for a standard of non-violence, no openness, no transparency)

• don't cooperate with police (like my pledge to point at the person throwing bricks)

Well I looked at this unity pledge and I thought, all that Bush has to do to shut down protests is join the groups protesting as "George Bush, Tactic - Iraq War and Group - US Government" and to live by the unity pledge, the protests could say nothing.

And there is more, to even sign up to go organizing meeting of the "umbrella" of groups planning for the peace protest, you have sign a pledge of endorsement - which means the group's name can be used, basically associated with all the "diversity" of tactics used and dragged through media mud.

The Protest RNC 2008 and RNC Welcoming Committee had a "community" meeting, which I came to represent St Paul. They only collected questions and then promised to answer question later if we came to the organizing meeting. I came to that meeting and was requested to leave because I advocate for the community, the peace pledge and non-violence. I am not "one" of the them. Exactly, I am a peacemaker. I am a member of several peacemaker groups, all of which have declined to be involved.

Many peacemaker groups have long experienced activists who know the history of people who join groups to cause difficulties. The question is what happens to groups advocating for peace, who do not have that experience. Will they unknowingly sign on and take the unity pledge? Will people's unwillingness to question tactics of people who seem to work for the same cause get them in trouble?

Clearly we need a separate non-violent peace pledge committed group to organize a separate peaceful protest.

Update:

Here is the actual text of what are called "The St. Paul Principles". These were published on the rnc2008protest Yahoo group.[closed list only to approved subscribers] The rnc2008protest Yahoo group is described as follows: This is a coalition of Twin Cities activist organizations that are organizing events - including protests- at the 2008 RNC in St. Paul.

The group is seeking consensus for the following statements:

"the undersigned agree to follow these principles for organizing resistance surrounding the republican national convention in 2008:

(1) our solidarity will be based on respect for diversity of tactics and the plans of other groups.

(2) the actions and tactics used will be organized to maintain a
separation of time or space.

(3) any debates or criticisms will stay internal to the movement, avoiding any public or media denunciations of fellow activists and events.

(4) we oppose any state repression of dissent, including surveillance, infiltration, disruption and violence. we agree not to assist law enforcement actions against activists and others."
(Neala Schleuning on SPIF)

I think that my summary and notes from just having heard this, was actually fairly good. I find this to be alarming. Add to this, the details listed on the RNC Welcoming Committee, who spoke at the Protest RNC 2008 community outreach meeting.

THE STRATEGY
On the penultimate day of the “pReNC,” a national planning consulta a year in advance of the Republican National Convention, over a hundred anti-authoritarians from around the country gathered to distill a formal strategy for disrupting the convention. Smaller working groups focused on nationwide communications, food/medical/legal infrastructure, media, coalition building, and action planning. Pouring over maps, timetables, and photographs of the city, the action working group hammered out this plan.On the first day of the convention, participants will employ a three-tiered direct action strategy to disrupt the RNC. The tiers are organized in order of priority according to the number of participants; if a small number of participants show up, only the first tier will be carried out, but if the numbers are on hand, all three tiers will be in effect.

Tier One: Establish 15-20 blockades, utilizing a diversity of tactics, creating an inner and outer ring around St. Paul’s Excel Center, where the RNC is to take place.

Tier Two: Immobilize the delegates’ transportation infrastructure, including the busses that are to convey them.

Tier Three: Block the five western bridges connecting the Twin Cities.

Those plugging into this strategy will be free to shape their actions as they see fit, using the tactics they consider appropriate. As the specific blockade sites are established, there may be a system of delegating some sites as “red zones” (prepared for self-defense), “yellow zones” (peaceful but assertive), and “green zones” (aiming to avoid any risk of arrest) so as to accommodate a wide variety of creative tactics and involve individuals with differing needs and talents.

Over the coming months, locals will identify the most strategic blockade sites and will be available to answer questions about the terrain. If you want to participate, get your comrades together, discuss your capabilities, look over maps, and start thinking about which sites you might cover. It will soon be time for groups to adopt specific intersections, streets, on-ramps, and bridges as their own.

The nationwide communications working group is calling for local and regional groups to organize their own planning consultas over the next months, so as to be ready to reconvene in Minneapolis in summer 2008. They are also calling for a series of local actions against oppression and electoral politics leading up to and building momentum and experience for the RNC and DNC.

CRASH THE CONVENTIONS!
(RNC Weloming)

Here is what I think is incredibly stupid. Anyone following the FISA act, knows that all of email, internet activities and telephone conversations are currently monitored by the Federal government. Those of us active in politics, know we live publicly. So who does these two groups think they are keeping out with the secrecy policy? Certainly not Republican administration with taps into everything. Republican press releases and articles are probably already being written as these plans are even being considered. The secrecy only keeps out people like me, old timers, who would question the wisdom of these actions.