Activists fight for political change
“Freedom isn't a choice between pre-determined options. Freedom is the ability to shape what the options are in the first place. When were we ever offered a choice on whether we wanted to be ruled at all?”
The revolution is happening right now in the U.S.A.
Thousands of empowered citizens have descended upon the Democratic and Republican National Conventions to break the spell of business-as-usual and demand real change instead of the false hope of Obama.
Both conventions were targeted because both parties are bought and paid for by the same transnational corporations and represent an eco-cidal, imperialist agenda.
Mobilizations largely organized by anarchists, who have always understood that America's ‘representative democracy' is neither representative nor a democracy, managed to successfully ‘crash the parties' in both Denver and St. Paul.
As usual, when people stand up to their repressive rulers the true nature of state power shows its ugly face. All witnessed the nature of the American police state as the pigs raided people's homes seizing computers, books and all other forms of media. They executed warrants looking for random household items such as jars, paints and rags and arrested hundreds of people, including many accredited journalists on trumped up charges.
Organizers of the protest who didn't even commit a single crime were charged under the Patriot Act with conspiracy to riot in furtherance of terrorism. During the actual protests thousands of riot cops were out in full force attacking unarmed civilians with chemical weapons, batons and guns, while violently arresting others at random.
However, despite the hundred million dollars spent on security, thousands of riot police and national guardsmen, and the dramatic series of preemptive raids and arrests, authorities were powerless to prevent massive direct action from disrupting St. Paul during the Republican National Convention.
The first day of the convention began with hard blockades all around downtown and several different marches, including a black bloc that destroyed police cars and corporate property. A full nine hours of street conflicts ensued, involving a broad diversity of participants and tactics.
Revolutionary artists such as Dead Prez and Rage Against the Machine played free shows to fuel the fire and inspire radical action. Streets and highways were blockaded for hours. Limousines carrying big-shot politicians and business executives had their tires popped. Violent riot cops who used chemical weapons on unarmed civilians were knocked to the ground. Bricks flew threw the windows of buses carrying war-supporting Republican delegates to the Xcel Center.
It seems as though the heavy police repression backfired and instead of discouraging and pacifying would-be revolutionaries it had the opposite effect of radicalizing the more liberal-minded peaceful protesters who might otherwise have just carried a sign and chanted.
One thing is for certain; the opposition to this spectacle is building. People everywhere are standing up to authority, and not only talking about the world they want to see, but fighting for it too. Expect (more) resistance.
If you'd like to contribute to the legal fund to support these activists who put their life on the line fighting for a better world contact the social justice club at fanshawesocialjusticeclub@yahoo.ca
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
The revolution is happening right now in the U.S.A.
Thousands of empowered citizens have descended upon the Democratic and Republican National Conventions to break the spell of business-as-usual and demand real change instead of the false hope of Obama.
Both conventions were targeted because both parties are bought and paid for by the same transnational corporations and represent an eco-cidal, imperialist agenda.
Mobilizations largely organized by anarchists, who have always understood that America's ‘representative democracy' is neither representative nor a democracy, managed to successfully ‘crash the parties' in both Denver and St. Paul.
As usual, when people stand up to their repressive rulers the true nature of state power shows its ugly face. All witnessed the nature of the American police state as the pigs raided people's homes seizing computers, books and all other forms of media. They executed warrants looking for random household items such as jars, paints and rags and arrested hundreds of people, including many accredited journalists on trumped up charges.
Organizers of the protest who didn't even commit a single crime were charged under the Patriot Act with conspiracy to riot in furtherance of terrorism. During the actual protests thousands of riot cops were out in full force attacking unarmed civilians with chemical weapons, batons and guns, while violently arresting others at random.
However, despite the hundred million dollars spent on security, thousands of riot police and national guardsmen, and the dramatic series of preemptive raids and arrests, authorities were powerless to prevent massive direct action from disrupting St. Paul during the Republican National Convention.
The first day of the convention began with hard blockades all around downtown and several different marches, including a black bloc that destroyed police cars and corporate property. A full nine hours of street conflicts ensued, involving a broad diversity of participants and tactics.
Revolutionary artists such as Dead Prez and Rage Against the Machine played free shows to fuel the fire and inspire radical action. Streets and highways were blockaded for hours. Limousines carrying big-shot politicians and business executives had their tires popped. Violent riot cops who used chemical weapons on unarmed civilians were knocked to the ground. Bricks flew threw the windows of buses carrying war-supporting Republican delegates to the Xcel Center.
It seems as though the heavy police repression backfired and instead of discouraging and pacifying would-be revolutionaries it had the opposite effect of radicalizing the more liberal-minded peaceful protesters who might otherwise have just carried a sign and chanted.
One thing is for certain; the opposition to this spectacle is building. People everywhere are standing up to authority, and not only talking about the world they want to see, but fighting for it too. Expect (more) resistance.
If you'd like to contribute to the legal fund to support these activists who put their life on the line fighting for a better world contact the social justice club at fanshawesocialjusticeclub@yahoo.ca
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
