After eight long years, some WTO protesters – and our movements overall – finally can celebrate a modicum of justice. In January 07, a federal jury found that the City of Seattle had unconstitutionally violated protesters’ 4th amend rights by arresting them at Westlake on the morning of Dec 1st, 1999. Subsequent settlement negotiations led to an agreement which the courts approved in October requiring the City to pay the protesters and their lawyers $1 million. As a result of this important victory, the city also must seal these protesters' arrest records (and ask other law enforcement agencies to delete, expunge or seal these records.) More broadly, future police training materials in Seattle specifically will include the rulings of the court that reaffirmed the Constitutional guarantee that no one can be arrested without a legitimate reason specific to that person. It is the Fourth amendment that establishes this requirement for "individualized probable cause" before any arrest.
The group arrested at Westlake numbered approximately 175. In a truly amazing demonstration of the vitality of our networks even over so much time, 154 got the word about this class action win and will be receiving settlement checks of approx. $3500. Further, many of this group are organizing themselves to give some of their settlement money for current efforts to advance social justice. In addition, some recipients are very active in movements for change, and this money will help support their own work.
To refresh memories, the 1999 WTO protest in Seattle was a huge success—tens of thousands nonviolently shut down the meeting on Nov 30th, leading to a reactive police attack with massive use of tear gas, rubber bullets, use of armored personal carriers, and the creation of a "no protest zone". People continued large scale protests all week. But, our international solidarity with the Global South was the week's true success. The actions in the streets helped delegates from the Global South stand up inside the meetings to US and other developed countries' relentless pressure to favor corporate interests over the interests of their people. They said NO and blocked further expansion of trade trumping human needs and rights.
One police tactic used throughout the days following N30 was preemptive arrest; over 600 people were arrested, and most held for days until the WTO left town. These arrests were unjustified and unconstitutional; the Bill of Rights specifically protects us from wrongful arrest (4th amendment) as well as our rights of free speech (1st Amendment.) The initial lesson that spread to law enforcement agencies throughout the US was that preemptive arrest works; Seattle's own police department became viewed as the countries experts, despite clearly having learned the wrong lessons. Activists have seen mass arrests at almost every large protest since the WTO.
Even though Courts are very slow and limited, they have provided some restorative balance to our Constitutional rights to express our viewpoints. The Seattle win of significant damages and improvements in police training is a win, but more limited than several other wins around the country. In Oakland, California, a settlement there after a police attack at a Port protest in 2003 led to the first agreement of a policy banning the use of less lethal weapons for crowd control, including wooden bullets, sting ball grenades, shot filled bean bags, rubber bullets, and pepper spray. In Washington, DC, a lawsuit led to legislation that limits use of police lines to encircle protesters, states police cannot use riot gear at protests unless a specific need is shown, and that eligible protesters be released within 4 hrs. Los Angeles policy was changed so less lethal weapons can only be used on armed or combative suspects, that motorcycles may not be used for crowd control, and limits were placed on declaring a protest an unlawful assembly. Note however, that the LA police viscously attacked a Mayday immigrants' rights rally with less lethal weapons this year, illustrating that police respect for Constitutional rights of protesters will be an ongoing struggle.
For more details, and a somber evaluation of the context for protests now, see the new National Lawyers Guild publication, Punishing Protest, available as a free download, online at the Guild's website.
So where does this leave us? Do we have to risk arrest or police violence to express our views? Certainly many people have come to fear this and recognize the chilling effect this has on speech. 1999 was an important moment in the history of the globalization movement – and for the power of people united in their causes - but it also marked a new beginning for the suppression of free speech via intimidation and excessive police response. Cities and police departments learned from 1999 but, by and large, they learned the WRONG lessons! All of the case mentioned above stem from actions after the WTO protest. September 11 and the fears that emerged in this country about our vulnerabilities paved the way for these lessons to go seemingly unchallenged and uncorrected for several years. This case and others like it have been working their way through the courts all this time. Combined with the slowly awakening populous, victories such as the WTO class action case provide some real hope that we can not only right some of the wrongs done to people exercising their right to free speech but also now teach the lesson that those sworn to serve the constitution must protect our rights. Hopefully cities across the country are paying attention and are ready to learn the lesson that (for the time being) the Constitution still has a First and a Fourth Amendment.
-- Scott McClay and Erica Kay
Sometime early next year this big budget movie about the WTO protests will be showing around the country. It presents a good opportunity for activists everywhere—both because it does show some of the issues around the WTO, and it conveys some of the excitement of the protest and our victories. It could be used as a recruiting tool to draw people into activism and will be a great time for us to reclaim our own history and voices. People will be listening again so why not tell our stories!
Since the fictionalized film is made for the mainstream, activists no doubt will take issue with some of the portrayals of people and situations in the film. Once past our frustration if we see parts of our story once again misrepresented, the opportunists amongst us may welcome the conversations that arise because of these characterizations. For example, let’s talk to folks about why, even though the film gives voice to a protester who sees a tactical role for destruction of corporate property, the person who disagrees is the only one we really get to know as a character. And if activists’ motivations for their actions in the film don’t ring true to you, what better reason for talking to someone about YOUR motivation for the work you do?
If you would like to receive more info about organizing around the film in your community, please feel free to contact the Community Action Network.
After nearly two years of planning, the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee has launched the 2008 War Tax Boycott. The new campaign is designed to enlist a broad range on Iraq war opponents in a war tax resistance and redirection efforts. Currently the campaign is collecting pledges that ask participants to commit to resisting any amount of taxes in April 2008. The campaign has developed a brochure called "Getting Started in War Tax Resistance" that describes different types and levels of resistance. The campaign has also selected two recommended redirection projects, one for Iraq war refugees and the other for Katrina recovery in New Orleans.
Unlike previous campaigns promoting mass war tax resistance, the boycott is specific about time and not specific about method. In the past, we’ve mounted campaigns that promote a specific type of symbolic resistance on an ongoing basis. This campaign invites participants to choose their own level and method of resistance, thus embracing both symbolic and higher risk forms of WTR. On the other hand, the campaign is only asking for a one-year commitment from pledge signers. According to organizers, they are hoping that this one-year campaign will introduce the concept of WTR to a large number of activists who can then incorporate it as an ongoing part of their lives and anti-war activism.
The war tax boycott has reached out to direct action anti-war groups, and gained a significant level of support. Current endorsers include the War Resisters League, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, Veterans for Peace, and the Nonviolent Direct Action Working Group of United for Peace and Justice. The campaign also has an Internet presence with background information, on-line pledge forms, introductory WTR information, and downloadable outreach materials. All the materials look good, including flyers that can be handed out at local events.
Most of us here at NACC have signed the pledge form, which took about three minutes, and we handed out information cards on October 27. This is great opportunity to spread the word about WTR at a time when many people will be receptive to our message and looking for ways to engage in meaningful protest. Check it out!
-- Carolyn Stevens
It's time, time, once again, to give away pitifully meagre sums of money!
That's right, we're talking about NACC's annual grants cycle. And meagre though the sums may be, we're always shocked, amazed, and delighted at the quality of the applications we receive, the shoestring budgets on which the applicant organisations operate, and the vitality of the organisations' good works.
The grants are, of course, funded by interest generated from NACC's CMTC Escrow Account for resisted War Taxes. Now in its sixth year, the program has been very popular not only with potential applicants (we received more requests for information this year than ever before), but also with the Escrow Account depositors upon whom the program depends.
That's great news. Also great is that, owing to some rearrangement of the Account's funds, it was able to generate more interest this year than usual, so we should be able to give out a bit more money than usual.
Which is not to say that we don't expect the decisions to be as excruciating as ever; surely they will be just that.
In the last two years, we've granted to a lot of projects focusing on Counter-Recruitment. That wasn't our plan go into either year, but it just happened that a great many of the applications, including many of the most exciting ones, happened to be geared to exposing and countering the military's presence in the schools. While we're still quite happy to continue funding Counter-Recruitment efforts, those organisations needing funding for general anti-war and social justice projects should not be discouraged to apply as well!
Incidentally, for those who may be wondering, you didn't miss out on the 2007 grant applications. The "annual" cycle actually runs pretty consistently at about fourteen months. So, the 2006 cycle occurred rather late in that year, while the 2008 cycle will be occurring quite early in that year.
So here are the dates of importance:
Concerned that the war-mad occupants of the White House might launch yet another disastrous war with a fusillade of lies? You have every right to be. The propaganda campaign is well under way, and Congress is (surprise!) not offering much resistance. Yet. They need the public to show them how.
Yes, it's time once again to go chasing after a bunch of scurrilous war-happy lies with a dose of, well, you know, reality. With much of the military hierarchy itself opposed to attacking Iran, public sentiment might actually make a difference this time. Talk up the insanity of a military attack on Iran. Talk about it with your friends, neighbors, students, co-workers, relatives, strangers on the street. Here are a few things you can offer up:
THE FALSE RATIONALES FOR ATTACK
The Bush administration has three major arguments for war with Iran: Its nuclear program, alleged support for Iraqi insurgents, and its fundamentalism and support of allied terrorist groups.
Nonviolent Action is published biannually by the Nonviolent Action Community of Cascadia (NACC), formerly the Conscience and Military Tax Campaign.
NACC, 4554 12th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98145, (206) 547-0952, nacc (at) drizzle (dot) com, http://seanacc.org/.
The Nonviolent Action Community of Cascadia is a Seattle-based organization which uses nonviolent direct action to create political and social change. NACC acts to interrupt and transform militarism and other forms of violence, and to build a society based upon community, economic justice, environmental awareness, personal empowerment, and feminist, queer-positive and anti-racist principles.
NACC uses creative nonviolent direct action, war tax resistance, public education, grants to activist groups, and coalition building towards these ends, creating community and developing empowerment and conflict-resolution skills in the process.
NACC has an office staffed part-time by Geov Parrish, Scott McClay, and Eddie Tews. We welcome new members. For more information, contact us at the address, phone number, or e-mail address above.
NACC is an affiliate of the War Resisters League, the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee, and the Northwest Disarmament Coalition.
The Nonviolent Action Community of Cascadia
P.O. Box 85541, Seattle, WA 98145. An affiliate of the
War Resisters League and NWTRCC
Tel: (206) 547-0952, Fax: (206) 547-2631. E-mail: nacc (at) drizzle (dot) com