Inauguration 2005: Proposed 10 Mutual Assurances And Solidarity In Practice Between Groups & Organizations Planning Inauguration Related Protest Activities
10 Mutual Assurances
The undersigned groups and organizations planning Inauguration Protest related activities agree:
- To maintain solidarity with and respect the guidelines of all permitted activities and the tone set for other non-permitted forms of protest and actions; providing they are not dominating important focal points or areas for protest to the Inauguration, recognizing that there are many different individuals who seek space to demonstrate in a variety of different forms, and the need to create as much space for these different approaches as possible.
- To support and participate in efforts to assure civil liberties for everyone in DC, including the right to organize civil disobedience and direct action without that organizing being criminalized or disrupted.
- To speak out against any pre-emptive arrests, raids on activist spaces, or attacks on independent journalists and other media.
- To be conscious of and speak out against police targeting and differential treatment of people based on race, gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation or appearance.
- Not to turn people over to the police, or share information with the police about other groups.
- Not to publicly criticize the tactics used by other parts of our movements or cooperate with media efforts to be divisive or portray good protester/bad protester.
- To publicly condemn police repression and brutality.
- To publicly support rights of free speech, the right to organize, and the right to dissent for all.
- To be conscious that if violence or property destruction does occur, to resist attempts by the state and media to divide the movement, scapegoat individuals or groups or put down other demonstrators because of their tactical choices.
- To remember that, when all is said and done, our greatest win will be an activist community with a renewed sense of strength and unity.
Solidarity in Practice
We are very different groups. We are not necessarily immediate allies nor are we each others greatest enemy. There are many things on which we do not agree. But, we will be in the streets together during the Inaugural Protests in Washington, DC. We know that the police and media are trying to divide us in order to crush our movements. Solidarity is the way in which our diversity becomes our strength, we build our movements and we protect each others bodies, lives and rights.
We believe we have some things in common. We believe in basic human rights and the need to live with respect and dignity. We believe we must protect this planet, our air, water, earth and food or we will all die. We believe these global corporate and political institutions are serving only the interests of the rich. We all agree its time for fundamental and radical change. As we take to the streets together, let us work to be in solidarity with one another. The following suggestions offer ways in which we can make our solidarity real.
Personal
- Challenge and critique other groups and individuals in constructive ways and in a spirit of respect
- Listen without getting defensive. Be open in thinking, not rigid in positions
- Don't make assumptions no matter what a person looks like or what groups they belong to
- Don't assume tactics are the only way to measure politics or commitment
- Refrain from personal attacks, even with people whom you strongly disagree.
- Understand that even though we may disagree we have come to our politics, strategies and choice of tactics through thoughtful and intelligent consideration of issues, circumstances and experiences.
Street
- Do not intentionally put people at risk who have not chosen it
- Do not turn people over to the police
- Do not let people within our own groups interfere with other groups
- Respect the work of all medics, legal observers, independent media people
- Share food, water, medical and other supplies
- Support everyone who is hurt, gassed, shot or beaten.
- Respect other groups rights to do a certain type of protest at certain times and places. If you choose to participate, do so within the tone and tactics they set. If you do not agree, do not participate in that protest or bring another protest into that time and space.
- Understand that our actions and tactics have repercussions that go beyond ourselves and our immediate groups.
- If you choose to negotiate with the police, never do so for other groups to which you are not a part.
Media
- Do not denounce other demonstrators.
- Talk about your strategy, not others.
- Acknowledge other groups existence and role they play in creating change
- Acknowledge that we sometimes disagree about strategy and tactics.
- Condemn police repression and brutality
- Share media contacts and do not monopolize the medias attention
- Jail Solidarity: No one is free until everybody is free.
Signed,
DC Anarchist Resistance
