Adopt an Intersection Campaign Update- September 12 Year after year, DC hosts mass mobilizations, and year after year there are calls for decentralized direct action to shut down all or part of downtown DC. This year’s call is a little different. Being decentralized does not need to mean being disorganized. The Adopt an Intersection Campaign has developed a framework to allow Affinity Groups from around the country to plug into an organized, coordinated yet still decentralized series of direct actions in order to maximize effectiveness. The Adopt an Intersection Campaign is a call for coordinated direct action designed to prevent delegates of the World Bank and IMF from getting to their meetings on September 25, 2005. The plan is for affinity groups to adopt intersections- that folks in DC will help to coordinate- and hold them as long as possible. By strategically locating these intersections around the World Bank or around delegates’ hotels, the Campaign increases the effectiveness of each action- while also ensuring and respecting the diversity of tactics and messages of different groups. Each group can decide what they want to do and why they want to do it. There are places and roles for lots of different folks- from lockdowns to moving groups to legal support to medical support. If your affinity group doesn’t want to take an intersection by itself the Campaign can help to coordinate with other groups. We strongly encourage groups to contact us so that we can get a feel for how much involvement there will be. There are lots of ways that this action can be supported. To contact us please email adoptanintersection@riseup.net, join our listserve at adoptanintersection@lists.riseup.net, and visit our website at adopt.septemberaction.org We are also having weekly conference calls to get people involved. Our next one is: Wednesday, September 14, 2005 from 09:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time by calling 1-641-297-5500 (St. Marys, IA) Access Code: 23678 Organizing Updates: Scenarios- A group on the ground in DC has been doing research and fleshing out different scenarios for the action. These scenarios take into consideration variables including the police and their perimeter. Adoption papers are being compiled with details about various intersections and other relevant information for affinity groups. Support Roles- Lots of people are stepping up to fill support roles such as legal, medical, and roving bike groups. We still encourage each affinity group to be prepared to take care of itself legally and medically, but their will be help available. Participation- Groups are starting to adopt intersections and the coordination of this effort is ongoing. More groups mean a larger area which means a greater impact. Coordination- We are looking to have a spokescouncil specifically about this action on Saturday night. While we will continuously to coordinate and work with folks this will be a good way to finalize and figure out certain things right before the action and for folks taking intersections to meet and work with the people filling support roles. Legal- There will be a legal training Saturday afternoon specifically for folks doing this action. Housing and a Convergence Center- There is a logistics working group here in DC that has been working hard on both of these issues. If you don’t have housing already post to the housing boards on septemberaction.org. This is the best way to find a place. There will be some mass housing, but space is limited, so please try the boards first. There will also be a welcome center, although this is still in the works. Adopt an Intersection is solidarity in the streets, blockading for a brighter future. www.septemberaction.org
i really wish i could go but there's some arrangements i have to make first and i'm not sure how i'm going to get there.
i'm hoping to make it, but not sure with the way things in my life currently are. maybe if some people i know are going i'll be there too.
Washington DC is home to some of the most disenfranchised and poor people in our country. And it's usually a total disaster when it comes to traffic. So why would locking down the city and thus hurting "the people" be a good thing. Also, they don't fuck around down there, if you want to lay down in some intersections in SE DC, you'll get shot, mugged, raped or worse.
"you'll get shot, mugged, raped or worse." And that's just by the cops alone! Pointbreak, don't get any ideas...
