[Pvgreens-discussion] Fw: [GPOC] FW: Finally, The next R-68 E-News Flash

[sandylemberg at juno.com]

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Claire Ryder" <claireryder at cs.com>
To: <grns-gpoc at greens.org>
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 12:34:09 -0600
Subject: [GPOC] FW: Finally, The next R-68 E-News Flash
Message-ID: <09ff01c7ca33$66b5c5c0$9865fea9 at dbw1dm21>

 
 
Since there seems to be interest I will post this.
The main concern among other groups in Denver, and for this, they cannot
agree to work with Recreate '68 is the refusal to adhere to a code of
nonviolence and they will not post one on the website

R-68 E-NEWS FLASH!

Hey all you ex-Hippies, new Hippies, old Yippies, Punks, Anarchists,
Marxists, Communists and any other ists there is, disenfranchised
Democrats
and other enlightened individuals, in essence all you R-68ers, Pigs,
Media
Whores and other lurkers, thanks for being so patient waiting for the
next
Recreate-68 E-news Flash.

This issue's topics:

1.  Meeting with City officials 

2.  R-68 Proclamation 

3.  Festival of Democracy 

4.  Days of Resistance 

5.  U.S. Social Forum 

6.  Donations 

7.  Flash Back Words To Ponder

_________________________________________________________________________
___
__________________


1.       Meeting with City officials

Representatives from the Recreate 68 Alliance's organizing committee met
with some of the City of Denver's finest.  We discussed our concerns and
needs for the 2008 DNC.  The pretty PR minds mouthed their desire to
respect
our rights.  We expressed or dissatisfaction with the possible use of
protest pens and other oppressive tactics, we also expressed our desire
to
use Civic Center Park for the Festival of Democracy.  In addition, we
asked
that the established policies for permits be put aside so we can obtain
the
use of the park as soon as possible for our constitutional rights to
petition our government for redress.  They will be getting backed to us
on
July 26th with more information.  The day after the meeting, a police
representative who was present at the meeting called us to determine what
language they can use for a protest pen (free speech zone) that would not
be
offensive to us.  They are still learning that it is the action of
creating
cages to put us in that is offensive, not the name that they give it. 
Too
bad none of us will be going in the cages regardless of what they name
it.We
will report back to all of you anxious and interested activist with the
results of the meeting.

2.      R-68 Proclamation

As many of you are aware, R-68 developed a proclamation for the City of
Denver's City Council to adopt, which would welcome community members
wishing to exercise their rights in the same manner that they would
welcome
delegates.  It also would be a reminder to the Police to follow the law
and
not abuse their powers through oppressive and illegal tactics during the
convention.  Councilwoman Mackenzie stepped up to the plate and offered
to
sponsor the resolution.  Councilman Rick Garcia was supposed to second
it.
Just as predicted, our resident fascist and fictional storyteller,
Councilman Charlie Brown, launched a campaign to destroy democracy and
not
allow the proclamation to ever see the light of a vote.  Charlie visited
the
usual gutters to voice his opinion (you know, KHOW, KOA, the Rocky
Mountain
News).  According to Charlie Brown, "we are cruising for a bruising".  Oh
good grief Charlie Brown, who's using violent rhetoric now?  During the
media frenzy, someone egged Charlie's house.  We feel it necessary to
state
that R-68 had absolutely nothing to do with this act of vandalism.  We do
feel very sorry and are deeply concerned about the damage to the egg and
the
window, we believe them to be innocent bystanders.

During the uproar created by Charlie, the curtain continued to be pulled
back on the City Council, which exposed their true nature and the nature
of
our political system.  Michael (Corporate Kiss Ass) Hancock made the
decision that corporate interest was more important than citizen's
rights.
Let us digress.  Michael received communication from the DNC host
committee
that they were not capable of accomplishing their fundraising (corporate
pay-offs) goals due to the work of R-68 and that he should not endorse
the
proclamation and if possible, pull it from the agenda.  Being the good
little sell-out that he is, he did just that and pulled the proclamation.
When corporate money talks, the Constitution walks.  It is important to
remind everyone that in 2004, New York passed a much tougher
proclamation,
and for 2008, St. Paul passed a similar proclamation.  Both hosts of the
RNC, so ask yourself, is the DNC really the beacon of freedom they
purport
to be?  To date, Councilwomen Mackenzie's tenure has unfortunately come
to
an end.  Soooo, the next step for R-68 in this area is to solicit another
sponsor for the proclamation in order for it to move forward.  

3.      Festival of Democracy

Just a quick update for you all.  The largest get together of progressive
minds is on its way.  As stated earlier, we are working to obtain Civic
Center Park for the location.  There will be free food, speakers,
entertainment, and networking and teach-in opportunities.  Some of the
early
promising discussions for entertainment are taking place with Rage
Against
the Machine, Michael Frenti and others.  This will be a four-day bash
that
will make history, it is a not-to-be-missed opportunity!  Much help is
needed with the planning efforts, please lend a hand and plan on
attending
the next meeting.

4.  Days of Resistance

In addition to the Festival of Democracy, we will be launching four major
actions, one for each day of the convention.  Our voices will be heard at
this convention!  The days will not be organized around certain
progressive
groups, instead, they will be organized around themes that all can
support
in solidarity.  Early indications for the themes are listed below:

No War

No Racism

No Poverty

No Borders

No Human Rights Violations

No Warming

Yes, we know, there are more than four, that is because we are still
working
on it.  If you are interested, do NOT send us e-mails with your thoughts,
instead come to the organizing meetings and work with the group.  We love
your beautiful faces and we would like to see them light up as this comes
together, and we can't do that online.

 

5.  U.S. Social Forum

Representatives from R-68 were amongst the 20,000 or so who traveled to
Atlanta, Georgia in June to be presenters at the U.S. Social Forum.  We
solicited feedback from oppressed communities on the issues we need to
address during the Festival of Democracy.  If we are going to solve
community problems, we need to determine how to focus our energies in a
way
that can do the most good for the community members most affected by this
broken system.  We also used the opportunity to continue our work with
other
national groups who are in solidarity with us and began to make
connections
with others that we had yet to communicate with about their role in the
actions and events being planned for the DNC.  It was a very promising
trip
and many positive connections were made.  The Rocky Mountain Region
agreed
to put forward the DNC action as their platform at the People's
Convention
Session on the closing day, which was widely applauded and supported. At
this point, it appears that the DNC will be bigger and better than many
of
us had suspected!!!

6.  Donations

We would like to thank all of the committed individuals and organizations
that have donated funds to Recreate 68.  When looking to make history, we
will need substantial funds.  Any donations to R-68 will be solely for
the
community.  There are no salaries in this group and all spending is open
and
transparent.  We all have it tough in these economic times we are
experiencing, but anything you can spare will be appreciated.  Try to
skip
that over-priced latte for one day and send the money to R-68.  We
appreciate any donations no matter how small you may feel it is.  Thanks
in
advance.  Donations can be made at our meetings or mailed to Recreate 68,
PO
Box 6444, Denver, CO 80206 

7.  Flash Back Words to Ponder

Many were excited, many laughed and many were offended by our last
Flashback
by Jerry Rubin, at least you are all thinking and talking.  Remember,
these
are just for entertainment, if they move you in any way, great.  Enjoy.
This issue's flashback comes to you from Julius Lester.  Lester was a
columnist, folk singer, radio personality, poet, photographer, black
militant, and revolutionary commentator.  This essay is from the book
Revolutionary Notes.  Lester's radical analysis and incisive wit are
turned
on all aspects of the struggle of the sixties - subjects ranged from the
Yippies to Robert Kennedy, from Women's Liberation to the image of Che
Guevara, from SNCC and the Black Panthers to George Wallace and white
students radicals.  His words were relevant when they were written and
printed in progressive papers around the country in 1968 as they are in
our
present times.  It is sad how little has changed in forty years.  Just
drop
Vietnam and add Iraq and his essays could have been written today.  Well
enough bull shitting, here it is:


Protest and Resistance 


To protest is to speak out against, to let it be known that you do not
like
a certain action or another.

To protest is an act of intellectual commitment.  It is to say, "Sir, I
protest" when you are slapped in the face.

To protest is to play a game.  You go to a demonstration, listen to
speeches, wave signs, and go home to see if you got on television.

There are many toys in the game of protest.

There is the picket line.  Originally a picket line was formed by
striking
workers to keep strikebreakers out.  If anyone tried to cross that picket
line, the strikers tried to kill him.  Today you get a permit from the
police to picket.

There is no protest if permission must be sought and rules abided by.  We
have allowed the form that our protest takes to be defined for us by
those
whom we protest against.  Thus, our protest is drained of its power
because
we do not have the power to make our protest effective.

We think the war in Vietnam is being waged only against the Vietnamese,
but
we are its victims, too.  It is our own deaths we protest, but we haven't
realized it.  It is not a war against "the Vietnamese people."  It is a
war
against us and the little humanity we have remaining.  Too little
humanity
we have remaining.  Too little humanity, because we are no longer
outraged
at what is being done to us.

If we were, we would resist.

To resist is to say No! without qualification or explanation.

To resist is to pit Life as you define it against Life as they define it
and
to do all that is necessary to see that their definition is destroyed in
all
its parts.

To resist is not to go to jail when sentenced, but only when caught and
surrounded and there is no other choice but death.

To resist is to make the President afraid to leave the White House
because
he will be spat upon wherever he goes to tell his lies, because his
limousine will find the street filled with tacks and thousands of people
who
will surge around it, smashing the windows and rocking the car until it
is
turned on its side.

Have we forgotten?  The man is a murderer.

It is us he is killing.

To resist is to realize that your own life is at stake at this very
moment.

To resist is to become alive, truly alive for the first time.  It is to
say
not only will I not accept what you are doing; I will stop you from doing
it.  No one shall sleep peacefully again until you cease, desist, and
abdicate.

To resist is to say if the parents of Vietnam weep for their children
then
parents of America shall weep for theirs.

If the people of Vietnam are unable to harvest the crop without fear, to
live their lives without being shrouded by the shadow of death, then no
American shall harvest his crop without fear; no American shall live
outside
the shadow of death.

To protest is to dislike the inhumanity of another.

To resist is to stop inhumanity and affirm your own humanity.

One does not protest murder.

One apprehends the murderer and deals with him accordingly..

Until next E-news flash, get involved, get active, and remember, DO IT IN
DENVER!

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