[Peace-discuss] Our Tahrir Square: DC's Freedom Plaza on October 6th [from David Swanson]
Stuart Levy
slevy at ncsa.illinois.edu
Mon Jun 6 10:48:21 CDT 2011
----- Forwarded message from David Swanson <david at davidswanson.org> -----
Date: Mon, 06 Jun 2011 06:35:37 -0400
From: David Swanson <david at davidswanson.org>
Subject: [ufpj-activist] Our Tahrir Square: DC's Freedom Plaza on October 6th
To: ufpj-activist <ufpj-activist at lists.mayfirst.org>
Our Tahrir Square: DC's Freedom Plaza on October 6th
By David Swanson
[1]http://warisacrime.org/node/58074
When other nations' governments go off track, their people do
something about it. In Tunisia and Egypt people have nonviolently
claimed power in a way that has inspired Americans in Wisconsin and
other states, as well as the people of Spain and the rest of the
world.
Washington, D.C., is the weakest point in our democracy, without which
state-level reform cannot succeed. Most Americans want our wars
ended, our corporations and billionaires taxed, and our rights
expanded rather than curtailed. We want our money invested in jobs
and green energy, not a global military that can't stop itself. Our
government in Washington goes in the opposite direction, opposing
popular will on these major issues, regardless of personality or
party.
On October 6th, a Thursday, the Afghanistan War will complete its
first decade as the United States goes into its 2012 austerity
budget. Tahrir Square in Cairo Egypt translates as Liberation
Square. We have in Washington, D.C., a square with the similar name:
Freedom Plaza. This square is located between the Capitol and the
White House along Pennsylvania Avenue, and built into its surface is a
map of downtown Washington on which nonviolent resistance actions can
be conveniently planned.
Today a coalition of organizations and prominent individuals is
announcing at [2]http://october2011.org a plan to begin a people's
occupation of Washington, D.C., on October 6th, to build it into
something larger on the 7th, 8th, and 9th, and to not leave until we
are satisfied. There is absolutely no reason that our government must
be permitted to continue functioning on behalf of Wall Street and a
war machine. In Afghanistan, the people protest our bombing of their
homes. We sit inside our own homes complaining about our economy, our
banks, our schools. Instead, we now have a chance to have a say, in
solidarity with others around the world, with success just as likely
-- if just as shocking to those in power -- as with past U.S.
people's movements and the recent advances in Tunisia and Egypt.
This will not be another rally and march on a Saturday, make home
movies, pat ourselves on the back, and go home. We are coming to
Washington to stay. Today's announcement is an open invitation for
all kinds of organizations, national and local, to join in the early
planning stages of this campaign. We need not agree on political
ideology or party or much else. We need only agree that nonviolent
resistance to a government that routinely ignores the will of its
people is appropriate in our nation as well -- even above all, given
our nation's impact on the environment, global finances, and wars.
Over this past weekend Wikileaks revealed that the U.S. government had
been quite upset with Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown for
pulling troops out of Iraq, and had accused him of something even
worse: of having pulled the troops out in order to please the British
public and win an election. What, we might ask, would be wrong with
the U.S. government occasionally doing what the U.S. public demands?
When I'm in London later this week I will be pleased to let them know
we're alive over here with exciting plans for October, and in fact to
ask them to join in on October 6th -- they have plenty of good squares
over there too.
On the new website [3]http://october2011.org , which lists an
impressive number of groups and individuals already committed, you can
sign a pledge to be there on October 6th and to stay. But how can you
be sure you want to make that commitment? How can you agree to travel
great distances and make great sacrifices? Sure, to be part of
history, to be able to tell your grandchildren you were there for the
most famous event of the new century, you could do it. But how can
you be sure that's what this will be? Well, nothing is strictly
guaranteed, but you can sign up right here
[4]http://october2011.org/besure committing to be there and to do this
only if at least 50,000 other people do the same. With that number of
dedicated people, we will be able to kick start a process of
nonviolent change the likes of which we haven't seen in this country
in many years. Sign up there and we'll let you know how many others
are with you.
Individuals can sign up and spread the word. You can also post on the
website your reasons for being there. So can organizations. By doing
so, you join a coalition and will be able to participate in the
planning. This is a coalition that is just beginning to be formed.
It is not a new organization. Existing organizations that promote the
coalition website are in turn promoted by the coalition. Get in touch
to learn more: [5]http://october2011.org/contact
Media outlets can also sign on as intending to cover the campaign.
Many already have. I'll be discussing this on Lila Garrett's "Connect
the Dots" on KPFK today, on the Nicole Sandler Show, on GW on the
Hill, and on Scott Harris's "Between the Lines." Others are on lots
of other shows. Already independent video producers are devoting
themselves to the cause. Check out these videos by Dennis Trainor
below. Get inspired. Make your own. Tell your friends. Groups on
the West Coast like the Backbone Campaign are already planning
training events and travel arrangements. If you need or can offer
help getting to D.C. let us know at [6]http://october2011.org/travel
In the meantime, take the pledge to be there. That act alone will put
a little bit of concern into the minds of those ruining our country,
and that will be something new: [7]http://october2011.org
<iframe width="560" height="349"
src=[8]"http://www.youtube.com/embed/6P5PN_JVpL8?rel=0"
frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="349"
src=[9]"http://www.youtube.com/embed/1pfAX99B6hc?rel=0"
frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
References
1. http://warisacrime.org/node/58074
2. http://october2011.org/
3. http://october2011.org/
4. http://october2011.org/besure
5. http://october2011.org/contact
6. http://october2011.org/travel
7. http://october2011.org/
8. http://www.youtube.com/embed/6P5PN_JVpL8?rel=0
9. http://www.youtube.com/embed/1pfAX99B6hc?rel=0
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