{"article":{"id":10504,"heading":"Anti-Capitalist Convergence Issues New Call to Action","author":"Anti-Capitalist Convergence DC","created":"2001-09-21 03:18:17","modified":"2005-08-15 00:39:02","last_modified":"Mon, 15 Aug 2005 07:39:02","article":"

PLEASE FORWARD!

For immediate release

September 20, 2001

For more information: info@abolishthebank.org

Anti-Capitalist Convergence Issues New Call to Action

The Anti-Capitalist Convergence is continuing our mobilization in

Washington

DC September 24 through October 1. We are calling for a march against

the

growing capitalist war on Saturday morning September 29th and invite all

those interested in creating a world free from terror, hate, racism,

poverty

and war to demonstrate our unity and vision for a better world.

For the past 5 months we have been organizing a mass mobilization

against

the fall meetings of the IMF and World Bank because of their role in

enforcing global capitalism. In the process of this organizing we have

been

working to strengthen our community by making the connections between

capitalism and issues local to dc. We had been planning a large,

diverse

and beautiful protest and were optimistic that these demonstrations

would be

a groundbreaking step for the Anti-Capitalist movement.

Like most people we were shocked by the events of September 11th and

stopped

mid-action, mid-thought, our lives interrupted and forever changed.

The

enormity of this crisis has affected us all. The IMF and World Bank

have

cancelled their meetings and many groups have called off their events.

The

political climate in the United States has severely changed, emotions

are

running high and the country is extremely tense. In recent days we have

seen the militarization of our city, increasingly blatant racist attacks

and

blind patriotism. Media hysteria and government rhetoric are pushing

people

to unite through religious bigotry and nationalism. Security,

particularly

here in Washington, DC, has been heightened as the country prepares to

go to

war.

The US government has failed to recognize the interconnectedness of all

the

forms of violence. Bombing, encouragement of dictatorships, sweatshops

for

benefit of US corporations, third world debt, world hunger or lack of

shelter and healthcare are all forms of violence. The fear and

desperation

that grows from poverty and oppression is crucial to any understanding

of

violence throughout the world. 35,000 people die from starvation each

day

even though there is enough food to feed all. Terror is still terror

whether it is from death from starvation, fear of enslavement by

corporations or fear of bombs or airplanes falling. Until we understand

the

violence of our economic, military and foreign policies, we will

continue to

foster the conditions that make this kind of terrorism possible.

We demand that no more terror or violence be perpetrated in our name. We

are

a movement devoted to social justice. There is no justice to be found in

retribution, war, racism, corporate globalization or capitalism itself.

We

condemn any and all retaliation and religious persecution of Arab, Arab

American and Muslim peoples and we oppose any attack on our

constitutional

rights. We will not hand over our civil liberties to the greater good of

the

State.

We strongly see the need to come together and act on our visions of the

world we want to create and not on our fears. Though we came together

against the Bank and Fund what we came together for is even more

important

now. We want to continue to mobilize, though we are all uncomfortable

carrying forth in the way we planned. The tactics that were ideal to the

original situation will not have the same effects at this time. We are

no

longer calling militant blocs or actions. We will take action to

inspire,

motivate and demonstrate that a world based on needs not profit; a world

of

mutual support; a world free from oppression is possible. This is a time

to

come together in true solidarity, in a way that supports all those

working

for a better world.

Our plans include a convergence week starting with the opening of the

Anti-Capitalist Convergence Welcome Center on Monday, September 24. All

week long we will engage in skill shares, art, organizing meetings and

outreach. At a time when many people think that war is the answer to

violence talking to our neighbors will be a revolutionary act. We plan a

Community Dialogue with people about what is happening in the world by

asking them Why? We will continue to make connection between critical

local

issues like the lack of housing and healthcare and global capitalism.

On Saturday morning we will hold Anti-Capitalist March Against Hate.

That

afternoon we will establish our Temporary Autonomous Zone to support and

provide for ourselves in a caring and inclusive way. It will be a hate

free

zone, a war free zone, and a capitalist free zone. We encourage

everyone to

make a contribution whether it be a class for the free school, offering

basic medical support, drumming, clothing swap, skill shares,

performance,

strategic discussions, food and more!

Saturday evening we are extending an invitation to friends and neighbors

to

join together in a \"Food Not Bombs\" Community Dinner. When the state's

pro-war rhetoric claims that \"America takes care of it's own\" yet spends

billions on a war when many of its people go to sleep hungry and

homeless

it's time for a change. We want to model that change.

We urge people to take action together in Washington DC. Taking action

at

home is equally important, however. If you cannot come to Washington,

organize an action, talk to people in your neighborhood or set up your

own

autonomous zone. People are rising up everywhere saying no to hate and

no

to war. Join with anti-capitalists and other around the world as we

take

action for justice!

Website: http:\/\/www.abolishthebank.org\/

==================================================

UPDATED INFO ABOUT ANTI-CAPITALIST CONVERGENCE

Convergence week: September 24 through October 1

Website: http:\/\/www.abolishthebank.org\/

Website (english): http:\/\/www.abolishthebank.org\/en\/

Phone: 703-276-9768

General: info@abolishthebank.org

Housing: housing@abolishthebank.org

Local Issues: local@abolishthebank.org

Media: media@abolishthebank.org

Outreach: outreach@abolishthebank.org

Funds: funds@abolishthebank.org

Food: food@abolishthebank.org

Legal: legal@abolishthebank.org

Medical: medical@abolishthebank.org

Arts\/Action: arts@abolishthebank.org

Ride Board: rides@abolishthebank.org

Request Housing: http:\/\/www.abolishthebank.org\/en\/request_housing.php

Offer Housing: http:\/\/www.abolishthebank.org\/en\/offer_housing.php

Maps: http:\/\/www.abolishthebank.org\/en\/maps.html

Eating guide: http:\/\/www.abolishthebank.org\/en\/guide.html

Outreach Materials: http:\/\/www.abolishthebank.org\/en\/outreach.html

Events: http:\/\/www.abolishthebank.org\/en\/events.html

Ride Board: http:\/\/www.abolishthebank.org\/en\/transit.html

Free Skool\/Workshops: http:\/\/www.abolishthebank.org\/en\/freeskool.html

Local Issues Working Group: http:\/\/www.primate.net\/%7Echagall\/acc-local\/

Donate: http:\/\/www.abolishthebank.org\/en\/donate.html

Child Care: http:\/\/www.abolishthebank.org\/en\/childcare.html

Next Public Meeting in Washington

Sunday, September 23, 7:00 PM

Location: For Location call 703-276-9768 Ext. 7

Anti-Capitalist Convergence Welcome Center

It's about time to annouce the Anti-Capitalist Convergence Welcome

Center. The Welcome Center will open at 10am on Monday, September 24th

and be open daily from 10am to 9pm from the 24th to October 1st. This is

not a place to hang out or store your belongings. This space will used

by the ACC to disseminate information about the Anti-Capitalist

Convergence. Stop by to recieve updates on protests and various actions

during the Anti-Capitalist Convergence. From the welcome center we will

be directing folks to protests, meetings, trainings, skillshares and

workshops throughout the city. You will also be able to find out how to

secure housing for your stay in DC and be directed to food servings by

Seeds for Peace and various Food Not Bombs groups throughout the week.

For information on anything concerning the Anti-Capitalist Convergence

stop by the ACC Welcome Center at 15th and Irving Streets NW. One block

from the Columbia Heights Metro stop on the Green Line.

We need volunteers, contact: abolishthebank@hotmail.com if you can

volunteer to staff for a shift or two during the convergence or call

703-276-9768

This space is NOT open to media or law enforcement.

------------------

Anti-Capitalist Convergence Principles of Unity

(These are as adapted from CLAC and CASA's principles of unity. Two

groups that organized for the FTAA protests in Quebec City.)

*We are opposed to capitalism. We fundamentally reject a social and

economic system based on the private ownership of the means of

production and exchange. We reject a system driven by an exploitative

logic that sees human beings as

human capital, ecosystems as natural resources, and culture as simply a

commodity. We reject the idea that the world is only valuable in terms

of profit, competition and efficiency.

*We reject the ideology of neo-liberalism, whereby corporations and

investors are exempt from all political and social measures that

interfere with their so-called \"success\".

*We are anti-imperialist, opposed to patriarchy, and denounces all forms

of exploitation and oppression. We assert a worldview based on the

respect of our differences and the autonomy of groups, individuals and

peoples. Our objective is to globalize our networks of resistance to

corporate rule.

*Respecting a diversity of tactics, we support the use of a variety of

creative initiatives, ranging between popular education to direct

action.

*We are autonomous, decentralized and non-hierarchical. We encourage the

involvement of anyone who accepts this statement of principles. We also

encourage the participation of all individuals in working groups, in

accord with their respective political affiliations.

*We organize with a regard for security culture, keeping in mind the

constant repression and infiltration of political movements by the

state.<\/p>\n","contact":"info@abolishthebank.org","link":"www.abolishthebank.org","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"The Anti-Capitalist Convergence is continuing our mobilization in Washington DC September 24 through October 1. We are calling for a march against the growing capitalist war on Saturday morning September 29th and invite all those interested in creating a world free from terror, hate, racism, poverty and war to demonstrate our unity and vision for a better world.","numcomment":0,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/2001\/09\/anti-capit.txt","filesize":"10.1 kibibytes","article_url":"\/news\/2001\/09\/10504.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[]}