April 19- Protest Bush in Pittsburgh- Call for a Black Bloc/ Direct Action Cluster

On April 19th President Bush is coming to Pittsburgh! He will be here to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars at a senatorial fundraiser and attend a 5:30pm rally taking place inside the David L. Lawrence Convention center. Bush is also coming because he believes that Pennsylvania is a key part of any chance he has for a 2nd term in office. In response to the visit from the ‘killer from Crawford’, POG is calling for a Black Bloc (wearing all black clothing and bandannas)/direct action cluster, of individuals and affinity groups to gather as part of the planned protests. This cluster will begin assembling at: 5:00pm at 10th and Penn Ave. (Downtown Pittsburgh) A plethora of other affinity groups and organizations will be gathering at that same location as part of the Thomas Merton Center’s call to respond.

We categorically reject the man and his message. The ‘killer from Crawford’, and his cronies are not welcome here and we intend to send that message loud and clear. How dare he come to our city, on the verge of complete financial collapse, to raise millions of dollars for proponents of a neo-liberal ideology whose policies have been a major contributing factor to the city’s crisis, while at the same time he continues an increasingly brutal occupation taking the lives hundreds of US soldiers and thousands of Iraqis. Pittsburgh’s share of the “war” cost is estimated to exceed $100 million dollars. How dare he expect the citizens of this region to allow him “free speech” while he is responsible for taking away the rights and silencing the voices of countless millions through an increasingly repressive Government at home, and an increasingly violent and repressive military machine abroad. Those who are responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians are war criminals and should be reviled and treated as such. We are working for the liberation of the people in Iraq AND the United States because all people have a right to justice and self-determination.

The purpose of this demonstration is oppositional. It is not an appeal to higher powers to stop what they are doing. It is an acknowledgement that while this movement doesn’t currently have the strength to stop them we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to make it as difficult as possible for them further their agenda. The protests purpose is to visibly acknowledge what is happening and visibly resist the visit of someone who shares much of the responsibility for the objectionable actions that are occurring.

We wish to put forth to the general progressive community our opinion on what the goals of the overall demonstration should be:

Overall Mobilization goals:
1: Mobilize large numbers of people from a wide breadth of the progessive ideological and tactical spectrum to come together at the same time and place in opposition to Bush’s visit and the continuing occupation of Iraq
2: Make it clear to attendees, spectators, city officials, the media, and the public at large that Bush is not welcome here.
3: Encourage and support a diversity of tactics, and let a diversity of perspectives be heard.
4: Insist that the protest be within SIGHT and SOUND of the convention center and the people who will be attending it. Similarly, oppose any police attempts to put the protest in restrictive “protest pens”, or to keep the protest farther away from the convention center than Bush supporters.
5: Support, with resources, statements, on the ground solidarity, the actions of anyone who attempts to take non-violent direct action, or engages in civil disobedience in protest of Bush’s visit.

Tactical goals:
1: Non-violently disrupt the event as much as possible through the use of non-violent direct action and civil disobedience
2: Oppose any police efforts to target people or single out individuals based on their personal or perceived identity or characteristics.
4: Remain in solidarity with, and support the activities of, those who favor more or less confrontational tactics
5: Be prepared for the possibility of violent police repression by taking whatever personal safety precautions individuals deem necessary

Suggested attire is all black clothing and bandannas. As has been the case in the past, the Pittsburgh police may resort to violence. If so, we intend to meet their violence with equally determined non-violent resistance. We will not be intimidated, we will not accept being caged in protest pens, and we will not be silenced.

In solidarity and resistance,

Pittsburgh Organizing Group

Some people may be asking why POG has chosen to issue a more determined and angry call than usual. This is in fact our first ever call for a black bloc at an event. It is simply a reflection of our revulsion towards the effects of the policies our President is pursuing around the world. We ask anyone to look at pictures from blockaded Fallujah and not recoil in horror at what we, as citizens of this country, share responsibility for. As the atrocities of our government increase so too does our responsibility to resist, for WE ARE complicit in these atrocities. english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/8CB7C17E-F69E-48A2-8034-DEA425192815.htm
Over a thousand Iraqi fighters and non-combat civilians, along with 72 US soldiers have died over the last 2 weeks. Tens of thousands more are dying in the US and around the world because of the exploitative system that this Administration embraces and is beholden to. Our hearts are sick with grief and rage over the almost incomprehensible death, destruction, and duplicity that this Government is engaged in on a daily basis. POG utilizes a variety of tactics that we feel are appropriate to the situation at hand. These decisions are based on what we believe will most effectively achieve our goals. We are not tied to any one approach. If, for whatever reason, you cannot or do not wish to participate in these protests we only ask that you understand where those who do are coming from and extend what solidarity you can. Any comments, suggestions, or requests for dialogue can be directed to pog-AT-mutualaid.org