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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Carnival Against Capitalism! Midwest Convergence MayDay 2002 - time to organize |
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by Chicago Direct Action Network
Email: directaction (nospam) onebox.com (unverified!) |
27 Feb 2002
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We are calling for a Midwest regional convergence upon Chicago to reclaim
MayDay in the year 2002. |
CARNAVAL AGAINST CAPITALISM… because
ANOTHER MIDWEST IS POSSIBLE!!
We are calling for a Midwest regional convergence upon Chicago to reclaim
MayDay in the year 2002.
MayDay is the international workers’ Holiday. It is recognized in all
countries except 3: South Africa, Canada and the United States. The ironic
thing is that Mayday was born in the US, and more specifically in…CHICAGO!!
MayDay is OUR tradition, WE are the people that would have fought the same
battles more than a hundred years ago and it is up to US to keep struggling
for our and everybody’s needs. Mayday is OURS and we are going to RECLAIM
IT!!
One of our main goals in calling this action is to strengthen ties amongst
activists in the Midwest, to get us excited about working together…learn
about each others’ struggles and forge ties and networks that will help us
FIGHT TO WIN!! in the times ahead.
Mayday was part of an intense historic period of revolt in the US for the
struggle for an 8 hour day at the end of 19th century. The spirit of
rebellion was especially present in Chicago, where in May 1st of 1886, a
general strike erupted, with 200.000 workers in the streets resisting the
brutal repression that ended up killing 5 people, called the “Martyrs of
Chicago”.
Mayday represents today the FIGHT for RIGHTS and a CELEBRATION of
RESISTANCE! That’s why we’ll put together both components through Festive
Autonomous Actions with solid Messages:
“We work, but Capitalism doesn’t. The current system continues to fail us
in very basic ways”:
EDUCATION: In Chicago, city colleges are being privatized and some
universities are having their fees jacked up such as the University of
Illinois in Chicagoabout 44% in two years. In Little Village, a
Latinoworking class neighborhood in Chicago, the struggle for a desperately
needed highschool continues. We believe that education –including higher
education should be free and peoples-led.
We demand an end to tuition hikes at universities.
HEALTH CARE: In Chicago, health clinics are being privatized and closed
down. We believe and that the highest quality healthcare should be
accessible to ALL!
We demand a moratorium on privatizations and closings of health clinics.
HOUSING: In Chicago, Public Housing is being stripped away from those who
need it and rents skyrocket in a vicious process of gentrification that
plagues the city. At the same time, corporations like Boeing are invited
into the city with all their taxes waived without giving anything back to
our communities, not even jobs. NO ONE should be forced into becoming a
refugee from their own city!
We demand no more corporate welfare and the money gained be channeled
towards more affordable housing.
DIGNITY: And as corporations, capital, and arms dance freely across
borders, immigrants are forced into flight from countries like Argentina
after years of pillage by groups like the IMF and then made to work in
conditions resembling those of indentured servants in the fields and
factories whether its picking tomatoes for Taco Bell or in the linen
business locally at Carousel’s
We demand Amnesty for all the undocumented workers.
PEACE: While we grieve for the victims of September 11th, we do not believe
that increased military spending and aggression will result in the peace we
all desire. Half of every U.S. tax dollar goes to supporting the war machine
while the above needs are not being met. We demand an immediate stop to the
war on terrorism.
AND THE LIST GOES ON . . .
ATTENTION TO ALL ORGANIZERS: We wish to provide a framework for this Mayday
which is inclusive and representative of the people involved. This is a
work in progress, which means that it will not be finalized until we have
your input! In your local organizing please feel free to change the
struggles and demands to fit your local community.
*The workshops, the autonomous actions and the thematic blocks for the
carnival march will directly take on these themes. The list of themes is
open if you want to suggest a specific demand!!
**We strongly encourage you to talk about your local struggle in a workshop.
If you want to suggest a target for autonomous actions, go ahead! Map it
today and protest it on Mayday!! And finally, if you want to organize a
BLOCK for the march with your own theme or struggle it will be more than
welcome!
GOALS:
To build ties amongst activists in the Midwest with the long-term goal of
establishing a radical network in the region
To learn about regional flashpoint struggles, what’s burning in our
communities whether its police brutality in Cincinnati or family farm
defense in Wisconsin and how to support eachother
To connect the anti-globalization movement to local struggles and local
struggles to the antiglobalization movement
To Broadcast our messages to the four corners of the Midwest AND THE
WORLD!!!
SCHEDULE of the CARNIVAL AGAINST CAPITALISM
Friday, April 26th 5:30 pm CRITICAL MASS!!! A joyous bikeride to
reclaim our city
Saturday April 27th: “From Local to Global: the Midwest on Fire”
Workshops on Regional struggles (you are more than welcome to suggest a
workshop on a struggle you are currently involved in, let us know about it)
Actions: Autonomous and coordinated independently
Evening Panel tying it all together and giving a global angle to it, along
with a presentation of the Peoples’ Global Action Network and some “big
name” (TBA). Followed by MUSIC! (TBA)
Sunday, April 28th: CARNIVAL AGAINST CAPITALISM!!
In a celebration of resistance, we will take to the streets and demonstrate
with audacious creativity that history is not over, change will yet come,
hope is still alive. In true Brazilian Carnival style, we will move and
dance through the streets. We invite everyone to form their own BLOCKS with
their affinity group and contribute another festive element and message to
the mosaic of protest:
PARTICIPATORY ACTIONS with giant puppets, stiltwalkers, jugglers, samba
band, drum core: . . .
“Drown capitalism in a cacophony of sounds”
Wednesday May 1st : ACTIONS
ATTENTION TO ALL MIDWESTERNERS!!: The scenario is open to input and
discussion. You are invited to come to the REGIONAL SPOKES COUNCILS!! Come
on down: The first spokescouncil is on Saturday March 2nd at 4:00 PM at the
AZONE N. 2129 Milwaukee (timed to coincide with the national “Boycott Taco
Bell!” farm worker caravan on March 3rd)
*****Housing Available for all spokescouncils and events*****
REGIONAL SPOKESCOUNCILS: MARCH 2nd 4:00 PM at AZONE
APRIL 6th
2:00 PM Location to be announced
APRIL 25th
6:00 PM Location to be announced
See you at the Spokescouncils or on the streets!!
Contact us for more info
directaction (at) onebox.com
(773) 386-7933
www.chicagodan.org |
See also:
www.chicagodan.org
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