Help me get started in civil disobedience/direct action.

[meldroc]

That's right, I'm asking for you to help me break the law. I've come to the realization that we need more civil disobedience in this country in order to end the war in Iraq and break Bush's march towards fascism, and I would like to put my money where my mouth is. There are a couple hurdles though:

1. While I've been in a few small anti-war protests, I've never done civil disobedience before, and I need to learn the ropes, learn what to do when arrested, how to avoid the worst pitfalls, etc.


2. I live in Colorado, which isn't really what I'd call the center of American political discourse. I have yet to see any of the really big demonstrations such as the anti-war rallies bringing in hundreds of thousands to the Mall in Washington DC last month. There's precious few of us that even participate in legal roadside protests, much less engage in anything likely to result in arrests.

Where do I get started? Where do I go to get involved?

[demnan]

1. Glad you asked since Jan 2, I've been doing this

First you need to get with a group. Does your city or county have any one of the following:

1. Some active peace church whose members oppose the war - our group belongs to Church of the Brethern).
2. A Democratic wing of the Democratic party
3. A Congressional Committee to Impeach Bush and Cheney (Democrats.com)

Have you been active in Democratic politics? If so you probably have email lists of people within the party (or know someone who does). Get together with them. You don't need a lot of people to stage a protest. Five people is fine. And keep asking people. Do you have a local PDA chapter (Progressive Democrats of America)?

Create a Google Group or Yahoo group to make sure everybody has a way to contact. Also an active roster with phone numbers.

Once you have your group, make up some very strong signs (wind brings down the ones they hand out at marches) Go to the craft store and get those thick cardboard pieces they use to frame craftwork, some small brushes and some oil paint. Make up some signs. Our group went to the Salvation Army and got old pairs of boots. Very effective. Also if you do candlelight vigils get those little tealights in packs of 100. You can place the lights in front of your signs.

Pick a good area for the demonstration. A busy intersection with long lights is good, gives people a chance to see you. Make sure it is safe and legal. Most people in your group won't want to lose their jobs or life over this. When the police drive by, be friendly with them. Believe me, when rednecks get mad, the POLICE ARE YOUR FRIENDS!

We demonstrate at least every Saturday. Some of our group are retired and also do weekday protests. It's been very rewarding. PM me if you'd like any other ideas or have questions.

[meldroc]

3. Good points. I'm already doing some of this...

I have been periodically joining a local group that's been protesting in Fort Collins, and I usually go out and join them on Saturdays with signs.

There is one thing: You said to keep it safe and legal. I'm all for safe and especially non-violent (we lose all moral authority and practical support if we become violent), but I'm done with legal. This is civil disobedience after all, which by definition is illegal. I'm interested in something like the Occupation Project, but it seems that nobody's organized a local campaign in Colorado, otherwise I'd be camping out in Marilyn Musgrave's office.

[demnan]

6. If you want to do something illegal

why not set up camp in front of your Congressman's house - sort of an encouragement for impeachment sort of thing. We almost did this but opted for an intersection in his neighborhood. I wouldn't think you'll have too many people want to join you for illegal activities, but check out what the socialists are doing, they're always active in this sort of thing.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. I'd try Code Pink. I'm sure they would know how to act during an arrest and

can give you advice. They've been promoting civil disobedience for a long time.

[meldroc]

4. I'd sign up with Code Pink,

except I'm disqualified on account of being male. Doesn't mean I don't support them though.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

5. Code Pink Doesn't Discriminate By Gender. Not Sure Where You Got That From. You Can Sign Up Just

fine.

[meldroc]

11. Good point.

Now I'm on their mailing list. :)

[EFerrari]

8. Lots of CodePink men in my town.

:)

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Code Pink accepts men

They have quite a few men who belong.

[EVDebs]

7. Read Thoreau's 'Civil Disobedience'

"Civil Disobedience" in three parts: One - Two - Three
(Originally published as "Resistance to Civil Government")
http://thoreau.eserver.org/civil.html

but prepare for backlash as a dissenter, wear a mask so to speak as V did, and read up on Rex84, Op Cable Splicer, Op Garden Plot, and see what was set up for illegal immigrants being diverted to internal dissenters.

BTW, set up a Freemasonic form of entity (secret society) since the boys are setting up shop in your state now:

CIA Plans to Shift Work to Denver
Domestic Division Would Be Moved
by Dana Priest
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, May 6, 2005; Page A21

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/05/AR2005050501860.html

[EFerrari]

9. Thank you for that link! Had to downsize my library and don't have

the hard copy any more. :hi:

[EVDebs]

10. Read up on the secret war of Knights Templar vs. Knights Hospitaler

now known as the SMOM. The Templars morphed into the Freemasons, whose first three degrees were what our founding fathers were in the US Revolutionary War. Infiltrated by the Jesuits and 'Illuminati', the degrees after that were instituted with satanic symbols and further weirdness as a way to discredit the Freemasonic movement.

Simon Bolivar, Washington, Marti, Diaz, the list goes on and on, were revolutionary freemasons and their anti-papal views originated with Luther

Catholic Origins of Futurism, Preterism
http://www.aloha.net/~mikesch/antichrist.htm

mentioning Francisco Ribera's originating 'futurism', which is the now dominant evangelical (Bush's Base) eschatology which causes much of our problems with the Islamic world,

Their beliefs are bonkers, but they are at the heart of power
US Christian fundamentalists are driving Bush's Middle East policy
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1195568,00.html

Monbiot's mistake is failing to mention Ribera ! BTW, the treasure of the Knights Templar was taken by the Knights Hospitaler, now called Knights of Malta. Look who sets up the CIA post WWII,

Their Will Be Done
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/1983/07/willbedone.html?welcome=true

The connection between Knights Templar vs Knights Hospitaler can be more clearly seen in the Peasant's Revolt of the early 1300s in England:

""There's only so much a people can take, and in 1381 a peasants' rebellion occurred, organized by reform-minded parish priests in contact with a shadowy, secretive "Great Society" and led by a guy called Walter the Tyler. Now it may be that tyler is an obsolete spelling of the occupation roof tiler, but Robinson contends that tyler in this case is sergeant at arms of a Masonic lodge, a natural choice to lead a violent mob. During this insurrection, there was a great deal of lopping off of heads of aristocrats and upper church officials, lawyers and authority in general; but the mob seems to have been deliberately guided toward the destruction of property, particularly property belonging to the Knights Hospitaller and the Church. One piece of Hospitaller property was spared, that temple which had been the principal temple of the Knights Templar prior to the suppression of the order in 1307.""

from book review of Born In Blood
http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/Born_in_Blood_Book_Review.htm

[meldroc]

12. Deleted by poster

Good point about this being a public board...

[uppityperson]

13. On a public forum board?

[Richard Steele]

14. Sorry officer, I have ZERO interest in getting DU shut down on conspiracy charges.

But thanks for asking.