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Sun. A6 - DIRECT ACTION TRAINING / AFFINITY GROUP ORGANIZING

Agape House, 1046 W. Polk, located just south of the U.I.C. campus
Sunday, April 6, 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.
WHY ORGANIZE DIRECT ACTION AFFINITY GROUPS?

The opening rounds of war and bloodshed have commenced in Iraq as millions of demonstrators have taken to the streets around the world. Many lessons have already become clear to antiwar organizers and the hundreds of thousands of people entering the movement for the first time. Our government and its engaged military are committed to war despite the protests of communities, unions, and schools happening the world over. They have ignored our resolutions and our voices, penned our protests into corners, and attempted to rid the war makers of any effective opposition to their plans.

If we are to stop this terrible rampage we are going to have to disrupt the workings of their machines. In Chicago, large scale disruption already was established when over ten thousand people marched onto Lake Shore Drive March 20th.With shouts of approval and encouragement from the motorists, antiwar protesters closed the Drive for over four hours, gained international media attention and marked one of the most successful actions to take place in Chicago in decades.

Since that night, however, the Chicago Police Department has reorganized itself and recommitted its efforts to contain and demoralize the unfolding antiwar movement. With our marches blocked from entering the street, and the threat of mass arrests hanging over every powerful action it is clear that new approaches to our movement need to be considered.

WHAT IS AN AFFINITY GROUP / SPOKESCOUNCIL?

In San Francisco mass disruptions of the city to increase the costs of this war are well underway. Borrowing from the spokescouncil model of organizing used in Seattle to shut down the World Trade Organization in 1999, people have organized themselves into small affinity groups of 5 - 20 people. These affinity groups are comprised of friends or coworkers and operate autonomously during an action. Because the affinity groups are independent in every respect, they can be creative in their protests and difficult for the police to disrupt and contain.

Every affinity group also has a spokesperson to represent them at larger meetings of all the affinity groups called spokescouncils. The spokescouncils make decisions about mass direct actions - what intersections need to be blocked, what corporations need to be shut down and what "L" stops need to be flyered. The spokescouncils are where the affinity groups coordinate themselves into a decentralized but effective body of protest. With serious training, and organizing we can create a mass movement strong enough to raise the stakes of war, and force the politicians to reconsider what their plans for war really are.

This work needs to happen now. Sunday's training will help existing affinity groups to better organize, and to connect with a larger spokes council meeting that will be called for every Wednesday at 7pm at UIC. For people who are not in affinity groups or who want to know more about direct action and its media, medical and legal components, Sunday will give you training and organize you into a working affinity group.

TO RESERVE A SPACE FOR YOUR AFFINITY GROUP, OR IF YOU HAVE QUESTION REGARDING THE TRAINING, PLEASE CONTACT THE DIRECT ACTION NETWORK - LABOR GROUP (773) 913-6515, Email: DANLabor (at) pobox.com

CHICAGO CITY-WIDE DIRECT ACTION SPOKESCOUNCIL FOR EXSISTING AFFINITY GROUPS:
Spokescouncil meets every Wednesday at 7 PM at UIC. Watch the indymedia wire for more information.
 
 

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