Over 70 people attended the meeting held at the Student Center on the University of MN’s St. Paul campus. The forum was co-hosted by Protest RNC 2008, a coalition of several local activist organizations, and the RNC Welcoming Committee, a group of Twin Cities-based anarchists and anti-authoritarians. Volunteers were on hand for child care, and Food Not Bombs provided a meal.

The first hour of the forum featured an opportunity for various organizations to table and speak with participants one-on-one.
The next hour consisted of an open-mic session where representatives from several groups shared plans already underway. Marie Braun and Mick Kelly, of the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War, announced plans for a massive antiwar march on the first day of the RNC, Sept. 1, 2008. They displayed a large map with the proposed march route highlighted. “This is going to be an absolutely huge rally and march around the Xcel Center,” said Braun. “We’re hoping for 50,000 to 100,000 people.” Kelly explained that over 30 groups have already signed on to the national call for the demonstration. “We’ll be hosting people from all over the country,” he said. “We envision a large, permitted march that people will feel comfortable bringing their families to.” The march is likely to include several feeder marches, including a poor people’s contingent organized by the Welfare Rights Committee.

Alana, of the RNC Welcoming Committee, presented her organization’s six points of unity and described their role as “an informational clearinghouse that will coordinate food, housing, and transportation, as well as engage in education and outreach.” The RNC Welcoming Committee is currently working on a bike building and maintenance project to enable a Critical Mass ride just before the RNC, as well as to facilitate transportation for protesters throughout the convention. They are also planning a “Pre-RNC” for Aug. 31-Sept. 3 of this year. Anarchists from across the country are invited to come to the Twin Cities and participate in tours, workshops, skill shares, games and brainstorming sessions to hone their strategy for protesting the RNC in 2008.

Other ideas proposed included: hosting an alternative convention featuring progressive speakers and workshops on Harriet Island – renamed “Peace Island”; hosting a weekend-long peace vigil in Minnehaha Park; joining the Republican Party and participating in precinct caucuses; and directly confronting the convention to, in the words of one participant, “interfere with their business as effectively as they interfere with our lives.” A National Lawyer’s Guild representative ensured that her organization is already mobilizing legal observers and a legal defense team for the weekend of the RNC. Plans for organizing a street medic team, peace-keeper trainings and safety trainings were also discussed.

Following the open-mic, those gathered divided into break-out sessions where specific issues such as the “mega-march,” direct action, media strategies and logistics were addressed in further detail. Participants shared ideas, formed e-mail lists and established next steps. Organizers of the forum viewed the event as a successful meeting of minds. “We’re committed to working together,” said Kim DiFranco of the Welfare Rights Committee. “We won’t let the Republicans or the media divide us, and we will not endorse ‘good protester/bad protester’ labels. We respect a diversity of tactics and know that we’ll be the most effective if we work together in a spirit of unity and solidarity.”

www.protestrnc2008.org