People from all over the state of Colorado, both coasts and elsewhere across the country were in attendance. It was a chance for both anarchists in the region to get to know one another better as well as come together and figure out how to make the week of the DNC more than just another protest.

Stepping Back to Move Forward

As we dug into the discussions of strategy and tactics for the DNC, many present felt the need to slow down and take a bigger look at what we were doing. In a way, we came out with more questions with answers, but this is a positive. As anarchists it’s important that while working with a sense of urgency for a better world, that we also reject the efficiency mantra recited by capitalists which all too often marginalizes and discounts many voices and opinions for a single, dominant perspective. Instead we diverted from the specific task at hand and instead delved into questions such as How would shutting down the convention benefit anarchist movements, the residents of Denver, and allies fighting for a better world? Where does movement building fit into our strategy? How will what we do in Denver affect the RNC? Are we learning lessons from past struggles, particularly the realities of oppression such as racism or sexism? Is this for us to just feel good and get a rush or to really truly affect change?

With such deep and difficult questions there were of course no easy answers to accompany them. Still, it was important that we “went there” and are approaching the DNC with a critical eye, determined to make August ’08 truly unconventional. Also out this discussion was the ad hoc formation of two working groups- one focused on movement building and networking, the other on goals which will help firm up strategy used around the DNC.

Networking/Movement Building

It was pointed out that a successful DNC will come out of effective networking and movement building, not the other way. A working group was set up to help promote links between anarchists now that will strengthen as the DNC approaches, with the goal of continuing those links after the conventions pass.

Included in the networking ideas was a more formal structure fit to the needs of anarchists in the area, many opportunities for folks to gather and solidify social bonds that can lead to more genuine solidarity, another consulta ideally over a weekend to continue the work that has begun, and a general campaign during election season possibly around the theme Everyone Must Go. We also talked about media and outreach work through outlets such as the Beehive Collective, Indymedia and local independent publications.

Discussions have been continuing since the consulta and people should keep an eye out for more concrete proposals around general campaigns and alliances.

Goals

We felt that we were putting the cart before the horse when it came to developing a strategy for the DNC. While some goals had been generated beforehand by folks involved with Unconventional Action, people (especially Denver locals) wanted to clarify goals further before jumping into a strategic framework for the convention.It was agreed that good goals will inform the strategies and tactics that will be used.

As a result, we did agree on a tentative strategy that will be open for adaptation and revision after further input from the goals workgroup as well as the dialog that comes from people on the ground in Denver.

The Strategy!

Even after the conversation took a turn away from the original goal of the meeting, we are still putting forth a general strategy for the DNC, which as was mentioned earlier, will be updated and given a degree more specificity after further talks have taken place amongst Denver communities.

We are proposing to shut down the convention by blockading the convention from several directions. We’re also advocating a multi-pronged approach to the protests, each prong designated as a different level of risk.The way in which blockades will be supported is still being discussed but some ideas include feeder marches or assigning different areas of the city as zones with certain risk level involved.

-- Unconventional Denver

To keep up with the ongoing work of Unconventional Action or to plug in with things yourself visit www.unconventionalaction.org

-- To connect with local Denver organizers email
unconventionaldenver (at) riseup.net and visit www.recreate68.org