On May 30th-June 1st, Anti-Authoritarians from all walks of Midwestern life converged in MPLS, MN to indulge in “Red Dawn”, take part in essential party crashing workshops, and strategize against the 2008 D/RNC.

“A MIDWESTERN CLUSTER”

During Saturday’s strategizing session, “A Midwestern Cluster” was formed.

After analyzing humyn sized maps, weighing pros and cons, and generally feeling out the territory of downtown St. Paul using the newly developed St. Paul sector map, folks at the strategizing session consensed that “A Midwestern Cluster” would, come hell or high water, hold SECTOR 5.

Why create a Midwestern cluster?

Given the sheer size of the sectors in downtown St. Paul, (and soon to be Denver?) we felt that smaller Midwestern splinter groups would have better luck accomplishing their goals if we clustered up and focused on a certain sector.

With this plan in mind, it seems like a tangible possibility that overflow into another sector may become a reality if the majority of the Midwestern splinter groups decided to commit.

Beyond the conventions, a Midwestern cluster would be an extremely useful tool when Midwestern calls to action need to happen.

For example: 300 immigrants were just recently deported in a Postville, IA raid with little to no response from Midwestern radicals.

If there had been a Midwestern body to call upon, things may have been different in Postville.

A diversity of tactics…

A Midwestern cluster recognizes the need for a diversity of tactics and embraces them.
Fin.

7.12 SPOKES COUNCIL

What!? A spokes council in 1¼ of a month!? Yup yup. You didn't‘ read anything incorrectly.

On July 12th, Unconventional Midwest will be hosting a spokes council in MPLS, MN. A Midwestern cluster is calling on
Midwestern anarchist and anti-authoritarian affinity groups/smaller clusters to send representatives to 7.12 to cluster up and begin strategizing within SECTOR 5 against the RNC.

We're aware that meeting in a month may be difficult for some at this point. So an alternative means of showing solidarity,
commitment, and cluster strength has been created. See below.

…What about the DNC?

It’s not as if the Midwest has no interest in the DNC. Here in the Midwest it’s pretty clear that we are organizing against “politics as usual” and not merely the republicans. Out of four proposals that were on the table at the strategizing session, only one of them (forming a cluster) was addressed. This was due largely to time restraints and not lack of interest.

Because of the time restraints, an informal spill over discussion took place the following morning. During this discussion, the desire to plan and discuss DNC proposals at the 7.12 spokes council was met with some concern.

The concern was that not everybody who consensed upon the spokes council consensed upon using spokes council time to discuss
DNC strategy, even though proposals covering the DNC had been on the table.

With that concern in mind, we feel it just and appropriate to leave space at 7.12 for planning and strategizing for both DNC and RNC. This means there will be time and space to discuss the other three proposals (including "Out of the plains, into the Rockies!") in addition to further and more concrete SECTOR 5 planning.

…SOLIDARITY ASSESSMENTS

A solidarity assessment is easy as vegan pie to create. Follow the instructions below and you’ll be done in no time.

Step 1: Get on a public computer.
Step 2: Create a brand new email.
Step 3: Write an email to: mwclusterup (at) riseup.net expressing your affinity groups/clusters solidarity and commitment to holding SECTOR 5 (or organizing against the DNC), including an estimate of your numbers.

(Please do not include specifics. The internet isn’t a safe means of communication.)

...PLANNING AHEAD

Folks are highly encouraged to send in their proposals ahead of time to kick 7.12 off with a bang!
Please send proposals to the contact email below.

THIS IS/WILL BE A VOUCHED FOR EVENT.
PLEASE SEND AN RSVP WELL BEFORE HAND

CONTACT EMAIL: MWCLUSTERUP (at) RISEUP.NET

More information will be released as it is received.

We'd like to take a quick minute at the end of this barrage of information to be in solidarity with recent Midwestern developments.

- We are in complete solidarity with APOC's critiques of the specialist/racist literature/stickers that made it’s way onto info tables
all over the Midwest.
- We are saddened, yet in obvious solidarity with the 300 immigrants that fell victim to the recent raid in Postville, IA.
- We are in absolute solidarity with the ihanktonwan people’s choice to fight the hog farm that’s encroached upon their land.
- Last but not least we are sitting (get it? Tree sits!) in solidarity with our sisters, brothers, and anyone in between or outside of those
two genders, holding strong against the monstrosity that is I-69.

In regional rage,
A Midwestern Cluster