I was one of the tactical "leaders" trying to negotiate with the police and with other tactical "leaders" both those who participated in the logistics committee of the M19 coalition and a few who didn't. Maybe marches and actions with no tactical planning or "leadership" would be better, more participatory, and immediately and directly democratic, but as things were on Saturday, planning was done as Hooshi points out, beforehand.
I was fully prepared to go to jail on Saturday, and had made all the usual preparations for such. My mind was made up, I would rather be arrested than march down Clark, or Dearborn. Things didn't turn out the way I would have liked, and I surely share blame for what happened, as do you TDK.
I think you know why I finally (after an hour of getting nowhere) thought we should start marching on Dearborn. Things didn't go as planned, and as much as you may not like to look at it this way, the bulk of people involved in the march made the decision to keep marching on Dearborn to federal plaza, and no "leader" or anybody else on our side made YOU keep going. From my vantage point, the cops made you keep going, and YOU acquiesced. I wish you or other anarchists had opened up a route East, but YOU didn't. I do disagree with some of the tactical folks and other negotiators who were too concerned about people leaving early, the march down Clark having already started, and the fact we were going to be late to Federal Plaza, which would "disrespect" the speakers there. So you and I have some agreement.
I never heard the chants of "shame" but I was near the front ready to try to help in any situation that might arise.
I agree that the march down Dearborn was a defeat.
I didn't hear Liberte's comments, but if your quotes are accurate I would have to say that's a big time cop-out about what happened Saturday, and an untruth about 2003. I think it takes a lot of gall to complain at others about a situation you were personally involved in and not able to do anything better. The statement about "black bloc broke police lines and crowds of thousands took Lake Shore Drive" in 03 is utter nonsense, as I have lots of video showing exactly how we got to lake shore drive and nobody broke police lines anywhere at any time.
If you or anyone else is so good at "taking" streets in downtown Chicago, why didn't you?
Dearborn was a defeat, but instead of placing any responsibility for that on yourself, you choose to only blame others. Seems to be a trend.
I think we should organize something very soon, to re-affirm our right to march anywhere in downtown Chicago, so let's do it.