Direct Action Against the War Now! meeting in LONDON. Come along!
D.A.A.W.N! | 22.03.2002 18:28
This Sunday (24th March), the first meeting of Direct Action Against the War Now (D.A.A.W.N) will be taking place outside Holborn tube station @ 12 noon. We are working hard to get the group started and it is vital that as many interested people as possible come along.
In March 2002, a cross-section of independent activists decided to form "Direct Action Against the War Now", in order to heighten the intensity and visibility of the anti-war struggle. We are not a political party with a common platform, but a non-hierarchical network of autonomists. We respect a diversity of tactics and opinions, and we call on everyone involved in the anti-war struggle to support us, whether or not they are willing to involve themselves in Direct Action.
Unlike ARROW, we have not taken a specific pledge of non-violence, since many of us feel that previous ARROW actions have lacked spontanaeity. However, this does not mean that we ARE necessarily more "violent" (however we wish to define this); simply that "respect for a diversity of tactics" means exactly what it says on the tin!
We believe that the time for Direct Action is NOW, before Bush and Blair launch their criminal war on the people of Iraq. The Stop the War Coalition has done a great deal over the past six months to build the anti-war movement. But it is clear that marches and rallies are having no overall effect on British policy-making. 100,000 marched through central London in November - but still the war machine continues to acquire new resources and targets. Moreover, the STWC's methods have alienated many activists involved in the wider anti-capitalist struggle. We believe the time has come for a new, more spontaneous approach to resistance.
We have therefore decided to mount a Direct Action on Saturday March 30th, to coincide with the CND/STWC rally taking place in London on the same day. The exact nature of this action will be discussed at our inaugural meeting this Sunday (24th), but the general consensus is for an action on Grosvenor Square in front of the US embassy. We support the CND/StWC march but, because of the nature of our action, it must be carried out separately from the march so as to not involve/endanger anyone against its own will.We obviously cannot predict the response of the police, they are without a doubt the most creative bunch of 'em all! Our main idea is a "Picnic for Peace" (a feast without end!) - so it is vital that people are aware of what is going on and are prepared to contribute food, drink, props - but above all, their creativity and ingenuity on the day!
"I am tired and sick of war; its glory is all moonshine. War is hell." (William Tecumseh Sherman, US army, 1879.)
D.A.A.W.N!
Unlike ARROW, we have not taken a specific pledge of non-violence, since many of us feel that previous ARROW actions have lacked spontanaeity. However, this does not mean that we ARE necessarily more "violent" (however we wish to define this); simply that "respect for a diversity of tactics" means exactly what it says on the tin!
We believe that the time for Direct Action is NOW, before Bush and Blair launch their criminal war on the people of Iraq. The Stop the War Coalition has done a great deal over the past six months to build the anti-war movement. But it is clear that marches and rallies are having no overall effect on British policy-making. 100,000 marched through central London in November - but still the war machine continues to acquire new resources and targets. Moreover, the STWC's methods have alienated many activists involved in the wider anti-capitalist struggle. We believe the time has come for a new, more spontaneous approach to resistance.
We have therefore decided to mount a Direct Action on Saturday March 30th, to coincide with the CND/STWC rally taking place in London on the same day. The exact nature of this action will be discussed at our inaugural meeting this Sunday (24th), but the general consensus is for an action on Grosvenor Square in front of the US embassy. We support the CND/StWC march but, because of the nature of our action, it must be carried out separately from the march so as to not involve/endanger anyone against its own will.We obviously cannot predict the response of the police, they are without a doubt the most creative bunch of 'em all! Our main idea is a "Picnic for Peace" (a feast without end!) - so it is vital that people are aware of what is going on and are prepared to contribute food, drink, props - but above all, their creativity and ingenuity on the day!
"I am tired and sick of war; its glory is all moonshine. War is hell." (William Tecumseh Sherman, US army, 1879.)
D.A.A.W.N!
D.A.A.W.N!
e-mail:
direct_action_against_the_war_now@hotmail.com
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