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!

D.A.A.W.N!
e-mail: direct_action_against_the_war_now@hotmail.com

Comments

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and...

22.03.2002 18:53

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our vision is stronger than any of their weapons.we will win.

D.A.A.W.N!

D.A.A.W.N!
mail e-mail: direct_action_against_the_war_now@hotmail.com

Get a grip!!!

22.03.2002 20:07

Quote:
"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."

I'm no defender of the STW coalition, but to propose to build an anti-war movement with an even smaller, less broad group of activists would have Whitehall laughing -- if they noticed that is!

Only a mass movement, made up of 100s of thousands of working class people, taking up the struggle on the home front - with strikes, sabotage, disruption and the rest of it is; is going to challenge the muscle flexing of Bush & Blair.

We're a very long way from that at the moment, but this doesn't have to mean that we turn inwards to take part in activities because "the workers" aren't doing it themselves.

This is elitist in its own right, no matter how autonomous and non-hierarchical the direct action is.

You're going to drive yourselves into the ground for no good reason, other than action for actions sake.

Top Cat

About time too

22.03.2002 23:52

Go for it D.A.A.W.N. you are very much needed any appreciated.

peacenik

Non-violence=non-spontaneous?

23.03.2002 00:23

"Unlike ARROW, we have not taken a specific pledge of non-violence, since many of us feel that previous ARROW actions have lacked spontanaeity."

Did I miss the logical step here? How does ARROW's nonviolent stance equate with a lack of spontanaeity? Seems to me ARROW are about the most creative and spontaneous outfit around. And they recognise the connection between means and ends...

Brock

what a minute

23.03.2002 13:58

This has got nothing to do with being an 'elite' group. The idea of getting this group together is so that people who feel that their voices aren't being heard by government can shout a bit louder. If everyone who took part in the march wanted some kind of direct action then clearly no one would stop them, far from it. But, most of the people taking part in the marches aren't for any kind of confrontation. I agree that we should encourage everyone to join the coalition but some will not want to if it is seen that they are likely to get arrested, beaten, etc. this is why this group would be good, as it would let those that are willing to be potentially arrested make a conscious decision about it, as oppose to forcing it on others involved in the peaceful march.

not so fast

dialogue not hate

23.03.2002 14:47

hey tomcat, let's get a couple of things straight here: if you had read any previous posts from D.A.A.W.N! (or even the last one as a matter of fact) we make it quite clear that we are by no means trying to be or claiming to be a "vanguard" for the anti-war movement (we leave that to the marxist-leninists, GR anyone?) and definitely NOT an "elite", the sound of which only makes me cringe. We respect the Stop the War Coalition and anyone involved in the marches (we are organizing our action separately from the march exactly so as to not impose our vision upon everyone else), we simply feel the need to express our dissent in different ways, and the way in which the group is spontaneously growing shows that many people out there feel the same way. We don't consider ourselves "better" than anyone else, we simply see each other as comrades who have the same goal in mind, and simply choose to follow a different path to achieve that goal. We are not trying to divide the moevement, if anything we want to make it more united in accepting the differences within it. It's the kind of sectarian and close-minded attitude that you display (straight outta the cointel-pro books if I may add) that harms the movement, not us. We know very well that in order to succeed we need to work with the movement as a whole, but do you? I find it interesting how the accusations of "extremism" and "sectarianism" always come from self-professed "pacifists" (not saying you are one) with a very aggressive attitude! we are speaking of unity, and want to buld a constructive dialogue. why don't you come along to the meeting? you might learn something.

In Solidarity,

D.A.A.W.N!

D.A.A.W.N!
mail e-mail: direct_action_against_the_war_now@hotmail.com

diversity=good!

23.03.2002 19:29

I will be making my usual appearence at the larger rally, but I totally and wholeheartedly support the action that DAAWN is taking, and await the results eagerly. Lets face it top cat, its actually better if we hit em form all sides and directions, with ever more unpredictable means. It actually warms my heart no end that this struggle is diversifying. Good luck DAAWN, I cant wait to read your report on indymedia, and mabe give some support for the next one.

sparkle

Absolutely!

24.03.2002 02:07

Yep, StPC can march and listen to Tony Benn for the rest of its existence. We could see over a million march against Blair and still he wouldn't give a shit. The rest of people, who have been on these ineffective marches need to get creative. See you at the action.

And here's the evidence!

24.03.2002 11:15

2 million workers march in Rome against the Berlusconi government . . . and what does Berlusconi do?

The answer is: Exactly what he was doing anyway; namely follow a corporate "globalisation" agenda mooted by his backers on the extreme right. Did the actions of two million Italian citizens make a blind bit of difference? Nope.

To make matters worse, the media are reporting this massive protest as an "anti terror" demonstration, implying that the actions of the so-called Red Brigades are somehow bound up with the American-led "War on Terror". This is a classic piece of corporate media hype - either they ignore your protest, or they co-opt it for their own ends.

Yes, it's true - if the Stop the War Coalition mobilised two million British citizens on the streets of London (whether or not they are "working class"!), Blair would ignore them. He could afford to ignore them, because it is entirely possible to shut down a major city for a couple of hours to let a big demonstration pass through.

Imagine if only a few thousand people were willing to engage in spontaneous Direct Action. We could stop the trains, shut down military bases, obstruct the corporate media, basically do whatever it takes to bring the bastards down! Yes, some of us would get nicked. Some might even end up in jail. But if the Faslane Peace Camp protesters are willing to take these risks, why shouldn't we? What's good enough for Gare Loch is good enough for central London!

It's time to give up this fantasy of "workers consciousness". This stuff was dubious in the nineteenth century - now it's positively ludicrous. When Karl Marx said that "history repeats itself - first as tragedy, then as farce", this is the farce. It won't be the unions who stop this war - it will be autonomous individuals standing up for their rights . . . remember that there is a long tradition of individualistic protest in this country - look at the Poll Tax Riots of the fourteenth century, the Levellers, Diggers, Ranters etc.

Don't be afraid to grasp the nettle - this isn't about taking part - it's about WINNING.

D.A.A.W.N!

Anarchist Rioter