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meeting place for G20 ExCel actions

(A) Sab x | 31.03.2009 14:49 | G20 London Summit

I'm sure that a lot of people have got some great plans for disrupting the G20 summit at the ExCel centre on Thursday the 2nd, but i know of quite a few pwople who don't have any specific plans and are worried that they will find little to do on the day.


Would it be sensible to propose a meeting point for activists with no specific plans for the day, but who want to disrupt the event. At similar decentralised days of action, there is often a large bloc of people with no specific affinity group or plans (these blocs have also achieved great things in Rostock and Gleneagles to name a couple). I would suggest Custom House tube station on the DLR as a good meet up point.
There are also a few fluffy/red marches leading into the area - it might be an idea to use them as a vehicle to get into the area en masse. Even if we don't get on these marches, the mere insinuation that we might will ensure a heavier police presence at these events, leaving a more stretched old bill finding it harder to cope with the situation.
So, this is both a question and a proposal - is there a meet up point for direct activists/anti-authoritarians with non-specific plans, but who want to get involved, and if not, shall we come up with a meeting point sharpish.

Discuss

(A) Sab x

Comments

Hide the following 11 comments

tell them were we are to meet?

31.03.2009 15:00

surely posting it on here would be telling the cops were another group are meeting?

anon


reply to anon

31.03.2009 15:36

Yes, it would be telling them where we will be meeting, but it will also be telling scores of people (many of whom I have spoken to) who may not be coming down for fear of not finding an action to be part of where to go. Even if it is totally pigged (which it invariably will be) it is surley better to give people without specific plans a place to meet with eachother on the day, rather than being excluded from the event altogether. I know that when I was an inexperienced activist, not knowledgeable about DA or affinity groups etc, it was blocs like the one I am proposing that gave me the opportunity to get invoplved in DA activism.
It is also important to remember that every potential meeting place that gets mentioned on this website will certainly be policed to some degree during the summit, further streching police resources.
Naming a place for people without specific plans to meet seems like a win-win situation to me because
1. I know people who are considering staying away for lack of a group to meet up with (this includes people who can only make it down for that 1 day, so have no time to get into affinity groups etc)
2. Any possible meeting point will be the focus of police attention, further streching them and allowing people who do have specific plans to do so more effectivley.
3. Who knows, the group, with a few maps and ideas may be able to achieve a great result. I was part of a similar group at DSEI 2003, comprising of about 70-100 people which met with no fixed plans yet ended up blockading a entrance road for ages and tieing up a huge amount of police resources.

(A) Sab x


dear sab x

31.03.2009 16:02

who do you work for? is the pay good? how do you sleep at night?

hildy johnson


maybe over kill on the cop watch

31.03.2009 16:09

maybe this guys legit? then again could be a cop, its a good point about people with no plans, then again, an extra hundred activists randomly roaming between actions/demos/whatever could be useful in a number of ways... then again easy pickings for cop sweeping teams.
if anyone does go, i'm sure they'll watch their back, and if the site is flooded with cops, they can go back to plan a of roaming around.

confuzled anti


convergence space

31.03.2009 16:16

sab,

I agree with what you are saying regarding meeting like minded people.

Would the convergence space not be appropriate for requirements?

anon


To Hildy

31.03.2009 17:11

'Confused anti' seems to get the picture.
The convergance space would be a good place, is it far from the excel centre?

To Hildy - Yes, I am payed by the state - as an education worker! Now fuck off and take your consiparcy bullshit elsewhere.

(A) Sab


Seems like a good idea.

31.03.2009 17:45

There already is an avertised place to meet others in the lead up to the G20. But never the less, announcing a place before hand (on the day) for non affiliated people to meet up is not a bad idea. Just follow certin precautions and be wary of people who are overly enthusiastic to cause trouble. Even if it achieves a the simple goal of tying up police resources whilst others get down to bussiness it's a job worth doing.

Me


sab and co

31.03.2009 17:58

sab,

the reason i suggest the conv centre is no one (in their right mind) is going to arrange a meet for a specific place on london in these comments. Your better talking to like minded people who are in the city. theres a phone number and a google map reference for the centre.

talk to people there, see what suits you and you can take it from there. get your friends to go as well. They can be inspiring places and your friends maybe surprised at how many people are in the same situation. plans can be made face to face without disclosing them on the internet. Friendly environments with people who are passionate about a range of different causes, it can be inspiring and an enjoyable educational time.

Dont let the media scare campaign put your friends off and at the least you get to meet and talk to like minded people.

Good luck with your plans, whatever they may end up to be.

Anon

anon


Stupid post on Indymedia

31.03.2009 23:41

"There are also a few fluffy/red marches leading into the area - it might be an idea to use them as a vehicle to get into the area en masse." ---

- Yeah right that's gonna be in the tabloids tomorrow like a shot. How long does it take to write another hijack story? P'haps you already are writing it. Let's see...

Just to refresh out short media frazzled memories - first the Put People First march was according to mainstream media going to be hijacked by crazy violent anarchists wearing helmets, steel toed boots and carying shields and clubs n stuff. Erm no.

Then the climate camp and G20Meltdown were violent nutters about to smash up the city.

Then today the climate camp are cool peaceful types, G20 Meltdown are also now apparently peaceful according to press, BUT it's the evil anarchists who are going to be hijacking the G20 Meltdown "to get into the city en masse"... er yep.

The only thing currently unhijacked is the anarchist march meeting at _________?



transparent


all actvists have to start somewhere

01.04.2009 00:20

reckon its a good idea - there's a ot of people who want to get involved and don't have the relevant info / aren't in affinity groups / aren't experienced / new comers / people who only come out on big occassions and numerous other reasons.

A mass of people brought together can create actions - I've seen it at the RNS in Minneapolis sept 08 and at Gleneagles - it does work and brings people into undertaking actions. Those of us who are more experienced need to remember what it was like just starting out and getting involved. Only by being more inclusive and creating space and opportunities for new activists are we going to expand the movement, bring in sections of society that aren't already linked and generate greater pressure for change.

would be a good idea to offer a meeting point. for people to come together - and as already stated - even if it does draw police attention - it takes attention away from other pre-organised stuff and distributes police resources thus weakening them.

r


Time?

01.04.2009 23:02

And what time are you suggesting to meet?

Criss