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US Democracy at Miami FTAA: "if they engage in lawful activity, we're gonna arrest them."

category international | anti-capitalism | news report author Saturday November 22, 2003 15:34author by don johnson

A compilation of firsthand reports / analysis

They love 'Freedom' in Miami - they 'really' do . .
Here are some reports from the streets there. Much more at the related 'ftaaimc' link. Makes a mockery of Bush's statement about the protests in the UK during his visit - 'Isn't freedom wonderful'. And the Black Bloc . . . what can you say? . . . It's gone beyond a joke . . . at this rate even the Irish police will cop on to this tactic sooner or later

Arresting the future: http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17246

Miami Vice:
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17234

Indymedia get it - again: http://ftaaimc.org/en/2003/11/1719.shtml

Black Bloc cops again: http://ftaaimc.org/en/2003/11/1647.shtml

Media Analysis: http://ftaaimc.org/en/2003/11/1394.shtml

Related Link: http://ftaaimc.org

Comments (8 of 8)

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author by .publication date Sat Nov 22, 2003 15:44author address author phone

http://why-war.com/features/2003/11/ftaaprotest.html

Related Link: http://why-war.com/features/2003/11/ftaaprotest.html
author by Breda Ppublication date Sat Nov 22, 2003 20:27author address author phone

I've got a feeling this version of events is somewhat biased/deluded/hallucinatory.

author by eeeeeekkkkkkpublication date Sat Nov 22, 2003 23:12author address author phone

documented by links

Which exactly do you have a problem with?

author by Phuq Heddpublication date Sun Nov 23, 2003 08:43author address author phone

The commondreams article linked below explains that the current "draft ministerial agreement" is a far cry from what the USA originally wanted from the FTAA and that this is a further defeat from the one imposted at Cancun against the WTO.

Further, what's all the brou-ha-ha about the black bloc? Cops have been starting violence at protests for hundreds of years and just because they target one effective group of activists doesn't meant that everyone else should start beating up on those activists too. If the bb weren't there then the cops would be wandering around without masks pretending to be "trade unionists" or something.

Support your local black bloc.

Related Link: http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1122-07.htm
author by variety of thinkingpublication date Mon Nov 24, 2003 14:30author address author phone

sure, ya lets all go out and dress up as riot cops, balaclavas and body armour. turn their tactics back on them, the cops will be masked up and smashing things, we can be tooled up in the name of state sanctioned violence ;)

wonder how the meeja will play that one, the thin yellow line fighting off their own black block to protect a bunch of masked up provocateurs.

makes more sense than getting all dressed up to ensure that agitators are more easily able to infiltrate and provoke.

SHOW YOUR FACE WHILST WE SMASH THE STATE, WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF??? DON'T YOU THINK WE'LL WIN???

author by an american who hates painpublication date Mon Nov 24, 2003 21:05author address author phone

The protests are getting scarier and scarier here in the United States and it has nothing to do with black bloc or marching naked ladies. All my life I have been volunteering and walking towards human justice.

They have decided that the violence against us in Miami should set the new standard in US assemblies of politically left people.

So why should you cover your face? Be prepared for them to suddenly start throwing tear gas, wearing padding because they will hit you with rubber bullets, be rational becuase they are targeting "leaders". Do not have leaders.

We must protect ourselves.

Miami did happen, and we need your help. There has been a media blackout here in the States. We need to media to report it in order for this to change.

Please contact your embassy. Express concern over the banana republic of teh states. Ask for them to free the political prisoners being held and tortured in Miami today.

Make the whole world watch!!!

author by iosafpublication date Tue Nov 25, 2003 15:45author address author phone

interestingly yesterday Aznar admitted that life for people in Bagdhad is now _worse_ than a year ago.
for all you war justifiers.

= i couldn't find the right place to put that.

but I'll reflect on it in the next sunday papers.

Related Link: http://www.ftaaimc.org/en/2003/11/1928.shtml
author by Phuq Heddpublication date Wed Nov 26, 2003 03:30author address author phone

Jeremy Scahill (reporter for DemocracyNow!) talks about the police assault on the protestors and how the Black Bloc was restrained, how "journalists" were embedded with the police and how the union activists applauded the cops.

Read it and draw the necessary lessons.

Related Link: http://www.counterpunch.org/scahill11242003.html


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