Monday, October 20, 2008
Victory of Non-Violenece
By Lynette Malles
Tuesday, September 2. Marchers gather at Mears Park in downtown St. Paul. The rally has been permitted months previously to begin at 4pm but we discover that the stage sound system is OFF! PPEHRC lawyer consults with park officials who inform him that sound was not included in the permit and due to "special security concerns" city employees should not come to the park to turn on the sound. Speeches proceed by bullhorn, only reaching the first few rows of listeners until after an hour "somebody" shows up to turn on the power.
About this time three U.S. Justice Department community officers warn Cheri about other protesters at the Capital with their own tear gas (false) who have been breaking windows (which didn't happen). She reminds the officers that if they know about the possibility of violence, THEY should do something about it and assure the safety of PPEHRC marchers.
Meanwhile, a disruption designed to pull media attention AWAY from the rally occurs just off the park. Among those arrested is a reporter from Independent Media.
The march 1,000-strong then gets under way, led by women with children and the disabled in wheelchairs. Passing the Ramsey County courthouse and jail, literally hundreds of regular police, military police and National Guard troops are on guard. Our leaders focus on preventing violence that might flare up from participants, not part of the campaign, who keep trying to bypass the front of the march. PPEHRC marshals, veterans of previous RNC and DNC demonstrations, instruct volunteers to join hands forming a circle of protection around Cheri, the disabled, the babies and their mothers. This creates a buffer and helps keep control, not letting agitators take over. March swells to 2,000.
The mood is tense. Residents from Dorothy Day Center for the homeless do not join as the march ends directly in front of their shelter, right across from the Xcel Energy Center. Apparently they were told by someone that they would "lose their beds" if they came out. Such rumors perpetuate the shroud of shame that envelopes the homeless, leaving them "invisible."
At the side door of the RNC Cheri is supported on the shoulders of another. For a moment she thinks that as a visible target she is going to die. But she addresses the crowd, "Raise your right hand and repeat after me 'I promise' (I promise) 'not to leave here' (not to leave here) 'or do anything stupid' (or do anything stupid). There are little bitty babies here. Please don't follow me. I am going to the steps of the Xcel Center to serve the Republicans with a citizen's arrest for crimes against humanity." As she approaches the fence with police guns aimed at her, for another moment she is sure that she's going to be shot. She wraps the citizen's arrest document in an American flag and slides it under the fence.
PPEHRC marshals give the signal to depart at once. We disburse with only a couple of our group getting sprayed trying to get out of the area. We keep getting blocked at every turn by police as if they want to push us back into the tear gas zone of agitators.
What did I get from this life-altering experience? I could go on about the courage and grace of people I hope to meet again. I learned that protesters in public places should purchase large generators and control the power. FEAR tactics employed by police under dictatorial political rule can be effective-large numbers of peaceful protesters stayed away.
But despite informers, plants, infiltrators and riot police, our experienced and disciplined leadership WON the day for peaceful dissent! To date, 17 new PPEHRC chapters are starting up around the country.
Police riot-gear masks made them invisible. OUR faces were seen, OUR voices heard.
Tuesday, September 2. Marchers gather at Mears Park in downtown St. Paul. The rally has been permitted months previously to begin at 4pm but we discover that the stage sound system is OFF! PPEHRC lawyer consults with park officials who inform him that sound was not included in the permit and due to "special security concerns" city employees should not come to the park to turn on the sound. Speeches proceed by bullhorn, only reaching the first few rows of listeners until after an hour "somebody" shows up to turn on the power.
About this time three U.S. Justice Department community officers warn Cheri about other protesters at the Capital with their own tear gas (false) who have been breaking windows (which didn't happen). She reminds the officers that if they know about the possibility of violence, THEY should do something about it and assure the safety of PPEHRC marchers.
Meanwhile, a disruption designed to pull media attention AWAY from the rally occurs just off the park. Among those arrested is a reporter from Independent Media.
The march 1,000-strong then gets under way, led by women with children and the disabled in wheelchairs. Passing the Ramsey County courthouse and jail, literally hundreds of regular police, military police and National Guard troops are on guard. Our leaders focus on preventing violence that might flare up from participants, not part of the campaign, who keep trying to bypass the front of the march. PPEHRC marshals, veterans of previous RNC and DNC demonstrations, instruct volunteers to join hands forming a circle of protection around Cheri, the disabled, the babies and their mothers. This creates a buffer and helps keep control, not letting agitators take over. March swells to 2,000.
The mood is tense. Residents from Dorothy Day Center for the homeless do not join as the march ends directly in front of their shelter, right across from the Xcel Energy Center. Apparently they were told by someone that they would "lose their beds" if they came out. Such rumors perpetuate the shroud of shame that envelopes the homeless, leaving them "invisible."
At the side door of the RNC Cheri is supported on the shoulders of another. For a moment she thinks that as a visible target she is going to die. But she addresses the crowd, "Raise your right hand and repeat after me 'I promise' (I promise) 'not to leave here' (not to leave here) 'or do anything stupid' (or do anything stupid). There are little bitty babies here. Please don't follow me. I am going to the steps of the Xcel Center to serve the Republicans with a citizen's arrest for crimes against humanity." As she approaches the fence with police guns aimed at her, for another moment she is sure that she's going to be shot. She wraps the citizen's arrest document in an American flag and slides it under the fence.
PPEHRC marshals give the signal to depart at once. We disburse with only a couple of our group getting sprayed trying to get out of the area. We keep getting blocked at every turn by police as if they want to push us back into the tear gas zone of agitators.
What did I get from this life-altering experience? I could go on about the courage and grace of people I hope to meet again. I learned that protesters in public places should purchase large generators and control the power. FEAR tactics employed by police under dictatorial political rule can be effective-large numbers of peaceful protesters stayed away.
But despite informers, plants, infiltrators and riot police, our experienced and disciplined leadership WON the day for peaceful dissent! To date, 17 new PPEHRC chapters are starting up around the country.
Police riot-gear masks made them invisible. OUR faces were seen, OUR voices heard.
Labels: Lynette Malles, March for Our Lives 2008, Non-Violence
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