THEY THREATENED SEATTLE II - MASS "NON-VIOLENT" DIRECT ACTION
TO STOP THE CORPORATE TAKE OVER OF THE FOOD SYSTEM!

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: "The following is an update on the "Son of Patriot Act," that draconian and repressive "parade ordinance" that the Sacramento City Council passed last year with no public input."

Former City Manager Bob Thomas:

“…We’re gonna have more opportunity for more demonstrations and freedom of speech. We need to start that dialogue (that we talk to the community about what do we do in the future) to talk about what we learned on both sides. So that when the next demonstration occurs of this magnitude we’ve had that dialogue. Cause there wasn’t a lot of time for doing that.”

The Response from Protesters:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2004

Media Contacts:
Heidi McLean (916) 456-9435
Craig Tucker (916) 995-1794

Local Activists Encouraged by Council's Cooperation
City set to Amend "Son of Patriot Act"

Sacramento, CA- Since hosting the heavily protested USDA Ministerial on Biotech and Agriculture last year, area activists and city officials have been at odds. However, at yesterday's city council meeting the tension began to ease.

At issue is the city's parade ordinance, dubbed "Son of Patriot Act" by area activists. The current ordinance places broad restrictions on props and signs used by protestors. In addition activists claim the emergency ordinance was passed secretively just days prior to when demonstrations began. The ordinance was used to make at least 15 arrests during last year's biotech protests. Charges were later dropped against the protestors.

Last September, locals filled the council chamber to voice their frustrations with how the city managed the protests and the passed the ordinance. The line of speakers was passionate and sometimes angry as they recounted stories of police harassment, maltreatment in the city jail, and police brutality. A documentary video showed images of peaceful protestors rallying against genetically engineered and chemically laden food products who were time and again manhandled, shot with stun guns, and herded through town by law enforcement officers. The video's climax was the beating of Beverly Dove in Capital Park. This left local citizens outraged by what they termed an over reaction by local officials.

The tone was different yesterday. The staff presented a draft of a new ordinance to replace "Son of Patriot Act" to the Council. Although the new proposed ordinance has not been thoroughly reviewed, at first glance it appears to be an improvement.

The focus of the activists who spoke before the council yesterday was on the "process" for rewriting the ordinance. According to local civil rights activist Heidi McLean, "We're cautiously optimistic about the council's proposed changes, but we have some issues with the process the council has set in motion." Although McLean cited some progress on resolving the civil liberty issues addressed by the ordinance, she noted that last fall council members gave the impression that citizens would be involved in drafting a new ordinance. However, it is unclear as to who was consulted as the rewrite was drafted.

Nevertheless, local civil rights activists felt encouraged. Pat Driscol, Green Party candidate for Congress and civil rights activist said, "I look forward to working with city officials in hopes that we can arrive at an ordinance that allows for adequate security without violating Sacramentans' civil liberties."

Others shared similar thoughts. "The city's management of the biotech protests was nothing short of a civil rights disaster," stated Craig Tucker. "I hope that now we can work together to make sure these sorts of abuses never happen in Sacramento again."

The Deputy City Manager Ramirez, agreed to hold a public meeting/ to solicit public input before the ordinance comes to the Council again on August 5th. At yesterday's City Council meeting he was unable to tell members when or where the meeting would be held.

The men and women of local law enforcement had a tough task. I'll be the first to admit I was wrong to doubt their readiness. After the first day of the protester's "Direct Action" Sacramento Police are taking care of business in a professional, restrained but firm manner.

The threat to the City's public safety was real judging from public postings on various internet message boards supporting this movement. It came down to a pure numbers game as protesters continued to arrive in our city over a week to ten days. The masses of people the organizers predicted did not materialized. Community Watch began monitoring the same anarchist websites we've become all too familiar with when we were threatened for producing California's first Rally for America - Support Our Troops event in March 2003. Many of these threats came from the same Bay Area groups we came face to face with at San Francisco City Hall.

Anti-Capitalist/Anti-Authoritarian Gathering in Sacto June23
modesto.raisethefist.com ^ | Tue Jun 17 09:42:24 PDT 2003 | by RAAN/DAAA

Posted on 06/18/2003 3:41 PM PDT by Spangler

Sacramento, California and anyone wondering where the next large Anarchist protest is going to be, take note that scores of people are mobilizing to be there for this conference.

I am in Eugene, Oregon, and the anarchist community is migrating here in scores. Many more from other points north and south of you are doing the same thing.

Don't be caught by surprise by this. I would imagine may anarchist actions are intended to make the news and to disrupt local day to day routines in California's capital.

Spread the word. Don't be caught by surprise.

Note: The Eugene Anarchists cut through Seattle police lines like a hot knife through butter. (Seattle police reports)

Source: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2003/06/266136.shtml

Posted By: droog

Sac is happening, because I know that at least my crew of 150+ will be there. also, we need to separate groups, black blocks from direct actioners. have it happen all over the city, and the police will be spread too thin. After all, we must think, what is our approach, our intention? I for one am working for global justice and ecological and human sustainability, but we must fight antropocentrism with planned coordinated action. ignorance in the form of emotions and traditions cannot be fought with our logic or reason. The powerful and the masses have proven time and again to have little or no reason, instead falling back on old cliches and catchisms. have fun, be safe, don't hurt anyone, and don't get caught.

Don't get Caught...? Interesting choice of words for peaceful non-violent types.

Capitol Area Law Enforcement Welcomes Sacramento AG Protesters!

This is what the protesters faced in their futile attempt to shut down Sacramento!

CLICK HERE for more photos and After Action reports.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

"In the afternoon, over a thousand people descended on downtown and executed roving, decentralized actions converging on the Convention Center, where the WTO trade show was happening. The building was briefly surrounded and all traffic in and out halted. Fences were pulled down, dumpsters pushed into the street, and political messages tagged on walls and windows."

IN OTHER WORDS: YOU BROKE THE LAW, VANDALIZED PRIVATE PROPERTY, DISREGARDED OTHER PEOPLES RIGHTS AND MADE FOOLS OF YOURSELVES!

IS THIS is what the protesters are really about!

Thank you for the images from YOUR website and the memories!

The last desperate acts of defeated protesters!

With their leaders long gone, the handful of protesters left in the city, are reverting to the punk vandals they are at home. This morning, the nitwits resorted to vandalizing with spray paint in East Sacramento. Police caught a break. One of the gifted "artists" left his latex gloves behind, stained with the same paint applied to the walls. The careless clueless kids forget Latex gloves capture fingerprints really well. The gloves are headed to the crime lab. One other connecting clue is the vandals inability to spell. Many of the messages include the same misspelling of the word "Corporate". That's a useful bit of evidence to link the vandal to multiple counts and possible felony charges if the damage amount is high enough to meet the statute.

The unassuming and quiet heroes of Sacramento...

He owns many of the properties that were vandalized under the cloak of darkness early this morning. "It wasn't here late last night but it was this morning at 6 a.m. What do they get out of doing this?" asked George. See, this Sacramentan works hard for a living... he's no corporate CEO. You don't see a minimum wage worker out there removing the mess left behind by losers. Like most of us, George takes it in stride, doing the right thing by removing the vandalism so the criminals have little to show off to their other loser pals. Thanks for being a stand up guy!

Join the Community Watch effort: It will happen again! Any evidence of criminal activity will be turned over to law enforcement.

Volunteer to help in documenting any threat to PUBLIC SAFETY?