Washington DC Anti-Capitalist Convergence Communique on April Actions - "To the movement(s): Get down with your bad self"

The Washington, DC Anti-Capitalist Convergence has previously announced that we will not be organizing massive protests against the IMF and World Bank meetings this April or protests to coincide with the other mobilizations happening during the weekend of April 20. We wanted to let you all know what our thinking behind this was and assure you that we are as committed as ever to direct action and working for the rev.

As activists in Washington, DC we are in a unique position of having many opportunities each year to react to and protest against, most notably the World Bank and IMF meetings almost twice a year but also meetings of high profile government officials - such as Ariel Sharon - and big businesses and media which are constantly invading the city. As anti-capitalists we strongly believe in the need to show resistance to the institutions, corporations and individuals who exploit and oppress people, animals and nature here and around the world.

We strongly believe in working to stop them, in fucking with their plans and intentions however we deem most strategic. We are currently concentrating on local organizing both as the ACC and individually on various projects in our respective communities here in DC. Local organizing is crucial; we must bring out into the open the connections that exist between poverty, inequality, racism, sexism and all forms of oppression right here in this city to that which institutions like the IMF, World Bank, and Capitalism promote worldwide. Protest, education, and community work are integral to this struggle and to building resistance. At the same time, we desire to make this world one where we can live beautiful and creative lives - and sometimes this is the biggest challenge, especially here in the belly of the beast. So, we are struggling to balance the actions we do in reaction to "authority" and those that we create to provide alternatives for the people of our communities in resistance to capitalism.

These spring meetings of the Bank and Fund are the smaller meetings of the year and though they are a great opportunity to show our resistance to these institutions and solidarity with the people they hurt around the world as well as to educate people in the US we have decided to limit the resources we put into planning protests this April. This was a tough decision but with the little time we had (2 months) we decided it was better to build up our base, work on local projects of resistance to capitalism and create anti-capitalist alternatives. Within the DC Anti-Capitalist Convergence we largely feel that we are internally unprepared to organize, or for some of us, simply uninterested in organizing a massive mobilization on 2 months notice. This does not mean that other Anti-Capitalists cannot or should not organize actions or logistics to coincide with the A20 mobilizations, it just means that the DC ACC as an organization has consensed not to.

For these reasons we have our sights on October to organize and call for a massive demonstration in Washington, DC.

We support the efforts of the organizations that ARE mobilizing for the various demonstrations occurring during the weekend of April 20. To show our solidarity with those in the struggles against capitalism and our rage at the violence that is the vicious capitalist and imperialist system we will be in the streets in an Anti-Capitalist Contingent in at least one march on the 20th and are excited about seeing and encourage autonomous actions throughout the city during that weekend. Let the city streets be a canvass to redecorate and reconstruct. So, get down with your bad self.

While marching on the 20 and always we carry with us our belief that a diversity of tactics and strategies will bring about change and revolution and we hold a strong distaste for any individuals and groups that try to set guidelines or police the rest of the movement(s). In regard to the notion that guidelines are necessary to protect marginalized or minority protesters we believe that people can organize and act in discipline and respect to not endanger other people without being told what to do. We also feel that it's naive to believe guidelines or permits will protect those looking for safe space at protests when the state and police have no regard for such things.

BUT, REALLY - don't think that just because WE aren't organizing a huge militant anti-capitalist protest here in DC you can't throw a wrench in the system. Believe in what you can create and the strength of your actions. Fuck shit up in your hometown - create noise, create a spectacle, be the resistance. We've included some ideas below that we find really exciting - please email us with your own and we'll create an inspiring list of creative actions on our website.

We look forward to taking the streets of Washington, DC with you in October.

For the Rev,
Washington DC Anti-Capitalist Convergence

• Critical Mass Bike Rides
• Panel Discussions, Teach-Ins, Workshops, Video Showings and other educational events
• Benefit Concerts to raise funds and awareness for a community group or cool political projects
• Percussion Protests, and loud and disruptive drum circles
• Postering campaigns, wheatpasting art or political posters all over town
• Public Political Art, either concentrated in one area to get lots of attention or in strategic spots around town-- hanging up paintings, building sculptures and statues (or taking down offensive ones) murals, graffiti, painting streets
• Property Destruction of strategic targets of local or global oppressive institutions (structural adjustment of the good kind)
• Non-permitted Street Parties, Reclaim the Streets style! Jam up traffic, create disruptions, interrupt business as usual.
• Street Theater, public puppet shows, do a skit to educate and appeal to people or to agitate and piss them off!
• Energetic, creative rallies and marches of the non-permitted variety
• Housing Takeovers, public squats -- Homes Not Jails Style!
• Public and Free Food Shares - Food Not Bombs Style!
• Guerilla Gardening, Reclaiming unused or used space and planting veggies, flowers or other plants--or destroy some GMO crops--the possibilities are endless.
  
• Feel free to send suggestions to add to this list!

Washington, DC Anti-Capitalist Convergence
703-273-9768 - www.abolishthebank.org