Emergency demonstration tonight about genoa events

this was reposted and updated to fix spelling and formatting errors, and to add "in the form of police brutality" to sentence about repression the bay area, per comments sent to the imc-sf-editorial collective

C'mon, deceit by omission is old hat.

A better report would be:

"The protester was reportedly attempting to throw or use a fire extinguisher against occupants of a paramilitary police jeep. He was shot in the head and neck by either live ammunition or a gas grenade fired point blank. The jeep was then driven in reverse, over his body. Unmoving, he was determined dead shortly thereafter."

I'm no friend of police brutality, but that's WHY I prefer to see accurate reporting. When you leave out important details to exagerate the implicit innocence of a victim, credibility is lost.

*Sj

hey spider... FUCK YOU AND YOUR FUCKING CREDIBILITY. you always post shit on here telling people how they SHOULD have said something, why dont you write your own fukking article instead of telling other people how to do it? you can correct details if you want but quit being such an asshole about it, it is really getting old, meanwhile see you all tonight in berkeley to protest this sick all-too-common murder at the hands of violent kkkops

It is almost never good idea to exaggerate. Though, if you had read the mainstream media you would realize that being hyper critical of the "kind kids" and people in the positive movements is counter productive to a report of information for the sake of communication through a highway of lies. The fire extinguisher is not important nor is the fact that "they backed up" or not....human to human they killed a man for his beliefs, given someone was brutally murdered. Journalism has turned into whatever can get past their intricate systems of denial,ie dramatizing the truth, when the other side of the story is all we will hear from the corporate media.

...a youth is not the appropriate response for trained police in a civilized country. There are ways to defuse the small group of people that were near the jeep without deadly violence. The Italian police were reported to have been charging into the crowd outside the "yellow zone" and inciting confrontations with the demonstators.
Thank you for orgainizing this vigil.

let us not forget that it was only a month ago that barcelona police were caught in the act, dressing up as protesters and inciting violence. that same weekend, police in san diego were caught and photographed dressed up as "black bloc" protesters. where is the reporting of that?! actually the associated press carried the first story but no one even blinked at it. except for independent media. it is not exaggeration, it is which details do you think are most important? straight reporting of facts is impossible if you are using language which is inherently biased, culturally and in all kinds of ways

Much thanks to those on it and organizing this demonstration at the last moment. I'm wondering, though, why at Berkeley BART? Wouldn't an earlier demo at the Italian Consulate in S.F., say beginning at 5 p.m. when all the workers get out for the day/weekend, make a hell of a lot more sense and be more likely to get the attention of more people?

BTW, there's no way that a bunch of trained paramilitary cops in riot gear would shoot someone twice in the head -- or the head and neck (whatever) -- and run over him by mistake. That's state-sanctioned murder, nothing less. The only thing that gives me any hope at all in this world these days is the fact that there are so many folks like you/us who are willing to fight for what's right -- including not letting Italian cops (or any cops, etc.) get away with murder. We will not give up. EVER. No matter how many of us they kill.

Protest G8 Injustice and Killing of Protester in Genoa

Italian Consulate
Monday, July 23
2590 Webster Street (at Geary Blvd.)
4pm press conference and delegation to meet with Consul
4:30pm, protest begins
Call 510-333-460 OR 415-255-7296 for more info.
Called by Bay Area Anti-Corporate Globalizatoin Activists

Bring banners, signs, art, chants, etc.

The protesters promised they would be violent.

The protesters showed they are violent.

The protesters will die by their own violence.

If you think one dead protester is bad, take a look at the Imperial Majesty of anti-capitalism, China, where 65 million have been killed by the state since the "giant leap backward."

Hi,

Just to clarify up front, I am 1000% against corporate globalization and the rule of capital over people and the planet. I also am completely outraged by the systematic violence perpetrated by "the state" against *peaceful* protestors at these globalization summits (and the like).

However, I must comment on the tone of much of the material and commentary that I read and come across, coming from the left. There is often an apparent attempt to sensationalize the points being made, in a way that not only makes the author seem extremist and not the least bit objective, but also serves to alienate the views of a huge number of people that might otherwise find some common ground and fully agree with the points being made.

I guess what I'm saying is that there is so much reasonably objective truth that most Americans are currently unaware of, and those truths can be presented to people in a reasonably objective way that would allow them to see the truth and subsequently form their own subjective opinions about it.

An (somewhat tame) example of what I'm talking about is this sentence from the email action alert I received about tonight's demonstration:

"The function of the G8, the eight most powerful corporatist/capitalist states in the world, is to suppress the will of the people in every realm of life in order to maximize exploitation of workers and the environment."

Now, most uninformed Americans might look at that statement and immediately think something like "What kind of subversive commie shit is that? There's no way I could agree with them."

However, if put some other way, and perhaps with a specific example demonstrating the point, that same uninformed American might think "Hmmm... that's true. What the fuck is going on here?"

Know what I mean?

Peace,

-Larry

just saw them do a little piece on the protest in Berkeley on the 6 o'clock news.

I watch the video on various web sites and on TV and I cannot help but think of the innocent people who live in Genoa or Seattle or anywhere a riot occurs. Their homes are endangered, their property destroyed, and the life at risk. How many people will die this weekend because an ambulance will not arrive at their house because it's running around the protest site. Suppose an innocent man dies of a heart attack and cannot get to the hospital because the roads are blocked.

Meanwhile, blame G8 and capitalism for everything that's wrong in this world. One man dies on international TV, thousands die because anti-capitalism means anti-life. You oppose humanity's very right to provide for himself, you oppose his ability to survive on Earth.

Capitalism is not the problem, though anarchists and communists would like to hijack the anti-fair-trade movement and make everybody anti-capitalist.

Fair trade, real democracy, and graduated taxes are the issues to me.

And China is a capitalist nation now. In fact it is a fascist nation. Without democracy.

Stuff all the ideological crap. The kid was SHOT TWICE IN THE HEAD AND RUN OVER. Period.

*Drug War, Death Squad LINKS worldwide. Revised. Huge LINKS list. Lists in alphabetical and chronological order. Other death squads, too. Such as the US-run Phoenix Program during the Vietnam war. Many other US-run death squads worldwide. Corruption at all levels of politics, police, society, government, etc..
http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/y/squads.htm and
http://members.fortunecity.com/multi19/squads.htm

I have to agree with those who would argue for absolute accuracy in reporting. Things are so bad, it's not necessary to embellish.

If we "lefties" are going to do anything constructive in terms of waking people up to how badly they're being reamed by their own government, we need to be as reasonable and logical as we possibly can be, given the circumstances. We've already got two strikes against us just by daring to imply that America might possibly be the real bad guy in most situations.

So because the old men who run China are shmucks, we're supposed to smile and be thankful when theold men who run America turn out to be cut from the same cloth?

Most protestors are NOT violent, by the way. The ones who choose to be make it more difficult for everyone, in my opinion.

Is the demo outside the italian consulate on monday a surefire thing ? a much better idea then demo tonight at berkeley.
Blueplay

The Italian consulate is a Webster and Broadway not Geary. If you go to Geary, you get to the Chiense Consulate not Italy's.

Let us remember all the people the cops shot & killed in San Francisco as well.

The resistance is gaining momentum and world war has been declared. War holds unspeakable violence, bloodshed, & human sacrifices. Much of it seems pointless. Yet, the violence of greed & profit has been escalating for 150 years. It is sad & hurtful to see brave global activists shot & beaten trying to "save the world." It is fitting to use these sacrifices as a means to rally stronger forces. It is a salute to human spirit that so many are willing to put their lives on the line for the future of the human race. Those who risk their lives for all of us (even the forces that try to quash them)inspire gratitude, awe, & hope. I fear this battle will get much bloodier before it's over -- I balance this by knowledge of the 10's of thousands who are dying weekly as a by-product of greed and capitalism. Somehow, I think it is better to die resisting rather than passively submit to slaughter.

To the brave warriors on the front lines -- I thank you & applaud you -- I hope I will be able to do my part in the struggle.

hihi if your naive enough to believe everything posted here.........your not the brightest. Cover all the bases and read the press releases. Being on the other side of the fence as the cop....he's just making a living just like you. I'm sure that the antagonists were on both sides........but if your gullable enough to believe an indepent media corporation your not the brightest :)>.

We would like to think that calm non-violent protest would be able to get our point across to world leaders, corporations and mainstream media. The reality is that in the capitalist world order things have more value than people. The reason that the Seattle, Göteborg or Genoa protests have become "news worthy" is because they threaten property and order.

At every protest gathering the shear number of people that participate is grossly underestimated and issues distorted by the authorities and damage to property grossly overestimated, if there is any.

To question and confront authority is the fundamental to any effective protest. Whether it is by making a creative ruckus of scaling the Golden Gate Bridge for the rainforest or placing a small boat in harms way of a whaling ship or confronting a paramilitary police. Sometimes in the heat of confrontation conviction can overwhelm.

Carlo Guilaino paid the ultimate price for his conviction yesterday. His method may not have been your method but he was fighting for all of us and we are part of the same. Do not let our methods or the mainstream media separate us.

Why all this violence anyway? You all know that the right to demonstrate peacefully is never refused to anyone.
I'm Italian and have relatives in Genoa, I can't understand why a city has to be demolished by groups of young fanatics trying to make statement. If you want to change things there are other ways than street fight. Set up a political party, organize peaceful debates, and propose coherent solutions to the problems you feel have to be solved first. By acting violent you loose all your credibility, you become a terrorist and you know how much people hate terrorists...

Great Job in Genoa. I'm happy to hear that there will be protests all across the globe in IndyMedia cities.
We have to try to include as many people as we can, high schools, colleges and so on. In addition, we must have a rep call up the main networks and cable news groups and explain our cause and side. It has to be someone who efficent, clear and good with PR. The more we protest, the more we take it up a notch and the more we can get ourselves out there, the better and stronger the cause.
GOOD LUCK.
Varun Paul

>> Carlo Guilaino paid the ultimate price for his conviction yesterday.

He has no convictions, he was a marauder, bent on violence. His actions will be seen globally as another reason not to take the anti-G8 activists seriously.

sorry about the wrong cross street before

----------
Protest G8 Injustice and Killing of Protester in Genoa

Italian Consulate
Monday, July 23
2590 Webster Street (at BROADWAY)
4pm press conference and delegation to meet with Consul
4:30pm, protest begins
Call 510-333-460 OR 415-255-7296 for more info.
Called by Bay Area Anti-Corporate Globalizatoin Activists

Bring banners, signs, art, chants, etc.

----------

Perhaps a look at history might help.

The American people never really got behind violent acts by the left or the right. When the KKK burned crosses, it repulsed most Americans. When the Weather Underground blew up a bank or campus building, it outraged most Americans. It has been the same throughout other countries, and other battles.

When did protest really move people?

When it was non-violent. When, in the face of power weilding its violence upon demonstrations, the demonstrators remained calm and relentless, but not violent. What's the message there? That conviction is so powerful it overcomes self-interest. When that happens, people notice. And they begin to empathize.

When did the left really stop as a force of change in America? When the LA Cops, the most brutal representatives of the powers that be in this country, pretty much burned the SLA alive on national television. Why no symphathy for the SLA? Because, allegedly, they shot back. They were willing to act like the forces they were against.

Frankly, if some of these "anarchists" ever get into power, their own words reveal them to be every bit as dangerous and bloodthirsty as the people they allegedly oppose. If they are not agent provocoteurs, they certainly are doing a great job of endangering anyone who truly opposes organizations like the World Bank and the IMF, by spouting childish neo-Marx/Mao-isms and jumping up and down, having reckless little tantrums and giving the forces of power a great reason to load and use their weapons.

To truly oppose these evil systems takes much more strength and intelligence than that. Throwing flaming bottles at the tanks might make good theater, but it doesn't stop the tanks. Standing in front of the tanks doesn't stop them either, but it inspires others to stand there, too, and when enough bodies stand in front of power, power diminishes.

Should Carlo have been shot? Of course not. Is it surprising? Hopefully not. It was just a matter of time before the bullets started to fly. Does that mean we shoot back? Well, I guess that depends on who you want to be. Them, or us.

More than 5,000 attackers who promised that they would use violence to attain peace have set bombs all over the city of Genoa. Innocent people have been injured by their thoughtless actions, and residents of Genoa are scared to death by these bloodthirsty terrorists who only want to kill and break things.

There is a very large number of communists, the same type of people who masterminded the slaughter of 30 million people in Russia, 4 million in Cambodia, and untold tens of millions in Tibet, Nepal, and China.

What is their goal? To stop developing nations from receiving any assistance whatsoever. They want to starve the poor out of existence by removing any loan money, any medical assistance, any job opportunity. They strive to place a chokehold on developed nations whom have used free trade to achieve its invariable result: good health, general prosperity, and individual liberty and safety.

Ha! Just kidding! If you really believe that CIA bullshit propaganda you're really fucked!

There certainly are a whole range of directions in which the anti-globalisation protest can move from hereon. I personally sympathise with the compassion and reaction of the most violent of protestors (lets not forget what political struggle has always entailed). But organisation too, can help the movement increase its power base in a more effective way. As previous comments have noted, the anti-globalisation movement is faced with a crucial predicament right now. With both radical aggressors and well organised peaceful campaigners diverging, the movemnet is in dire need of organisation. We cannot continue to fight powers as individuals; that is, individuals who come across to the conservative Western public as being dangerous maniacs. What the movement needs is an increase in its popular support; hundreds of thousands are not enough, we need millions and we are millions, we just need to represent ourselves as a powerful global social movement, and above all, a movement with a positive outlook.
Luke