Sept 1: Speak-Out for Direct Democracy

Sept 1: Speak-Out for Direct Democracy

Public Speak-Out, Protest During the Republican National Convention
September 1
Wacouta Commons (intersection of Wacouta Street and 8th Street E)
Time: TBA

On September 1, thousands of people will gather in the Twin Cities to protest and disrupt the start of the Republican National Convention. Who we are and why we’re doing so is being hotly contested in the arena of public opinion.

Is it that thousands of proponents of direct, participatory democracy and worker control are gathering in St. Paul to reject and resist a two-party system that disempowers the people and is beholden to money and the interests of corporations? And these participants are presenting a nuanced and popular vision for a new society? Or, is it that evil anarchists with nothing but destruction on their minds are coming to St. Paul to wreak havoc for no particular reason in order to attack local communities and our only hope to protect our families and livelihoods is to let the government use whatever violence and repression it takes to stop them?

Dominant institutions of power -- such as the corporate media, police, and government -- are working to frame the showdown in St. Paul as "good protesters" vs. "bad protesters," and "law and order" vs. "chaos." The goal of these institutions in perpetuating the idea that protesters “know what they’re against, but don’t know what they’re for” is to maintain their power and lay the groundwork for repression.

It is important that we break through the hype and stereotypes to directly articulate our vision to one another, the media, and all of St. Paul. For that reason we are organizing a public speak-out to provide a way for protesters to talk about their reasons for resisting and the type of world they’re working to create.

What about the blockades and marches? We are in full support of the St. Paul Principles, which provide a sensible framework to ensure mutual respect as diverse actions unfold. We will try to maintain an area within Wacouta Commons as a safe/r area for people to gather throughout the day. We neither encourage nor discourage participation in other activities.

This is a small project by an informal group to create space for others to utilize.
We invite you to join us. This is a permitted event!