CRASH THE RNC: a call to action for activists and radicals of all stripes

by UA in the Bay

Thu, Jul 31, 2008 4:29PM

click image below for large printable poster (2.6mb) — 17"x11" and larger

CRASH THE RNC

STAND WITH THE BAY AREA AND JOIN THE RESISTANCE IN ST. PAUL

Bay Area, Santa Cruz, and other Northern California radicals have banded together as "Unconventional Action (UA) in the Bay" and collectively chosen to adopt SECTOR 4 in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota — in alliance with thousands of others nationwide who are collaborating to swarm the Republican National Convention on day one, September 1st.

The RNC Welcoming Committee in the Twin Cities called for a Bay Area regional commitment for blockades, direct action, and other protest mischief at the RNC. We intend to give it to them. Our region has a strong history of resisting oppression at home and abroad. Now it's time to stand up again.

UA in the Bay is calling on activists and radicals of all stripes — global justice, peace, equality, queer, environmental, public, militant, anarchist, socialist, NGOs, student groups, marching bands — to join us in holding Sector 4 in solidarity with those committed to crashing the corrupt spectacle that is the RNC. While we are excited about the possibilities for convention delegate blockades and autonomous direct actions in Sector 4, we are committed to a world-altering process that allows everyone to have a voice in envisioning that which we are collectively trying to create. It is important that individuals and groups who cannot risk imprisonment have the opportunity to participate in a meaningful way in anti-convention activities. With that in mind, UA in the Bay has designated several key spaces within our sector with the potential for both blockades and low-risk demonstrations.

SECTOR 4 is one of seven sectors that surround the Xcel Center, home of the 2008 Republican National Convention. Organizers from coast to coast representing a variety of different communities are adopting other sectors. UA in the Bay has done reconnaissance within our sector and identified several key points that allow for civil disobedience blockades and autonomous direct actions, as well as for safer non-arrestable forms of creative protest. I-35E, including off-ramps and overpasses, and three street intersections have been identified as critical points for kicking off the fun the morning of September 1st. Bring overpass banners, musical instruments, puppets, protest signs, and of course devices for creating hard blockades around the convention center if you so choose. Whatever you do, plug in with UA in the Bay and come prepared. Contact uainthebay [at] lists.riseup.net and let us know where you and/or your group might be interested in locating or roaming.

Join us in Sector 4! Our strength will be in our numbers and collective ingenuity as we crash the RNC party.

FINAL ORGANIZING MEETING:
Sunday, August 10th, 3-7pm
Long Haul Infoshop, 3124 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley

BENEFIT SHOWS:
#1: Thursday, August 14th, 8pm
The Eagle Tavern, 398 12th St., SF
#2: Sunday, August 17th, 4pm
Albany Bulb, Albany

BLOCKADE THE RNC:
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st
St. Paul, MN

UA IN THE BAY
www.indybay.org/conventions2008

RNC WELCOMING COMMITTEE
www.noRNC.org

§Sector 4 Overview map

by UA in the Bay

Thu, Jul 31, 2008 6:30PM

original image (1188x756)

If you print the "original image" from link above, this is set up to print nicely to tabloid size (11x17). Can be printed to regular (8.5x11) as well.

GOP Express Shuttle System is illustrated on map with red areas (parking for delegate buses), yellow diamonds (delegate loading/unloading zones), purple lines (delegate pedestrian pathways to/from Xcel Center), green lines (roads closed to "non-credentialed" vehicles), and red lines (new interstate offramp and parking lot exit created just for RNC). Note that buses will be arriving with new delegates and leaving to go pick up more from area hotels over and over, so stopping a bus from leaving the area would have the same effect as stopping one getting there -- less delegates reaching the RNC.

[GOP Express Shuttle System -- Potentially outdated March 2008 proposal for delegate transportation, produced by the City of St. Paul in response to a Data Practices Act request in a lawsuit filed against them by the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War. twincities.indymedia.org/files/rnc/gop_express_shuttle_plans.pdf]

§Sector 4 and Surrounding Areas map

by UA in the Bay

Thu, Jul 31, 2008 6:35PM

original image (7040x3800)

This file is intended for local viewing on your computer only as it is too large to print (unless you have access to a large-format poster printer). The "original image" above is 7040px by 3800px and over 7mb.

GOP Express Shuttle System is illustrated on map with red areas (parking for delegate buses), yellow diamonds (delegate loading/unloading zones), purple lines (delegate pedestrian pathways to/from Xcel Center), green lines (roads closed to "non-credentialed" vehicles), and red lines (new interstate offramp and parking lot exit created just for RNC). Note that buses will be arriving with new delegates and leaving to go pick up more from area hotels over and over, so stopping a bus from leaving the area would have the same effect as stopping one getting there -- less delegates reaching the RNC.

[GOP Express Shuttle System -- Potentially outdated March 2008 proposal for delegate transportation, produced by the City of St. Paul in response to a Data Practices Act request in a lawsuit filed against them by the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War. twincities.indymedia.org/files/rnc/gop_express_shuttle_plans.pdf]

§Points of Interest in St. Paul

by reposted from noNRC.org

Sun, Aug 3, 2008 2:18PM