Fight Over First Amendment Rights Ensues
Pittsburgh, PA – Since learning of White House plans to hold the next G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh on September 24-25, scores of activists and organizations from multiple sectors of society have been quickly gearing up for a mobilization. They are simultaneously fighting to safeguard their right to free speech and assembly. The mobilization is expected to be the largest expression of political dissent in Pittsburgh in more than a generation.
“Anyone who has lost a job, a home, a loved one to war, or lived without adequate healthcare, water, or food has been directly affected by policies set by the G-20,” says Jessica Benner of the Thomas Merton Center Antiwar Committee, which is organizing a “Peoples’ March to the G-20,” on Friday, Sept. 25.
An extraordinary array of groups from peace & justice, women’s, religious, environmental, Indigenous, African-American, anarchist and student movements – from Pittsburgh and around the globe – are planning marches, rallies, civil disobedience, direct action, educational forums and “tent cities.” (See attached summary of events.)
“Our week-long tent city will represent the millions of refugees who have been displaced by war in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Gaza, and for whom the G-20 turns a blind eye,” says Edith Bell, a member of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
As in recent summits and political conventions in the U.S., the Dept. of Homeland Security has claimed jurisdiction. The authorities are delaying or attempting to deny permits and proposing restrictions on free speech, while securing $18 million dollars for 4,000 police and weaponry as well as waging an information warfare campaign that equates protest with terrorism.
Organizers have launched a campaign to protect the public’s 1st amendment rights and have called on the Mayor and City Council to stand up to the Federal takeover of Pittsburgh. “We invite all those who believe in free speech and civil liberties to join us to fight for the right to demonstrate,” says Michelle Gaffey, a Duquesne University graduate student. “Free speech and dissent are the foundation of a democratic society.” Lawyers from the ACLU, Center for Constitutional Rights, and National Lawyers Guild are preparing lawsuits.
“The State’s attempt to suppress dissent calls to mind why we’re protesting in the first place,” says David Meieran of the 3 Rivers Climate Convergence, which is planning an environmental justice camp and protests focusing on the coal industry as the International Coal Conference directly precedes the G-20 Summit. “The closed-door G-20 Summits make policies that benefit corporations at the expense of people, democracy, and the planet.”
Future releases will contain updates around developing stories about the G-20 summit mobilization as keynote speakers are confirmed, organizations announce plans to mobilize, etc.
For more information visit www.g20media.org.
Thomas Merton Center G20 Media Support Team > Summary of G20 Actions
Peoples’ Summit, an alternative to the G20 summit, will discuss global problems and possible solutions, organized by a broad partnership of educators and social advocacy groups (Sept. 19, 21-22).
• Contact: Paul LeBlanc, 412-760-9716, pghpeoplessummit@gmail.com
• www.peoplessummit.com
Bail Out the People, caravans of unemployed workers will set up a tent city at the Monumental Baptist Church on Sept. 20-25 and march to the Convention Center on Sept. 20.
• Contact: Karen Black, 412-780-3813, march4jobs@gmail.com
• www.bailoutpeople.org
Women’s Tent City: Real People, Real Needs and feeder march, organized by Pittsburgh chapters of CodePink, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, and other groups (Sept. 20-25)
• Contact: Francine Porter, 412-389-3216, codepinkpgh@aol.com
• codepinkalert.org/pittsburgh
Three Rivers Climate Convergence, a partnership of local, regional and national groups and individuals who are organizing a climate justice camp, coal/climate protests, a feeder marches, and educational events (Sept. 20-25).
• Contact: Kim Teplitzky, 267-307-4707, 3riversconvergence@gmail.com
• www.3riversconvergence.org
G6 Billion Project, organized by a collection of spiritual, religious, and other groups and individuals (Sept. 20-21)
• Contact: Wanda Guthrie, 412-596-0066, wanda.guthrie@gmail.com
• www.g6billion.org
International Peace, Justice, & Empowerment Summit, organized by the National Council For Urban Peace, Justice and Empowerment (Sept. 22-23)
• Contact: T Rashad Byrdsong, 412-371-3689 x14, TRByrdsong@ceapittsburgh.org
Peoples’ Voices, organized by the Institute for Policy Studies, The Nation Magazine, United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), Pittsburgh United, and other organizations. They are organizing a panel discussion (Sept. 23) and a “Peoples’ Tribunal” (Sept. 24), among other events.
• Contact: Robin Alexander, 412-471-8919, peoplesvoices.events@gmail.com
• www.pittsburghunited.org/g20
Pittsburgh G20 Resistance Project is setting up a convergence space and providing other mobilization infrastructure. They are calling for a march that starts in Lawrenceville on Sept. 24 as well as decentralized actions that end at 11:30am on Sept. 25.
• Contact: press@resistg20.org
• www.resistg20.org
SDS Concert, featuring Anti-Flag, State Radio, and Ryan Harvey, organized by Students for a Democratic Society (Sept. 24)
• studentpowerinthefaceofempire.wordpress.com
People’s March to the G20, mass march and rally organized by the Thomas Merton Center and its Antiwar Committee (Sept. 25), endorsed by over 55 groups.
• Contact: Pete Shell, 412-422-7435, info@pittsburghendthewar.org
• www.pittsburghendthewar.org
