[Laborgreens] Fwd: [mgp-disc] G8 Savannah: Activists' pressure pays off

[Robb Tufts]

--- Green Party of Chatham County
<metrogpcc@lycos.com> wrote:
> To: repealnow@lycos.com
> From: "Green Party of Chatham County"
> <metrogpcc@lycos.com>
> Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2004 00:35:30 -0500
> Subject: [mgp-disc] G8 Savannah: Activists' pressure
> pays off
> 
> 
> We need your support now!
> http://repealnow.com/onlinecontributionfest.htm
> 
> The City of Savannah has come on board with activist
> plans for Free 
> Speech events during the G8 Summit (June 8 through
> 10).
> 
> Between June 8 and June 10, 2004, thousands of
> demonstrators will 
> descend on Savannah to protest the G8 Summit staged
> on Sea Island. 
> In the past, these events have been marked by
> confrontations between 
> protesters and local police. In an unusual move,
> local free speech 
> activists and local officials have joined hands to
> turn this around.
> 
> "We know that thousands of people are coming,"
> explained Kellie 
> Gasink, national coordinator for the Savannah-based
> National Coalition 
> to Repeal the Patriot Act, "We also know that unless
> the people 
> of Savannah organize the event for their benefit,
> then it will be 
> organized by the demonstrat ors and the police. We
> don't need that."
> 
> Gasink and at least 100 activists from throughout
> the southeast 
> laid the groundwork for G8 actions in Macon meeting
> in December. 
> Today, final touches are being put on a week-long
> free speech festival in June, 
> coinciding with the Sea Island summit.
> 
> "In many respects, G8 2004 will be very different, "
> Gasink continued. 
> "For one, this is the first meeting of this type to
> be held in a 
> region where Black people predominate. This is
> actually the 'Black' 
> G8. That means that the demands of the Black
> community for racial 
> justice, economic development, the end of police
> brutality and judicial 
> misconduct, among others, will come to the fore. The
> eyes of the 
> world will be on Savannah in June 2004 and the
> people of Savannah 
> will tell their story to the world. The visitors
> will simply assist us."
> 
> We need your support now!
> http://repealnow.com/onlinecontributionfest.htm
> 
> The proposed free speech festival in June will
> include a star-studded 
> concert, a parade through downtown Savannah, a free
> speech zone and wall 
> and numerous art installations throughout the city.
> 
> "The support of local civil and law enforcement
> officials has been 
> marvelous," said Gasink. "The people of Savannah
> should be proud. 
> Unlike other cities that have faced the G8
> phenomenon with dread, 
> Savannah officials have looked the tiger in the eye
> and concluded 
> with us that we can make this very historic event
> work for the benefit of all our people."
> 
> As of January 6, city officials have endorsed the
> use of the city's 
> main park for a G8 Free Speech Festival and Parade.
> The park will 
> also serve as the Free Speech Zone where local and
> international 
> activist groups may set up information booths.
> Vendors will be welcome, 
> too. The park will also hou se the Free Speech
> Walls, two 80 ft structures 
> where activists and organizations will be invited to
> post their statements.
> 
> An Artists Committee was formed on January 4 to
> organize visual, 
> performance and film screening events during the
> Festival.
> 
> Plans for a major concert are still on the way, as
> we struggle to 
> find a large enough local venue. Federal authorities
> have now claimed 
> the Savannah Civic Center (the largest indoor
> facility) for their 
> own, apparently now even icing out the local police.
> 
> We are gearing up, engaging over 35 local
> organizations and 50 regional 
> groups to make the Savannah Actions during the G8
> Summit the most 
> positive and politically stunning protest events in
> decades.
> 
> Join the Savannah 125! 
> 
> (125 supporters who donate at least $10 to our
> efforts.)
> 
> If you cannot visit Savannah during the G8 Summit,
> then 
> you can still have your presence felt.
> 
> Click here to donate.
> http://repealnow.com/onlinecontributionfest.htm
> 
> Let's show the world what the international
> progressive community 
> can do in Savannah, June 8-10, 2004.
> 
> In Solidarity,
> 
> Kellie Gasink, Esq.
> National Coordinator
> National Coalition to Repeal the Patriot Act
> G8 Organizing Committee/Savannah
> http://www.freesavannah.com/g8
> repealnow@lycos.com
> 
> Mail To:
> National Coalition to Repeal the Patriot Act
> 22 Bryan Street (172)
> Savannah, GA USA
> 31401
> 
> Tel: 866. 237. 7563 (toll free)
> 
> 
>
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