Tactical Assessment of NYPD for Direct Actionists
Some Notes on the
Strategic Importance of the Protests

After the unprovoked mass arrests at the Critical Mass bike ride on
Friday, August 27, we can expect police to use a pattern of a) attempted
containment, b) surge, c) demonstrative violence, and d) mass arrest.

We can expect the liberal establishment to fear the popular response to
Bush's contempt for democratic rights, the war and the NYPD's suppression
of legitimate and non-violent protest.We can be certain that the everyday people of New York are turning out to
give Bush a Bronx cheer. We just need to keep our heads, act smart and
keep focused about why we're coming out to protest in the first place.
Direct action activists will play a central role in facilitating these
historic protests.

After the unprovoked mass arrests at the Critical Mass bike ride on
Friday, August 27, we can expect police to use a pattern of a) attempted
containment, b) surge, c) demonstrative violence, and d) mass arrest. We
can expect liberals to fear the popular outrage at the war, Bush's
contempt for democratic rights and the NYPD's suppression of legitimate
and non-violent protest.

We are winning. The city is coming out. Energy is on the trains and in the
streets. It's unprecedented. Now we just have to do this here thing.

WE ARE WINNING: THE PEOPLE REJECT BUSH IN NYC AND AROUND THE WORLD

Police denied permits to disperse on the 29th into Central Park to incite
confrontations. This is a political move based on the assumption that
clashes will aid the sitting president in a "law and order" campaign, as
with the supposed "Nixon effect" of 1968. They are using an out of date
playbook.

80% of registered voters in the city are against the convention. 58%
support acts of non-violent civil disobedience. 11% are personally
planning on attending the August 29 march.

Bush made a mistake coming here
from the same deluded hubris that made him say occupation soldiers in Iraq
would be greeted with flowers. Conservatives wanted to capitalize on the
pain New Yorkers feel from September 11. We reject them. Direct action
forces should know that the people here in NYC, and around the entire
world are with us.

Some liberals, notably tenured hacks like Todd Gitlin and the Clintonite
leader of the DLC Terry McCauliff are trying to depress the turnout
because they believe confrontations will swing centrist voters away from
Bush.

The problem isn't Bush ? it's the "Bush agenda."

Since Kerry has effectively endorsed that agenda including the war, "free
trade" and a domestic prison state, we need to send the world a message
that we do not support the militarist course the elites have taken. We
have a different audience than the liberal triangulators and we shouldn't
be defensive or ashamed for taking our right to dissent. No fear.

A popular resistance to the war and domestic repression will energize tens
of millions alienated from any political action, and will let people under
threat of American cruise missiles and F-16s know that we do not consent.
We are not "good Germans" doing the leaders' business. We are a free
people whether the government gives us permission or not. If we have to
choose between the warmongers and the world: we choose the world. Our
audience is small town America, the city we live in and the rest of the
world. The conservatives are a tiny minority and the liberals defeated.

We believe another world is possible and we're going to show it tomorrow.
We will not allow police to suppress the will of the people. We are
marching and the world will know. With their help, we can win.

See you in the streets.