Invitation for Participation in an Encuentro: "DECRIMINALIZING RESISTANCE"

CALL / CONVOCATORIA:
DECRIMINALIZING RESISTANCE:
Building Community Security, Racial and Economic Justice
A Regional 1 & 1/2 day Encuentro* in Worcester, Massachusetts
November 12-13th (Friday 7pm – Saturday 6pm)

From Buenos Aires to Belgrade to New York City and Worcester resistance movements are being repressed, jailed, and labeled as "security threats." But what is "security"? What are the real threats to the safety and well being of our communities? How is "security" used by the State to undermine resistance movements?

This regional encuentro* hopes to provide a participatory space to discuss what communities are doing to build autonomy and alternate forms of security. This will also be an important time for activists and organizers to network with movements throughout the northeast and build support for resistance globally.

This call invites you or your organization to attend, in addition, if you are interested in taking part in planning or sponsoring, please contact us.

Cost: $5-10 sliding scale, no one turned away. Childcare will be provided.
Limited transportation reimbursements available: contact us to apply.
Please REGISTER by November 5th at:
 http://WoGAN.org/encuentro.php

Convening Groups:
Worcester Global Action Network (WoGAN), Worcester, MA:  http://www.WoGAN.org
Argentina Autonomista Project:  http://www.Autonomista.org

Co-Sponsors:
Clark University Peaceworks, Mass Direct Action (Southeast Mass)
Others pending, looking for co-sponsors!

International Guests:
Soledad Bordegaray, Movement of Unemployed Workers (MTD) La Matanza, Argentina
Claudia Acuña, Alerta Salta, Argentina.  http://www.Alerta-Salta.org.ar
Andrej Grubacic, PGA Europe, Post Yugoslavia
Guests from the Mohawk community of Kanehsatake (near Montreal) who are resisting a government-sponsored, politically-motivated, militarized invasion of their community

* An encuentro is a meeting, conference, or "encounter," a safe space where participants can share ideas and experiences. Following the uprising in Chiapas, Mexico on the eve of the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Zapatistas called for an international encuentro for compañeras/os from all over the world to gather and discuss the significance of the grassroots rebellion and possibilities for creating a new and better world. Our call for an Encuentro on Decriminalizing Resistance lies within this tradition.

Download a flyer here (pdf - adobe acrobat reader):
 http://wogan.org/docs/decrimflyerd3.pdf

Draft Workshop Themes (in rtf format - any text application):
 http://wogan.org/docs/draftthemes.rtf

For more information, contact:
 WoGANemail (at) yahoo.com
508-335-7783
 http://WoGAN.org/encuentro.php

DRAFT THEMES/WORKSHOP TOPICS:

1. Tools for autonomous community security (Harm Free Zones, conflict resolution).
2. Youth, "Violence", and Community Safety, CORI system
3. The Criminalization of Protest: Legal Struggles (how to combat the legal situations / deportations / repression while still doing the work we're trying to do in the first place)
4. Immigrant Struggles, Detentions, Deportations, Patriot Act, Post 9-11 situation for Arab-based communities
5. Sexual Assault, Violence, Gender, effects on Women, Queer and Transgender people
6. Anti-Racism, Community-Campus Biases and Solidarity
7. International Solidarity's role in reducing repression, Peoples' Global Action
8. Resistance and "Security"? Occupation and Solidarity with Palestine and Iraq (US Media Portrayal, the implications and resistance to the Apartheid Wall)
9. Economic Security and Economic Democracy (job security, labor struggles, welfare rights, housing)
10. Health and Security (harm reduction, environmental justice, health care access)