G-8 in Georgia: Model for repression at Democratic and Republican party conventions is martial law.

In the following article, a Rochester activist reports back from Brunswick, Georgia on the demonstrations against the G-8, and the evolving attack on dissent in the United States.

The Summit of the Group of Eight (G-8), the US and other wealthy “democracies,” networked from June 8-10 in Georgia to advance their free market plans while a state of emergency led to the suspension of basic constitutional rights. Not the “Miami model” of repression but the logical next step of domestic repression.

In Georgia, fifteen were arrested on June 10, 2004, for sitting in front of a security fence on a highway closed to traffic because the leaders of the Group of Eight countries were at their annual summit, this year on Sea Island, Georgia. The fence still stood despite the G-8 leaders having already departed for their closing press conference in Savannah, Georgia. The leaders of the US, Canada, Japan, Russia, Germany, Italy, Britain, France, and also the European Union, making it G-8 plus one, had already left from Sea Island so the fence blocking the roadway, the first barrier marchers encountered other than armed force, was no longer necessary, only a symbol of state power. Similarly, the marchers knew the symbolism of their action, a nearly eight-mile “death march” in the blazing sun without adequate water (the authorities only supplied water to protesters after the march when a bus took the remaining protesters, those not arrested or who had not dropped out of the march, which advanced toward the bridge to Sea Island, back through St. Simon’s Island and over the long causeway to the starting point at Marshes of Glynn Park in Brunswick, the nearest city to Sea island, population 15,000). These marchers earlier broke off from a pro-Palestine march after a rally at a public park with a handful of speakers who had traveled to Palestine and/or Israel.

On June 11, there were three additional arrests in Brunswick, GA. A young man and woman were arrested marching around the Glynn County detention center while doing jail support. They were bailed out later June 11, but the eighteenth arrestee, a woman on her way to bail out friends, was arrested for completely apolitical behavior, cutting the corner across a public park that had earlier been declared off limits after the arrests of the two doing jail support. At this park, located across from the courthouse and detention center, on the day before police had declared that no one could walk on the grass only the sidewalks despite the fact that the grass and sidewalks are equidistant from the government buildings, subsequently dispersing the peaceable jail supporters with only twenty minutes notice.

Thirteen of the fifteen arrested on June 10 performed jail solidarity, refusing to supply their names to the authorities (the other two arrestees that day, males, had ID that were found on their person, one had an Indymedia press pass and the other had his wallet). Three of the thirteen who started jail solidarity have had bail posted for them. In total, four of the eight arrestees so far bailed out by friends and some donated funds have posted $685 each because they refused to tell their identity whereas the three who disclosed their identity and the other one had ID had to post about $240 (the other person with ID chose not to be bailed out). Of the original fifteen, the thirteen not having ID are charged with "giving false information" (which is not the same as not giving your name) and are facing that as a second misdemeanor charge in addition to disorderly conduct, the charge given to all fifteen. The three arrested on June 11 are charged only with Criminal trespass, a misdemeanor.

When activists went to bail out their friends they were harassed by police asking for their driver’s license, proof of insurance, and registration. Further police harassment and intimidation involved running license plates of cars through databases without reason and other arbitrary restrictions on movement, including an attempt, defeated with the help of the ACLU, to restrict public gatherings to five people unless permitted.

Currently, ten maintain jail solidarity, a lone woman, with the rest males who are in the same section of the jail. Either police or jail employees have lied to the prisoners even passing a note that there was sufficient bail money, almost $7,000, to release them all trying to prompt them to break solidarity by giving their names. Legal counsel are the only folks who can visit the prisoners and they did not tell them the above. Due to their disclosed identities, prisoners are illegally not allowed visitors.

Dissidents continue life under what the USA PARTIOT Act II will approximately consist of as the state of emergency that began in the six-counties of Georgia on May 24 remains until June 20, renewable for subsequent 30-day intervals. The state of emergency grants authorities the right to detain anyone for the duration of the state of emergency without reasonable suspicion let alone probable cause.

Two of the arrestees were Rochester, NY-area student activists. Most of the arrestees were very young adults, the majority in their late teens, (legal adulthood is seventeen in Georgia) and were likely almost all first-time arrestees.

The overall feeling at this protest was one of dismay, both with the sustained level of coercion directed toward free speech-practitioners, as well as confusion as to the low turnout of protestors, maybe 300 total in Brunswick, with two folks from Syracuse and four from Ithaca representing upstate New York, with an even smaller number of demonstrators in Savannah. It appears that the latter, pre-Battle of Seattle numbers, is due to the former, creeping, or is it, steamrolling fascism, i.e. North Americans are not willing to stand in solidarity with their global brothers and sisters and would rather give way to what is either a police state or a hybrid police-military state. The result of this is the plan for the “Miami model” or the “G-8 model” to become the norm as announced by authorities for the major political party conventions this summer.

The “Miami model” debuted with the November 2003 Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) meetings to extend the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to the whole hemisphere minus Cuba by 2005. Protests at the Miami FTAA meeting were marred by the highest level of intimidation and violence by police these last five years since the anti-corporate globalization movement spread to the US from the advanced activist communities of the Global South and Europe. Georgia protests directed toward the Group of Eight, comprised of the technologically developed countries possessing the largest Gross Domestic Products, that took place during the June 8-10 meetings did not experience much violence from police because intimidation proved successful enough without having to brutalize folks (police did push marchers en route to Sea Island using batons to a limited extent and threw down at least one of the arrestees).

Solidarity educational and protest events occurred in San Francisco and Savannah, GA, with San Francisco having 160 arrests as their anti-G-8 demo combined with demonstrations against the genetic engineering industry’s BIO 2004 Conference entitled BioDevastation in a Reclaim the Streets action.

It is surprising that more arrests were not made in Georgia due to the six-county state of emergency declared by Georgia’s governor. Army National Guard, Georgia Bureau of Investigations, state and local police, secret service, etc. were under the unified command of Georgia division of Homeland Security. Military humvees rolled through the streets and stopped outside the Independent Media Center, located within a black church that has membership from the Gullah Geechie people, descendants of slaves who retain west African culture and language, and aimed a machine gun at five activists for 10 minutes on June 6 as church service continued inside. Not coincidentally church leaders had earlier filed complaints with the ACLU and also filed for permits for events in addition to their hosting the IMC, set up by Atlanta’s IMC crew (BTW, Food Not Bombs could not secure a cooking space, and there was no convergence space or affinity group spokes council meetings, only one indoor area for educational events and a huge outdoor tent for food, entertainment, and tabling, the latter not including the local environmental group due to dependency based on local financial patronage).

The mainstream press disseminating triumphal propaganda of the success of the repressive methods such as the 20,000 police, a number not including military forces also present, used for the G-8 announced that, the US constitution side, will continue at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Boston July 26-29 and the Republican National Convention (RNC) protests in New York City August 29-September 4. Like the G-8 meetings held Tuesday through Thursday, the DNC is scheduled Monday through Thursday as is the RNC except protesters will gather in NYC for a hopefully-massive Sunday, August 29 rally and march. Additionally, the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign begins their Bushville tent encampment and associated activities on August 23. Go to: http://www.marchforourlives.org/

Regarding the exponentially increasing slide to fascism, American-style with a smiley face and effective public relations, that awaits us at both Democrat and Republican parties’ conventions this summer, go to the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) for corporate new stories on plans for protesters and democracy that include surface-to-air missiles, military vehicles on the streets, and arbitrary, indefinite detentions of activists or those who fit certain profiles.

To read the AJC article “Boston, N.Y. Police Take Notes on G-8,” go to: Http://atlanta.indymedia.org/otherpress/display/472/index.php

Or scroll to the bottom of this article for another full story entitled “Security tactics set standard for events” from the AJC that was also written in the wake of the G-8.

There is little doubt that advocates for a free and equal society need to close ranks on civil liberties issues. The question is not about legitimate tactics and permitted free speech but on whether we as activists can stop waiting to have literally more than half the denizens of this country on the streets with us but to stand our ground with who we now have and put aside differences in a common front.

Where the hell is Brunswick, GA, and how is it down there?

The geographic context for the G-8 was Brunswick, a majority black city with a high degree of poverty common to the rural south despite nearby Atlantic barrier islands having private communities with truly fine homes and condos. Brunswick, the county seat of Glynn County, has the most toxic sites in the state. The air outside the Hercules chemical plant is so polluted that one of the two schools very nearby has no windows. Children at the two nearest schools, the aforementioned school being one, are suffering. At one of these schools, inundated with air pollution (the tap water is unfit in Brunswick, too), first graders have an average IQ of 87, and at the other the average is 89. Not a coincidence that one school is almost next to the Hercules plant, while the other is several blocks away. The Hercules plant, the source of the emissions, was closed for the duration of the G-8 summit, the first time in memory that it’s been shut down for reasons other than maintenance, to not offend the world leaders with its foul smell and or injure them with its toxic emissions.

Southern coastal Georgia is a region stuck decades in the past in a pre-Civil Rights era state of existence, where slaves loyal to their masters are glorified in plaques, where advertisements tout the antebellum nature of the area, where the power structure has a fair share of Klan members, where the mayor dresses in Confederate dress in civil War reenactments, all according to those who live and work here. Previous efforts by outside agitators did not produce lasting change leaving locals who they encouraged to raise their voice vulnerable when they began organizing and then were abandoned by these outside students, union organizers, and radicals.

The lack of regard for the locals comes mostly from the power elite as evinced when 50,000 meals for the summer lunch program in Brunswick were diverted to feed the 20,000 police whose mess hall was a school cafeteria, leaving children on summer vacation un- or underfed, as many do not have adequate or nutritious food at home, not to mention health care.

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The above illustrates that the greedy will sacrifice our basic needs to profit. If you agree and can help financially or by calling Brunswick officials, see below:

The latest update on the prisoners from Atlanta Independent Media confirmed that:

“Glynn County Sherrif's Department is blocking people who will not give their names from filling out visitor's request forms. The Sherrif's Department is also giving out inconsistent information about visiting times and days for the person who has given his name.

"They are getting 2 meals per day on the weekends. All are getting vegan meals, but the vegan meals are small. They are now getting water. The injured John Doe still has not received medical attention for his injuries. He has sunburn, facial bruising and lacerations, and has lost sensation in his fingers. They are still not being allowed to meet with their lawyer as a group.

IMPORTANT: Please Call!

Rich Taylor: Brunswick Solicitor 912 264-2347
Tim Barton: Chief Magistrate 912 554-9250
Mark Bender: Councilman 912 270 7549”

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J8 Legal Collective needs funding
by Bo

Email: j8legal@ladygalaxy.org
Phone: 912-267-1624

The J8 Legal Collective needs $500 in the next 72 hours to continue supporting the 18 arrestees so far.

The J8 Legal Collective has an urgent need for donations. There have been [18] arrests in Brunswick thus far, and law enforcement has now intimated that they want demonstrators to leave town. Because of these arrests and the courageous decision of many of the arrestees to resist their unjust arrest by withholding their identities, there will be a need for a continuing legal presence. Our initial resources for setting up an office, paying for phone and power, etc. have run out, and many of the volunteers have had to dip into their personal funds. In order to continue functioning, we need to raise $500 in the next 72 hours to pay for power, water, gas, and phone bills. The phone bills are anticipated to be high as a result of the expense of collect calls from jail [$3 a minute]. Thank you so much for your continued support as we work to support these activists in their exercise of First Amendment rights. Please keep in mind that any donation, however small, will help us a great deal.

Information on the process for making donations can be obtained at http://www.ladygalaxy.org/g8legal.

Paypal donations are accepted. Thank you.

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The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Georgia’s largest circulating paper, has this scary story:

"Security tactics set standard for events"

By DAVE HIRSCHMAN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/10/04

SAVANNAH — The people of Boston, New York and Washington should get ready for surface-to-air missiles in public parks, severe restrictions on travel and uniformed soldiers and police on downtown streets.

The massive display of law enforcement power in evidence during the Group of Eight summit is about to go on the road.

Officials say their success at squelching potential terrorism and violent protests has persuaded federal, state and local agencies across the country to make the Georgia experience a blueprint for "national security special events," such as the national political conventions this summer and today's state funeral in Washington for former President Ronald Reagan.

"We provided a template for future NSSEs," said Bill Hitchens, Georgia's director of homeland security. "Much of our planning will be helpful for the upcoming national political conventions. The information we gathered and the way we planned for this event is transferable."

Eric Tannenblatt, Georgia G-8 summit coordinator, said other cities that host major events will adopt many of the measures that made this event relatively uneventful.

"What we did here is absolutely exportable," he said. "The things we did here are going to become a model for future events of this magnitude."

Next G-8 also isolated

Next year's G-8 meeting in Gleneagle, Scotland, follows the Sea Island pattern in its luxurious island location, highly defensible terrain, limited public access and isolation from major population centers.

One G-8 expert said he does not expect British officials to copy everything their observers saw here.

"The security presence here in Savannah has been very obtrusive," said Sir Nicholas Bayne, a former U.K. diplomat and professor at the London School of Economics. "I'm sure the British will try and make it less obtrusive."

While some previous international economic gatherings in more urban areas — a World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle in 1999 and a G-8 in Genoa, Italy, in 2001, in particular — evoked riots and an international trade conference in Miami was marred by a heavy-handed police crackdown, this week's G-8 summit in coastal Georgia was notable for careful planning and a law enforcement blanket.

Not only did Sea Island avoid acts of terrorism and violent protests, but the number of petty crimes, burglaries and car thefts fell in Savannah, the largest nearby city, which was the center for media and support staff for the world leaders.

Sea Island's security formula included a division-strength military and police team numbering about 20,000, high-tech NASA-styled control rooms where linked computers monitored every downtown park and intersection, and a rapid but measured police response at the first hint of trouble.

Other cities take notes

The tactics already are being replicated for Boston, New York and other American cities scheduled to host major events, law enforcement officials said.

Much of the military hardware has been present in Washington since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, but street closings around the National Cathedral today and generally heavier law enforcement presence echo the G-8 model, officials said.

Police from Boston, New York and Jacksonville, host to the next Super Bowl, came to Savannah to observe.

Boston will be host to the Democratic National Convention in July. The Republican Convention is in New York in August. Neither city has the isolation of Sea Island, but police observers were on hand to see how Savannah handled its role in the summit.

"I liken this to sports — if you're a pro team and you're going to play a big game, you want to look at the game film,'' said Robert O'Toole, commander of the Boston Police Department's special operations division.

Said Massachusetts State Police Capt. Daniel Grabowski: "Savannah's deployments were very similar to what we're planning on doing. I was very impressed with what I saw."

The Secret Service is the lead agency at national security events, including the political parties' presidential nominating conventions. It, too, will refine its plans based on experiences here.

"We learn from every event, and we adapt," said Malcolm Wiley, an Atlanta-based Secret Service agent on duty in Savannah during the summit. "Lessons learned here will definitely be useful going forward."

'Revolutionary' moves

Gov. Sonny Perdue took the highly unusual steps of declaring a state of emergency in six coastal counties before the summit began, giving police broader powers to arrest people and disperse crowds, if need be. The governor also placed Georgia Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Terry Nesbitt on active duty for the summit. Nesbitt commanded a joint task force of National Guard and active-duty soldiers.

"In military circles, that's pretty revolutionary," said Lt. Col. Jim Driscoll, a Georgia National Guard spokesman.

Avenger surface-to-air missile batteries were scattered throughout the salt marshes and exclusive estates on Sea Island, St. Simons Island and nearby Jekyll Island. Uniformed soldiers were everywhere.

Seeing soldiers in their desert-colored Humvees deployed throughout Savannah's historic district was jarring to American sensibilities, Perdue said. But, "If we had to err, we were going to err on the side of safety," he said. "When you host the leaders of the free world, there's no room for mistakes. A show of force can be a deterrent."

Georgia was prepared to spend up to $37 million on security, but the final costs won't be known for at least a few weeks.

The burden of being host carried another price, mostly borne by merchants, residents and demonstrators.

Tourism in Savannah suffered a dramatic drop beginning last weekend. Restaurants on River Street closed early throughout the week and tossed stocks of unsold food. Taxi drivers saw business plummet. Parking spaces throughout the city's historic district were uncharacteristically plentiful all week.

Politicians were sympathetic but unapologetic.

"Right now the merchants are crying," said Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson. "They endured a short-term loss for a long-term gain. We had a safe and peaceful summit. Had protesters been allowed to tear up our city, it would have hurt us in the short term and the long term."

Richard Ray, president of the Georgia chapter of the AFL-CIO, said the lavish show of force was meant to deter dissent. "I don't know if they can afford it at every event," the union leader said. "It's a waste of their money, of our money."

While the international summit was a major disruption for many people, organizers say the measures accomplished President Bush's goal of creating a casual, open ambience for the invited guests. They never encountered the barricades, checkpoints, rerouted roadways and eerily vacant city streets.

"We wanted to provide a hospitable atmosphere for all who attended," said Tannenblatt, Georgia's G-8 organizer. "We wanted people to feel welcome — and I think we've done that."

The vastly outnumbered protesters grudgingly admitted that the summit's planners had outmaneuvered them.

"They were smart to hold the G-8 here," said Jason Marks, communications director for Global Exchange, a human rights group. "It's a politically conservative state. It's out of the way. They did a very successful job of creating an atmosphere of fear. They've succeeded in intimidating us."

Staff writers Ron Martz, Don Melvin, Don Plummer, Bill Torpy, Christie Van Dusen and David Wahlberg contributed to this article.

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See also:
http://atlanta.indymedia.org/

http://atlanta.indymedia.org/otherpress/display/486/index.php