RESIST BUSH : 19th - 21st November 2003

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Mass Non-violent Civil Disobedience @ Buckingham Palace 19 Nov.
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At a London anti-war meeting last Thursday, it was decided to initiate
proposals for open nonviolent mass actions to greet President Bush
during his visit*. After a discussion at Saturday's London Social Forum,
several activists (from JNV and other groups) decided to (a) call some
meetings and (b) make a proposal for a framework.

Name for this initiative is currently, 'Resist Bush'.
Email list is .

NOTE: Another unrelated Bush list can be joined by emailing:
 BushinghamPalace-subscribe@yahoogroups.com


1) OPEN PLANNING MEETING: RESIST BUSH
7pm, Thursday 16 October, Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London (near
Holborn tube). Most likely the first of several meetings.

2) PROPOSAL: Buckingham Palace, Day 1, 19 November
We are suggesting that there be a day of action centred on Buckingham
Palace on the first day of Bush's visit. We are suggesting:

(a) An open, mass action with announced gathering point(s) (despite all
the downsides of this, we think there are people who're just starting
out on nonviolent civil disobedience who would appreciate this kind of
opportunity)

(b) and, in parallel, a call for autonomous affinity groups to carry out
nonviolent actions around, at and maybe INSIDE Buckingham Palace during
the day.

3) NONVIOLENCE / OPENNESS
We would stress that this is a call for NONVIOLENT action. A proposed
definition of 'nonviolence' is 'action which does not harm or degrade
any human being'.

There are two other days to think of other parts of London, other
focuses and (maybe) other styles of action. If you have suggestions for
these other days, please come on the 16th for us to sort out
coordination/keeping things distinct.

We should also stress that this is an open planning process. We realise
that a lot of covert (probably small-group) actions will take place
independently of this process. We propose that these meetings are only
for discussing open actions, and for sorting out the
coordination/distinction stuff.

4) SUPPORT REQUESTED!
So this proposal is supported right now by Justice Not Vengeance (JNV)
and by the Pledge of Resistance. If your group would like to support it,
please subscribe to our email list
 resistbush@yahoogroups.co.uk

We hope to have a website up soon, if you can help with this, please let
us know via the e-list!

5) PREPARATION / TRAINING
We are aiming to circulate the details of people willing to
preparation/nonviolence training/legal briefing for affinity groups
coming to Buckingham Palace. It's safer and more fun if you come in an
affinity group: please think about setting one up if you haven't already
got one going, and having a preparation session.


(*This was a meeting of London GROW or Grassroots Opposition to War, a
grassroots anti-war network which just organised the Grassroots Activist
Conference in London 26-28 Sept.)

Many thanks
Milan Rai and Jonathan Stevenson (JNV)
Gabriel Carlyle and Sian Glaessner (Voices in the Wilderness UK)
and others