MySpace a place for friends

Shut Down the RNC: Michigan Consulta - June 14

Why Protest the Conventions?

The Democratic and Republican National Conventions present a tremendous opportunity for anarchists and other opponents of war and oppression. If the increasingly unpopular occupation of Iraq is still in effect by summer of 2008, it will be obvious that neither docile street marches nor electoral campaigns are effective means of opposing it; it will likewise be clear that the Democratic opposition is either not capable of or not interested in following through on their promises of ending the war, let alone solving all the additional problems capitalism poses.

Tens of thousands have participated in protests at the conventions preceding the past two elections; we can expect the 2008 conventions to be a major flashpoint. If we successfully disrupt them, this will inaugurate a new era of oppositional activity -- and just in time, as federal repression intensifies, wars breed new generations of terrorists, and global warming worsens the ecological crisis.

What is Unconventional Michigan Doing?

Unconventional Michigan is a group working to mobilize folks in Michigan to attend and participate in protests against the DNC and RNC this summer. We believe that the conventions offer an excellent opportunity to reawaken the radical movement in this country. To mobilize folks in Michigan, we are:

• Doing presentations about organizing efforts in Denver and the Twin Cities. If you would like us to present in your town, let us know! We are more than willing to travel to talk to interested folks and groups about the DNC and RNC.
• Contacting radicals (and non-radicals) around the state about the DNC and RNC. We believe that beyond mobilizing for the convention protests, the organizing leading up to the protests can help us network between communities and build stronger bonds of solidarity.

The Unconventional Michigan project is a part of the larger Unconventional Action network that is organizing against the DNC and RNC. Here in Michigan, our effort is currently endorsed by ACTIVATE (Grand Rapids SDS) and Mediamouse.org.

What is Unconventional Action?

Unconventional Action is an emerging network aiming to complement the work of local organizers in Denver and the Twin Cities with regional organizing throughout the rest of the country. Our goal is to build a horizontal, inclusive framework for protests that will disrupt the upcoming Democratic and Republican National Conventions. We are currently organizing meetings, propaganda, and consultas in our communities and encourage those in other regions to do the same.

We aim to organize direct action that manifests opposition to both the Democratic and Republican Parties. As anti-authoritarians, we oppose so-called representational politics, but even those who still believe in it must understand that we can only have leverage over our rulers by showing our own power, that we must back our demands by demonstrating that we can interfere with their business as effectively as they interfere with our lives.

Points of Unity:

• Reject all forms of hierarchy including capitalism, party communism, patriarchy, white supremacy, colonialism, and so-called representational politics
• Organize on a non-hierarchical, consensus-based basis that promotes autonomy, solidarity, grass-roots involvement, and the agency of those most affected by each decision
• Embrace a diversity of tactics
• Do not condemn any action on the grounds that it is illegal alone