About 80 activists braved rainy weather on Saturday afternoon to protest against corporate globalization and war, drawing attention to both local companies and international trade agreements. Meanwhile, the meetings of the World Trade Organization collapsed in Cancun, Mexico (See The Other Press report).
Baltimore--About 80 activists braved rainy weather on Saturday afternoon to protest against corporate globalization and war, drawing attention to both local companies and international trade agreements. Chants of « More World, Less Bank » and « Money for Jobs, Not for War » greeted surprised tourists in Baltimore's downtown as the peaceful protesters wound their way past five corporate and government « targets. »
« One of the things I'm really passionate about is that some people don't have options in life other than sweatshops, and the conditions in the sweatshops are awful, » explained Anna, a student at the Baltimore School for the Arts, when asked why she attended the demonstration. « I was raised to believe in an equal chance in life for all, in equality, and it seems like right now we're on a downward slope away from that. »
Tori Needer, a student at Essex Community College, was present "to learn about the FTAA thing." Needer has previously participated in anti-war protests--the January 18th protest in Washington DC against the Iraq war, the March 26 direct street protest which shutdown Towson's business district when Bush's war started, and the September 11th Women in Black Peace Path. Needer felt that the Peace Path was "mellow" compared to those in DC and Towson where she felt the protesters "were determined to get something done."
Sarah Todes, a senior studying acting at the School for the Arts, went to her first protest, one about the living wage, in San Francisco when she was 12 years old. Todes, who comes from a family in which political discussion was frequent, believes there are links between US military interventions, Middle East issues, and corporate globalization.
The mostly youthful crowd at the event, which was organized by No FTAA Towson, included a mix of anarchists, greens, pacifists, and others who came to learn more about the issues. Placards reflected the variety of issues raised by the demonstrators with one linking a cycle of economic dependency and violence. The image was one of Loans pointing to the IMF (International Monetary Fund) pointing to Poverty which points to War which points to Destruction which cycles back to the need for Loans.
Ryan Harvey of No FTAA Towson kicked off the rally by explaining the connection between militarism and corporate globalization, a theme that many other speakers touched on as well. Harvey also noted that there were other protests in solidarity with those in Cancun taking place New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Washington DC.
« What has been accomplished [by the war in Iraq] is the lining of the pockets of the Bechtels, the Halliburtons with billions and billions of dollars at the expense of our cities and our working class people, » contended John Dornheim, a Lutheran minister. « Our foreign policy is being shaped by those who will reap immense profits through political cronyism run rampant. » Dornheim also pointed out the way U.S. military policy opens doors for U.S. corporations to relocate from the United States to countries without strong worker protections. [full text]
Pat Cruz, co-chair of the Maryland Green Party, recounted how her mother came to the United States from the Philippines to seek a better situation for herself and her children. Cruz described the American Dream as "not merely the dream of owning a home and having liberty to pursue happiness, but the American Dream of people in the Third World who came here to build a better life for themselves." Cruz then criticized the "free market" ideology of the US, linking to the issues of corporate globalization. "The free market does not provide child labor laws, it does not provide minimum wage protection, it does not provide for health coverage, overtime regulations, environmental protections, or worker safety standards." Cruz called on people present to join with the Green Party to work for a democratic, sustainable world. [full text]
Virginia Rodino, of the Coalition Against Global Exploitation, argued that the World Trade Organization rules in favor of the corporation's right to profit over human and workers' rights. And that the Free Trade Area of the Americas will extend the corporate plunder of labor and the environment. NAFTA already cost the US 750,000 jobs. FTAA, she said, will only make things worst. Rodino called on people present to travel to Miami in November to protest the latest round of negotiations on the FTAA. [full text]
Sarah Todes read from a statement of Len Shindel of the United Steel Workers union. Steel workers "know too well what unfair trade means. 200,000 steelworker retirees and surviving spouses have lost their health coverage in part because the price of steel has been kept artificially low by the importation of unfairly trade steel," she read. Shindel's statement saluted the commitment of the protesters and claimed that "we can create a new model of fair trade and relationships between countries." [full text]
Carla Janson, of Baltimore for Kucinich, began by noting that Dennis Kucinich is the only presidential candidate "who proposes reducing money spent on the military and instead spending it to help people here at home by funding medical care, education, and jobs." Janson remarks focused on Kucinich as the anti-war candidate pointing out that he was one of only two in Congress who voted against Bush's war on Iraq.
The rally was interspersed with songs of protest, songs of action by Matt Kelly, Ryan Harvey, and Yikes McGee.
Yikes McGee - Bad President.mp3 (1190 k)
"Shame, Shame, Shame"
To the tolling of bells and patter of a sudden downpour, the demonstrators left War Memorial Plaza and marched to the Constellation Energy building. Steven Ceci of the All People's Congress told the crowd about how high gas and electric rates charged by BGE, a Constellation Energy subsidiary, have forced some families to use alternative methods of heating and lighting. Ceci said that in at least one case a deadly house fire resulted. [full text] The protesters ended each "stop" on the march by chanting "Shame" at the target institution.
After Constellation Energy, the demonstrators marched to The Gallery Mall, passing Harborplace, where a few tourists and passersby shouted derogatory comments or made rude hand gestures at the marchers. Other passersby, interviewed by IMC, did not understand what the purpose or focus of the demonstration. The lack of unifying signs or clear chant may have contributed to the confusion.
At The Gallery, Christine Nguyen from United Students Against Sweatshops spoke out against the low wages paid to the workers who manufacture many of the clothes sold in major retailers located at the mall, such as Banana Republic and the GAP. Nguyen pointed out that "workers for Nike, Rebok, and H&M in Indonesia make as little as $1 a day and often suffer consequences, sometimes violent, when standing up for workers' rights."
Ron Collins, of the Communication Workers of America, spoke at Light and Pratt Streets across from the Verizon building on the current situation of telephone workers who are in a labor dispute with Verizon.
At Hopkins Plaza and Lombard Street, attorney Chuck Michaels addressed the attack on civil liberties represented by the USA Patriot Act. This Act, Michaels said, is the "most extensive extension of the government's power to investigate and engage in the surveillance of private citizens." Michaels, who is the author of No Greater Threat: America After September 11 and the Rise of a National Security State focused his remarks on Title 4 of the Act which attacks the liberties of immigrants. [(See Susan Lantz's review of No Greater Threat)]
Chants of "People of Baltimore, of the world, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!" and "What's the solution? A people's revolution. What's the action? Direct action!" reverberated as the protest marched from the Inner Harbor to finally reach CitiBank at Baltimore and Light Streets. There links were made between predatory lending and the loan policies of the IMF and World Bank.
The march returned to War Memorial Plaza where Food Not Bombs supplied food to the weary, drenched marchers and area homeless. From there, activists planned to split into small groups for « guerilla theater » actions at various locations throughout downtown Baltimore. Post your story of the street theater to Indymedia!
At the Plaza, Indymedia noticed a rally participant attempting to block the view of a 'suspicious' cameraman. Indymedia approached this photographer. He claimed to be a "tourist," yet we observed him taking very directed photos of specific protesters. We asked him his name. No answer. We asked him what his annual income was, observing that he was using a very expensive camera. He wouldn't say. We asked him what high school he attended. Again, no answer. We asked "you're about 5' 7" 170 pounds?" He replied, "Oh, you're good." (Description: 5' 7", 170 pounds, slight pot belly, olive complexion, brown eyes, brown hair in buzz cut, late 30s to early forties, green polo shirt, cream khakis, brown shoes--a "tourist", no doubt). From Gay and Fayette Streets, we watched him walked toward Baltimore City Police Headquarters. He walked toward the entrance, then from a pillar took a long-distance photo of us. Then, our "tourist" walked around the President Street side of the Police building and disappeared.
Update on S-13 "Tour of Shame" and Autonomous Street Theater
http://www.noftaatowson.cjb.net/
On September 13 over 80 people ranging from young to old, anarchist to democrat, atheist to priest and homeless to middle class gathered under a sky of relentless downpours for the Tour of Shame and autonomous street theater actions called in solidarity with the International Day of Protests against war and globalization. With the exception of the cancellation of David Rovics due to being stuck in traffic, the day went off perfectly. Thanks to the work of the ACLU and the help of the National Lawyers Guild of Baltimore we were able to obtain a permit to use War Memorial Plaza as well as use sound amplification throughout Baltimore in spite of constant lies and the run around given by the City
The tour and rally successfully linked the connections between local corporations and government facilities to that of war and corporate globalization. From the gas and electricity shutoffs here in Baltimore by BGE (100% owned and operated by Constellation Energy Group) and their push to privatize public works in third world countries, to the labor practices and use of sweatshops by such companies as the Gap, Banana Republic, Forever 21, and J Crew (www.behindthelabel.org), to the continuous push by big corporations to thwart workers rights through threats of downsizing and moving overseas as exemplified by Verizon and the recent contract negotiations with the Communication Workers of America Union, to the eroding of our rights and the increase surveillance enacted by the government in the name of "counter terrorism" through such bills as the Patriot Act (ACLU on the Patriot Act), to the practices of large financial institutions such as Citibank who is a member of Citigroup that fund environmentally destructive programs in third world countries that displace populations (Rain Forest Action Network)and to War Memorial Plaza where we come to see the realities of capitalism represented by the large population of homeless who call it home; the "Tour of Shame" encircled the business district of Baltimore with a cry for "Justice!", "Money for jobs, education, and schools not for war", and for FAIR trade that works for both sides of the spectrum (Make Trade Fair).
Rally speakers included Rev. John Dornheim (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Pledge of Resistance/Baltimore), Pat Cruz (Co-Chair of Maryland Green Party), a written statement by Len Shindel (Organizer for the United Steel Workers of America), Virginia Rodino from the Coalition Against Global Exploitation and Carla Janson from Citizens for Dennis Kucinich for President Baltimore.
Tour of Shame speakers included Chuck Michaels (Author of No Greater Threat: America After September 11 and the Rise of a National Security State), Ron Collins (District organizing coordinator with the Communications Workers of America), Steve Ceci from All Peoples Congress, a member of United Students Against Sweatshops and a statement by the World Bank Bonds Boycott
