July 25, 2004
Pittsburgh Organizing Group
1:32 pmpog@mutualaid.org
c/o Thomas Merton Center
5125 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15224
POG Statement of Solidarity
This is a statement from Pittsburgh Organizing Group (POG) to the many
groups and organizations in our city involved in struggles for social
and economic justice. Its purpose is to make more explicit the solidarity
we try to engage in towards other members of the progressive community. It is
the way in which we seek to make real the commitment we have to build a
strong and lasting culture of mutual respect and support across the lines that
too often divide us. We encourage other groups to write their own
solidarity statements, something we believe could produce beneficial results for
the community (we would be happy to use this page as a place to publicize
those). Groups are also welcome to simply rework or endorse the below
statement.
Our solidarity made real!
We are just one of a great multitude of groups striving for progressive
social change. When considering our relationship to each other we try
to keep in mind we are not necessarily immediate allies nor are we each
other's greatest enemy. There are many things, on which we likely do not agree,
but despite this fact we are part of the same broad struggles together and
strength exists in the bonds between our groups and individuals. We are
often in the streets together to protest, working on the same issue, or
towards a similar goal. We know that corporations, police, mass media,
and other dominant institutions of power are often trying to divide us in
order to crush our movements. Solidarity is the way in which our diversity
becomes our strength, we build our movements and we protect each other's
bodies, lives and rights, both on the streets and in our every day organizing.
We believe we have some things in common. We believe in basic human
rights and the need to live with respect and dignity. We believe we must
protect this planet - our air, water, earth and food or we will all die. We
believe these global corporate and political institutions are serving primarily
the interests of the rich. We agree in the right of communities to
self-determination within a framework of progressive social change. We
believe workers are entitled to be the beneficiaries of their labor and
that they have an unalienable right to organize for the betterment of
themselves and others. We all agree it's time for fundamental change. As we take
to the streets together, as we continue our day to day organizing, let us work
to be in solidarity with one another.
The following are ways in which we attempt to make this feeling of
solidarity real. It is the way in which we strive to provide a
framework of solidarity in the city.
As individual members of POG we aim
- Challenge and critique other groups and individuals in constructive
ways and in a spirit of respect.
- To try to listen without getting defensive. To be open in thinking,
not rigid in positions.
- To avoid making assumptions about the opinions or values of others
based on what a person looks like or what groups we "know" or think they belong
to.
- To refrain from personal attacks, even with people whom strongly
disagree. (We try to focus on how we feel, not what they did.)
- To understand that even though we may sometimes disagree, the vast
majority of those in our movements have come to their politics, strategies and
choice of tactics through thoughtful and intelligent consideration of issues,
circumstances and experiences.
- To try to be accountable to others and the group as a whole for the
decisions we make and be responsible for the things we say we're going
to do.
- To support workers struggles. We don't cross picket lines and we
don't scab or support those who do.
At protests and in our dealing with other groups and the police
- We do not turn people over or single people out to the police through
either physical or verbal actions.
- We do not let people within our groups interfere with other groups
without explanation and accountability.
- We share food, water, medical and other supplies with groups lacking
those resources
- We support ANY protester who is hurt, gassed, shot or beaten
- We try as much as is possible and practical to respect other groups'
rights to do a certain type of protest at certain times and places. If we
choose to participate as a group, we try to do so within the tone and tactics
they set. If we do not agree with the tone and tactics, we do not, as a
group, participate in that protest or bring a differently oriented protest
into that time and space without extensive explanation of the reasons why.
We ask the same of other individuals and groups who participate in our events.
- We understand that our actions and tactics have repercussions that go
beyond our immediate group and ourselves.
- We do not provide the police or any other government agent information
on the activities of other groups or individuals. If they want to know
something they can contact that group themselves.
- If we choose to negotiate with the police, we never do so for other
groups of which we are not a part.
As a group
- We strive to make everyone aware of the resources available at events
we're participating in, or organizing: legal, medical, and otherwise
- We strive to organize in as open and inclusive way as is practical
while still maintaining a culture of security in recognition of the ongoing
attempts of the state to survey and disrupt our movements.
- We seek to emphasize anti-oppression principles in all of our
organizing.
In the Media
- We seek to avoid perpetuating a "good" protester "bad" protester
dichotomy
- We do not denounce other demonstrators.
- We talk about our strategy and beliefs, not others
- We acknowledge other groups' existence and role they play in creating
change
- We acknowledge that we sometimes disagree with one another about
strategy and tactics.
- We condemn police repression and brutality
Jail solidarity
- We seek to support those arrested to the maximum extent possible. No
one is free until everyone is free!
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