community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
M16 Dumpster Blockade
by Brad Cue
Monday, Mar. 17, 2003 at 4:20 PM
45sec video clip of dumpster blockage at March 16th 2003 Pittsburgh Peace Protests.
Video clip of dumpster being wheeled out onto Craig St in Oakland during the March 16th 2003 Pittsburgh Peace Protests. The unpermitted march was of a disruptive nature. Our current administration has made it known that they are ignoring our voices thus leaving us with no option but to yell louder. Times like these call for an escalation of non-violent tactics, disruption of traffic being one of them. Immediately after overturning the dumpster however, other march participants righted it, thus eliminating any disruption of the status-quo that would have been. In any case, Pittsburgh is working towards peace around the world, and people are being forced to escalate their means of expressing that the impending war in Iraq is not justified.
Dumpster Blockade Video
by Brad Cue
Monday, Mar. 17, 2003 at 4:20 PM
QuickTime movie at 2.4 mebibytes
Video of dumpster blocade along Craig St on March 16 2003.
Viva las barricadas!
by V
Monday, Mar. 17, 2003 at 7:46 PM
Beautiful work, although it was just a dress rehersal. In the coming weeks, those dumpsters may be all that's between you and the motorcycles or the phalanx or the mass-arrest bus.
Build those shields.
http://www.devo.com/sarin/bodyhammer.html
peaceful
by one
Tuesday, Mar. 18, 2003 at 12:58 AM
Taking the dumpster and tossing the contents out was the dumness act I have ever seen. Well next to the really stupid soul writing "fuck starbucks" on the sidewalk.
Some of the "acts" that day were down right child like and were showing a level of personal vilolent behavior.
All the chants with "fuck" in them weren't cool either guys, since many had brought along their children. We are trying to teach our children to live in a more peaceful world. To do so, we have to set an example.
Most of the day I enounted such "frantic" moves by most and I for one will not join another march. I will indeed continue to show my "Pittsburgher's For Peace" sign in my business, go to the candle light services, listen to the speakers, but I will not march with you.
Today I was in tears in thought over the lives of the children that will be killed in a few days by our nation. That has always been my thoughts and the main purpose for being there with you.
Acting like spolit children yourselves is another reason why the rest of the world hates us so. What made you so right that day? Really, you are no different than those drunken frat boys.
You speak of peace, but act otherwise.
In a few days we will be killing people. I am glad you had a really great day that day, but did it really cross your mind that in a few days we will actually be killing people? You did not express that to me.
You should teach yourselves better than that.
--
by 77
Tuesday, Mar. 18, 2003 at 2:14 AM
Obviously an un-permitted march that respects a diversity of tactics is not for everyone. We all have different opinions on what is necessary to stop this and future (and believe it this is just the beginning) wars. A lot of people feel it is stupid, self-serving, and laughable to go to engage in only lawful actions in a situation where thousands of innocent people are about to be killed by our Government. We all have a moral responsibility to do what we can to prevent and expose the injustice about to be escalated by an invasion of Iraq. If your conscience honestly tells you that candle light vigils can most effectively contribute to the effort to stop the war that I wish you the best of luck. I should point out that you are not very respectful in your comments. To disagree with people is one thing, but to resort to name calling is quite another. It�s humorous how you display the type of attitude in your comments that is what you�re complaining about. It�s important to always respect fellow human beings. We are only here for a short while and we�ve all got something to positive to contribute.
In any event see you at the next rally.
dumb move
by Elliott
Tuesday, Mar. 18, 2003 at 6:51 AM
yeah i have to agree we were promised a peaceful protest so we could have our voices heard we were not promised a bunch of raving wankers running around knocking over and breaking stuff that belonged to some guy we dont even know. id like to thank the other people who helped me put that dumpster back as well as everyone who kept a level head and didnt run around like idiots shouting at poor gap employees
Please, SOLIDARITY
by POG
Tuesday, Mar. 18, 2003 at 8:13 AM
POG organized the march, in itself an illegal and disruptive act, with a respect for a diversity of Non-Violent tactics. No one was hurt. There wasn't ANY VIOLENCE.
The post above that comments on the attitude of some protestors who support more militant tactics towards those who don't feel that they can/should engage in disruptive acts are ineffective, but no one ever goes to a vigil and tries to stop it. No one brings militant tactics to an event that does not want it! It would be nice to have this same consideration and respect extended to all groups involved in this movement.
Yes, thousands -- probably hundreds of thousands -- are going to die in Iraq. If you take a lesson from Vietnam, it was only the overwhelming disruption of everyday society that prevented Nixon from escalating the war further. We already know that Bush doesn't consider public opinion, so it is our (in my opinion) moral responsibility to disrupt everything to save lives!
Further, the demonstrations against those corporate businesses were completely called for and appropriate. Starbucks, Gap, and Banana Republic use slave labor and union-busting tactics all over the world. They kill people. They want war (how else can we find a market for their slave-produced goods?)!
Just the same as we oppose this war, demonstrators are opposing violence brought into our community by lawless multi-national corporations. Please support this, but if you don't, please don't try to restrict the actions of others.
Agree but disagree
by Sam
Tuesday, Mar. 18, 2003 at 8:45 AM
Well, I'm with you on the use of the F-word. People should remember that a.) there are children around and b.) using such language tends to alienate even people who aren't children.
But pushing over a dumpster isn't an act of violence. Violent acts are committed against animals (human and non-human) with a central nervous system, who can feel pain. And I'm completely against the use of violence.
But an inanimate object is not a living thing. It cannot feel pain.
More militant tactics aren't for everyone, as another poster mentioned. You shouldn't feel unwelcome at POG events just because of Sunday's march. POG also sponsors many legal actions that I'm sure you'd be more comfortable with, and that's fine.
That's why we called for a picnic and rally in addition to a march. But the whole march was illegal. Direct action and/or civil disobedience was to be expected. Admittedly, though, POG should've been more clear about this.
Where did Corporations come into this?
by George K.
Tuesday, Mar. 18, 2003 at 10:29 AM
dodgerambler@yahoo.com
You guys and gals are displaying a real lack of focus. Now you have disturbed people plotting subversive acts against coffee shops in the name of peace? No wonder you lack the organization to effect real societal change. There is no focus.
Also, when you cut off the cheap supply of Wal-Mart good to the general population of the USA, be prepared to be tar and feathered.
Look at the hippocrites in California...chanting "no war" one day, and protesting high gas prices the next.
I assume you people will be protesting the mag-lev project too? Something that will actually conserve energy and pollute less?
Fuck Starbucks
by stupid soul
Tuesday, Mar. 18, 2003 at 11:36 AM
i must be fucking stupid how could i ever equate slave labor and multi-national corporations to war. I mean, the connection between capitalism and world inequality and war is not exactly a stretch here folks. So ya know what? Why dont you keep praying and maybe jesus will end this war and we will keep distrupting business as usual and try our best to confront the powers that be. FUCK STARBUCKS FUCK SLAVE LABOR. it makes sense.
not that anyone listens
by sharpie
Tuesday, Mar. 18, 2003 at 12:30 PM
Wow, Georgie, I think you've hit a fresh intellectual trough! You're making the case that all protests are formed from the same group of people! I'm sure it must be clear to any observer that protests for low gas prices and protests against the war, despite some overlap, are attended by different groups of disgruntled citizens. Your ability to read and write while lacking completely the capacity for thought is truly stunning. But I suppose I shouldn't be all that surprised, Georgie, as you don't read or write so well either.
war and corporations, hmmm.
by deadrockstar
Tuesday, Mar. 18, 2003 at 12:42 PM
Here's an article addressing some links between corporations and war. (It's mostly dealing with war profiteering, so don't expect anything revolutionary.) Just showing how corporations that profit from war get along with our government:
http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2003/03/17/war_profiteering/index.html
Symptoms
by Mike
Tuesday, Mar. 18, 2003 at 12:56 PM
That's right frat-boy, there's no connection between war and globalism, the same way that there is no connection between the US arming and training bin Laden and 100,000 of his closest friends during the 80's, and 9/11.
These things do not exist independently, but you're too busty thinking about date rape and ambercrombie and fitch.
connections are important
by Stephen Donahue
Tuesday, Mar. 18, 2003 at 3:03 PM
sdonahue412@hotmail.com
Entering those businesses on Walnut Street was a good thing, I think. Making the connection between corporate domination and military domination is important. I really appreciated it.
NOW about MAGLEV. Yes, I will protest this billion dollar device that will haul fat cats from the airport to their corporate towers in the downtown then over OUR neighborhoods to Monroeville and then to Greensburg. Ironic that even as this is being considered by the Gov. that he (Rendell) has CUT our public transit OPERATIONS revenue to its lowest level since 1994. Us BUS riders will soon pay $2/ride and have service cut again. We might well lose all weekend service or perhaps all evening service thanks to cuts in state support for transit. So, SCREW MAGLEV until our public transit operations are fully funded.
organization?
by Brian
Wednesday, Mar. 19, 2003 at 1:25 AM
artriotmedia@aol.com
George, take in mind that many of us involved at the rally, especialy those who flipped the dumpster and ran into the gap, bannana republic and starbucks are anarchists. We are not liberals, to us this is not just a struggle for simply peace. This is struggle to end oppression and imperialism worldwide. The idea of us lacking organization, well for that, I once read something that said "Suprisingly anarchists seam to be the most effective of the left. While other's are running around forming committes they're actualy doing something."
As for the go pray to Jesus remark, keep in mind Tolstoy was a Christian, and so are some of us sporting masks and flying the black flag along side of you. I pray on a daily basis for peace, but this isn't stopping me from also taking to the streets and proudly yelling "fuck" and any other obscenities I feel neccesary towards ending opression. If we're going to change our children lets teach them that words aren't bad, just the ideas behind some of them. I'd be perfectly supportive if I had a kid that said "fuck war", at least I knew I taught him to value human life.
RE: peaceful
by DOT
Sunday, Mar. 23, 2003 at 3:56 PM
to the person who wrote the comment "peaceful" diversity of tactics is how we are going to get our message off of the streets and into the TV sets of apathetic americans who refuse to differ from what the government tells them. i mean if you don't like what is happening refuse to listen and don't participate in the overturning of dumpsters. but please let people disobey how they see fit
QUESTION AUTHOURITY
lordy lordy
by Amir Flesher (not ashamed to use my real name
Sunday, Mar. 23, 2003 at 9:07 PM
I am simply confounded by the anarchist idealogy. I do not understand how flipping over dumpsters, and harraasing people has any positive effect on anything. I also don't understand why you guys wear bandanas over your faces. Are you ashamed of identifying yourselves in public? Basically, I don't undserstand any of your idealogy, but maybe thats because I undersand that revolution doesn't happen by wearing a certain color, chanting certain slogans, or by being genrally really angry and braty. Revolution happens bit by bit, by hardworking people who don't choose to seperate themselves from the society at large. It's done by inspirational schoolteachers who touch the lives of children, organic farmers who grow our food, laywers who defend those who have no voice, psychologists who have compassion towards the mentally ill, and anybody who infuses your day with warmth, kindness, soulful expression, or engaging thought.
Hate is hate. And its ugly.
Black Bloc
by Rovin' Workman
Sunday, Mar. 23, 2003 at 11:55 PM
Amir,
I agree with much of what you said about revolution not requiring a certain color, chants, etc. However, there are some very good reasons people use the black bloc tactic. The three main reasons that come to mind are avoiding identification to avoid state repression (and avoiding targeting of certain people within the group), a showing of how affinity groups can operate, and often, an indication of those who are amenable to more militant tactics.
There are times when black blocs make great sense, and times when other tactics should be used instead. Much depends on the size of the gathering, the other groups participating, and ability to maneuver.
Here is a link to a fairly good explanation of black blocs:
http://www.infoshop.org/blackbloc.html
Whiny?
by J.P.
Monday, Mar. 24, 2003 at 12:06 AM
I thought the really whiny ones at protests were the police and the conservatives who dont want us to protest.
Sick
by Cenobyte
Wednesday, Mar. 26, 2003 at 4:44 PM
This just makes me sick. So your choose for dealing with someone that you say is not listening to you is to wage war against the average person in the US. Or better yet the police and public servents of the country. Obviously you have not figured out the basic concepts of peace and are protesting because you want to complain about something and can't find a real cause.
Perhaps you would like to think about the fact that perahps these people can hear you, they understand your point of view but think you are wrong. I have seen over and over that one of the hardest things in the world for a smart person is to understand that another smart person can understand what you are saying and still not agree.
Vote. You want a voice, get out the vote. I would guess that a large number of people that are standing on the streat making life hard for the normal lives of poeple around them did not even vote. You have a vote. You also have money, vote with your dollar. More than 60% of the total spending in the US is by comsumers not companies. Vote in the boooth, vote with your dollar.
U$A
by Femzilla
Sunday, Jun. 08, 2003 at 1:21 PM
Ah yes, we're back to capitalism and "the vote", which have so righteously served the American people. I seem to recall something about incongruences with an election a few years back...
RE: U$A
by *
Monday, Jun. 09, 2003 at 9:24 AM
So you are going to refuse to vote because somehow it has to do with capitalism, so your opinions can best result in change if you run around like a bunch of hooligans vandalizing the same community you say you are trying to save? Oh that sounds real smart. And then you have to ask why no one takes you seriously?
Capitalism
by Robert Schleiman
Monday, Jun. 09, 2003 at 7:03 PM
I like capitalism because I'm smart and I work hard. Anyone who thinks otherwise is either stupid, lazy, or both.
Dumpster diving is good!
by Gestapo member
Tuesday, Jun. 10, 2003 at 1:19 AM
FALL IN LINE!!! FALL IN LINE!!!
Can you hear the goose stepping? Capitalism is good! Anyone who thinks otherwise is "Stupid, lazy, or both."
FALL IN LINE!! FALL IN LINE!!!
Anyone who knows the truth about capitalism will be shot down or made a fool!!
FALL IN LINE!! FALL IN LINE!!
Capitalism is profiting off the backs of the poor! But we won't let the average American know this!
FALL IN LINE!! FALL IN LINE!!
Go shopping and buy products that asian peasants have made for you while they go hungry.
FALL IN LINE!! FALL IN LINE!!
Anyone who thinks capitalism is bad is "stupid, lazy, or both."
FALL IN LINE!! And how easy it is to have Fascism in a country full of ignorant, well-fed, whiny people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh Busboy!!
by Robert Schleiman
Tuesday, Jun. 10, 2003 at 11:40 AM
Hey Gestapo Member,
Quit whining over there in the corner and come fill up my ice water!!! And there's a fly in my soup. . . get the waiter.
Oh, and by the way, the wealthiest 50% of people in this country pay 90% of the taxes. And speaking of the gestapo, the third word of Nazi is "Socialist". And yes, those Asians make very nice sweaters.
tax evasion
by gestapo member
Wednesday, Jun. 11, 2003 at 12:00 AM
Is that so? Ever hear of tax shelters, tax evasion, and tax scams. Taxes are a scam. Rich people don't pay taxes! Why are you lying?
I hope your sweater eats you
Welfare
by Schleiman
Wednesday, Jun. 11, 2003 at 9:28 AM
And poor people don't steal.
Does welfare sound familiar?
Oh, and in all seriousness, I just pictured myself being eaten by a sweater, and I laughed pretty hard.
Welfare
by 1040EZ user
Wednesday, Jun. 11, 2003 at 10:06 AM
By welfare do you mean the fact that 37 of the top employers in the city of Pittsburgh pay no taxes, or do you mean welfare like airline bailouts, or do you mean welfare like free stadiums and hockey arenas?
Just curious.
More stupid Welfare
by Schleiman
Wednesday, Jun. 11, 2003 at 11:09 AM
Airline bailouts = welfare, therefore stupid
PNC park = dumb gift to useless company
Heinz Field = good gift to company that will generate large amounts of tax revenue for the city.Heinz Field tickets generate about 10 dollars in tax per ticket; with 40,000 seats, that is 3.2 million dollars a year for a stadium that cost about 25 million in tax payer dollars. 8 years from now, the stadium will have paid for itself.
Rich not paying local or state taxes = good because how else do you get employers to stay in this town? And there's a big difference between allowing people tax breaks and giving people money because they have no self-reliance.
![[masthead]](/images/masthead_140.png)