arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

Sat F2: Permitted demo vs. World Economic Forum
by Gery Friday January 11, 2002 at 12:14 PM
gery@action-mail.org 212.633.6646

In response to permit applications placed by organizers at International A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism), the New York Police Department have told us they *WILL NOT* be creating a Quebec-type exclusion zone surrounding the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, the site of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF)...

9 am: "Meet 'em and Greet 'em" (let the exploiters hear your voice)
11 am: Mass Rally

IN FRONT OF WALDORF ASTORIA HOTEL
(50th St. and Park Ave., NYC)

** U P D A T E **

In response to permit applications placed by organizers at International A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism), the New York Police Department have told us they *WILL NOT* be creating a Quebec-type exclusion zone surrounding the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, the site of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF). To repeat, protests at the Waldorf will not be banned.

A.N.S.W.E.R. is calling for a permitted mass demonstration at 50th St. and Park Ave. On Saturday, February 2, "Meet 'em and greet 'em" at 9 am and mass rally at 11 am.

CALL ISSUED BY THE INTERNATIONAL A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) coalition. Steering committee: Nicaragua Network; Mexico Solidarity Network; IFCO/Pastors for Peace; International Action Center; Partnership for Civil Justice; Kensington Welfare Rights Union; Middle East Children's Alliance; Elias Rashmawi; Korea Truth Commission.

**TO ENDORSE THESE EVENTS**
click here and fill out our easy-to-use form.

**TO BECOME AN ORGANIZING CENTER**
click here and fill out our easy-to-use form

ENDORSERS INCLUDE: 

For full list of endorsers, click here.

** C A L L - T O - A C T I O N **

THE PEOPLE'S STRUGGLE -VS- THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
Mobilize - Demonstrate - Educate - Build Alternatives

THE INTERNATIONAL A.N.S.W.E.R. COALITION - ACT NOW TO STOP WAR & END RACISM - CALLS FOR MOBILIZATIONS ON FEBRUARY 1 AND 2 IN NEW YORK CITY OUTSIDE OF THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

From January 31 to February 4, corporate bosses from the world's largest transnationals and political leaders will meet in New York City for their annual World Economic Forum. In past years they met in Davos, Switzerland, but massive demonstrations forced a change in venue.

This year they'll be meeting at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in mid-town Manhattan. The World Economic Forum will celebrate war in Afghanistan and the Middle East, attacks on civil liberties, and corporate tax cuts.

The International ANSWER Coalition calls for alternatives - jobs, health care, education, civil rights, and peace with justice - that reflect the needs of the vast majority of people. The corporate agenda wasn't welcome in Davos, and it's not welcome in New York City.

JOIN THE INTERNATIONAL A.N.S.W.E.R. COALITION ON FEBRUARY 1 AND 2 TO SAY:

** A C T I O N - P L A N **

FEBRUARY 1
Teach-in at Community Church, 35th between Park and Madison Avenues starting at 9:00am

Featuring workshops on:

FEBRUARY 2
*Mass rally at the World Economic Forum*

9 am: "Meet 'em and greet 'em" (let the exploiters hear your voice)
11 am: mass rally
At the Waldorf Astoria: Park Ave. and 50th St.
Bring signs, puppets, street theater, noise-makers, and your creativity

Since September 11, hundreds of thousands of workers from the travel industry, hotels, restaurants, and others have lost their jobs. Unemployment and mass layoffs are sweeping through all sectors of the world economy. Politicians, working for the interests of corporate elites, are providing billions of dollars in bailouts for investors and transnational corporations, but not a penny for increased unemployment insurance. The Congressional "economic stimulus" plan offers huge corporate tax cuts, but only pennies for working people. The lowest paid workers, especially immigrants and service sector workers, are suffering the repercussions of 9-11, while the rich get richer.

Immigrants and those who are struggling against the corporate agenda are in for a double whammy, as Attorney General Ashcroft curtails basic civil liberties and constitutional rights. Today the attacks are against immigrants - incarceration without charges and racial profiling. Tomorrow the target will be U.S. citizens as Ashcroft pushes to legalize surveillance of religious and political groups.

Internationally, the Bush administration wages war in Afghanistan and encourages expanded war in Palestinian territories. Now Bush is preparing the public for prolonged war in Iraq and perhaps other nations. The deaths of thousands of civilians in the Middle East, both from direct military action and the resulting refugee crisis, is nothing short of state-sponsored terrorism. This is not the way to find justice for 3,000 civilians who died on September 11. And this is not the way to build a more secure and stable world.

We must respond to increasing attacks on our well-being by corporate-dominated politicians that bring us war, layoffs and increased poverty. At the same time as the A.N.S.W.E.R. events in New York City, the World Social Forum will gather tens of thousands of representatives from every corner of the world in Porto Alegre, Brazil, to discuss alternative visions.

The events in New York and Porto Alegre will mark a new plateau in the people's capacity to organize, to reject old classist models, and to build a better world.

Join the International ANSWER Coalition on February 1 and 2 so say:

**TO ENDORSE THESE EVENTS**
click here and fill out our easy-to-use form.

**TO BECOME AN ORGANIZING CENTER**
click here and fill out our easy-to-use form

**FOR MORE INFORMATION**
Email  - ANSWER@afgj.org
Call -  New York 212-633-6646, Washington 202-543-2777, San Francisco 415-821-6545, Chicago 773-583-7728.

www.internationalanswer.org