Sheets and sheets of ice blanketed us all day as we awaited the meeting time. Not just us, of course, but the rest of our miserable state as well, especially those areas we were expecting comrades to com in from. By the time 5 pm rolled around the ice storm had mostly ended, mostly. Everything was sparkling and gorgeous, but pissed us off nonetheless.Incredibly, people came out for it, with the handful of out-of-towners arriving Friday night or early Saturday morn. Attendance was around 20 people, with most being from Iowa City. Our event was cleverly billed by Ajax for the library as an “RNC Discussion: When we leave. How we get there. What we will do while there.” The librarian opening the room for us quipped “You guys Republicans? Right this way…” On a table were the lovely posters and stickers from the Welcoming Committee (thanks WC!), a stack of the newest Slingshot (thanks Brendan), and a small supply for giving away of Black Cross First Aid booklet.
We, the organizers, decided to err on the side of caution and urged everyone present to refrain from saying anything potentially implicating to themselves or those they work with, and that anything beyond a general description should be left to a private gathering of those you trust, i.e. your affinity group.
Initially, the strategy put forward by the Twin Cities’ Welcoming Committee (model from the pReNC) was presented, with Unconventional Action’s much more specific proposal presented following. Then the other less developed ideas, such as the eclipsing ‘Free State’ and Critical Mass ride, after that. Information was presented from the NLG relating specifically to Convention organizing and some basic legal awareness for activists. After this, a short listing of upcoming events and groups related to opposing the Conventions was read. This information and websites for it were handed out to all present on the backside of the new Welcoming Committee’s St Paul map. Included as well were the Bodyhammer.pdf booklet online, activistsecurity.org, and a link to the Fight the man and Get Away Safely article. Des Moines organizers then presented the Caucus of the Future event, an alternative to the conventional structure of so-called “representative democracy” and will demonstrate alternative ways of interacting with each other and our planet. Workshops, skillshares, speakers and bands, to be held the day before and of the Iowa Caucus’s Jan. 2 and 3.
Following all this we rearranged the lecture-style seating to a circle and had an open discussion with the organizers of the meeting as facilitators. No confusion or opposition was voiced about the explicit call for the implementation of a diversity of tactics, although it was explained that this means not ‘anything goes,’ but principled solidarity which does not stop short of certain actions deemed ‘violent’ by some. We consider police repression violence, and we will not be the violent ones in 9 months. Similar concerns were mentioned here as elsewhere, the realistic aspiration of shutting down the RNC and the effectiveness of doing so for a largely symbolic affair. These points were granted as valid, it was countered that as radicals located where we are, it offers an important opportunity to strengthen our own community, and to link with fellow anti-authoritarians and anarchists in the region. A big concern for some was the heightened security presence being anticipated, and consequently discussed were the ways in which people would be discouraged from making it to St Paul, and how to combat this. There was interest in the DNC efforts, with some stating that being a more worthy target of our efforts. We stated that our efforts were due to the nearness of the RNC to us, and encouraged folks to check out Recreate 68 and Unconventional Denver if interested in that or both. The green/yellow/red zones were discussed at some length, and many questions came up regarding who will be deciding what zone is where, what would a green zone do with repression like RNC 04, among others. It was decided that with 9 months out, there was admittedly much still to be figured out by ourselves, and the host cities’ organizers. Toward the end, a general discussion ensued of what constitutes an affinity group and how these will be important for such organizing. Considering that nearly all present were Iowa City based, it was stressed that these plans need to start now amongst ourselves.
Lastly we planned to meet monthly in Iowa City, the first Saturday of every month. The next one has already been planned for January 5, same location. Aside from a very few new faces, everyone present was familiar to us, most being folks we have worked with on other projects and know quite well. It was a good opportunity to get everyone in the same room and familiarize folks with the general strategy, recounts of past Convention demonstrations, new obstacles that we face, as well as new strengths. We look forward to the next meeting, where some others hopefully can come out that might have planned to without a brutal ice storm.
- One of a couple of No RNC - Iowa organizers
