People from all over the world recognize that we must stand together in solidarity to challenge the tiny
minority that dominates us. The revolts in Turkey, Brazil, Europe, the
Middle East and Asia – as well as in the United States – are all connected.
These struggles share common messages that people are more important than profit, that human rights must be respected and that we want to live in peace with dignity. We see that capitalism is failing and that the people must take control to create the kind of world in which we want to live. The Afghan Peace Volunteers said this clearly in their recent open letter: “accomplishing these actions hinges on us, on climate change citizens, Arab Spring citizens, Occupy citizens and the ‘awakening’ citizens of every country to free ourselves from the unequal dominance of corporate governments with their laws and weapons of self-interest.”
The campaign to close Guantanamo stretches from the living rooms of US veterans to Washington, DC to
Yemen. Three veterans, Elliott Adams, Diane Wilson and Tarak Kauff are on a solidarity hunger strike
with the prisoners. They are coming to Washington, DC next week to protest and invite you to join them. Codepink recently traveled to Yemen to learn from the families of the prisoners about the impact of Guantanamo on their families.
People in Hong Kong marched in support of Edward Snowden and to oppose his extradition. Japanese railroad workers in Tokyo protested a lockout in Oregon, nearly 5,000 miles away, of American dockworkers who load
grain ships headed for Asia
What the security state doesn’t realize is that their extreme response to peaceful protests actually brings more people out. We’ve seen this recently in Turkey and Brazil. Though these protests seemed to be sparked by minor events, the development of a park and a rise in bus fare, they are actually caused by neo-liberal, capitalist policies similar to those in the US in which as the wealth of the nation grows, so does the wealth divide.
The responses by the leaders of Turkey and Brazil are very different. The Turkish Prime Minister ordered violent attacks on protesters, the arrest of lawyers, journalists and a crackdown on health professionals who cared for the wounded. But this brought more people out including lawyers and health professionals who marched in the streets. When Gezi Park was violently cleared, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets. When marches were banned, people started holding standing protests.
Now there are community assemblies being held throughout the country, using the hand signals of the Indignados and Occupy; and the unions are calling for Erdogan to step down because he has lost legitimacy after his attacks have wounded thousands, critically injured 59 and killed 5 people. Erdogan continues on a destructive track and has ordered more tear gas and water cannons. Here is a petition asking the US not to supply more.
In Brazil, violent police attacks on peaceful protesters also brought hundreds of thousands into the streets night after night. The protests started in Sao Paulo and spread throughout the country. But in response, the President of Brazil expressed sympathy with the protesters and bus fares were lowered. The protests continued on Thursday in 100 cities and on Wednesday, some police joined the protesters and were welcomed with cheers. Police defections are a key step forward that greatly increase the chance of success.
minority that dominates us. The revolts in Turkey, Brazil, Europe, the
Middle East and Asia – as well as in the United States – are all connected.
These struggles share common messages that people are more important than profit, that human rights must be respected and that we want to live in peace with dignity. We see that capitalism is failing and that the people must take control to create the kind of world in which we want to live. The Afghan Peace Volunteers said this clearly in their recent open letter: “accomplishing these actions hinges on us, on climate change citizens, Arab Spring citizens, Occupy citizens and the ‘awakening’ citizens of every country to free ourselves from the unequal dominance of corporate governments with their laws and weapons of self-interest.”
The campaign to close Guantanamo stretches from the living rooms of US veterans to Washington, DC to
Yemen. Three veterans, Elliott Adams, Diane Wilson and Tarak Kauff are on a solidarity hunger strike
with the prisoners. They are coming to Washington, DC next week to protest and invite you to join them. Codepink recently traveled to Yemen to learn from the families of the prisoners about the impact of Guantanamo on their families.
People in Hong Kong marched in support of Edward Snowden and to oppose his extradition. Japanese railroad workers in Tokyo protested a lockout in Oregon, nearly 5,000 miles away, of American dockworkers who load
grain ships headed for Asia
What the security state doesn’t realize is that their extreme response to peaceful protests actually brings more people out. We’ve seen this recently in Turkey and Brazil. Though these protests seemed to be sparked by minor events, the development of a park and a rise in bus fare, they are actually caused by neo-liberal, capitalist policies similar to those in the US in which as the wealth of the nation grows, so does the wealth divide.
The responses by the leaders of Turkey and Brazil are very different. The Turkish Prime Minister ordered violent attacks on protesters, the arrest of lawyers, journalists and a crackdown on health professionals who cared for the wounded. But this brought more people out including lawyers and health professionals who marched in the streets. When Gezi Park was violently cleared, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets. When marches were banned, people started holding standing protests.
Now there are community assemblies being held throughout the country, using the hand signals of the Indignados and Occupy; and the unions are calling for Erdogan to step down because he has lost legitimacy after his attacks have wounded thousands, critically injured 59 and killed 5 people. Erdogan continues on a destructive track and has ordered more tear gas and water cannons. Here is a petition asking the US not to supply more.
In Brazil, violent police attacks on peaceful protesters also brought hundreds of thousands into the streets night after night. The protests started in Sao Paulo and spread throughout the country. But in response, the President of Brazil expressed sympathy with the protesters and bus fares were lowered. The protests continued on Thursday in 100 cities and on Wednesday, some police joined the protesters and were welcomed with cheers. Police defections are a key step forward that greatly increase the chance of success.