Organized Chaos: How 603 Groups Of Demonstrators Acted As One

By Mitch Frank

THE PROTESTERS

INDIVIDUALS with shared beliefs joined together

Affinity groups... Teams of five to 20 people who share a cause; they planned their own role in the protests, from street theater to sit-ins to "direct action"

...formed clusters... Affinity groups with similar interests gathered to plan larger protests

...representing various causes

SEVEN MAIN CAUSES and infinite smaller causes were represented

These are some of the major causes, but the groups overlap, and with more than 600 organizations, endless agendas were touted. The groups supporting venous causes planned their own events on different days. Spiritual groups organized a vigil on April 9 to call for debt forgiveness for the Third World. Unions held a rally outside Congress Wednesday. Smaller groups like Alabama Artisans for Social Justice, the Anti-Boredom Brigade and the Guerrilla Gardeners found their way to D.C. too.

Labor The most organized marchers: unions and labor-rights groups like Jobs with Justice

Environment A huge segment of protesters: Earth First, American Lands Alliance and more

Students University groups, some of which have worked with unions in the past year

Third World Groups from almost every continent, protesting IMF actions

Anarchy Wildcards who just don't like the new world order; organized but unpredictable

Human Rights A plethora of groups fighting sweatshop labor and globalization

Spiritual Religious-affiliated organizations that support a wide range of other causes

Each cluster within each cause sends one representative (more than 40 in all) to meetings

ACTION SPOKESCOUNCIL acted as a nightly command center for all participants

The closest thing this throng had to a leader, the council met nightly to plan, debate and cheer the week's events. Each cluster chose a "spoke," or representative. The council met in a warehouse truck bay (targeted by the police on Saturday) with room for hundreds of affinity groups to squeeze in. The spokes stood in the center, wearing party hats to distinguish themselves. The clusters branched out from them, forming a giant wheel (that's why they're spokes).

THE ORGANIZERS

16 WORKING GROUPS tackled the logistical nightmare of thousands of protesters

The sponsors sent staff to the working groups, which ranged in size from five to 30 people each. The groups met regularly from the beginning of the year. A large e-mail collective allowed them to share ideas and dilemmas with fellow activists around the world. Tasks ranged from crucial fund raising to communicating with the "corporate media." Caravan tackled how to get affinity groups into town and use the trip to spread the Mobilization's message. Permitted Action organized the legal rallies (as opposed to civil disobedience-or direct action). Logistics faced the dilemma of finding as many as 30,000 places for people to sleep.

Media Outreach Training Legal Caravan Issues Permitted Action Scenario Propaganda Medical Fund Raising Communications D.C. Independent Media Center Spokescouncil Operations Logistics Arts in Action

Each working group sends one representative (16 total) to meetings

PLANNING SPOKESCOUNCIL spent four months coordinating the preparations

Each working group sent a rotating representative to a weekly meeting of the council. The council's job was to oversee the groups and make the tough decisions. The meetings were open to all. Last week the council met every morning. The council and groups were not in the business of scheduling the entire week or telling affinity groups what to do. Their job was to draw as many people to the capital as possible and give them the framework to protest however they wished.

16 SPONSORS provided staff and money for planning

Sponsors have worked on the Mobilization since January. When affinity groups arrived, the staff handled operations. The organizations are coalitions representing a broad range of causes. Activists at 50 Years Is Enough have led the movement against the IMF and the World Bank. The Alliance for Global Justice raised most of the cash. Essential Action is a Ralph Nader organization, and Direct Action Network played a hey role in the protests in Seattle.

50 Years Is Enough Essential Action Action for Community & Ecology in the Rainforests of Central America Alliance for Global Justice American Lands Alliance Campaign for Labor Rights Continental Direct Action Network Global Exchange Mass Earth First Mexico Solidarity Network National Lawyers Guild Nicaragua Network Rainforest Action Network Solidarity Washington Action Group Witness for Peace

Written by Mitch Frank