CSRP@D2KLA
(Democratic National Convention Protests in Los Angeles)
From Peru Action and News, Fall 2000
The CSRP joined thousands of people from all over the country for a week of protest at the DNC in Los Angeles this August. Protest themes included police brutality, the effects of globalization on indigenous populations, the inhumane sanctions imposed by the US on the Iraqi people, and for a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal – a black revolutionary on death row who was framed for the killing of a white Philadelphia cop.
CSRP carpools arrived in downtown LA early on Sunday morning, the day before the DNC opening session, for the day’s march and rally to stop the execution of Mumia Abu Jamal. Arriving busloads of protesters unloaded amidst the aromas of coffee, fast food, and platoons of LAPD riot squads. It was already hot, and it was only 9:00am. Flak jacket armor, full-face helmets, batons, shotguns, side arms, pepper spray, and plastic cuffs, additional LAPD squads cut through the gathering protest stomping and yelling, “MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!”. It was no secret that we were unwelcome by the powers that be.
Yet people stood their ground, and the LAPD just added to our determination. Our CSRP crew moved among the crowd talking about the revolution in Peru, and meeting lots of people from all over North America. Mainly youth, some were veterans of the WTO “Battle in Seattle” and Republican convention a couple of weeks earlier in Philadelphia. Others were inspired by the growing movement and were stepping forward for the first time. Dozens of young people wore black bandannas with “Free Mumia” inscribed across the front, and chanted in militant stride along the march. The crowd was very diverse. Most were very conscious of the role of Internal Monetary Fund and World Bank, and the imperialist plunder of oppressed nations around the world.
Monday was characterized as “anti-globalization” day. Several speakers spoke out about the effects of globalization on people in oppressed countries, and marches targeted corporations and multinationals in a “Tour of Shame”. Indigenous people’s rights to their land was highlighted, particularly that of the U’Wa people of Columbia being threatened by Occidental Oil – Al Gore’s family holds a large stake in Occidental Oil.
Thousands of militant marchers converged on the Staples Center, the location of the DNC. Thousands more joined us for a concert by LA’s Rage Against the Machine and Ozomatli. Rage gave new meaning to the title of their current album “Battle of Los Angeles” with a defiant show that the cops had vowed to prevent. Towards the end of the show, however, the police clashed with people near the fence defining the protest area. A few minutes after Ozomatli took the stage, the police escalated the situation by pulling the plug on Ozo. Yet the band joined the crowd in the dark and continued playing. The LAPD declared an “illegal gathering” and ordered people to disperse. A few minutes later, however, the cops charged the crowd on horseback, beat and shot people point-blank with “non-lethal” bullets and concussion grenades. Many were severely injured. Groupings of youth fought back and resisted this onslaught in the intersections around Staples Center.
On Tuesday the CSRP hooked up with a small but determined Youth and Women’s march. An army of police, sheriff deputies, and several other armed agencies – out numbering marchers almost 10 to 1 – escorted the march. People were very interested in the role of women in the People’s War in Peru, and their condition in Peruvian society. Several people on the march took bundles of newsletters for their friends – particularly the issue with the woman revolutionary poster.
People were angry about the role of the US internationally, and very interested in the revolution in Peru, especially as an example of people fighting back in armed revolution -- intent on building a new society in which the masses rule. The CSRP crew got out about 2,500 leaflets (mainly Peru Fact Sheets), several hundred Peru Action and News newsletters and many stickers. We also gave a video presentation at a local probationary high school – we met the teacher in the streets. Some of the questions the students asked were about the conditions of the people, life in the base areas, the current status of the revolution, Chairman Gonzalo, and the situation of other political prisoners.
