“It’s a black bloc blur but I’m pretty sure it ruled… damn. Last Friday night...”
On Friday, December 2nd, the final day of mobilization against the summit of the American Legislative Exchange Council, 16 were arrested at an action against Salt River Project. The action was led by Diné and O’odham elders and had multiple stages of escalation.
Salt River Project is on the Corporate Board of ALEC, Louise Benally, a resident of Black Mesa impacted by SRP’s operations, delivered a letter to SRP that outlines critical concerns of her community. She expressed that “My community is heavily impacted by Salt River Project’s coal and water extraction activities. SRP has extensive ties to Peabody Energy’s massive mining operations and the Navajo Generating Station which they co-own. Coal mining has destroyed thousands of archeological sites and our only water source has been seriously compromised. Their operations are causing widespread respiratory problems, lung diseases, and other health impacts on humans, the environment, and all living things.”
Five people locked down in the lobby and numerous others blockaded the front entrance. Banners inside and outside read “Expose ALEC, Peabody Kills”, “UnOccupy Our Lands” and “Shut ALEC Down, Relocation = Genocide” in specific reference to the past forty years of forced relocation of Diné people from Black Mesa. The police presence started out small and increased to a massive collaborated effort between the Police Departments of Tempe, Scottsdale, and Phoenix, including riot police and a bomb squad. Streets on both ends were shut down and business was disrupted for multiple buildings. Riot police snatched multiple individuals in the crowd, who continued to chat, dance, etc. The numbers started out at around 70 and continued to swell as others found out about it. The whole action lasted 6 hours.
More information on the SRP action here: http://azresistsalec.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/breaking-news-indigenous-elders-supporters-occupy-alec-member-salt-river-project-headquarters/
As the day continued the undercover police presence was particularly pervasive and obvious. Many people were monitored and followed throughout the day culminating in the presence of more than a dozen known undercovers after a police attack on the first Friday demo.
First Friday Demo
A call was put out for people to converge at a particular intersection in downtown Phoenix during the monthly art walk and to take the street. Many arrived in bloc with a ‘Class War!’ banner for a roving dance party following a radical marching band. The police responded heavily about twenty minutes in and pepper spray started to fly. Scuffles erupted as the police tried to snatch people, and ultimately the pigs were only able to take one person away.
From the AZ Resists ALEC call for legal support:
“Branson was snatched from the crowd of protesters during the initial pepper spray of the crowd, and placed under arrest. Branson was then brutalized by police who left him with cuts on his body and abrasions on his face. The police also pepper sprayed Branson once he was cuffed and in the back of the police car, completely unable to defend himself. The unwarranted pepper spraying left him with chemical burns on the areas of his body that had open sores from the brutal arrest. Branson is being charged with 2 counts of aggravated assault on an officer. His bond is $2800.”
Some portions of the crowd continued on as others scattered, some of whom were followed by police. At this point, the presence of undercovers in various spaces in downtown increased dramatically, though fortunately, no further arrests were made.
Jail Support
During the three days of the ALEC summit, a total of 25 people were arrested, two of whom face serious felony charges. All are now out of jail. This comes two weeks after the state re-arrested one person on felony charges from last year’s anti-nazi actions in Phoenix. During that re-arrest, Phoenix Police photographed others present and interrogated them as to whether they were anarchists. Long term support is needed for all those under attack by the state in Arizona – indigenous people, undocumented people, all people of color, trans and queer people, poor and working class people and anarchists.
To support those arrested during the ALEC mobilization, see the Legal Aid page from AZ Resists ALEC here: http://azresistsalec.wordpress.com/legal-aid/
Photos from SRP action:
Video of pepper spray at First Friday demo:
http://www.youtube.com/shutdownalec#p/a/u/1/5f9vi3TDyek
-------------------------
http://www.blackmesais.org
http://www.azresistsalec.wordpress.com
http://www.chaparralrespectsnoborders.wordpress.com
http://www.firesneverextinguished.wordpress.com
http://www.shutdownalec.org
(A)
No comments:
Post a Comment