>``...The strategic objective is merely to make a public statement and win
>public support for your message. If the cops want to use overwhelming
>force, then the appropriate counter tactic is to demonstrate that this
>is a massive over-reaction...'' Bill Barltett
>
>---------
>
>No. The strategic objective is not to win public support, but to scare
>the political establishment and undermine its presumption of power,
>which critically depends on silence.
Which critically depends on public support is what you mean Chuck. Silence in the sense of silent assent.
Obviously a public demonstration is aimed at speaking to the public. Otherwise there would be no need for it to be public, you could all sign a petition and sent it in the mail to the politicians if the message was directed to them. You do it publicly because you are addressing the public.
Think it through mate. Its like this message, I'm posting it to the list so clearly it isn't a message to you, its a message to everyone on the list. If I was really just talking to you, I'd send it only to you. It may appear from my use of familiar "you" that I'm talking to you, but that is just a device.
The power of the elites in a political democracy depends on public support. A public demonstration is not appealing to the politicians or trying to influence them directly, it is trying to influence that public support, thus undermining their power and their ability to pursue a course the demonstrators oppose. It is rather important to keep that in mind when devising tactics, the demonstration is not an end unto itself. Its success or failure must be measured in people influenced, not yards marched.
If your tactics undermine your strategy, that is if your tactics tend to re-inforce public support for the elites rather than the opposite, then the demonstration is an abject failure. No matter how many yard marched, streets occupied, police lines breached. The political elites have succeeded in getting you to turn your own weapons against your own trenches. To mix the metaphor a bit, confused you into scoring an own goal.
Let us not confuse direct action with a public demonstration. Direct action is completely different. A demo is not direct action. Sometimes what is billed as direct action is really a publicity stunt, hence a public demonstration. So look to substance rather than rhetoric. Theoretically a public demonstration can turn into a coup or a revolution, but that isn't a realistic possibility in any demo you'll be attending in the next few days or weeks (because there isn't the public support for it you see) so that is not relevant.
The object here is simple. Influence public opinion. That's all its about. There'll be a few provocateurs trying to sabotage that mission with inane talk about "direct action", but they are either paid agents of the enemy or people foolishly taken in by paid agents of the enemy. Stay focussed on the mission.
Bill Bartlett Bracknell Tas