An Open Letter to Occupy Chicago and the G8/NATO Protest Organizers

Ok, let me begin this by stating my stance on a few things. First and foremost, I fully support what the Occupy Movement stands for as well as the reasons for protesting the G8 and NATO conferences in Chicago this coming May. I feel that corporate power has grown out of control leading to a separation of wealth across the world which benefits the very rich. I believe that the neoliberal platforms which have been used for decades now to privatize parts of the country have created a form of modern day enslavement through free trade agreements which have made workers a commodity once again where living standards are not even on the lists of concerns for many companies. I am an ardent socialist and whatever else you want to call me. Lets just say I lean pretty far to the left.

In May, people from around the country (and probably from a few international locales as well) will descend on Chicago, my beloved city to protest the G8 and NATO who will be there. Let me begin by saying, thank you to those who will be participating in standing up for people around the world whose lives are affected everyday by these groups. I unfortunately will not be there as I will be finishing up my 2 years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Romania.

Here's the part where you can start to hate or whatever you chose to do.

Organizers, stop acting like fucking idiots!

Yes, you heard me right. You are being complete idiots right now in the lead up to these protests and occupations.

Now, am I in the US right now so I can see first hand what is being organized? No. But from what I am seeing being published by Facebook pages and from other people who claim to be organizing the protests, you are already making yourselves out to be the enemy in this battle, not the police. Just last night, as Athens was rioting (and burning in some cases) over austerity cuts, I see posted a video of rioters throwing firebombs and rocks at police with the message "Dear Rahm, Garry, and the rest". What the hell are you trying to prove by posting this? You are threatening the police with molotov cocktails 3 months before some of you will even set foot in Chicago. What are you proving?

You have a serious image problem Occupy. Back in the early weeks, when people saw old women being pepper sprayed, or a group of students being mased in the face by a police officer, people were sympathetic to the cause. Now, with what I see being put out there in the public sphere, no one new would ever think of becoming a part of the Occupy Movement unless the were already planning on being violent. You brought the popular protest back into the public spectrum, but now you are teetering on the point where you could do irreversible damage with what happens in Chicago.

If you want to make a statement, go to Chicago, dress like normal human beings. That means its time to put the unwashed for 5 months Phish t-shirt away, and put on a clean one. Put your dreadlocks tied up behind. Dressing like a sea turtle or another animal; save that one until next Halloween. Go there, march together, be peaceful, and don't create a massive disturbance. And most of all, don't break anything.

Riotous and righteous might look like similar words, but they do not mean the same thing. Look to the movements of the past. When police were violent in Selma against the Civil Rights marchers, did they fight back? Hell no. They continued to walk, peacefully, into the onslaught. And more people joined them because of their resolve. If the police are violent, make them be the instigators and not you, for when you are violent, they are justified in anything they chose to do to you.

What I see being put into the public is the wrong message. You will be attracting people who want a violent confrontation compared to those who will be there for the right reasons. So clean it your image. Even if you do not think you are creating this kind of message, you really are.

Signed,

A concerned Chicagoan who doesn't his city destroyed by fools.