Justice in the Wake of the G-20 Summit

Pittsburgh has become the latest U.S. city to be put under martial law conditions in order to intentionally and systematically repress and punish those planning to speak out in opposition to government and corporate policies. Following in the steps of Seattle, Miami, St. Paul, New York, and Los Angeles, the "Steel City" was turned into a militarized police state in the days leading up to and during the September 2009 G-20 Summit and International Coal Conference.

As with other cities in National Security Special Events (NSSEs), the G-20 police state affected not just profiled "protesters" but a wide range of local citizens, visitors and students who were caught up in expansive, unjust, and often violent law enforcement actions.

Nearly 200 people were arrested, scores of people were injured by brutal riot police, advanced weaponry were used on unsuspecting crowds, press freedoms were attacked, people were illegally searched, and property was illegitimately seized. In short: our constitutional rights were defied by a nationalized security apparatus consisting of 50+ different law enforcement agencies, the National Guard, and private contractors funded by 20+ million dollars in local, state and Federal tax dollars.

As Post-Gazette columnist Tony Norman put it,

Last week, authoritarianism came back to Pittsburgh...All authoritarianism wanted in exchange for these goodies was our soul -- starting with our civil liberties. Our civic leaders, flattered by the "prestige" that comes with hosting a G-20 summit, quickly obliged. Who would miss a little thing like civil liberties, anyway?

The repressive security tactics used in Pittsburgh during the G-20 are not minor infringements on the rights of a few extremists. They effect a vast cross-section of American citizens, Indigenous people and immigrants, as well as people living in other countries impacted by U.S. policies. The chilling effects of denying democratic freedoms silences political debate, discourages democratic participation, undermines our livelihoods and living conditions.

Many groups are currently working on different aspects of justice and accountability in the aftermath of the G20 summit:

• Pittsburgh G20 Resistance Project Legal Working Group is facilitating communication among arrestees and victims of repression while putting them in touch with attorneys for legal defense and possible civil litigation. They are raising money for and maintaining a legal fund to help arrestees pay for legal defense. Make a donation to the legal fund!
• The Greater Pittsburgh ACLU, Pittsburgh Center for Constitutional Rights and Healey & Hornack, P.C. have and will continue to file civil lawsuits on behalf of G20 organizing groups and individuals whose constitutional rights have been violated. The ACLU is also collecting complaints regarding the G20.
• Save Our Civil Liberties is preparing a 50-100 page comprehensive after-action report and accompanying educational materials. They are seeking first hand accounts, photos, as well as people to help conduct research into what agencies were involved, how much was spent and for what, and what plans (if any) are in place for the future use of all the weapons, communication systems and other technology that the city and county acquired. Save Our Civil Liberties' work products may prove useful for legal cases, media releases, political testimony and lobbying.
• G20media.org is comprehensive G20 organizers' information clearinghouse that includes an indexed archive of press releases, press clippings and blog pieces before, during and after the g20 summit. The site also features resources pertaining to "defending dissent." The G20media team organized press conferences, wrote and distributed press releases, and provided media support to whoever wanted it. G20media.org remains operational during the G20 accountability phase.
• Pittsburgh Indymedia's G-Infinity Project is a repository for grassroots voices and reports on the G20. They have audio, video and photos and are working on collaborative timeline using a wiki.
• What Happened at Pitt? (WHAP) is a University of Pittsburgh Student group that is organizing actions, lobbying, petitions, and are tracking first hand accounts of Pitt students via a forum.
• www.pittsburghpolicebrutality.com is wordpress site with press clips, videos and some re-posted first hand accounts of police brutality.
• Pittsburgh Citizens' Police Review Board is collecting complaints and testimonies and are hosting the Lawrenceville public forum on 10/20, 6-8pm at the stephen foster community center, 286 Main st.
• Thomas Merton Center, a local hub for peace and justice organizing is working with some of the above groups to co-host community gatherings to foster collaboration, solidarity and information sharing in G-20 accountability efforts.

People involved with the G20 Accountability Collaboration support the following Points of Unity:

• We support the constitutionally-protected rights of all people, including the freedom of assembly and protection from unreasonable search and seizure.
• We support the legal defense of all people arrested before, during and after the G-20 Summit.
• We demand the prompt return all stolen and confiscated property including cameras, film, phones, and 3 Rivers Climate Convergence tents and materials.
• We call for independent investigations into violations of civil liberties that took place before, during and after the G-20 Summit. 

Come to the Next meeting for this ad hoc effort to share your ideas and get involved with plans for collaborative action in the days and weeks ahead.

7pm, Tuesday, October 27
East Liberty Presbyterian Church
(Penn & Highland, East Liberty)

For more information contact: accountability@g20media.org
Or join the G20 Accountability googlegroup: http://groups.google.com/group/g20-accountability

MORE INFO COMING SOON!

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