G-20 Summit Organizing at a Glance
American Civil Liberties Union
www.aclupa.org/issues/freespeech/g20
Legal Observation; Advice & possible representation on First Amendment issues
The ACLU-PA is working to ensure that the right to protest is respected at the G-20. Besides providing legal counsel and representing several demonstration organizers (including TMC) in court challenges, the ACLU provides legal observers to monitor the demonstrations to ensure that everyone's constitutional rights are respected. The ACLU has set up a helpline for the demonstrations at 412-562-5015.
Press Contact: Vic Walzcak, vwalczak@aclupgh.org, 412-681-7736
Thomas Merton Center
www.thomasmertoncenter.org
Mobilization Support
The Thomas Merton Center, a local hub for peace and justice organizing, is helping to facilitate G20 organizing across different sectors.
Press Contact: Melissa Minnich, g20@thomasmertoncenter.org, 412-361-3022
The Peoples' March
www.pittsburghendthewar.org
9/25, 12pm
The Thomas Merton Center’s Anti-War Committee is taking the lead for the coordinating a 9/25 permitted march & rally to demand, “Money for Human needs, Not for War!”. It has been endorsed by more than 50 local and national organizations. The march will start at 5th & Craft in Oakland and end Downtown. They are inviting groups to form contingents and feeder marches.
Press Contact: Pete Shell, info@pittsburghendthewar.org, 412-422-7435
The Peoples' Summit
www.peoplessummit.com
9/19, 9am-6pm, 7-10pm; 9/21-22, 7pm-10pm
A partnership of educators and advocacy groups concerned with peace and social justice is organizing a summit to discuss global problems and possible solutions that are informed by the basic principles of democracy and human rights, which will feature diverse speakers and panels, as well as organizing interactive workshop discussions. 9/19 at the Twentieth Century Club in Oakland for workshops and a cultural program at McConomy Auditorium on Carnegie Mellon University's campus, 9/21 at the New Hazlett Theater on the North Side, 9/22 at the Twentieth Century Club.
Press Contact: Paul LeBlanc, pghpeoplesssummit@gmail.com, 412-760-9716
People’s Voices
www.pittsburghunited.org/g20
9/23, 3-6pm; 9/24, 3:30-6pm, 6:30-8:30pm; 9/25, 9-11:30a
People’s Voices: Challenging the G-20's Agenda of Corporate Globalization
UE, Pittsburgh United/Northside United, Roots of Promise, G6 Billion, Pa. AFSC, and Pitt’s Center for Latin American Studies, in connection with the Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, ART/HSA and others have organized four events between Wednesday, Sept. 23 and Friday, Sept. 25., including discussion circles leading to a peoples tribunal, a panel with leaders from Latin America, an exchange with G-20 representatives from the Global South and speakers including Joseph Stiglitz, Leo Gerard and many others. Also contact, Jen England at 412-513-9091 and Jen Soriano at 415-572-7154.
Press Contact: Robin Alexander, peoplesvoices.events@gmail.com, 412-471-8919
International Peace, Justice, & Empowerment Summit
www.ceapittsburgh.blogspot.com
9/22-23, 9am-4pm
The National Council For Urban Peace, Justice & Empowerment is organizing a response to the G20 Summit to be held at the Hosanna House. The purpose is to elevate discussion of the G20 beyond the narrow aspects of the health of financial markets, to addressing problems such as poverty, housing, employment, education, climate change, urban infrastructure, health care, economic development and other issues pertinent to the survival of disadvantaged peoples as part of the long-term answer to the viability of countries.
Press Contact: T Rashad Byrdsong, TRByrdsong@ceapittsburgh.org, 412-371-3689 x14
Pittsburgh G20 Resistance Project
www.resistg20.org
Mobilization Support & Direct action on 9/24, 2:30pm & 9/25
PG20RP's goals are to set up a convergence space, find housing, maintain an information clearing house, create & distribute materials, provide legal support, build hype for the mobilization, engage in local outreach, and develop an action framework. The action framework consists of a march on the Summit on 9/24.
Press Contact: press@resistg20.org, 412-918-6320
3 Rivers Climate Convergence: United for Environmental Justice
www.3riversconvergence.org
9/20-9/25 Climate Camp & 9/21-9/23 Coal Protests & Screenings
Local and national groups and individuals are collaborating on a climate justice camp & sustainable-living fair, protests & creative actions around the International Coal Conference that directly precedes the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, screenings & live presentations w/environmental justice films, and showcasing the North American Climate Justice Tour featuring climate change refugees.
Press Contact: David Meieran, 3riversconvergence@gmail.com, 412-216-9821
G-6 Billion
www.g6billion.org
9/20, 2pm; 9/21 6:30pm
A collection of spiritual, religious, and other groups & individuals have come together to organize a procession on Sunday, 9/20 that will start at Smithfield United Church of Chris at 2pm and end near the Convention Center. They are also organizing educational activities and prayer in the days leading up to the G20 Summit as well as a Peace Pole Planting Celebration on the UN International Day of Peace starting at Saint Mary of the Mount Church on 9/21 at 6:30pm.
Press Contact: Wanda Guthrie, wanda.guthrie@gmail.com, 412-596-0066
Women's Coalition
9/20-25 Tent City — Feeder march for 9/25 permitted march
Pittsburgh chapters of the CodePink, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Iraq Veterans Against the War and other groups are forming a coalition for "Women's Tent City: Real People, Real Needs" representing refugees at a location TBA and a feeder march & contingent for the 9/25 march.
Press Contact: Francine Porter, codepinkpgh@aol.com, 412-389-3216
Bail Out the People
www.bailoutpeople.org
9/20, 2pm: March for Jobs & Tent City
Caravans of unemployed workers are expected to populate a tent city encampment at the Monumental Baptist Church from 9/20 through 9/25 and a March for Jobs is planned for 9/20 from the Hill to Downtown.
Press Contact: Karen Black, March4Jobs@gmail.com, 412-780-3813
HIV/AIDS
www.healthgap.org/g20.htm
9/22, 2pm: Funeral procession and march
ACT UP Philadelphia, Azania Heritage, Black Radical Congress of Pittsburgh, Health GAP, Housing Works, NYC AIDS Housing Network (NYCAHN), Roots of Promise (a Thomas Merton Center project), and others are organizing a funeral procession and march to "Tell the G-20 to Fight AIDS," to encourage G-20 countries keep their promises to dedicate resources to fighting HIV/AIDS and save lives.
Press Contact Kaytee Riek, kaytee@healthgap.org, 267-334-6984
G-∞ Radio Project
www.indypgh.org
Pittsburgh Indymedia and Rustbelt Radio will provide a 24/7 live web-streaming & radio broadcast during the week of the G20 summit. A forum for the voices of the people who are affected by the G20 policies, but whose stories go largely untold. Together with Pittsburgh's Indymedia's website, the project will provide up-to-the-minute, people-based coverage of G20-related events.
Press Contact: info@indypgh.org
Pittsburgh Organizing Group
www.organizepittsburgh.org
Pittsburgh Organizing Group's Tactical Training Initiative is organizing workshops throughout August and September.
Press Contact: pog@mutualaid.org
March 4 Freedom
www.march4freedom.org/
March 4 Freedom is an alliance of individuals and organizations representing people of all ages, races, religions and political affiliations throughout the North America and Europe who have joined together to Stop Genocide and Dictatorship in Ethiopia/Africa.
Press Contact:
Rally for Clean Energy Jobs
9/23, 6pm
United Steelworkers, State Senator Jim Ferlo, Allegheny County Labor Council, Repower America, Blue-Green Alliance and the Alliance for Climate Protection are hosting an event featuring special guest speakers and entertainment at Point State Park.
Student G-20 and Int'l Coal Conference Resistance
www.studentpowerinthefaceofempire.wordpress.com
Students and youth from Pittsburgh and the surrounding region are organizing a weeklong contingent to present alternatives and rise up for a more sustainable and democratic society. There will be a concert organized by Students for a Democratic Society on 9/24 featuring Anti-Flag, State Radio and Ryan Harvey at Club Zoo.
Press Contact: Alex Lotorto, lotorto@riseup.net, 570-269-9589
G-20 Film & Forum Series
9/2, 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 8pm
The Thomas Merton Center will be hosting a free film series at Your Inner Vagabond (4130 Butler Street, Lawrenceville). Films will be shown at 8:00 pm on Wednesdays, and all screenings are free to the public. The films will be followed by open conversation about a variety of economic, social, and political issues as they relate to the upcoming G-20 Summit. Films include Life + Debt (9/2), The Corporation (9/9), Why We Fight (9/16), and I.O.U.S.A. (9/23)
Press Contact: Leah Samuel, g20@thomasmertoncenter.org, 412-361-3022
ArtUp
www.artup.org
9/23, 8-9pm; 9/24, 5-6pm; 9/25, 12-2pm
The educational art organization will put on performances of "27 DIRT-CHEAP MONEY DANCES" on Wednesday at the First Unitarian Church in Oakland, on Thursday at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church on the Northside and on Friday at the Peoples' March to the G-20 at 5th and Craft with Bread and Puppets.
Press Contact: Tavia La Follette, tavia@artup.org, 412-443-8132
G-20: Twenty Super Shorts
www.amnestypgh.org/
9/23, 7pm
Amnesty International is holding screenings and discussions as part of its monthly film series on the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Shadow Lounge in East Liberty.
Press Contact: sameerdossani@gmail.com
Last updated: 09/19/09 by David M.