Author: Marco A. Calamari Date: To: hackmeeting Maillist Subject: [Hackmeeting] [Fwd: [fnf2008] Thank you and short info from
Germany: 70.000peaceful protestors]
Penso possa interessare... e magari far pensare.
-------- Forwarded Message --------
From: Ricardo Cristof Remmert-Fontes <rcrf@???>
Reply-To: freedom not fear 2008 <fnf2008@???>
To: freedom not fear 2008 <fnf2008@???>, ml <ml@???>
Subject: [fnf2008] Thank you and short info from Germany: 70.000
peaceful protestors
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2008 13:03:26 +0200
Hi folks!
the International Action Day has been a great success!
As the leader of the demonstration I was in contact with the police
permanently and they approved severeal times "more than 50.000
participants".
I there count 70.000 participants. The streets were full and the protest
march has been over 1.5 km long.
The complete protest march was more or less peacefully.
(We had 5 arrest (3 interferer under the influence of drugs as it seems;
2 who brought forbidden things to the demo-place). All five got legal
assistance by our legal team immediately and have been released in the
same night. Several punks had to take off their steel toe boots and walk
on socks.)
But let me repeat it again: the complete protest march was peaceful, the
mood was great and relexed! And yes, the cooperation with all
participating groups was excellent! Even the "black block", important to
say, was very, very cooperative and friendly: normally they try to
capture the pole position, but yesterday they waited to let others in
front to get to their position. This demands special thanks and respect!
And it shows, that the preparatory team in Berlin is welcomed and
well-connected to all of the different political spectrums.
Sidenote: the nerds, who where responsible for the info-tent at
alexanderplatz left this tent alone for 5 hours during the demonstration
(the responsible will be shot ;-)), but nothing (!) of the several
thousand-euro-equipment was stolen. This is for me a sign of deep respect.
And because we have managed to hold close contact to the important and
very different organizations and the politics in Berlin, it became
70.000 participants. I am very proud, that the social movement joined
our prostest, the well-respected refugees' rights organization "Pro
Asyl" did, christian youth organizations did, the lawyers-, journalists-
and doctors unions did, the peace movement did.
That is the key to success: to connect the internet protest and the
reallife protest. To make connections and relations to other human
rights topics and the organizations dealing with it.
Ok, back to topic: yes, there where some critical moments, but with the
support of my leader of the security personal (normal protestors),
observers, legal team, a lot of parlamentarians, the clowns' army ;-), a
lot of cool-blooded and relaxed protestors and with my "hot wire"
directly connected to the leader of the police forces, I was able to
manage this critical moments.
Over all, the police acted peacefully and deescalation, with the
exception of some strange moments and obscure situations, which we will
clear up. Agents provocateurs, anyone?
And yes, know we fight an info-war with the police, because the press
department of the police released a number of "15.000 participants"
afterwards. We will win, we are the good ones! ;-)
The after-demo club-night afterwards has been a great success and a lot
of fun. Although, I had to work until 5 a.m.
but let me say that: I am proud of my work and proud of the work the
preparatory team did and proud of that what you and we together did!
However, I would suggest to have a conference call to congratulate all
of you in the next hours/days! It is always more nice to talk, than to
write!
Best regards / Viele Grüße,
Ricardo Cristof Remmert-Fontes
