From Iraq to Mrak, We're Taking this Shit Back!

Protesting the REAL ID Meeting

Occupying the La Rue / Russell Intersection On Tuesday May 1, 2007 hundreds of people gathered at UC Davis for a day of action. May 1st is International Workers Day, and just as rallies and protests were held throughout the nation and world, the struggle was fought on our campus. As a way of bringing attention to several important issues, UCD students joined in solidarity to address the interconnectedness of campaigns being fought on campus, with the principle issues addressed being:

End the war, recognize no human is illegal, and support the workers! By understanding the connections between our individual conditions of life and the lives of people everywhere in the world we are able to come together and organize across all borders, while recognizing that the foundation of May 1st is a worker's day. This Davis event was recognized by the National May 1st Movement for Worker and Immigration Rights.

Photos

Check out the daviswiki photo page specially created for this day's events. Have more? Feel free to add them.

The Day's Events

The Civil Disobedience in support of contracted out food-service workers becoming UC employees consisted of stopping traffic at Russell and Anderson and resulted in the arrest of twenty-four people. They sat in a circle of solidarity while their supporters chanted on the corners of the intersection. 11:00 .... Rally at MU patio with musicians. 11:30 ...... Solidarity Walk Out. Congregate at MU patio. 12:15 .... March in solidarity with contracted out food-service workers, immigrant rights, and anti-Iraq war. Began at MU patio, circled the MU quad, proceeded to Freeborn Hall to protest REAL ID, continued to the entrance of campus, turned left on Russell, and stopped at Russell and Anderson for an act of civil disobedience. 12:30 ... Approximately 11 Davis College Republicans countered with Illegal Immigration Capture the Flag. 2:00 ... The march returned to campus and headed to Mrak Hall where workers successfully demanded to meet with administration. Demonstrators continued to chant and people used the microphones to talk about the different issues locally and globally.

Groups Involved

Civil Disobedience for Workers' Rights

Groups Consistently Present at Planning Meetings:

Groups/Organizations Represented/Present May 1 (needs to be expanded):

Opposition Groups

They were planning to hold a game of INS Capture the Flag, confirmed as opposing by press release.

Why May 1st?

History

Final Arrest The march moved on to Mrak Hall. International Worker's Day: The first of May is known as May Day, and is celebrated in many other countries as various holidays, but primarily International Workers' Day. May 1st corresponds to the first day of protest in 1886 in order to further the cause of an 8 hour work day. On May 4th a bomb went off in Haymarket square, and the police fired on the crowd of workers. Eight organizers were falsely convicted of the murder of a police officer, seven of which were given the death penalty. In his defense, orginizer August Spies told the court: "That whether this or that theory, this or that scheme regarding future arrangements were accepted was not a matter of choice, but one of historical necessity, and that to us the tendency of progress seemed to be Anarchism-that is, a free society without kings or classes-ta society of sovereigns in which the liberty and economic equality of all would furnish an unshakable equilibrium as a foundation and condition of natural order.

"It is not likely that the honorable Bonfield and Grinnell can conceive of a social order not held intact by the policeman's club and pistol, nor of a free society without prisons, gallows, and State's attorneys. In such a society they probably fail to find a place for themselves.

"And is this the reason why Anarchism is such a 'pernicious and damnable doctrine?'

"Grinnell has intimated to us that Anarchism was on trial. The theory of Anarchism belongs to the realm of speculative philosophy. There was not a syllable said about Anarchism at the Haymarket meeting. At that meeting the very popular theme of reducing the hours of toil was discussed. But, 'Anarchism is on trial!' foams Mr. Grinnell. If that is the case, your honor, very well; you may sentence me, for I am an Anarchist. I believe with Buckle, with Paine, Jefferson, Emerson, and Spencer, and many other great thinkers of this century, that the state of castes and classes-the state where one class dominates over and lives upon the labor of another class, and calls this order-yes; I believe that this barbaric form of social organization, with its legalized plunder and murder, is doomed to die, and make room for a free society, voluntary association, or universal brotherhood, if you like. You may pronounce the sentence upon me, honorable judge, but let the world know that in A. D. 1886, in the State of Illinois eight men were sentenced to death, because they believed in a better future; because they had not lost their faith in the ultimate victory of liberty and justice!" (Addresses to the court)

May 1st in the US: May 1st in the US is the presidentially proclaimed unobserved holiday of Law Day and Loyalty Day. These were given to May 1 in order to break worker solidarity and to discourage workers from striking. On May 1, 2003 Bush declared the war in Iraq to be over with his speech in front of the "Mission Accomplished" banner. Much debate has occurred in the last four years as to what "Mission Accomplished" really means. For some, this sign symbolized successfully preventing the use of WMDs with few US Military casualties and the return of U.S. troops to American soil. Four years later, it is apparent to others that not only was the Military's mission unsuccessful, the very reasons used to justify U.S. occupation were lies used to deceive the American public and the entire world.

Political Action

On May 1st, 2006 there were huge protests by immigrant groups throughout California in response to proposed legislation (House of Representatives Bill 4437) targeting border control and illegal immigration. Legislation happened to be discussed around May 1, but the decision to go out to the streets on May 1st was because it is International Worker's Day. En Mexico es el Dia del Trabajo. The problems they faced last year continue to persist.

This year, a bill has been presented to the House, called the Gutierrez-Flake STRIVE Act ( HR 1645) (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:H.R.1645:), which will criminalize immigrants, allow enforcement of immigration law by police agencies, calls for more extreme border enforcement, calls for building 20 more detention centers for immigrants, will erode human rights for future deportees and future immigrants, impose an employer verification program, and delay legalization for the 13 million immigrants already here for many years. This bill does not set realistic standards to resolve the immigration issue and is another corporate cure-all. This year's protest is a defense of the dignity and humanity that is being attacked.

The Walkout occurring on the UC Davis campus is part of a national student Anti-War effort demanding amnesty for all and all troops out of Iraq. In addition, and in correlation with many other anti-war organizations and campaigns, the walk-out demands that Iraqi sovereignty be reestablished immediately, and that the Iraqi people be able to make the decisions about the future of their country, including security. Iraqis should decide the structure of their economy and control Iraq's reconstruction. We want to see an end to the corporate invasion of Iraq and a repeal of the privatizations laws passed under the occupation.

Planning Meetings

The event was planned by meetings at Delta of Venus on Wednesdays, April 11th, 18th, and 25th.

Media Coverage

5/1/2007

The California Aggie Articles:

The People's Vanguard of Davis Article:

5/2/2007

The California Aggie Articles:

People's Vanguard of Davis Article on the Davis College Republican's Demonstration:

5/3/2007

California Aggie Articles:

5/8/2007

California Aggie Editorial:

5/9/2007

Comic Nec Rho Omicron runs a strip about the event and the counterprotest.

Debates/Discussion

Debates are on the Debates page

Comentarios Sobre el Dia Especial!

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To debate or talk about issues not directly related to the walkout, please use the debates page, or (even better), meet the person you're debating with at a local cafe!

{How long is the meeting going to last, I want to come but will probably be thirty minutes late.} (Still Davepoole, sorry for any confusion. I am going to be on timeish it turns out. I wish to help you guys, though I am not a communist and outrightly oppose such a system, I still am quite concerned over more relevant actions which corrupt what should be a relatively pure capitalist system, the rule of law is not being upheld.)

awesome! just stop by. if we're there, we're there. if not, talk to people at the delta! find out what events are going on there. you will find some cool people! —JessicaRockwell

2007-04-28 18:18:48   Shouldn't something be mentioned about the Real ID act meeting being held simultaneously in freeborn hall by the Department of Homeland Security??

The Dept of Homeland Security is having an open meeting to receive comments on the proposed REAL ID ACT. The webcast of the public meeting will be viewable at http://www.realidtownhall.com " According to the DHS: Public Meeting: We will hold the meeting on May 1, 2007, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Freeborn Hall 104 Freeborn Hall, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning this public meeting, please contact Mike Kangior, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528, at 202–282–8939. For more information about the meeting: http://tinyurl.com/3ar4s4 the issues addressed in this act are the same as those going to be addressed on the quad, i think this deserves to be publicized!

—jena

Thank you for posting this information. As of now, we are planning on speaking about the REAL ID townhall meeting at our rally, and we have asked many professors and local community members to speak at the meeting itself. It is disturbing to know that this is the ONLY townhall meeting about the REAL ID that will be available in the ENTIRE country, and it is right here in Davis. In fact, having learned of this information, many protestors and organizers are planning on being here in Davis to attend this meeting and protest this appalling act.

—KatieDavalos

2007-05-01 19:02:00   Is the Illegal immigrant capture the flag much of a counter protest, if anything they are demonstrating against method of the current government policy, not necessarily promoting one side or another, but then again, I wasn't there today so I cannot say for certain. —DavidPoole

  • The point of capture the flag demonstration was to show that there are two few INS agents and that their hands are tied behind their backs when it comes to enforcement, and that they are always on the defensive. It also protests against amnesty which occurs every five minutes in the game. —SteveOstrowski
    • so did they actually do it then? —AllisonEriksen
    • I didn't see them actually conduct the game though the mere idea of them doing it seems to have caused notice. There wasn't a whole lot of room on quad to do it. I think they had a chat with reporters and promoted their signs. I don't think any of them filmed it though. —SteveOstrowski

2007-05-02 22:09:12   Until there is a statement that the Davis College Republicans were in opposition or counter rallying against this movement, I will delete anything to that effect (aside the news stories of course, those are still relevant etc.). I don't care about either group, but if they are being claimed in opposition as for holding a demonstration that day, then those Campus Crusade for Christ would also be in opposition for holding a demonstration/gathering/rally of sorts in a similar matter, regardless of content. So is there any statement? —DavidPoole

  • Statements have been made by DCR on television and on their websites and the links above say it was a counter protest so I think it is clearly obvious. Campus Crusade happened to be there at the scene but only to advance their "Found It" campaign and were not involved in the protest. —SteveOstrowski

how about we add stuff to this page? for example: someone can include the aggie articles from today, youtube videos, davis enterprise article, etc. arguing about what happened is good, but let's try to improve the content of this page. Debates are on the Talk Page. this includes: may 1, immigration, blocking roads as a tactic, etc.

  • Keep in mind that Talk Pages are generally temporary and traditionally deleted once the debate ends. The wiki format is a poor forum for debate (unlike software designed for it such as blogs or discussion forums which deal with all the attribution, threading and archiving issues). You might look into setting up a mailing list, discussion forum or BBS rather than trying to use a wiki format (a poor tool for the job). Even better, since everybody here is local, why not host an event at a local coffee shop and discuss the issues face to face? —JabberWokky
    • ok. i'm down for discussing stuff. i prefer a place where we don't have to spend money. like at a park or something. —JessicaRockwell
      • you can be there and not spend money, free water is always nice, it was raining that day.. maybe it is just because I am one of those zombies. ~Dave

Sorry about deleting the mention of the republican action, I didn't want a pointless debate to start unless I knew for certain that they intended to be opposition (though i would also like to get the I Found It people classified as opposing). In any case, it was confirmed by some of my sources today that it was mentioned in their press release. ~Dave

2007-05-04 04:37:47   I would like to go on record saying that both the UC Davis Police Department, as well as the City Police Department did a superb job of handling the march and acts of civil disobedience. I am glad, that with the exception of some booing, the crowd was also very respectful of the police. There were a few moments that I could tell officers had a itch to be more aggressive while at the intersection of Russell and Anderson, but they did not do anything memorable - other than assure no one got hurt. UCD Police Chief Annette Spicuzza personally told me she just wanted everyone to be safe and even said that she hoped it did not rain on the marchers. Compared to What the LAPD did on May Day the City of Davis really should be commended. —RobRoy

  • organizers of the rally, protest, and civil disobedience were in communication with the Davis Police Department during the week prior in order to ensure that nothing memorable occured between the police and the protestors. also, the organizers also assigned their own 'safety' officers to make sure no one gave police a reason to act aggressively. in fact, when speaking to the police, organizers were told that they could expect the officers to wear their riot gear, and to realize that the police would use 'whatever force necessary' to prevent escalation. I think that although the police, both DPD and UCPD, were mindful of handling the situation, a large part of participant's safety can be credited to the people who organized the event itself. there will be articles coming out this week talking about something to this effect, with more information. —KatieDavalos
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