[Free-sklyarov-uk] Dmitry Released on Bail

[Peter Clay]

On Wed, 8 Aug 2001, Kieran Barry wrote:

> > > grow. As Dmitry is no longer actually in prison I think switching the
> > > primary focus to exposing the dangers in the EUCD would be a good idea.
> > 
> So true it hurts.

Yes and no: we shouldn't let the principle that US law applies to 'crimes'
commited outside the US by non-US citizens get established, or we're all
in real trouble.

> We'd get far higher turn out for a protest from 6.30-7.30 with optional
> pissup after. Never underestimate the power of beer...
> 
> Also, people are likely to have a little more time after work.

Yes. Protests during the working week are going to be have to be rare
events for most people, unfortunately.

> If we try for something roughly twice a month to start, that seems
> sustainable.

This seems like a more reasonable rate than twice a week, yes.

> More important: on Friday, we clearly fed off each other to get more
> courage when approaching people. Other advantages are the opportunities
> to either learn a line of argument from someone with more experience, or
> receive a critique on what might be said better.

YES. Go for volume. When you're on the street trying to get attention,
you're competing with Big Issue vendors, pairs of Mormons, people with
tins and hot dog salesmen. You either need a group of people or a really
cool gimmick.

Unfortunately, it's possible to have a HUGE number of people and succeed
in communicating nothing at all, as demonstrated on May 1. Organisation
and remaining "on message" is important, and this is where Julian and
Martin are really effective.

We need to decide for each protest what the "message" is, and make sure
everyone invited has at least one effective way of communicating it.

> The Sklyarov case is going to take some time, and we need to be in for
> the long haul. Tactics like arranging a (picket | protest | whatever)
> before a Lonix or Perlmongers meeting should be looked at.

There is a cam.pm meet this Friday in the Castle on Castle hill in
Cambridge, to which I shall be going. It's a small newly-formed group, so
a quiet word over a pint will be far more effective than a flying picket.

Pete
-- 
Undiscovered band of the minute: Backbends and the Marvelousness Austrianizes