Defending the Rights of All!
• New Orleans Actions Say No to Bush and No to SPP!
New Orleans Actions Say No to Bush and No to SPP!
President George W. Bush brought his Summit of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) to New Orleans, thinking he could arrogantly come and present New Orleans as a model of security and prosperity. The peoples here, joined by those from Mexico and Canada, instead condemned Bush and the government for their brutality against New Orleans, against Iraq and the world. They greeted Bush with numerous actions saying No to SPP! including demonstrations April 20, 21 and 22 and a People’s Summit April 21-22.
The SPP brings together the heads of state of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, which means Bush, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Felipe Calderon. It is a weapon of U.S. annexation, fascism and war, designed to create a North America of the Monopolies. The SPP involves militarization of life and integration of the militaries and police agencies for use against the peoples inside the three countries, and worldwide. It is a mechanism for the U.S. to secure the resources of Canada and Mexico, especially their oil, natural gas, electricity and water. It also includes efforts to create biometric identification cards (ID) valid for use in all three countries and required to work. The so-called “Enhanced Driver’s License” being imposed by the federal government are consistent with this direction. Indeed, all aspects of the SPP are already being implemented. This is being done completely at the executive level. There is no role for Congress and the legislatures, and of course the government thinks the people are to have no say whatever.
The peoples of the three countries, represented at all the various actions, told Bush NO! At the demonstrations April 20 and 21, they chanted Bush Has Got to Go! SPP Has Got to Go! Bush and FEMA You Can’t Hide, We Charge You with Genocide! For our rights, we will fight! People on the sidewalks joined in and welcomed information distributed about the SPP. The action on April 20 took place across the street from the Iberville Public Housing, to express the stand of all for the right to housing and the right to return. The brutal attacks on the people in New Orleans, with broad destruction of public housing, public schools and the public hospital, Charity, were denounced. One speaker after the other brought out that the government-organized destruction of the city was a crime and a model that no one accepted. On the contrary, our vision is one where the rights of all are guaranteed, in New Orleans, across the country, in Canada, Mexico and worldwide.
April 20 also saw the opening press conference of the People’s Summit, where immigrant workers in New Orleans presented street theater title, Deporting Bush. They spoke to the poverty imposed by imperialism and its destruction of the farms in Mexico, forcing them to migrate, and their struggle to find work and provide for their families. It also depicted their organizing work in New Orleans, together with African American workers, fighting together for rights. The piece concluded with deporting Bush, with many demanding that he be sent to Guantánamo and those in Guantánamo be freed.
April 21 and 22 saw actions by the youth demonstrating in the streets, including the delegation of about 30 Canadian youth from Ontario and Quebec. Both actions began near the French Quarter and marched through the quarter. On the 21 demonstrators went to the meeting Bush held with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. While demonstrators and delegates from various organizations from the U.S., Canada and Mexico were not permitted to attend, the “suits” were. CEO’s were escorted in, while protesters were blocked by police and barricades. Demonstrators added to their slogan, Bush Has Got to Go, SPP Has Got to Go and the Suits Have Got to Go!
The role the monopolies play in dictating the content of the SPP to the three governments was made clear by Bush. The monopolies are organized in the North American Competitiveness Council (NACC) created in 2006 as part of the SPP. It is dominated by the CEO’s of Exxon, Lockheed, GM, GE and others and includes CEO’s from Canada and Mexico. Bush said, “The leaders of the NACC will come forth with specific recommendations and I’m looking forward to implementing them.” No debate, no responsibility for the people’s rights, no democracy – the only role of government is implementation of what the monopolies demand, including handing over public resources to them.
The people’s rejected this and organized their own People’s Summit, with its demands to meet the rights of all the peoples and protect the environment. Two days were utilized for numerous workshops by both New Orleans organizers and the various groups from around the country, Canada and Mexico. The workshops informed people about the SPP, speaking to its various aspects and how they are impacting people in all three countries. Rejection of the militarization of life was a key part of the discussions, as was the necessity to repeal NAFTA and all Free Trade Agreements. The workshops were also utilized for networking and strengthening ties among the various organizations, with plans to continue to have webpages that act as convergence points (see www.stopthespp.wordpress.com as an example). The Summit concluded with a dinner and discussion, with all enthusiastic to carry forward the struggle to Stop the SPP! The event was translated into five languages.
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