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Green Party Actions to Stop the FTAA
Mobilization in Miami, Florida
November 20, 2003
Greens Relay Eyewitness Accounts of Police Violence Against Peaceful Protesters and Violations of Legal Rights.

Friday, November 21, 2003

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party leaders attending the rallies against the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) summit this week provided firsthand reports of police violence against peaceful protesters.

Officers of the Green Party of the United States witnessed numerous instances of rights violations, including arrests without charges and brutal treatment, by police against people gathering peacefully for nonviolent protest.  On Wednesday afternoon, about thirty police officers raided the Information Clearing House, a legally rented space set up by the Florida Fair Trade Coalition media working group, searching it with neither permission nor a warrant.  For Independent Media Center reports from the protests, visit http://www.ftaaimc.org/en/index.shtml.

Greens, arriving in Miami from all over the U.S., maintained a strong presence, displaying over 300 Green Party flags, and were welcomed by other protesters.


Eyewitness account from Ben Manski, Wisconsin Green and Co-chair of the Green Party of the United States:

"At the end of the permitted march today [Thursday, November 20], about 4 p.m., people were gathered at a permitted rally and concert.  Police announced that if the event remained peaceful it could continue, but within a minute of this announcement, police moved into the area immediately outside the amphitheater swinging batons and striking participants.  Within five minutes, the police forced everyone back, using pepper spray, concussion grenades, rubber bullets, and tear gas.

For the next two hours, the police suppressed every gathering that they could find, dispersing people in the street.  Throughout, there was little resistance to the police and most of the crowd was peaceful; the police used violence regardless of the behavior of people in the street.  At least four people ended up in the hospital; dozens of others were injured, many with head wounds from the rubber bullets.

People who remained in the amphitheater were trapped there for over two hours; anyone who tried to leave was assaulted or gassed by police.

It was clear that a decision was made by police commanders to suppress the protesters, and to use whatever violent means they found necessary.

Efforts by city officials and police to put the fear of God into Miami residents seems not to have worked; all the Miamians we met were very friendly and welcoming, and were curious about the issues involved in the protests.  Meeting us was their first opportunity to hear what the demonstrations were actually about.

It was obvious that the majority of people demonstrating knew that the FTAA was the tip of the iceberg, and that George W. Bush is only the latest in the line of recent presidents who have sought to enshrine the power of corporations in international law.  Personally, I blame Bill Clinton for setting American trade policy on this destructive course, beginning with the first FTAA ministerial in Miami in 1994."


Eyewitness account from Annie Goeke, Former Co-chair of the International Committee of the Green Party of the United States
[Thursday evening] "Tensions were building up between protesters and police the past few days as more areas were blocked off.  There were early morning police attacks on small groups throughout the entire city. Anyone who looked like a suspect was picked up, beaten, or escorted away from the area.

Chris Doran [organizer of www.PressurePoint.org]  was attacked by police, thrown to ground, and a tear gas gun was held to his head.  He later said that he felt the police were way over nervous and were scared of protesters.  He was all right in the end and let go. 

Protesters were targeted all day, especially young people.  AFSC protesters and observers often surrounded the younger protesters to shield them from the police.  All the people who were able to attend the rally place inside the arena were contained for hours so as not to join the others outside confronting the police who were using tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray, and other tactics.

Media avoided content about the purpose of the protests against the FTAA and were only interested in covering conflict and security matters.  Reporters never really questioned why people were there. Protesters were portrayed as evil-doers on TV, with no information about why they were protesting.

280 buses carrying protesters were denied access to the area.  It's like a police state, with the entire downtown area and all public transportation closed, making it very difficult for groups to get together, especially Greens.

Delegates from Brazil, Venezuela, and Argentina met up with Marta Benavides of El Salvador and others this morning to say that the U.S. was annoyed that the negotiations were going too slowly.  The reason was because other nations wanted the opportunity to go into further details and get their issues on the table."

[Friday at noon]  Some of the protesters have been charged with felonies.  At 2 p.m., Greens and others will rally in front of the Miami courthouse, when protesters charged with felonies will be released on bail, to show support for those arrested and for those injured by the police.  We're not sure what the felony charges are yet.  Miami is still closed, and downtown Miami seems to be under martial law.


Tuesday, November 18, 2003

GREEN PARTY ADOPTS 'STOP THE FTAA' RESOLUTION

On the eve of the FTAA summit, Greens demand fair trade policies, environmental and labor protections, and democracy.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Green Party of the United States has adopted a resolution criticizing the Free Trade of the Americas (FTAA) and demanding a fair trade policy.

The party's national Coordinating Committee, representing 43 member state Green Parties, passed the resolution on November 13.  Protests against the FTAA's authority to overrule democracy and environmental, labor, and human rights protections are being organized by Greens and many other organizations.  The text of the resolution is appended below.

Leaders of the Green Party of the United States and other antiglobalization activists will hold a press conference during the meeting of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) on Wednesday, November 19, 5:30 p.m. in the Market Room, at the Radisson Hotel Miami, 1601 Biscayne Boulevard in Miami.  Greens from across the U.S. are gathering in Miami for a week of protests against the FTAA summit, from Monday, November 17 through Friday, November 21.

Green Party members are encouraging reporters to 'embed' themselves among protesters, noting that reporters were recently asked to embed themselves among Miami police officers facing the protesters.


Green Party Press Conference at FTAA Summit, Nov 19.

Greens join protests against the FTAA summit, November 17-21 in Miami; Green Party organizers invite reporters to 'embed' themselves among protesters.

PRESS CONFERENCE
WHEN: Wednesday, November 19, 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Radisson Hotel Miami, in the Market Room, 1601 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Leaders of the Green Party of the United States and other antiglobalization activists will hold a press conference during the meeting of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) on Wednesday, November 19, 5:30 p.m. in the Market Room, at the Radisson Hotel Miami, 1601 Biscayne Boulevard.  Greens from across the U.S. will gather in Miami for a week of protests against the FTAA summit, from Monday, November 17 through Friday, November 21.

Green Party members are encouraging reporters to 'embed' themselves among protesters, noting that reporters were recently asked to embed themselves among Miami police officers facing the protesters.

The press conference will feature Medea Benjamin of Global Exchange; Marta Benavides from El Salvador; Dan McCrea, Commisioner of South Miami; Green Party co-chair Ben Manski; Green International Committee co-chair Annie Goeke; other Florida and Miami-Dade, national, international Green leaders.

At the press conference, Green leaders will announce an international Green Party campaign in the Americas to promote fair trade and to dismantle the corporate-sponsored "free trade" area.

Global Greens will conduct a workshop on the Global Greens Charter and International Politics, which will also take place on November 19, at 3 pm in the Doubletree Key Biscayne Room (across the street from the Radisson).

Greens have strongly criticized international trade authorities like the FTAA, accusing them of imposing policies that boost corporate profits and power while creating poverty, interfering with democratic sovereignty, and gutting environmental, labor, and human rights protections.

The Green Party and Green candidates have made opposition to antidemocratic trade authorities a centerpiece of their national platform.  Greens have challenged U.S. officials and trade ministers from around the Americas to adopt trade policies that reduce poverty, create living wage jobs, and secure workers' and family farmers's rights, food security, and environmental and public interest protections.

The Green Party of the United States has signed on to the 'FTAA Call to Action' published by Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch and endorsed by dozens of organizations concerned about trade agreements.

PRESS RELEASE: Greens to Gather in Miami to Protest FTAA Summit, November 17-21.

Monday, November 10, 2003

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Activists and leaders of the Green Party of the United States will gather in Miami, Florida to protest at the meeting of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) from Monday, November 17 through Friday, November 21.

Greens will hold a press conference on Wednesday, November 19, 5:30 p.m. in the Market Room, at the Radisson Hotel Miami, 1601 Biscayne Boulevard. The press conference will feature Medea Benjamin of Global Exchange, Marta Benavides from El Salvador, Green Party co-chair Ben Manski, Green International Committee co-chair Annie Goeke, other national and international Greens, and  leaders from the Florida and Miami-Dade Green parties. At the press conference, Green leaders will announce an international Green Party campaign in the Americas to promote fair trade and to dismantle the corporate-sponsored "free trade"  area.

Global Greens will conduct a workshop on the Global Greens Charter and International Politics, which will also take place on November 19, at 3 pm in the Doubletree Key Biscayne Room (across the street from the  Radisson).

Greens have strongly criticized international trade authorities like the FTAA, accusing them of imposing policies that boost corporate profits and power while creating poverty, interfering with democratic sovereignty, and gutting environmental, labor, and human rights protections.

While most Republicans and Democrats continue to support the FTAA, the Green Party and its candidates for public office have made opposition to antidemocratic trade authorities a centerpiece of the national Green platform. Greens have challenged U.S. officials and trade ministers from around the Americas to adopt trade policies that reduce poverty, create living wage jobs, and secure workers' and family farmers's rights, food security, and environmental and public interest protections. 

"We call for public and democratically negotiated fair trade agreements designed to reduce poverty, create high-wage jobs with workplace rights, respect environmental laws, protect food security, and promote  sustainable development," said Tony Affigne, co-chair of the Green Party's International Committee. "Democrats and  Republicans alike would tolerate more corporate globalization, stripping citizens  everywhere of their rights, destroying environments, and privatizing public services."

The Green Party of the United States has signed on to the 'FTAA Call to Action' published by Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch and endorsed by dozens of organizations concerned about trade agreements. 

"Greens demand movement towards global democracy, not global corporate rule," said Ben Manski, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States, who will be on hand and speaking at the anti-FTAA protests. "What's at stake here is the security of millions of farmers and working people, here in the U.S.A. and abroad."


JOINT DECLARATION - FTAA Call to Action

In November, trade ministers from around the Americas will gather in Miami for talks on the Free Trade Areas of the Americas. Join thousands of people in Miami, around the US and throughout the Americas on November 19-21st, 2003 to say:

Yes to trade policies that reduce poverty;
Yes to trade policies that create living wage jobs and protect workers' rights;
Yes to democratic and transparent trade negotiations that include broad-based citizen consultation and participation;
es to trade policies that protect environmental and public interest laws and regulations;
Yes to trade policies that support family farmers and food security;
Yes to trade policies that enable countries to invest in sustainable development policies; and
No to the FTAA!

We call on people from throughout the Americas to join us in Miami to participate in a peaceful and permitted mobilization to demonstrate the growing opposition to the FTAA. The mobilization will include a parade, cultural events and educational activities that will show the strength of popular opposition to the FTAA. Leading up to the events in Miami, we will work together to mobilize a grassroots education and outreach campaign here in the United States to build awareness about the FTAA and to educate our elected officials and candidates in preparation for the 2004 elections.

As part of the outreach campaign, we will work together with our brothers and sisters from throughout the Americas to bring the vote on the FTAA to millions. People from throughout the Americas will cast their votes and deliver millions of ballots to the trade ministers when they meet in Miami to negotiate the FTAA. This campaign is part of a larger campaign that is being supported by a diverse coalition throughout the Americas that is united in their opposition to the FTAA.

Nine years ago, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was put into place, linking the economies of the United States, Canada and Mexico. Despite promises of job growth and an improvement in living conditions for the poor, NAFTA has resulted in increased poverty, stagnant or falling wages, an erosion of consumer protections, growing inequality and a decrease in good jobs. Violations of the fundamental rights of workers, including the right to organize and bargain collectively, have continued, unaffected by the weak labor side agreement. Environmental quality has deteriorated in the absence of enforceable regulations. Farmers and rural communities in Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. have been devastated by the low commodity price policies imposed by trade agreements and the increasing control of our food system by multinational agribusiness. The new investor rights protected by NAFTA have provided corporations the power to challenge democratic public interest laws in secret trade tribunals.

Despite this dismal record, the United States government is moving ahead with negotiations to create the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), an expanded NAFTA that would include all countries in Latin America, North America, and the Caribbean, except for Cuba. FTAA negotiations, which have been going on for several years without substantive input from civil society organizations, are scheduled to finish in 2005. If the vote comes up in the US Congress under fast track rules, no amendments can be made to the agreement and only an up or down vote will be allowed. The race to finish the FTAA and to enforce a flawed trade model will lead to further devastating results.

There is a better way! We support trade models that include responsibilities, not just rights, for corporations; protect workers' rights, health, safety, family farmers, women, consumers and the environment; and promote sustainable, equitable and democratic development. We join with peoples throughout the Americas in opposing the failed NAFTA model that is being proposed for the FTAA. We propose an alternative, fair, sustainable model that ensures the protection of people's livelihoods.

Join us in our campaign to defeat the FTAA! Come to Miami in November 19-21st, 2003 to make your voice heard!

AFL-CIO
Africa Action
Agricultural Missions
Alliance for Responsible Americans
Alliance for Responsible Trade
Alliance for Sustainable Jobs and the Environment
Americans for Democratic Action
American Friends Service Committee, Democratizing the Global Economy Project
American Lands Alliance
Association of Flight Attendants
Campaign for Labor Rights
Campus Greens
Center of Concern/US Gender and Trade Network
Citizens Trade Campaign
Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras
Communications Workers of America
D.C. Statehood Green Party
Development GAP
Ecumenical Program on Central America and the Caribbean
Environmental Health Coalition
Florida Fair Trade Coalition
Friends of the Earth-USA
Global Exchange
Grantmakers without Borders
Green Party of California
Green Party of Delaware
Green Party of Florida
Green Party of Hawai`i
Green Party of Michigan
Green Party of Nebraska
Green Party of New Mexico
Green Party of Ohio
Green Party of Oklahoma
Green Party of Rhode Island
Green Party of Utah
Green Party of Texas
Green Party of the United States
Green Party of Washington StateInstitute for Policy Studies, Global Economy Project
Idaho Green Party
Illinois Green Party
Indiana Green Party
International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
International Jesuit Network for Development
Jobs with Justice
Kansas City Fair Trade Coalition
Maine Green Independent Party
Mexico Solidarity Network
Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition
NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
North Carolina Green Party
OXFAM America
Pacific Green Party of Oregon
Progressive Party of Missouri
Project South: Institute for the Elimination of Poverty & Genocide
Public Citizen
Public Services International, Inter-Americas Region
Resource Center of the Americas
Sierra Club
Sierra Student Coalition
Sisters of the Holy Cross Congregation, Justice Committee
South Floridians for Fair Trade and Global Justice
Texas Fair Trade Coalition
UNITE!
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Miami, Social Justice Committee
Unite for Dignity
United Auto Workers
United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries
United for a Fair Economy
United Mine Workers of America
United Steel Workers of America
United Students Against Sweatshops
Vermont Green Party
Wisconsin Green Party
Witness for Peace