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''Pittsburgh Organizing Group'', often referred to as ''POG'', is a Pittsburgh based progressive organization concerned with peace, social and economic justice, and environmental issues locally, nationally, and internationally<ref name="POG">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref> Active since 2002, POG has been responsible for the most persistent local protests against the Iraq War since then.<ref name="Persistent">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref> The group has organized ]s, ]s, ], ]s, ], ]s, ]s, ],<ref name="Conference">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref> and ]. Some of its events have been overtly confrontational and disruptive. More than 122 people have been arrested at POG organized direct actions<ref name="Arrests">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref> and some events have involved direct confrontation with the police.<ref name="Conflict">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref> '''Pittsburgh Organizing Group''', often referred to as ''POG'', is a ]-based progressive organization concerned with ], ], and ]al issues locally, nationally, and internationally. POG was formed in ],<ref>Paula Reed Ward. February 02, 2006. ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''. Retrieved ] ].</ref> and since then it has been responsible for the most persistent local protests against the ]<ref name="Persistent">Marty Levine. January 18, 2007. . ''Pittsburgh City Paper''. Retrieved ], ].</ref> and claims to be one of the largest radical groups in Pittsburgh.<ref>Jim McKinnon. June 12, 2007. . ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''. Retrieved ] ].</ref> The group has organized ]s, ]s, ]s, ]s, ], ]s, ]s, ], and ]. Some of its events have been overtly confrontational and disruptive. More than 122 people have been arrested at POG organized direct actions,<ref name="Arrests">Lori Shontz. March 23, 2003. . ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''. Retrieved ] ].</ref> and some events have involved direct confrontation with the police.<ref name="Conflict">Pohla Smith. August 22, 2005. . ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''. Retrieved ], ].</ref>


== Politics and tactics == == Major protest actions ==
POG is a non-hierarchical organization which utilizes consensus decision making processes. Since its founding POG has stated support for affinity groups and the utilization of a diversity of tactics to push for social change. The membership is youth based.<ref name="POG">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>


⚫ According to the group, its first two projects were organizing a trip to ] for the 2002 ] and creating a local ] (IMC) in Pittsburgh.
POG has organized many of the largest and most prominent protests in Pittsburgh over the last five years. These have included support for employees in labor disputes,<ref name="Janitors at Center City Tower">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref> opposition to institutions profiting from or involved in war related activities, trips to participate in regional and national demonstrations against the government and meetings of multilateral institutions.


⚫ On September 1, 2002, POG held its first public event, a ] in preparation for the fall meetings of IMF and World Bank in Washington DC. The group's first major action was a trip to ] for the 2002 annual meeting of the IMF and World Bank. The group participated in a planned "People's Strike", an attempt by the Washington, D.C. ] to shut the city down. The arrest of over 400 protesters in ] resulted in a class action lawsuit.<ref>Henri E. Cauvin. March 1, 2007. . ''Washington Post''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>
One of the distinctive features of POG has been the variety of its tactics and the regularity of its actions during long term campaigns. In 2003 it organized the largest anti-war protest in Pittsburgh in at least 30 years.<ref name="January Convergence">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref> In 2004 it organized the first black bloc in Pittsburgh to protest a visit by President Bush.<ref name="Black Bloc">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref> In 2006 it called for a march to shut down the military recruiting station in Oakland. In 2007 it organized a blockade of the National Robotics Engineering Center.


⚫ In the lead-up to the war with Iraq, POG joined with the Thomas Merton Center to organize a “regional convergence against war” on January 24 to 26, ].<ref name="Anti-War Convergence">Lori Shontz. January 22, 2003. . ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''. Retrieved ] ].</ref> The convergence included three days of protests, forums, teach-ins, and ]. 2,500 people marched in a POG protest on January 25, making the event the largest anti-war protest in Pittsburgh in at least 30 years.<ref name="January Convergence">Lori Shontz. January 26, 2003. . ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>
== Founding and major protest actions ==


In 2004 the group organized the first ] in Pittsburgh to protest a visit by President ].<ref name="Black Bloc">Joe Fahy. April 20, 2004. . ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>
⚫ According to the group POG was founded in June of 2002 and its first two projects were organizing a group to go to ] for the 2002 ] and creating a local ] (IMC) in Pittsburgh.


⚫ In April ], POG began a campaign to counter military recruitment in Pittsburgh when they blocked off an ] recruiting table in ] student union for 45 minutes during the lunchtime rush.<ref name="CMU CR Campaign Start">Gabrielle Banks. April 27, 2005. . ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''. Retrieved ], ].</ref>
⚫ On September 1, 2002, POG held its first public event, a teach-in in preparation for the fall meetings of IMF and World Bank in DC. Its first major action was a trip to ] for the 2002 ] where POG blocked Constitution Ave<ref name="Peoples Strike">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref> as its contribution to a planned Peoples Strike, an attempt by the DC Anti-Capitalist Convergence to shut down Washington DC. The arrest of 300 protesters in Pershing Park, of which 65 were from Pittsburgh, has resulted in a class action lawsuit still under litigation<ref name="Peoples Strike">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>.


On August 20, ], between 30 and 50 POG demonstrators marched to protest the military recruitment center and attempt to close it for the day.<ref name="3 arrested">August 21, 2005. ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''. Retrieved ], ].</ref> During the protest, six people were arrested, a ] was used on one woman, and another was bitten by a police dog.<ref name="3 arrested"/><ref>Jonathan D. Silver. August 23, 2005. ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''. Retrieved ], ].</ref> The events led to a controversy over the actions of demonstrators and the Pittsburgh police. This controversy led to hearings before Pittsburgh City Council, calls for a moratorium on the use of ]s at protests, and criticism of police conduct by local politicians and a police review board staffed by citizens.<ref name="Taser Use">Rich Lord. September 15, 2005. . ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''. Retrieved ], ].</ref>
⚫ In the lead-up to the war with Iraq, POG joined with the Thomas Merton Center to organize a “regional convergence against war” on Jan 24-26.<ref name="Anti-War Convergence">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref> The convergence included three days of protests, forums, teach-ins, and civil disobedience. 2,500 people marched in a POG protest on Jan 25, marking the largest anti-war protest in Pittsburgh in over 30 years .<ref name="Largest Protest">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>


Another confrontation occurred between POG deomonstrators and police in an April 3, ] POG protest outside a Marines recruiting center.<ref name="throat">Marty Levine. April 12, 2007. ''Pittsburgh City Paper''. Retrieved ], ].</ref> Protesters and unaffiliated witnesses claimed that a police officer grabbed a demonstrator by the throat.<ref name="throat"/> The event was investigated by the city's Citizen Police Review Board.<ref name="throat"/> The military recruitment center protests are part of a "counter-recruitment" strategy by the group aimed at lowering the numbers of people who enlist.<ref name="milestone">Marty Levine. January 4, 2007. ''Pittsburgh City Paper''. Retrieved ], ].</ref> </ref> By January 2007, the group had organized 45 protests at military recruiting stations.<ref name="milestone"/>
⚫ In April 2005, POG began a campaign to counter military recruitment in Pittsburgh when they blocked off an Army Reserves recruiting table in Carnegie Mellon University's student union for 45 minutes during the lunchtime rush.<ref name="CMU CR Campaign Start">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>


On March 2, ], POG members blockaded the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), a venture of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) that receives tens of millions of dollars from ] and has become a world leader in development of ] used in warfare.<ref name="Persistent"/> Protesters blocked access to the center by locking their arms together in ], hanging suspended from poles rigged into a tripod, or locking themselves to the gate.<ref name="14 arrested">Rob Amen. March 3, 2007. . ''Pittsburgh Tribune-Review''. Retrieved ] ].</ref><ref>Patrick Young. March 18, 2007. ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''. Retrieved ], ].</ref> The protest resulted in 14 arrests.<ref name="14 arrested"/><ref>Mary Levine. May 10, 2007. . ''Pittsburgh City Paper''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>
On August 20, 2005 100 protesters marched down Forbes Avenue to protest the military recruitment center. The protest ended with 6 arrests and controversy over the actions of demonstrators and the Pittsburgh police. Controversy over the police handling of the protest led to hearings before Pittsburgh City Council, calls for a moratorium on the use of tasers at protests by activist groups,<ref name="Taser Use">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref> and criticism of police conduct by local politicians and the editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.


On August 8, ], POG announced plans to hold a camp-out and ] for 26 days outside of the main military recruiting station in Oakland in protest of the war in Iraq.<ref>Marty Levine. August 9, 2007. . ''Pittsburgh City Paper''. Retrieved ], ].</ref>
On March 2, 2007 POG blockaded the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), a venture of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) that receives tens of millions of dollars from the Pentagon and has become a world leader in warfare robotics.<ref name="NREC Leader">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref> Protesters blocked access to the center with tripods, lockboxes, and U-locks, resulting in 14 arrests<ref name="14 Arrested">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>


== References == == References ==
== Notes ==
<div class="references-small"><references /></div> <div class="references-small"><references /></div>


== External links == == External links ==
* (official) * The official website of the Pittsburgh Organizing Group
*Infoshop News. August 9 2007.
*Indymedia. .


] ]

Revision as of 14:21, 28 August 2007

Anti-war and peace movement
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Opposition to specific
wars or their aspects
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Pittsburgh Organizing Group, often referred to as POG, is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based progressive organization concerned with peace, social and economic justice, and environmental issues locally, nationally, and internationally. POG was formed in 2002, and since then it has been responsible for the most persistent local protests against the Iraq War and claims to be one of the largest radical groups in Pittsburgh. The group has organized protests, pickets, vigils, direct actions, street theatre, concerts, teach-ins, conferences, and rallies. Some of its events have been overtly confrontational and disruptive. More than 122 people have been arrested at POG organized direct actions, and some events have involved direct confrontation with the police.

Major protest actions

According to the group, its first two projects were organizing a trip to Washington, D.C. for the 2002 annual meeting of the IMF and World Bank and creating a local Independent Media Center (IMC) in Pittsburgh.

On September 1, 2002, POG held its first public event, a teach-in in preparation for the fall meetings of IMF and World Bank in Washington DC. The group's first major action was a trip to Washington, D.C. for the 2002 annual meeting of the IMF and World Bank. The group participated in a planned "People's Strike", an attempt by the Washington, D.C. Anti-Capitalist Convergence to shut the city down. The arrest of over 400 protesters in Pershing Park resulted in a class action lawsuit.

In the lead-up to the war with Iraq, POG joined with the Thomas Merton Center to organize a “regional convergence against war” on January 24 to 26, 2003. The convergence included three days of protests, forums, teach-ins, and civil disobedience. 2,500 people marched in a POG protest on January 25, making the event the largest anti-war protest in Pittsburgh in at least 30 years.

In 2004 the group organized the first black bloc in Pittsburgh to protest a visit by President George W. Bush.

In April 2005, POG began a campaign to counter military recruitment in Pittsburgh when they blocked off an Army Reserve recruiting table in Carnegie Mellon University's student union for 45 minutes during the lunchtime rush.

On August 20, 2005, between 30 and 50 POG demonstrators marched to protest the military recruitment center and attempt to close it for the day. During the protest, six people were arrested, a taser was used on one woman, and another was bitten by a police dog. The events led to a controversy over the actions of demonstrators and the Pittsburgh police. This controversy led to hearings before Pittsburgh City Council, calls for a moratorium on the use of tasers at protests, and criticism of police conduct by local politicians and a police review board staffed by citizens.

Another confrontation occurred between POG deomonstrators and police in an April 3, 2007 POG protest outside a Marines recruiting center. Protesters and unaffiliated witnesses claimed that a police officer grabbed a demonstrator by the throat. The event was investigated by the city's Citizen Police Review Board. The military recruitment center protests are part of a "counter-recruitment" strategy by the group aimed at lowering the numbers of people who enlist. </ref> By January 2007, the group had organized 45 protests at military recruiting stations.

On March 2, 2007, POG members blockaded the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), a venture of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) that receives tens of millions of dollars from the Pentagon and has become a world leader in development of robotics used in warfare. Protesters blocked access to the center by locking their arms together in PVC pipe, hanging suspended from poles rigged into a tripod, or locking themselves to the gate. The protest resulted in 14 arrests.

On August 8, 2007, POG announced plans to hold a camp-out and fast for 26 days outside of the main military recruiting station in Oakland in protest of the war in Iraq.

References

  1. Paula Reed Ward. February 02, 2006. ACLU files request to learn if feds are spying on local peace groups: Pentagon asked for information about surveillance. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 27 2007.
  2. ^ Marty Levine. January 18, 2007. Targeting "Modern Bullet Factory," POG to Block CMU Building. Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved August 26, 2007.
  3. Jim McKinnon. June 12, 2007. Peduto, Pittsburgh Organizing Group spar over Shadyside vandalism. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 27 2007.
  4. Lori Shontz. March 23, 2003. Protesters' Arrests end police peace. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 26 2007.
  5. Pohla Smith. August 22, 2005. Anti-war protesters fault city police: Group calls for investigation of use of stun guns, pepper spray. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 26, 2007.
  6. Henri E. Cauvin. March 1, 2007. D.C. Settles Suit Over Protest Arrests. Washington Post. Retrieved August 26 2007.
  7. Lori Shontz. January 22, 2003. Anti-War Protesters Converging here. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 26 2007.
  8. Lori Shontz. January 26, 2003. Marchers' Message: Give Peace A Chance. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 26 2007.
  9. Joe Fahy. April 20, 2004. 6 Arrested in Bush Protest. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 26 2007.
  10. Gabrielle Banks. April 27, 2005. Protesters target U.S. Army Recruiting at CMU. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 27, 2007.
  11. ^ August 21, 2005. 3 arrested in anti-war protest here. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 27, 2007.
  12. Jonathan D. Silver. August 23, 2005. Group says city police used excessive force. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 27, 2007.
  13. Rich Lord. September 15, 2005. City Council questions police policies on use of stun guns. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 27, 2007.
  14. ^ Marty Levine. April 12, 2007. Police Reaction: Picketers claim aggressive officer made protest not so peaceful. Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved August 27, 2007.
  15. ^ Marty Levine. January 4, 2007. War Milestone Marked by Anti-War Groups. Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved August 28, 2007.
  16. ^ Rob Amen. March 3, 2007. 14 Protesters Arrested at CMU Robotics Center. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved August 26 2007.
  17. Patrick Young. March 18, 2007. The Next Page: Hot trends in protest technology. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 27, 2007.
  18. Mary Levine. May 10, 2007. Robotics center protesters deal for community service. Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved August 26 2007.
  19. Marty Levine. August 9, 2007. Hunger-strike planned to oppose military recruitment. Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved August 26, 2007.

External links

Category:2002 establishments Category:Anti-Iraq War groups Category:Peace organizations Category:Political advocacy groups in the United States

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