Misplaced Pages

Pittsburgh Organizing Group: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 09:03, 13 April 2007 editRedvers (talk | contribs)29,889 editsm moved User:Cornellrockey/Pittsburgh Organizing Group to Pittsburgh Organizing Group: Moving back to article space (to preserve history) prior to deletion under original AfD← Previous edit Revision as of 15:44, 20 August 2007 edit undoDelldot (talk | contribs)Administrators47,020 edits trying to rework POG article so it can be reinstatedNext edit →
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Anti-war}} {{Anti-war}}
''Pittsburgh Organizing Group''&mdash;often referred to as ''POG'' <ref name="POG often abbreviated">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>; 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 over the past four years<ref name="Persistent">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>. They have organized ]s, ]s, ], ]s, ], ]s, ]s, ] <ref name="Conference">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>, and ] over their 4 year history. 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 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>


== Politics and tactics == == Politics and tactics ==
Line 7: Line 7:
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. 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.


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 shutdown the military recruiting station in Oakland.<ref name="Shutdown Recruitment">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref> In 2007 it organized a blockade of the National Robotics Engineering Center.<ref name="A20">''''. 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.


== Founding and major protest actions == == Founding and major protest actions ==


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 Independent Media Center (IMC) in Pittsburgh. 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.


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 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>.


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> 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>
Line 19: Line 19:
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> 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 August 20, 2005 100 protesters marched down Forbes Avenue chanting “shut it down, no recruiters in our town” on their way to the military recruitment center in ] <ref name="Aug 20 Start">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>. The protest ended with 6 arrests and controversy over the actions of demonstrators and the Pittsburgh police <ref name="Aug 20 Start">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>.. Protesters blocked the door of the recruitment center to make a speech and taped a sign over it, reading “No Lies Told Today, Recruitment Center Has Been Shut Down.” <ref name="Aug 20 Start">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>. While filming the sign a Fox cameraman reported his camera was struck by a protester who police subsequently attempted to arrest. <ref name="Aug 20 Start">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>. A melee ensued during the arrest and De’anna Caligiuri was pinned to the ground for interfering in the arrest. While Caligiuri was being restrained on the ground by two police officers, officer Samuel Muoio walked over and used a taser gun on her. <ref name="Aug 20 Start">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>. Other incidents of controversy arose over an incident where a police dog bit a 68-year-old participant while she stood with her back to the animal, and police used pepper spray in the vicinity of small children. <ref name="Aug 20 Start">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>. Pittsburgh Police Chief Robert W. McNeilly Jr issued a statement stating that “during this un-permitted march, warnings to stop blocking sidewalks and “keep moving … were ignored.” <ref name="Aug 20 Start">''''. Retrieved ] ].</ref>. 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 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 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> 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>
Line 29: Line 29:
== External links == == External links ==
* (official) * (official)

]
]
]
]

Revision as of 15:44, 20 August 2007

Anti-war and peace movement
Peace advocates
Ideologies
Media and cultural
Slogans and tactics
Opposition to specific
wars or their aspects
Countries

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 Active since 2002, POG has been responsible for the most persistent local protests against the Iraq War since then. 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.

Politics and tactics

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.

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, 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.

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

Founding and major protest actions

According to the group POG was founded in June of 2002 and its first two projects were organizing a group to go 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 DC. Its first major action was a trip to Washington, D.C. for the 2002 annual meeting of the IMF and World Bank where POG blocked Constitution Ave 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.

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. 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 .

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.

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, and criticism of police conduct by local politicians and the editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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. Protesters blocked access to the center with tripods, lockboxes, and U-locks, resulting in 14 arrests

References

Notes

  1. ^ POG Website. Retrieved March 21 2007. Cite error: The named reference "POG" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. Targeting "Modern Bullet Factory," POG to Block CMU Building. Retrieved March 29 2007.
  3. Fertile Resistance. Retrieved March 29 2007.
  4. Protesters' Arrests end police peace. Retrieved March 21 2007.
  5. Anti-war protesters fault city police. Retrieved March 21 2007.
  6. POG Call to support janitors. Retrieved March 21 2007.
  7. Marchers' Message: Give Peace A Chance. Retrieved March 21 2007.
  8. 6 Arrested in Bush Protest. Retrieved March 21 2007.
  9. ^ Pittsburgh Indymedia Coverage of Peoples Strike. Retrieved March 21 2007. Cite error: The named reference "Peoples Strike" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  10. Anti-War Protesters Converging here. Retrieved March 24 2007.
  11. Marchers’ Message: Give Peace A Chance. Retrieved March 29 2007.
  12. Protesters target U.S. Army Recruiting at CMU. Retrieved March 24 2007.
  13. City Council questions police policies on use of stun guns. Retrieved March 25 2007.
  14. Targetting Modern Bullet Factory, POG to block CMU building . Retrieved March 21 2007.
  15. 14 Protesters Arrested at CMU Robotics Center . Retrieved March 29 2007.

External links

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

Pittsburgh Organizing Group: Difference between revisions Add topic