OCTOBER 27 EVENTS IN PHILA AND THE MIDATLANTIC REGION
In August, a group of people in Philadelphia got together to talk about organizing an event or series of events in support of UFPJ’s plan for Nationwide Mobilizations on October 27th to demand an end of the War on Iraq.
The people who got together did not constitute an Organization….
It had no web site, no phone number no bank account and no expensive projector and sound system.
They did not constitute a formal Network of any kind….
It had not held monthly meetings for the past several years
It had no banner.
And it claimed no credit for bringing out the largest anti-war protest crowd back 5 years or so ago.
Some of the people in the group had known and worked with each other for years….but some were also “strangers”, who did not know one another at all.
In summary, it was “nothing”, had done “nothing” as a group, and for all practical purposes it did not exist. Which would have been ample enough reason for it not to attempt to do anything in Philadelphia on Oct 27th.
Yet despite all of the above, it moved ahead. And with a lot of hard work on the part of various organizations and people, it was able to organize and execute:
A Human Chain for Peace, from the VA Hospital to 6th and Market, involving over 70 organizations, not counting PRAWN.
A March along the same route as above, with an estimated 5,000 people participating..
A three hour rally/concert/festival on the Mall.
A smaller rally in Camden, with 150 participants, and a March across the Ben Franklin Bridge by a few stalwarts who braved the nasty weather.
But it could not find two people willing to carry a PRAWN Banner
And it raised over $12,000 to cover the expenses of the day, including a $25 donation from PRAWN..
Interestingly, during the entire time from August to Oct 27, there was not one discussion of whether the group doing this was an Organization, a Coalition, a Network, of even if it existed or not. Instead, they focused on accomplishing something….and they did it.
Some of the work was done by formal committees, such as the Program Committee, that found speakers and performers; by the Logistics Committee that arranged permits and Staging/sound; and by Outreach that identified 100s of Organizations to adopt a block, make a donation, or endorse the actions.
Some of the work was done by individuals, who just came up with an idea, took the initiative, and executed it, such as the Jerry Taylor and the ROAD and LAWN SIGNS.
We ended up with the IVAW Bus, the Farkas automobile with 3800 names on it, a bagpiper, and probably 100 or more people who volunteered to help out, and actually did something. We had feeder marches and Peace Trains from Media, Lansdowne, Langhorne, Jenkintown, Trenton and the Jersey shore.
We had setbacks, but we recovered.
We got angry with one another, but we got over it.
We got nervous as hell about how we would pay for all the things we were committing to do, but we pushed on.
We renewed and/strengthened some old relationships, and made some beautiful new ones.
And we still have not figured out whether we were an Organization, a Network, or just a bunch of activists. We may never know.
Something to think about: What would have happened if PRAWN, the Philadelphia Regional Anti-War Network, had not decided to remain a passive organization, but instead took the lead as a network and as an organization to make Oct 27 a success? What would have been the long lasting benefit to PRAWN (and the anti-war effort) of such an activity? Something worth pondering, or even discussing at a meeting.
The more important question is “what changes would have to take place in order for PRAWN to become the kind of organization that was willing and able to take such a leadership role?” Certainly, some fairly significant changes would have to take place.
The last question is timely and relevant, since the Oct 27 group will be deciding what to do next, and what structure should be set up to do it. Interestingly, at the review and evaluation meeting held on Nov 7th, someone proposed that PRAWN could become the network to carry forward the momentum generated on Oct 27th. Trust me, it ain’t gonna happen unless some significant changes are made to PRAWN.
Since the Oct 27 Group is going to make some sort of a decision presumably on Dec 5th. time is of the essence if PRAWN is to play a leadership role..