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 Sunday spread: An anarchist's cookbook, of sorts: Group had timed protests to the minute 01/14/01 - by Linda K. Harris and Craig R. McCoy - Philadelphia Inquirer For a movement that proclaims itself anarchistic and leaderless, those who set out to protest during the Republican National Convention appear to have been nothing if not sophisticated - indeed, hard-edged - in their planning. Several days after the massive Aug. 1 street blockades in Center City, Susan Ciccantelli, whose husband owns the controversial "puppet warehouse" in West Philadelphia that was a gathering spot for activists, picked up a document inside that amounted to an hour-by-hour timetable for a protest. The richly detailed plan is identified as a product of the New York City Direct Action Network, a coalition of groups in New York that were active in the protests in Seattle and Washington. David Levy, a New York City activist who was a spokesman for the group during the convention, said the Direct Action Network was reluctant to respond to questions about the three-page document because of protesters' pending trials. Leaders of the group, however, disavowed knowledge of the document when interviewed. Though many protesters have insisted that activities in the warehouse were benign - such as fashioning large puppets, banners and other props - the planning document suggests that some activists had a different agenda. The document divided Center City into sectors and targeted three hotels along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and several sites along the Parkway and other Center City streets, for "lockdowns" Aug. 1. As it happened, the lockdowns began a little later than specified, and there were no blockades along the Parkway. The plan listed precise times at which such groups as scouts, communications teams, legal teams and medical teams should deploy. It specified when "flying squads" of protesters should begin moving - targeting sites chosen only at the moment of protest. At 3:45 p.m., it says, hotel "lockdowns 'materialize' out of the street theatre." At 4:15 p.m., the document continues: " 'Second-wave' [affinity groups] are meant to arrive about 1/2hour after primary lockdown, to confuse the cops, add support, and make sure the street is shut." The last notation is for 7 p.m.: "Convention Begins. Lockout/holdout." |
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