5/28 Civil Disobedience Training & BBQ in Pittsburgh

[Alex Lotorto]

Hey folks,

In my excitement on Sunday at the Marcellus Protest meeting I announced I'd do a barbecue at my house in East Liberty (5498 Hays St, Pittsburgh PA 15206) with a civil disobedience/nonviolence training after. I said it would start at noon but it's been brought up that there is a rally for Jordan Miles at 1pm at the County Courthouse downtown. Generally, those last an hour or so with people hanging out afterward. More info ( http://justiceforjordanmiles.com/?p=1246 ) Now, I'd like to schedule the event for later in the afternoon at 3pm so folks can attend both. For anyone interested, please RSVP to me 570-269-9589 by Friday night. We can also do this again, since it doesn't take much prep on my part and it's a great excuse to have a barbecue. Any grill masters want to volunteer their yards?

This will be a general nonviolence direct action training that will be based on one held in Morgantown WV last weekend with anti-fracking activists fighting the first of six gas wells that are being drilled within 500 yards of their drinking water intake for 90,000 people on the Monongahela River. To start we will explore some history and various definitions of non-violence and direct action, followed by role plays of different situations like picket lines, sit-ins, human blockades, a discussion of what roles need filled when there is an arrestable action (police liaisons, worker liaisons, legal observers, medics/direct support, etc.), and finally, a strategy discussion about how participants in the training can use this to advance their work. Anyone with prior knowledge and experience with nonviolent direct action is encouraged to come and share (Let me know if you would like to help with the training 570-269-9589)

3pm - Snacks and Socializing
3:30 - 7pm Nonviolence training (with breaks)
7:00 - Grill out and possibly Gasland screening

I also could use some of the following items. If you can bring them, let me know:
- side dishes (coleslaw, macaroni salad)
- a big bucket and ice
- extra folding chairs
- charcoal/lighter fluid
- donations
- help with the grill so the food's ready around 7pm

I will provide pop, chips, pretzels, burgers, buns, hot dogs, veggie dogs and fixings based on how many people RSVP by Friday night when I go shopping.

-Alex

[T H]

Hi Alex! (And Lilia is CC'd)

Unfortunately I will not be able to attend this BBQ as we will be at the Heartwood Conference all weekend. I very much appreciate the opportunity and invite!

 I would like to tentatively approach possibly planning a similar event at my home sometime within the next month or so. I live in Homeworth Ohio, which is quite rural, so we would not have to worry about any issues that could be seen inside city limits. A nice spot for trying to organize, and have a little relaxation. We can further plan this as we get into summer if you would be interested in facilitating the training? Again, this is purely a conceptual idea at this point, and Lilia and I can discuss this more on the trip this weekend if you are interested.

Thanks again for the invite - and for all of the work you are doing!

Tonya
T.A.S.K.

[Alex Lotorto]

Sure, I get laid off from Americorps at the end of June and either me or another trainer will be able to do a training. If you schedule it, we will do it and I will help find someone to do it. That goes for everyone. Let's just schedule a bunch of trainings and start training people how to shut down this industry if the government won't do it and the Big Greens won't push for it, we can stop fracking ourselves, but only with courage, learning from our mistakes, together, and the belief that we're infinitely smarter than those corporate gasholes. :)
-Alex