Immediate Release, Friday 14/4/00
FAO: Newsdesk, Crime correspondent, etc.
On disorganisation
A statement from Reclaim the Streets (RTS) London
In relation to past and expected future press reports concerning trials of RTS "leaders", Reclaim the Streets[1] London would like to emphasise that it is a non-hierarchical, leaderless, openly organised, public group. No
individual "plans" or "masterminds" its actions and events. RTS activities
are the result of voluntary, unpaid, co-operative efforts from numerous
self-directed people attempting to work equally together.
The events of June 18th 1999[2] in London, just one among similar events in over 40 countries world-wide, were in fact organised by thousands of people
throughout the UK; in part previously, in part spontaneously on the day
itself. The event sought to both highlight and directly confront the present
internationalised socio-economic system that causes massive environmental
damage and is leading to increasing poverty and inequality for the majority
of the world's people.
That the mass media and legal apparatus of the state lack the ability to
comprehend - or purposefully seek to misunderstand all this - is unsurprising.
Both are embedded in the system of centralised power and control direct
actionists oppose; a system that also produces a cult of personality -
whether politician or celebrity. Still, we send this statement in the
perhaps naöve hope that the mainstream media may be interested in
reporting, occasionally, the facts.
RTS London is proud to be associated with the growing global anti-capitalist
movement that raised its voice on the streets of The City of London, in
Seattle, soon in Washington, again on Mayday 2000[3] and on many other occasions. In response to the ubiquitous "who's in charge?" we reply in
unison "We all are!" and in response to the half-truths, distortions, and
lies of the media and legal system, we will continue to reply in word and
deed: "Reclaim the Streets!"
Notes:
- Reclaim the Streets is a direct action network seeking the rediscovery
and liberation of the city streets. For more details see
www.reclaimthestreets.net
- For full details see www.j18.org
- For more details on Mayday events see www.freespeech.org/mayday2k