MONTREAL, July 23, 2001 -- As anti-capitalist activists based in Montreal, we write to denounce the Group of 8 (G8) Summit, and the deliberate and unwarranted state of siege created by the G8 leaders and the Italian authorities on the streets of Genoa these past few days.

[Members of the Anti-Capitalist Convergence (CLAC) will be joining other Montrealers at a solidarity demonstration today with the anti-G8 mobilizations in Genoa. The demo will gather outside of Metro McGill -- the Ste-Catherine exit -- at NOON. The solidarity demo has been called on the initiative of the Northeastern Federation of Anarcho Communists (NEFAC).]

A STATEMENT BY MEMBERS OF THE ANTI-CAPITALIST CONVERGENCE (CLAC):

MONTREAL, July 23, 2001 -- As anti-capitalist activists based in Montreal, we write to denounce the Group of 8 (G8) Summit, and the deliberate and unwarranted state of siege created by the G8 leaders and the Italian authorities on the streets of Genoa these past few days.

In particular we condemn the police assassination of Carlo Giuliani -- who was shot twice in the head and run over by a police truck. (There are also unconfirmed reports of other deaths.) We express our deepest sympathies with the family, friends and comrades of Carlo.

We also condemn the brutality of the Italian police and authorities -- under the leadership of the G8 leaders -- against demonstrators, that includes bloody attacks on organizing spaces, the use of live ammunition, beatings of demonstrators, as well as physical and psychological torture while in custody.

We support all demands for the immediate release of everyone who has been arrested, and the dropping of all criminal charges. We point out the obvious: the real criminals are the leaders of the G8.

While we condemn the Italian authorities, and the G8 assassins known as "leaders", we would also like to express our clear solidarity with the demonstrators on the streets of Genoa. We are inspired by your courage and creativity, and motivated by your actions.

We also reject the attempt by G8 leaders, the corporate media, and certain mainstream NGOs to divide the anti capitalist movement between "good" protesters (ie. "non violent") and "bad" protesters (ie. "violent" or "anarchist"). These denunciations are self-serving, and are ludicrous in the face of the day-to-day violence perpetuated by the policies of the G8 nations -- poverty, militarization, environmental destruction, sweatshops and more.

We see the recent attempts by the G8 to talk about poverty alleviation, or the creation of an AIDs fund, as nothing more or less than public relations window-dressing; the attempts of rich white men to be "charitable" publicly, while continuing to perpetuate day-to-day misery.

The murder of Carlo, and perhaps others, as well as the serious injuries to dozens of others in Genoa, are just a small part of the violence inflicted against those who dare to fight back. Recently, three anti-IMF student protesters were murdered in Papua New Guinea. From Bolivia to Nigeria to Mexico, those who dare to resist the agenda of capitalist and imperialist globalization have been gunned down without qualms. In the Canadian state, rubber bullets were used indiscriminately in Quebec City. More generally, native activists are routinely targeted, and often murdered, as in the case of Dudley George of Ipperwash, Ontario.

The Canadian state has the dubious honour of hosting the next G8 Meeting of Assassins. In direct reaction to our ability to disrupt summits, the next G8 will be held at a relatively isolated park in Alberta (Kananaskis). While anti-capitalist campaigners here may or may not decide to try to chase the next G8 off our turf, we will take inspiration from the courage displayed in the streets of Genoa these past few days as we continue our collective struggle.

"Por todos nuestros muertos, ni un minuto de silencio. Toda una vida de lucha." [To honor our dead, not a minute of silence. A whole life of struggle.]

-- la CLAC, The Anti-Capitalist Convergence (Media Committee), Montreal
www.quebec2001.org, c...@tao.ca, 514-409-2049