Spread the word & see you there!
The People's Summit and Tent City
June 14-17 in Detroit's Grand Circus Park
to Counter the National Economic (Corporate CEO) Summit
taking place at the Ren Cen in Detroit
Dear Autoworker Caravan and Autoworker Supporters,
Brother Frank Hammer and I have reported to you about the People's Summit taking place June 14-17. The next planning meeting is this Saturday, May 9th at 2 pm in the Michigan Center for High Technology (a.k.a. MCHT) near the Masonic Temple, 2727 Second Ave. (on Temple between Second and Third Aves.) Detroit , MI. (Wheelchair entrance is on Second Ave., south of Temple. Call 961-3390 from the ramp just south of stairs. For people who can negotiate stairs, enter through the door off the parking lot on the SE corner of Temple and Third. - one block west of the Masonic Temple.)
The corporate event describes itself as a gathering to "define America's future in a global economy." The likes of John Engler, head of the National Association of Manufacturers, American Axle's CEO Dick Dauch, Nardelli and Mulally of Chrysler and Ford, etc. will pontificate about the future that the global capitalists have in store for us. If you are able and willing to pay the registration fee of $1,495 you too can have a voice. The International Union UAW is one of the "Change Agent" sponsors, although no union representatives appear on the speakers' list.
We encourage all Autoworker Caravan supporters to attend the "People's Summit" and/or be a part in helping to organize the event by coming to the meetingon Saturday. The People's Summit is an event to counter the corporate economic summit that will be held at the same time and to give working people a voice in own future. More information on that event can be found at www.nationalsummit.org
As Brother Hammer pointed out, the focus of the organizing effort for the "People's Summit" will be a tent city erected for the occasion at Grand Circus Park in downtown Detroit. The Detroit City Council just approved the tent city and the counter summit on Tuesday. Many activities and events are planned to enable the people to articulate a different future and to have their voices heard. More can be found here: www.moratorium-mi.org/
The organizers are seeking to expand the coalition, broaden the agenda, bring in new activists, and add to their organizational co-sponsors. The Autoworker Caravan should participate on all fronts. One idea that the Autoworker Caravan group may want to consider is organizing a tour of all the shuttered workplaces dotting our metro region to bring to light the waste laid to our communities by the profiteers gathering at the Ren Cen.
It's time to let the big boys know that we will not sit silently by as they decide our future. Workers are not asking for a seat at the table - we are demandiing it!
Everyone's participation is invited. Again, the next planning meeting is this Saturday, 2 pm. Please come if you can.
In solidarity,
Al Benchich
www.autoworkercaravan.org