protest tactics and social movements

Greg Claxton/C. Sisk betrays a basic misunderstanding of social movements.

What is happening in Seattle is that a vast array of groups with different
agendas have converged, based on a minimal agreement on opposition to the
WTO.  The differences include tactical differences.

Such events are not centrally commanded by anyone, and it is one of the
few strengths of popular movements that such a vast diversity of energies
can be tapped.

All successful mass movements exhibit the same tendency of the energy of
the people overspilling the specific plans of the organizers.

It is interesting to see who is frightened and/or discouraged when true
people's power emerges.

RH