I have never considered myself an activist in the way that most GreenPeacers use the word. I tend to prefer working within the system and using science and numbers to make my case before thinking about doing anything like an action. However, at the WSSD, it is clear that big business is the only voice that is really getting heard. If we were going to make one final statement, encouraging the adoption of renewable energy, we had to do it with an action. And we did!
The ten foot high scroll, complete with gold knobs and tassels was beautiful, and I was proud to hold it up in the square this morning. As people passed by they all stopped to read the brief but powerful message that we stayed up until 3 am last night, dizzy on marker fumes, to finish inking. At 9:50, as the sun finally crested over the mall and its light fell upon our group and the bright red ribbon and colorful seal on our statement, I looked across the square to see about 50 South African police in bullet proof vests coming towards us. Having overheard a comment a few minutes earlier about getting us some security for our event, I naively thought the police were there to protect us… or just keep anything like a riot from happening should too many people come for the event.
As the first man grabbed Melony by the wrist and started to pull her away, I realized that I had been very mistaken. The police broke through our group and led us off one by one to the opposite end of the square. Though they made us roll up our document, they luckily did not take it away from us. As I was led away from my belongings, I was relieved to see that Maggie and Tricia had been overlooked, for I knew they would take care of things there.
As the police led us away, Kristin was trying to explain that we had permission to be there, straining against the firm grasp a policeman had on her wrist. The head of the police group did not care. He would not listen. She tried calling people to verify for him that we were approved to be there, but did not have all the phone numbers which were back with our stuff. She kept repeating “We have permission to be here! Let me call!” but no one would listen.
As we passed by the Free Tibet demonstrators, they decided to grab them as well and made a closed, linked arm circle around the two groups. While Kristin kept trying to call anyone she could think of and explain that we were legit, GreenPeace people started showing up on the scene, working on things from outside the circle. Though our youth delegation group has been operating somewhat separately from the rest of the GreenPeace group here, they all came down to our rescue. It was a great feeling seeing all the concerned people desperately trying to get us out. (Thank goodness for cell phones.) As I eyed the half a dozen men in riot gear who had joined the circle, and another with huge bullets strapped to his chest, I never felt unsafe for a moment. Everyone remained calm, and tried to make the best of the situation.
We were creating too much of a scene, so the police decided to move us down to the shuttle parking lot. As the circle of police moved forward monolithically, we were forced to walk or be pushed over. When we realized that this thing would not blow over in five minutes, we decided to hold our event inside the police ring. We unrolled the scroll again and regrouped. Speakers, press, and participants entered the circle as we proudly presented our declaration. After the first few signatures had been added to the document, we pulled it aside to allow the Tibetans a moment of press.
Next thing I knew, the police were gone. An official looking woman told us to follow her back to the square where we were left to deal with our emotions. Apparantly a call had been made to the UN that Jon Pronk was about to be arrested and that is what prompted the quick response and dispersal of the police.
I have never before felt my right to free speech so impeded as in the first moments after the police arrived. Though our perfectly choreographed event had been turned into an impromtu, abridged one, when we were through our voice had been heard.