Blockade the RNC: Update #2 from Sector 1
Current Sector Assessment and Call for Participation

Note: This is the second in a series of weekly updates from Sector 1. For our previous update, which included a “how to guide” chalk full of basic information on the mobilization and getting involved please see: www.organizepittsburgh.org/rnc. For our full call to action, and those of fellow sector adopters, see www.nornc.org/sectorcalls.

This week's updates:

Assessing where things are at:

The stage is set, the action framework is in place, and the sectors are almost all claimed. Now is the time for individuals and groups (of all sizes) who know they’ll be taking part in the actions to get in touch. Realistically, we estimate Sector 1’s capacity is currently 20% of what is needed.

Intra-Sector Communication and Decision-Making

Before the actions:

As was mentioned in last week's update, we are working to quickly broaden communication between sector participants as more groups get involved. We want participants to have real “buy-in” with the ability to participate in two-way discussions and decision-making. The actions must be able to succeed with or without any one particular group. Our role as a sector adopter, as articulated by the RNC-WC, means we basically serve as an initial contact to plug groups into the sector framework, linking groups up, and helping to set up sector logistics. We just put in place a way for participating groups to communicate directly and anticipate this will be the last weekly update that is solely a product of POG.

On the streets:

There is now a rough framework for how communications, between groups and with the larger comms network, will work when we’re on the streets. While the actual structure is for participating groups only and some specifics are still being worked out, we can say decisions are being decided with the following principles in mind:

  • Simplicity - No sense complicating things, especially when we want maximum numbers focused on the actions.
  • Redundancy - Understanding that individual groups and intersections may be arrested or go out of contact and that more than one way of communicating will be necessary.
  • Accuracy - Because folks need to know information is reliable if they’re going to act on it.
  • Speed - Because folks need regular updates of what’s happening elsewhere and need to be able to let others know.

Affinity groups that are considering joining Sector 1 should have someone in their group willing to act as a communications person.

What's next:

Over the next few updates we will release more information on an initial meeting point for our sector on September 1, concrete information on two pre-action spokescouncils in the Twin Cities, and tactical considerations.

The RNC is going down.

Feel free to contact us at rnc@organizepittsburgh.org with any Sector 1 questions, concerns, comments, thoughts, plans, schemes that make sense to be discussed over e-mail, or endorsements you might have.

Pittsburgh Organizing Group
Direct Action for Direct Democracy: Shut Down the Republican National Convention
pog@mutualaid.org
www.organizepittsburgh.org/