AGAINST FREEDOM OF SPEECH VIOLATION

Washington, DC - We saw it in the Philippines, we saw it in Seattle and we are seeing it again in D.C. Just days before the major protest dates, George Washington University announced that the school will be shut down Friday evening, April 14 until Tuesday morning, April 17. As a result, all events that have been scheduled for the weekend are now cancelled. These events include teach-ins, discussions and forums that to aim to educate on issues regarding the IMF-World Bank. Some of these events were organized by GWU students themselves.

Among the events cancelled is the “Forum on Imperialist Globalization” organized by People’s Assembly Against IMF/WB, and two local Filipino community-based organizations BAYAN and DIWA. The organizers had already secured an Auditorium in Corcoran Hall three weeks ago for Saturday evening. After weeks of flyering and getting the word out, the forum’s organizers had to look for a new venue, re-release flyers, and re-contact forum attendees.

The school’s shutdown prevents GWU students from attending such events and protesting in their campuses. This is a clear violation of the freedom of speech and the freedom to assemble. Last November, we saw the same undemocratic violations here in Seattle when the mayor denied the Seattle International People’s Assembly a permit to march “due to lack of resources…i forgot the exact wording, please correct…”. Despite the permit denial, youth from various League of Filipino Student (LFS) chapters marched militantly along with People’s Assembly delegates and other groups. In the streets of Seattle, they chanted “Junk! Junk! WTO!” and “The people united, will never be defeated.”

We also see the same repression when students in the Philippines and Mexico protest against tuition fee increases brought upon by the privatization policies of imperialist institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank. Because the IMF and World Bank’s policies control educational institutions and materials, students are often given limited knowledge and robbed off their freedom of speech. The shutdown of GWU is a clear physical example of how imperialist globalization violates basic human rights.

WE WEREN’T STOPPED AND WE WON’T STOP HERE!!!

JUNK THE IMF AND WORLD BANK!!!

NO TO IMPERIALIST GLOBALIZATION!!!

YOUTH and STUDENTS UNITE! RESIST the IMF-WB!

YOUTH CAUCUS IN THE PARK

SATURDAY, APRIL 15 at 12PM · MALCOLM X PARK (15^th& Euclid)

UNITE! AGITATE! PROPAGATE!