Feature
UW’s eye on protected activity
Campus police kept tabs on student groups, records show
After a letter issued by Jane Mae Wong's group called for protests, UW police were posted to spots where campus janitors congregate.
It’s just a few dozen students, teaching assistants and workers who’ve been leading this year’s string of protests against budget cuts, tuition hikes and work overload at the University of Washington. But the organizing they’ve been doing, and the number of people they turned out at one event, has really “freaked out” the administration, one activist says.
That’s why the UW and its police force have been harassing the Student/Worker Coalition and its member groups, says organizer Jane Mee Wong. Last fall, UW police arrested her and another activist after they met with UW custodians and, in April, sent a plainclothes officer to spy on a meeting where students were planning a one-day strike.
The covert operation was well reported after students later spotted the officer in her UW police uniform and alerted the media. At the time, a university spokesperson said the UW police had made an error in judgment that did not reflect the school’s values.
But records obtained through public disclosure from the university reveal that, prior to the flap, administrators used police to respond to demands made by the janitors and, from the top down, the UW Police Department approved of and routinely collected intelligence on the groups
Comments
I purchased a Real Change newsletter today, like I do every week. I saw Jane Mae Wong on the cover and I remember her from my days at UW. This woman is in no way an advocate for any democratic society. I have been to many speaking engagements at the UW with speakers on all sides of many issues and she and her group do nothing except attempt to silence those who don’t tow her party line. From what I understand, she hates this country as well as our constitution. Her group, “Democracy” Insurgent uses any means necessary to discredit, harass, and intimidate any meaningful dialogue that poses a threat to her and her interests. As someone who advocates for democracy and people that would stand up in the face of oppression, I am convinced that her and her organization gives a hoot about our constitution and our country.
The UW is terrified at the prospect of groups working together instead of against each other in the face of UW taking actions counter to the mission of the university and the contracts they have signed.
“The UW is terrified at the prospect of groups working together instead of against each other in the face of UW taking actions counter to the mission of the university and the contracts they have signed.”
Why would anyone be terrified? I understand the greivences that “Democracy” insurgent enfrachised into their movement due to the work speed-ups, but I am trying to understand the hatred for the United States and Israel that “Democracy” insurgents advocate. This country welcomes all challenges to the status quo and for infractions on rights of people, legal and undocumented.
I spoke at two rallies with Democracy Insurgency over the last few years. DI hijacked the rallies for their own ends at both. They don’t play well with others and claim that everyone who disagrees with them are simply co-opted. Most of the time they’re just plain obnoxious and they have no sense of the teamwork it takes to accomplish change at an institutional and systemic level. They are certainly not the martyrs that this article makes them out to be.
“I spoke at two rallies with Democracy Insurgency over the last few years. DI hijacked the rallies for their own ends at both. They don
Does anyone have any examples of these smears against Democracy Insurgent? Can we cite articles, publications, press releases written by DI etc.? As a teacher I’m pretty uncomfortable by folks diagnosing a group’s ideology without any evidence to discuss. As someone who has worked with Wong, I hold a lot of respect for her skills as an organizer and a person committed to furthering social justice. I don’t appreciate this slander. Brandon, are you a cop? You sure like to stir up divisions and make shit up. Such as the crap about DI being buddies with Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist Movement. I’ve never even met anyone in that group.
I have been organizing with DI at UW for about a year and disagree with Jake about DI hijacking, at least since I’ve been around. At the rallies I’ve attended with DI we’ve only spoken when invited to speak or sometimes step up and lead chants when nobody else brings a bullhorn or nobody else is stepping up to give direction at a rally that is starting to fizzle out. Certainly anyone is welcome to speak at a public event.
The two who spoke at the ACLU press conference are not “students” at UW. The lady who was arrested for trespassing at the medical center is not a student or UW affiliated and did not obtain a permit to be in the building after hours. Don’t cry fowl when you are not a student or are sticking your behind in others faces.
To AW, no I am not a cop. No I am not making shit up. Here is a link to the website were Democracy Insugent held a forum with RAIM members: http://raims.wordpress.com/page/2/
Scroll to the bottom and you will see the following:
Join the convergence in Vancouver, Feb. 10-15, 2010!
* Kudos to Common Action and Democracy Insurgent for hosting this outstanding event!
** Terminology Clarification: First Nations = (Indigenous or Native Peoples/Oppressed Nations/Friends); First World = (White Settler Crackertopian Scum/Oppressor Nation/Enemies) Crackers are good with tomato ketchup on Thankkksgiving
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