[free-sklyarov] Monday the 30th Plans

[Kris]

At 02:51 AM 7/28/2001 -0500, Peter A. Peterson II wrote:

 >As I said in my earlier message, I'm considering focusing ONLY on
 >Freeing Dmitry and talking about the DMCA when it comes up (which is any
 >time you have a longer conversation with someone). This keeps people
 >from assuming that we're trying to get something out of this situation,
 >when we should be focusing on Dmitry. What do you think about this? The
 >alternative is to also have signs that also ask for the repealing of the
 >DMCA. This is our goal anyway -- but I feel like having both makes it
 >look like we're using Dmitry as a poster boy, and is less likely to have
 >an emotional, make-me-wanna-write-effect on people.

While I absolutely agree that we should not be using Dmitry as a poster 
boy, since Dmitry is in jail for violating the DMCA - a law of questionable 
constitutionality, I think that it is ok to attack the DMCA as long as the 
primary focus is Freeing Dmitry.  In fact, I think that is one of our most 
effective tactics.

My experience has been when trying to convince people to help free Dmitry 
that a detailed explanation of way the DMCA is such a bad law is 
necessary.  After all the fuckups the FBI has made in the past 10 years, 
people still seem to give them the benefit of the doubt.  However, 
once  I've convinced them that the DMCA is a bad law, they usually come 
around on the whole Free Dmitry point.

If you look at the flyers we created this week - I think that they are very 
effective and they also contain a certain amount of anti-DMCA rhetoric.  I 
think removing the anti-DMCA message would lessen the impact that the flyer 
has.

And I'll be honest, the anti-DMCA slant isn't the only thing that concerns 
me.  I dislike like the continual mention of Dmitry as a family man.  It 
seems to imply that someone without a family belongs in jail.  However, 
American consumers are big suckers and any message to them is going to be 
more effective with the heartfelt appeal that Dmitry is missing bonding 
time with his kids.  So as sleazy as that it is, it is an effective tactic, 
so we're using it.

I would suggest that any signs or message that have an anti-DMCA message 
also have "FREE DMITRY" written some where on the sign. I would also 
suggest that in order to build a "brand" that we standard the "FREE DMITRY" 
logo so that we can build name recognition.  I know this sounds like 
marketing speak... it is... but there's a reason marketing people 
exist.  The logo should always be upper case.  Use big, bold, thick block 
letters.  And if you have a color choice.  Red on white.  The big sign that 
Kelpht made up for last week's protest is a great example.

Kris