[free-sklyarov] EFF to Meet Friday July 27 with US Attorney's Office

[Chris Kotrla]

The EFF isn't making top-down decisions.  They are negotiating on behalf of
Dmitry, and are using the protests as leverage.  They are not ordering
anyone to do anything.  The message says that the "EFF respectfully requests
that protesters hold off
protests."

We are all free to do what we want.  If the office of the US Attorney didn't
think the EFF had any sway, they might not agree to a meeting.  Personally,
I say protest the office during the meeting, and certainly protest outside
of Mueller's confirmation hearing.  The EFF can work with the US Attorney in
good faith all they want, and we can keep protesting.

-Chris


-----Original Message-----
From: free-sklyarov-admin at zork.net
[mailto:free-sklyarov-admin at zork.net]On Behalf Of mike castleman
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2001 4:22 PM
To: Will Doherty
Cc: free-sklyarov at zork.net
Subject: Re: [free-sklyarov] EFF to Meet Friday July 27 with US
Attorney's Office


Frankly, I'm getting sick of these top-down decisions from the EFF and
I'm wondering when the EFF is going to learn. As we saw Monday,
negotiations are far more effective when there are external pressures
to reach some conclusion. One comparatively easy way to generate these
pressures is to hold a protest. Delaying protest until after
negotiations can make the people you're negotiating with uncertain as
to the size and dedication of the movement.

Maybe it's a good idea to hold a protest before Friday. Maybe it
isn't. I don't even know if anyone has the energy to organize and
attend two protests in the same week. But it seems to me that the
unilateral no-protest pronouncements from the EFF this weekend and
again today show complete disdain for the opinion of anyone who
doesn't work in the EFF office. The decision to protest should be left
to the protestors. The input of the EFF is of course welcome, but they
simply cannot make the decision themselves.

Now, don't get me wrong. The money I've sent to the EFF is some of the
best money I've ever spent. But it seems clear that the EFF, while
very good at litigation and negotiation, has no clue when it comes to
grassroots[1] movements or democratic decision making. It annoyed me
the first time; it's pissing me off now; next time, I'll probably be
angry. And the factionalism that that would cause is totally
unnecessary.

mike

[1] grassroots. adj: of or involving the common people as constituting
    a fundamental politico-economic group; "a grassroots movement for
    nuclear disarmament"

On Wed, Jul 25, 2001 at 01:04:15PM -0700, Will Doherty wrote:
> EFF respectfully requests that protesters hold off
> protests until after we make a good faith attempt
> at negotiations aimed at dropping all charges against
> Dmitry Sklyarov and securing his immediate release
> from jail.

--
// mike castleman, mlc67 at columbia.edu
// cell: +1 (646) 382-7220
// "facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." - aldous huxley