Jane WTO: Women and

Civil Disobedience

Beverly Yuen Thompson, Ph.D.

Women’s Studies & Sociology PresentationFlorida International University

Miami, 2007

Genesis Globalization, social movements, and

women Globalization and women Global Justice Movement fieldwork Focus: female leadership, mass protest

episodes, civil disobedience, and jail resistance

Gender and Globalization Women are the global poor Development money doesn’t trickle down

to women Gender-specific migration Gender-specific industries Cuts in social programs (school/health)

severely impact women and children

The Global Justice Movement

Long history in the global south “IMF riots” Free trade v. Fair trade World trade meetings are closed to the

public The street is the only place for the people

to voice their concerns They are arrested en mass on charges

that are later dropped This intimidates civil participation and

silences the people

Social Movement Theory

Sidney Tarrow: Protests have a life-cycle. There is a “high point of

the wave” that produces the appearance of spontaneous collective action.

Charles Tilly: New tactical innovations are created during these

high points, created on the margins.

Women and Leadership in Social Movements

Women have always been involved in social movements

Historical representations more lacking than the reality

Male leadership emphasized Definitions of leadership normalizes male

models Women participate in high-risk direct

action

Methodology Historical Lineage

Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) Civil Rights Anti-nuclear Global Justice

Ethnography Field research at all major U.S. protests: 1999-2004 Worked with three law collectives during demonstrations Participated in jail solidarity in DC and in LA Interviewed 50 people (arrestees and legal workers)

History The IWW “soap boxing”

Emma Goldman and Mother Jones arrested

History Civil Rights Movement

Rosa Parks arrested

History Anti-nuclear movement

Women’s Peace Camp Katya Komasaruk arrested

Present

The Global Justice Movement

Appears in global north in Seattle 1999 “Teamsters and turtles together at last” Mass demonstrations at each summit Mass arrests jail solidarity used

“Jane WTO” and Jail Solidarity

WTO protests in Seattle, 1999 Around 600 protesters arrested They used “jail solidarity”: or continued direct action to

achieve demands of charges dropped, immediate release, all equal charges

Refused to provide names Physical non-compliance Hunger striking Demand lawyers and jury trials Outside support/publicity

Sarah Kerr: “Jane and John WTO” Jail Solidarity succeeds

Released after five days Nearly all charges dropped City loses court battle two years later and pays fine

Jail Solidarity

Jail Solidarity became the successful new tactic It is utilized at the following national protests:

“A16” IMF/World Bank in DC April 2000 (156 arrests) Republican National Convention in Philly 2000 (~420 arrests) Democratic National Convention in LA 2000 (~56 arrests) School of the Americas in Georgia 2001 (~40) World Economic Forum in NYC in 2002 (~201)

Another round of national protests stops using jail solidarity, becomes less successful and repressed by police

Anti-war protest in DC 2002 IMF/World Bank in DC 2002 Republican National Convention in NYC 2004

Jail Solidarity Questions

Is our freedom of speech really protected? Are women and racial minorities represented in

leadership positions? What is the jail solidarity experience? What is the final outcome?

Freedom of Speech The state’s response to large-scale

demonstrations at globalization summits has been to mass arrest, clear the streets, and then release protesters and drop the charges.

Pre-emptive arrests Sweeping arrests Designated “free speech zones” Charges later dropped/cities lose civil suits

Police Violence

Weapons on the streets Tear gas Rubber bullets Concussion grenades Batons

Philly—Eli: “Brutality in the jails”

LA— Jane Doe Statement: “Ramparts Police Station action”

The Women’s Jail Experience

Vanessa: “It was the first time we went into the holding cell for court and

it was standing room only, so packed. We walked in there…” (2001).

Eli: “We’re developing amazing communication skills for being in

isolated cells. The women were really trying to communicate…” (2002).

Law Collectives

Law collectives: Are comprised of volunteer activists Provide a liaison between lawyers and arrestees Provide pre-protest trainings on civil disobedience,

jail solidarity, and “know your rights” trainings. Provide legal support during the protest, in the

streets, establish an office to take calls from jail Assist in organizing the legal defense and court visits Conduct the follow-up work, often taking years with

court dates of defendants and filing civil suits against the city and police.

From mobile legal collective to social movement of law collectives

Gender and Race Global Justice Movement has good

representation of women in all levels of involvement.

Global Justice Movement has poor representation of racial/ethnic minorities.

Martinez (2002) estimates 5%. Globalization disproportionately affects people of

color, yet northern movement mostly white. Movement refers to itself as white. Interviewees mostly white.

The Future of Jail Solidarity Participation Outcomes

Brought attention to Global Justice issues Often life transforming experience for activists Education on prison industrial complex Potentially provides links between prisoners and

activists with resources May cultivate connection between Global Justice and

prison abolitionist movements. “Chris”

End of Cycle Authorities are able to counteract jail solidarity Social movements become more grassroots, community

based, move away from summit hopping. “Dee”

Have you ever been to the D.C. jailAt the very, very bottom of the justice system? There you’ll find quite a few resisters, Who go by the name of Jane. If you do, that’s us, We’re Jane Doe. We crossed the line, got pepper sprayedand now we’re in cell 48, Solidarity. It’s working!

--Jane Doe (Washington DC 2000)