A-Infos (en) US, Boston Anti-Authoritarian Movement BAAM #36 - P. 3 Protestors During the National Governor’s Association + CORI Reform Bill + Reportback from the 10th Assembly of the Northeast Anarchist Network

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer Met by Protestors During the National Governor’s Association 
Meeting by Boston May Day Committee --- Boston, July 10, 2010.- Today, a dramatic protest 
took to the streets of Boston to protest the presence of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer during 
the annual meeting of the National Governor’s Association. Despite torrential rains, a 
two-mile march went from the rally site at Copley Square to the Sheraton Hotel, where the 
governors were meeting. March organizers estimated that over 600 people participated in 
the three-hour rally and march. ---- Demonstrators came from throughout the region, with 
organized transportation coming from Worcester, Fitchburg, Providence, New Haven, New 
London, New York City, Syracuse, Baltimore, Washington DC, Philadelphia and elsewhere.

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CORI Reform Bill Passes in Senate

On Saturday July 31st, the last day of
session for state senate, the long-fought-
for CORI Reform Bill passed. The bill will
decrease the length of time that employers can
view criminal records. Previously the time
limit was set at fifteen years for felonies and
ten years for misdemeanors. Now, records for
felonies will be sealed after ten years, while
misdemeanors will be sealed after five. No
employers will access to sealed records.
Also, job applicants will not have to list
past offenses on their paper application,
although they can still be asked about it in an
interview.
The vote was seen as a vicotry for CORI
reform advocates across the state. A last min-
ute rally was held on Friday, July30th on the
State House steps to help push the measure
through. The Boston Workers Alliance is one
of many organizations that has worked tire-
lessly for this reform. Visit their website at
bostonworkersalliance.org for more updates.

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Reportback from the 10th Assembly of the Northeast Anarchist Network by Dave

Here in Boston from July 16th through
18th was the tenth assembly of the North-
east Anarchist Network. As an organizer of
the assembly, I think things went quite well.
Friday night was a lovely BBQ for no more
than an hour. Socializing was wonderful and
spirits were high, but then came the rain and
hail. The BBQ was promptly moved to an
indoor space of which was appropriated for
the weekend. Music, dancing, socializing and
indoor four-square were on the agenda for the
rest of the evening. Ideally new people and
the folks who got into town early enough had
lots of fun.
After a long night of fun came the long
day of business meetings. The agenda start-
ed with reportbacks from the May Month of
Anarchy(see May’s issue of BAAM), and then
to reportbacks on the IMF, G20 in Toronto, as
well as the US Social Forum. Following this
came a necessary ongoing discussion within
NEAN about dealing with Sexual Assault in
our community(ies). The conversation was
quite productive as were the breakout groups
of which happened to discuss the topic fur-
ther. Then, a delicious lunch was provided by
Boston Food Not Bombs. Then it was back
to business discussing organizing projects
within the Northeast and critical analysis on
NEAN’s role within this organizing. A lot
was talked about including what NEAN can
do to better support organizers in rural com-
munities, politicizing our daily lives, organiz-
ing workplaces and more. Finally breakout
groups happened with subjects like prison
abolition, anti natural gas drilling, etc.
Following Saturdays’ meeting a Boston/
Cambridge scavenger hunt happened along
with retrieving of a well needed supper. Then
suddenly out of nowhere came the roving
dance party and scooped everyone up on the
way to the next event. The dance party roved
through lower Allston up through Allston
Villiage, blocking traffic and giving drivers a
reason to just appreciate their Saturday night.
The final destination was a sober open mic
show of which many musicians involved with
NEAN played.
Socializing is an important part of NEAN
so the weekend was filled with fun parts.
That being said Sunday was Funday! A
day of workshops in the morning and gour-
met meals provided by Cape Cod Food Not
Bombs. Workshops ranged from natural gas,
eco-feminism and self defense, to union orga-
nizing and many more. Then what else but a
trip to the beach end the weekend!
The Northeast Anarchist Network(NEAN)
is a group of autonomous anarchist collec-
tives and groups from Pittsburgh to Portland
that work on projects, network, meet and so-
cialize with one another. Generally the net-
work meets in person twice a year and sub re-
gional assemblies are ideally held semi often
as well. These meetings are not for making
decisions as those are up to the autonomous
collectives to consent upon but for discuss-
ing proposals, projects, and policies that will
await consensus.
NEAN does a plethora of things from
working on projects as the entire Northeast
such as the May Month of Anarchy to talk-
ing about local projects and intersection and
ideas that we can share with other collectives.
Networking with other groups is an obvious
goal as well. Socializing is also one of the
most astounding things that has come out of
NEAN in that forming interpersonal friend-
ships have blossomed and lead to amazing
organizing projects. A clear example of how
NEAN has proven itself was for the G20 in
Pittsburgh. Having people in NEAN with in-
terpersonal connections to those organizers
on the ground in Pittsburgh proved to be a
huge benefit to the mobilization as a whole.
That being said at least here in Boston many
of us have a greater comradeship with people
in Pittsburgh than with folks within our own
communities.
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