Oshkosh Actions Against the War . . . lately reported

Weevil, 25.04.2008 01:36

A time line, open letter, and a report back regarding actions against the war that occurred in Oshkosh.

Time line . . .

March 24th — The CEO of Oshkosh Corporation, Robert Bohn, arrived at the Oshkosh Country Club to give a presentation to the future business leaders of the world finding a message for him painted across the front entrance and door. It read 'You're Days Are Numbered Bohn (A).'

March 31st — It was reported that early in the morning the intersection of Highway 21 and Sawyer Avenue was blockaded. Dumpsters and their contents, along with other debris, were strewn across the intersection effectively blocking it for morning rush hour traffic. An altered road sign was placed in front of the toppled dumpsters reading 'Road Closed Due to War.'

March 31st — Two banners were spotted within the city of Oshkosh. One was hanging from a security fence in front of an Oshkosh Corporation Defense factory. It read 'Oshkosh Says Fuck the War Truck.' The other was hung on a guard rail overlooking Highway 41. It read 'End the Slaughter in Iraq.'

March 31st — Around a dozen people gathered at the headquarters of Oshkosh Corporation dressed as robots. They were accompanied by a shopping cart fashioned into an Oshkosh Truck which was devouring a young child while robot techno was blasting out of its mouth. The people played games and danced for a little over an hour bringing laughs, frowns, and looks of intense frustration and disgust to the faces of Oshkosh Corporation employees and police alike.


Open Letter / Call to Action . . .

Today the call was made for people of the Oshkosh community to assemble in defiance of the Oshkosh Corporation because of their practice of amassing wealth through participation in broad campaigns of war, death, and misery, as well as their gross disregard for the community they inhabit and take their name from.

We are citizens of this community. We are friends and family of the 'low level' workers at the Oshkosh Corporation. We care for them as you care for your own. These are not jobs that will be long term benefactors; they are short term at best. The workers of Oshkosh Corporation have poor union representation; their unions do not function in terms of facilitating an avenue for an increase in worker's rights, benefits, and wages, but in terms of amassing wealth for an elite few.

Robert Bohn, CEO of Oshkosh Corporation has seen his salary rise nearly eightfold in direct correlation to the rise and escalation of the war in Iraq. His pay has risen from $1.1 million to an astonishing $18 million in 2005. Anyone can safely assert that Robert's pay is nothing compared to that of Oshkosh Corporation's low level workers. They grind away, daily trading their days for meager wages while members of the board and Robert Bohn sit comfortably in their mansions profiting off of their own workers and the people that are invariably affected by the machines they create (i.e. Iraqis, specifically dead ones and their family members).

Oshkosh Corporation has a vested interest in being cast as benign. In truth, they are a malignant curse upon this city. Because of this corporations operation in this city it puts all of the residents in much graver danger in the possibility of a terrorist attack.

They tell us their military trucks are needed because this is an unpredictable and dangerous world, but it is because companies like Oshkosh Corporation make it so. They funnel wealth and resources from the poor of the world and their own communities into the hands of the rich and elite.

Oshkosh corporation has never given anything substantial back to the members of this community. Their plants are some of the biggest contributers to air pollution in Oshkosh. Their trucks are used to destroy communities that more closely resemble ours than the rich enclaves of mansions where Robert Bohn and his friends live. They are not good for this community nor any community throughout the world.

A call is being made against Oshkosh Corporation and all others who profit off of misery, death and destruction. So the board members and elites may know that lurking behind every corner, in every shadow, are people that refuse to follow their orders, that refuse to break their backs to make them rich.

Robert and friends, keep looking over your shoulders, we will not stop. The cycle of hungry children will keep on going round until we burn the multi-nationals to the ground.

Signed,

Some Wisconsin anarchists


A report back . . .

On March 31st a dozen or so people assembled in front of the Oshkosh Corporation headquarters in Oshkosh, WI. The event was largely a success in terms of raising consciousness and spirits of those involved. People gathered at the front of the headquarters where robot masks were distributed and coffee and bagels were handed out. The robots then made their way to the Oshkosh Corporation Plaza (Corporate offices made to look benign by being placed in a strip mall) just north of the headquarters.

There they slowly made their way around the entire strip mall stopping and dancing in front of each corporate window. As the first window was approached an overly nervous security guard looked incredibly agitated about 100 feet down the side walk. As the robots slowly and very mechanically made their way towards him he slowly slithered back into the building.

The robots then circled up and decided to play a game of bombs and shields. Which chaotically lasted for about five to ten minutes. The police and employees were baffled with looks of confusion viewing the intricate game behind their windows.

At each window different reactions and emotions were garnered from different employees and departments. The first reactions were of laughter and joy, a break in their monotonous days of pushing papers for international terrorist organization. The next set of windows held looks of disgust and hatred within them. The employees looked as they might explode from inner angst at any moment. Next they were met with feelings of secrecy and productivity. As the next five windows were approached each accompanying set of shades was drawn quickly. On the fifth set of shades the employee was unable to close the shades as fast, nervously fumbling for a few minutes as the robots shook themselves silly a few feet from his face.

The robots were tailed by a few police cruisers and video taped by a couple of under cover police driving a mini van (their children must play soccer). Some of the robots decided to enter one of the office buildings. As a terrified and trembling employee told them that she is not afraid to call the police two under cover officers exited their mini van. With there hands on their tasers ready to draw. The situation was quickly defused when the robots explained (in binary code of course) that it was all just a misunderstanding.

The robots then turned and made their way back through the plaza and walked the strip mall one more time, dancing and prancing, before dispersing to their perspective home places to charge their battery cells.

The event in and of itself seems to have accomplished little, but when taken and examined from different lights it seems to offer some importance. Firstly, the police stated that they were expecting violence, which led them to being over prepared wasting their time and resources. Police wasting time and resources can be beneficial in many ways. Secondly, everyone involved seemed to have a fun and joyful time. There was much laughter and smiling. This offers a sort of release, especially for people who stressfully work hard on other, sometimes not so fun projects throughout the year. Also, the event seemed to be a sort of team building (can I say that, yes I can) team building exercise. Like minded people having a like minded fun time can build like minded friendships of trust, autonomy, and solidarity.

After the event some people were followed by police. Although many made careful that they were not followed some have been subject of minor police harassment. Police have been snooping around a participants house, leaving a business card with a note, and calling an individual asking to meet. There were also signs of entry into the home (always lock your fucking doors). The police liaison of the group of robots was approached, a few days later, by a man identifying himself as an Oshkosh Corporation employee. Based upon his actions and diction it is believed that the individual is either a police officer or a security official for the Oshkosh Corporation.

There be more said about actions and activities such as this, there are many drawbacks, but there it seemed a positive experience for people involved. For more to come and for more to see and more to breathe. Don't close your eyes.

Some Wisconsin Anarchists,

in the dead of Niuta, Nestor, and Night.