There's no ism to describe my politics. On July 31, the whole ruckus will descend on Philadelphia, haunting the coronation of George W. Bush. Turtles will join forces with Teamsters, hip-hoppers with Greens. From this principle flows everything that makes the new wave of activism distinct. Here's a scene that could never have happened in the '60s.
Police bear down on demonstrators chained together in the street.
The response is to take a vote. If everyone consents, the action is on. If anyone objects, the protesters walk away. This emphasis on process sometimes painful to behold has the advantage of putting real conviction behind the risks activists must take in this era of rubber bullets and hose-fed pepper spray. It also embodies an organizing strategy that can reconcile the postmodern sense of personal freedom with the pre-war idea of a popular front.