BY GRAHAM MATTHEWS
MELBOURNE — After considerable debate, the Melbourne M1 Alliance resolved on March 20 to elect marshals from among its ranks to coordinate its planned May 1 blockade of the city's stock exchange.
The marshals will be given an explicit brief, to: inform blockaders of the plans made by the M1 Alliance and encourage their participation; provide information and training on blockade tactics to blockaders; provide a means of communication and coordination between blockades on the day; facilitate discussion and decision-making by the blockaders; and liaise with first aid and legal teams.
The alliance also explicitly acknowledged the democratic right of individual blockade points to vote to remove particular marshals and elect others. The marshals are to remain accountable to the decisions of the M1 Alliance and the protest as a whole.
In voting to do so, the alliance rejected a counter-motion put by the International Socialist Organisation's Luke Deer, who argued that marshals should act as communicators only. He criticised the marshals at the S11 blockade of the World Economic Forum, claiming that they acted to "demobilise" blockades, a charge rejected by many at the meeting.
At the same meeting, the M1 Alliance also approved plans for a "convergence rally" of all groups taking action on May 1 and for a march through corporate Melbourne to follow. Times for the convergence and march will be set following further consultation between the Alliance and interested groups.