Training for 99 Percent Spring planned in three Peninsula towns

Published 12:01 am Friday, April 13, 2012

Seminars in nonviolent, direct action as part of the nationwide 99 Percent Spring Training is planned in three venues on the North Olympic Peninsula on Saturday.

The free training is planned in Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Townsend.

Participants can register at www.the99spring.com.

Port Angeles training will be from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., while the Sequim training is a half-day session from noon to 3 p.m.

The Port Angeles training will be at Peabody and Seventh streets, with the exact address provided upon registration.

The Sequim session will be in the Meadowbrook neighborhood of the Dungeness area close to Nash’s Grocery. Here, too, the exact address will be provided upon registration.

The Port Townsend session will be from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2333 San Juan Ave. It is sponsored by the fellowship’s Social Justice Committee.

Participants are asked to bring their own sack dinner and a dessert to share.

National movement

The training is part of the 99 Percent Spring, a movement launched Feb. 15 by a coalition of more than 60 organizations to “change the direction of our country from one that favors the few at the expense of the 99 percent,” according to the website at www.the99spring.com, which says 980 training sessions are planned nationwide.

Those who attend will learn the history of nonviolent, direct action, especially its effectiveness during the Civil Rights era, the techniques for successful actions and how it can be applied to today’s issues.

“At this meeting, activists will be trained in nonviolent, direct action and connect with others in our community to take back our country for the 99 percent,” said Andrea Radich one of the organizers of the training sessions in Clallam County, which are hosted by Clallam County MoveOn.org.

“We join others nationwide to stand up for the 99 percent,” she added, saying the movement was inspired by Occupy Wall Street.

‘Break the 1 percent’

“It is through a massive undertaking like this that we can break the 1 percent domination on virtually every aspect of our society from business to government.

“We will train the 99 percent to take the country back for the 100 percent.”

For more information on Port Townsend training, phone Dianne Diamond at 360-385-2341.

For more information on sessions in Clallam County, phone Radich at 360-461-5789.