NAMBLA Conferences

NAMBLA held chapter meetings and annual conferences. It did not follow the bizarre advice you provide. Had it done so, it would never have been able to do either. Conditions now are worse. But if we take the Vermont State Police at their word, we are under no duty to invent a phony purpose, engage in charades of safetyism, and invite the opposition of neighbors before exercising our constitutional rights. At the very least, this justifies us in not calling undue attention to an activity if we think doing so would make it too dangerous. If MAPCamp was hoping to go under the radar, that was a very reasonable choice, even if they failed to manage it. We are subversives. Subversives hold clandestine meetings to build their movement and organize resistance. I was involved in planning many NAMBLA chapter meetings and one annual conference. We carefully avoided calling attention to these meetings from the police or the general public. Now, as then, our primary political goal should be unifying and organizing the MAP community. In seeking opportunities to meet in person, something our oppression currently makes generally impossible, the technique NAMBLA used is more advisable than ever. It seems to me incompatible with the approach you are advocating. hugzu ;-p