In recognition of Black History Month, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS), hosted a public debate on the meaning of Black history and Black identity in a “post-racial” moment. The debate was held at the cooperative events venue - 2640, this past Saturday, February 10th.
Social movements are emotionally charged. All politics are. Whether one is campaigning door to door for a candidate or rioting in the streets, there are emotional undercurrents beneath every political action. The way those feelings inform what activists do, how they organize, how they sustain themselves, how they come into or leave movements, has not been explored enough in popular discussion of social movements.
Long-time Baltimore activist, Max Obuszewski, sent a letter to NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday in reponse to Scott Simon's piece on the passing of Christopher Hitchens called "Christopher Hitchens' Legacy of Deying Labels." NPR did not publish Obuszewski's letter.
Yesterday, Friday, December 16th, at Fort Meade, twenty-three year old United States Army Private, Bradley E. Manning, stood for an Article 32 hearing. This hearing was the first legal proceeding Manning has faced in the eighteen months since his arrest, in May 2010. Manning is being accused of, “... aiding the enemy; wrongfully causing intelligence to be published on the internet knowing that it is accessible to the enemy; theft of public property or records; transmitting defense information; fraud and related activity in connection with computers; and for violating Army Regulations 25-2 “Information Assurance” and 380-5 “Department of the Army Information Security Program.” (The U.S. Army Military District of Washington, Media Advisory)
On Wed. morning, Dec. 14, 2011, a press conference was called by concerned members of the African American Clergy. It was held in Washington, DC at the National Press Club. Speaking on camera, in this video, are: Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, David DeGraw, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Jr., Sgt. Shamar Thomas and Kevin Zeese.
Tens of thousands shut down the Port of Oakland Wednesday in what has been called a "General Strike". As night fell, police violently attacked protesters who had taken over a foreclosed homeless advocacy building. A U.S. military veteran was among those injured by the police violence. Below is a press release on his situation.
Originally published at Free Speech Radio News
Occupy encampments continue across the country, including in Baltimore, where over the weekend Pan-African theorist Max Rameau gave a teach-in and addressed the General Assembly. Rameau is an organizer with the Take Back the Land movement, which uses direct action to push for community control over land.
Brief Introductions to Some of the Many People at “Occupy Wall Street.”
ROB – A plumber working on the new World Trade Center buildings. He came out to walk with a sign at the park on his lunch break. He is in the Local 1 union.
“This is all truth out here, it’s just gotta be voiced…. You can’t go wrong with the truth…”
“Everybody’s angry right now, you can see it. But I think these are all good people, nobody wants to hurt anybody…”
Long-time peace and social justice activist, Maria Allwine, reports back after a week spent occupying DC's Freedom Plaza, just a few blocks away from the Occupy DC encampment at McPherson Square Park. Allwine sent an email dispatch to Maryland Green Party members and supporters on Tuesday. She agreed to let Indypendent Reader post the dispatch.
