Archive for the ‘USA’ Category
Socialists of America, Unite! on May 1, 2012
Socialists of America, Unite! on May 1, 2012
Reposted from Louis Proyect: the Reluctant Marxist, 12th April 2012
Occupy spreads like wildfire, setting America ablaze. From large cities like New York City and Los Angeles to small towns like Martinsburg, Virginia and Mobile, Alabama, occupiers are consistently organizing, planning, discussing, and taking direct action for the 99%.
Not since the 1960s and 1930s have so many people taken militant action against the state and capital.
No matter what we think of Occupy’s calls for a general strike on May 1, the important thing is that those calls are resonating on a scale not seen since the days of the free speech fights and the call for “One Big Union” by the Industrial Workers of the World.
It is with this in mind that we, the undersigned, call on all socialists, regardless of organizational affiliation or lack thereof, to unite in joint action on May 1, 2012.
In places where there will be large permitted May Day marches like New York City, there will be a multi-tendency contingent with socialists from a variety of organizations and independent socialists as well. In places without May 1 marches, mass meetings or socials to celebrate May Day might be more appropriate.
Regardless what form it takes, on May 1, 2012 we should act together.
To be clear, we are not saying that socialists who are in unions, campus groups, or other organizations leave or separate from the contingents/actions those organizations are planning.
We are saying that whatever locally based action socialists take on May 1 should be united in order to maximize our visibility, impact, and influence.
Any individual or organization may sign this call by emailing may1socialistunity@gmail.com and/or “liking” our Facebook page.
For more information on how to link up with this initiative or organize a joint action in your area, contact may1socialistunity@gmail.com.
Signed*:
Ben Campbell, Occupy Wall Street
Bhaskar Sunkara, Editor, Jacobin magazine
Billy Wharton, Socialist Party USA
Bob Turansky, Solidarity
Clay Claiborne, Venice filmmaker and The North Star
Chris Cutrone, Platypus Society
Chris Maisano, Democratic Socialists of America
Carl Davidson, Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism
Dan La Botz, Solidarity
Jason Schulman, New Politics magazine, Democratic Socialists of America
Fernando Gapasin, Freedom Road Socialist Organization
Manuel Barrera, independent revolutionary socialist
Michael Hirsch, New Politics magazine
Steve Early, Labor journalist, organizer, and member of Newspaper Guild/CWA
Zak, Occupy Wall Street Class War Camp
*Organizations listed for identification purposes only.
Organizational endorsements: John Reed Society; Platypus Affiliated Society
France: The NPA in Crisis
Both the SWP internal communication of 6th February and a commentator on it reffered to the Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste (New Anti-capitalist Party, NPA) in France. It has truely suffered the dramatic decline in membership mentioned. The NPA is particularly significant for those of us who promote a new pluralist radical left and it deserves consideration beyond hostile and misleading soundbites.
We reproduce below an article on the NPA, complete with comments, by Jason Stanley, from the January/February 2012 issue of the US magazine Against The Current, an analytical journal for the broad revolutionary left sponsored by the Solidarity group there. It is a model, for any online discussion, of informed substance, civility, commitment and calm.
France: The NPA in Crisis
— Jason Stanley
FRANCE’S NEW ANTI-CAPITALIST Party (NPA) is in crisis. While only two years ago many on the international left talked about the NPA as one of the brightest lights on an otherwise dim revolutionary horizon, today the Party is hemorrhaging members and struggling to stay afloat. Read the rest of this entry »
Belfast to Boston Via Afghanistan
Eamonn McCann has written a fascinating account of former Royal Ulster Constabulary Officers who urged a legal assault on the Boston Archive in order to settle old scores :
Norman Baxter’s Long Crusade
Well worth reading :
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/02/13/norman-baxters-long-crusade/
Mr Baxter was part of the police team that unsuccessfully investigated the 1998 Omagh Bombing.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8356020.stm
Boston College has undermined all researchers and journalists who rely on confidential sources – Liam Clarke Article
A huge amount has been written about the Boston College Saga – and there is plenty more to come – but Liam Clarke sums up the central issues very well
His full article is here :
We need full open and honest debate on the troubles – that cannot happen when the state uses its power to prosecute people for actions they took during the 1969-98 Northern Ireland war which ended with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
The state is biased and will never – taking the most blatant example – prosecute the people responsible for the murder of fourteen unarmed demonstrators in Derry on Bloody Sunday at the end of January 1972.
The Saville Inquiry Found British Paratroopers Guilty of Murdering 14 Innocent Civilians - Nobody Prosecuted
Ed Moloney offers the example of Patrick McCullough :
http://thebrokenelbow.com/2012/01/16/no-subpoenas-for-patrick-mccullough/
“Be Patient and Never Give up the Struggle” An interview with Tommy McKearney
International Viewpoint has published a stimulating interview with Tommy McKearney,
http://www.tommymckearney.com/Site/Blog/Blog.html
Tommy McKearney - A Patient Revolutionary Socialist
We hope soon to carry a review of Tommy’s recently published book
Goodbye Armalite, Hello Ballot Box?
Tommy welcomes the United Left Alliance Project :
Q: In late 2010 the United Left Alliance came together to contest the February 2011 general elections in Ireland, winning five seats. What is you assessment of the ULA?
TM: The ULA is a positive and progressive development. The fact that organizations of the left have come together at any time is good and that these groups are doing so at this time of capitalist crisis is heartening and encouraging. The ULA has also given some needed visibility to the left through its articulate and high-profile spokespersons such as Richard Boyd Barrett and Joe Higgins.
Asked about Ed Moloney’s “Voices From the Grave” and the British state attack on the Boston College Belfast Project, Tommy says : Read the rest of this entry »
Tomás Ó Flatharta 