In the Streets Vs. Police Violence by Barbara Joye

In the Streets Vs. Police Violence By Barbara Joye

by lone gunmen. “We want to end a race war, not start one,” read one Atlanta protester’s sign. Five days of unrelentingly energetic and massive rallies and marches (from 1,000 to 10,000 participants) in public spaces including Centennial Park, Lenox Square and the governor’s mansion, as well as street blockages, resulted in Mayor Kasim Reed and Police Chief George Turner agreeing to meet with protest leaders July 18. The results of the meeting were inconclusive, as it Friday’s march steps off, led by Georgia. NAACP President was not held the way the Reverend Francys Johnson and others. Photo: Steve Eberhardt. mayor and protestors had agreed to. Protests continue. Organizers uly brought a wave of outrage and mourning over the included Black Lives deaths of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling at the hands Matter, Rise Up GA, Malcom X Grassroots Movement, Atlanta of police, following many others local and national – Anthony University Center Shut It Down, Atlanta Black Students United, Hill, Kevin Davis, Nick Thomas, Freddie Grey, Walter L. Scott, Fight for $15, Southerners on New Ground, Freedom University, Alexia Christian, to name just a few, and many who remain the NAACP and Standing Up for Racial Justice. unknownJ to the public – as well as sorrow for the killings Bail money is needed for some 25 peaceful protesters of five policemen in Dallas and three in Baton Rouge, both selected for arrest apparently randomly by police, including peace marshals. Send funds to the Georgia Civil Disobedience Fund. Long-time peace and justice activist Kevin Moran’s vulnerable shoulder was injured when police refused to listen to his pleas to be cuffed in front, with the result that he spent 16 hours shackled to a bed at Grady. See the MADSA Facebook page for a moving videoed statement by Kevin from his hospital bed. Left: MADSA member Megan Harrison serving as a legal observer for the Thanks to MADSA members: Daniel Hanley, Travis National Lawyer’s Guild. Right: Teamster local 728 (which includes MADSA Reid, and Dougie “the Abolitionist” for dispatches from members) turned out at Centennial Park July 10 in honor of their fallen brother Teamster Philando Castile. Photos: Steve Eberhardt the field; Tim t Franzen for collecting bail money; and to Megan Harrison for serving as a legal observer with the www.dsa-atlanta.org Lawyers’ 1 Guild. November Summer 20132016 vv EQUALITYEQUALITY Election Fever: Still Feeling the Bern and Thinking Locally By Barbara Joye

SA and its local affiliates are 501 (C) 4 nonprofit org- for New Directions, and Atlanta Jobs anizations (not a political party), meaning that we may With Justice. lobby or participate in electoral activity within limits and The outstanding recent example of are bound by terms of the Citizens United decision. National member initiative is the leadership DSA endorsed the independent group People for Bernie and several members, notably Daniel sponsoredD a “We Need Bernie” campaign (see dsausa.org). Hanley and Megan Harrison, have DSA’s National Political Committee issued “talking points” shown in helping to birth Georgians in May on how members should engage in electoral activities for Bernie Sanders and working hard following the presidential primaries, though individual in this independent campaign. Hanley members may disagree. For example, the NPC does not endorse Renitta Shannon also organized a van for 10 Bernie “Bernie or bust” but rather its priority is “dump the racist delegates, alternates and supporters Trump, build the left from the grassroots up.” The NPC will to attend the Democratic National issue a more formal statement following the party conventions. Convention in Philadelphia, which is taking place as we go to See national DSA’s Democratic Left blog (dsausa.org) for posts print. At a “Progressive Town Hall Meeting” hosted by State Sen. commenting on the election from a variety of viewpoints. Vincent Fort, also a delegate, on July 16, about 50 supporters Our members are free to support candidates as individuals, gave the delegates suggestions for issues to raise and learned of and are encouraged to do so – whether for viable independents a T-shirt initiative designed to make four of those issues visible and third party candidates, or progressive Democrats. They from the floor of the convention (photo, lower left). also participate in nonpartisan voter registration and get-out- Several candidates for local office have addressed our the-vote activities organized by local sister groups such as the membership meetings and recruited volunteers from our Coalition for the People’s Agenda, Georgia Women’s Action ranks during the past two years, including Jim Nichols (a DSA member who ran a strong though losing race for state representative from Henry County last year), State Senators Vincent Fort and Nan Orrock, Justin Holsomback (running this Nov. in House District 24 – Kennesaw and Marietta), Janine Brown (ran for House District 59) and Renitta Shannon (House District 84). We are thrilled that Renitta won her primary and faces no Republican opposition, so will strengthen the ranks of a small but vital progressive minority in the Georgia legislature. Check the media for news of DSA members in state races elsewhere: Debbie Medina (NY Senate), Mike Sylvester (ME House), Rob Frisina Delegates display their message garb for the Democratic National Convention. (OR State House),t Ed Clark (VT State House), and many progressive candidates whom Bernie Sanders supports. Socialist Dialogue: Precarious Work

Our Socialist Dialogue April 24 addressed “The Precariat: Work Without Predictability or Security,” a problem many in the audience recognized from first-hand experience. Education Committee Chair Ray Miklethun (far right) and moderator Steve Wise (second from right) introduced labor lawyer Debra Schwartz (second from left), who brilliantly summarized the state of workers’ legal rights in the U.S. and in Georgia by stating “they suck” and supplying specifics. Child care worker, Fight for 15 and Black Lives Matter activist Dawn O’Neal (third from left) followed by eloquently reviewing the Fight for $15 and a Union and other aspects of current workers’ struggles, and Teamster Local 728’s Organizingt Director Ben Speight shared many insights on organizing in the current political climateEQUALITY and the v importanceSummer 2016 of a strong labor movement. 2 www.dsa-atlanta.org Based on reports by MADSA at the People’s Summit Daniel Hanley

ive MADSA members were among some 3,000 activists movement, but we must resist this tendency. Piven drew from more than 40 organizations who came together in parallels between strategies required by the abolitionist Chicago June 17-19 for the People’s Summit – a weekend of movements and labor movements with those required networking, workshops and inspiring speakers, with a view today to demand a living wage and debt-free education. to taking Bernie Sanders’ “people’s revolution” to the next She expressed concern that our movement’s energy will be level.F One hundred DSA members attended. subsumed by electoral politics. See the MADSA Facebook page for videos,(L–R) photos Daniel and On Sunday, June 19, the People’s Summit celebrated summaries of many of the presentations by Hanley, Daniel Megan Hanley. “Juneteenth,” an African American tradition remembering Harrison, Barbara the day when slaves in Texas learned that they were free. Joye, Cecily McMillan, Adam One of the strong speakers that morning was Heather Cardo. Not shown: McGhee, president of the progressive nonprofit Demos. She David Littman, argued that white people must come to understand that Athens, GA, DSA. white supremacist ideology is oppressive to all working and Yvette Carnell, Atlantan marginalized people, to varying degreesand – evenfounder toof the white blog “Breaking Brown” http://www.breaking- brown.com , offers her insightful perspective and requests support for her media work. Photo: Daniel Hanley Some highlights: National Nurses United (NNU) chair RoseAnn DeMoro told us that our struggles are connected, and we must not work in isolation, but turn out – not just online, but in communities and in the streets – for one another’s causes. NNU, a major Bernie supporter from the labor movement, was the leading workers, who have a relative, unjust advantageThe Half Has – and Never we organizer and funder of the Summit. Beenall must Told: overcome Slavery it and if we American are to rise Capitalism together as a demos At a regional break-out session, Georgia, Florida, and (people). She cited Edward Baptist’s Mississippi activists discussed our strategies for carrying , compelling the political revolution forward and supporting each other’s research that shows the entire capitalist system, from struggles. the development of automation to sophisticated financial In a plenary on “Our Movement Moment,” DSA honorary systems, was largely dependentJacobin on slave labor production. chair Frances Fox Piven urged: “We need to threaten not See her talk here. to cooperate.” Movements “breathe fire” and “threaten MADSA joined with the t reading group to host a ungovernability.” Political parties and their patronage well-attended report-back from Summit attendees at our Maynetworks willDay try to extinguishFestival our spark by absorbing the Socialist Dialogue, June 26.

he May Day/International Workers’ Day festival organized by Atlanta Jobs with Justice and other labor and community groups – the first such event aiming to bring together Atlanta’s progressive community on that historic date – drew a good crowd despite some showers. MADSA members staffed an informationT table and helped portray important U.S. labor leaders whose courage and persistence enabled many achievements we take for granted, such as the eight-hour day. See Milt Tambor’s essay on the history of May Day in the spring “Equality” newsletter. In conjunction with the festival, MADSA also sponsored a photography show, “Activism in Atlanta,” at the First Existentialist Congregation in Candler Park. The show, on display during May, featured works by some of Atlanta’s best street photographers: coordinator Reid Freeman Jenkins; L–R: Bob “Big Bill Haywood” Wolhueter, Adrian “Cesar Chavez” Bernal, Judy “Mother Jones” Wolhueter, David “Albert Parsons” Christian, and Gary Jim Alexander; Cindyt Brown; Steve Eberhardt; Manuel “A Phillip Randolph” Washington. Photo: Luz Wright Llaneras; and Lorraine Fontana. Thanks to the Congregation forwww.dsa-atlanta.org their hospitality! 3 Summer 2016 v EQUALITY Housing Justice League Fights for Renters’ Rights By Greg Ames

n July 12, 2016 the Housing Justice League (HJL, formerly Occupy Our Homes Atlanta) held a press conference to announce the existence of a rental emergency in Atlanta. Recovery from the 2008 recession has resulted in a burst of redevelopment. This development has served to drive up rents, Oreduce the number of low-income rental units, and highlight the lack of housing safety nets for low-income families. HJL called for: • A more accurate measure of low income that would require developers to charge a truly affordable rent for units they are required by local governments to set aside for low-income families. • Better protection of renter rights to include just-cause evictions, more humane eviction policies, and for displaced tenants the right to be the first to accept or refuse new that current legislation ignores. Council members Andre housing units that are built to replace theirs. Dickens and Natalyn M Archibong indicated their eagerness • A property tax abatement program. to follow up on HJL’s list of needs. Senator Vincent Fort • Equitable thand sensitive code enforcement. stated that he wanted to include HJL demands in a Renter’s On July 19 a public hearing was held at City Hall in Bill of Rights he hopes to introduce in the next session oft the response to the HJL press conference. Over one hundred state legislature. attendees were present to hear a dozen rental horror stories To support the HJL’s demands, sign their petition here. Connecting at the July Membership Meeting

The new Coalition and Communications Organizer for Atlanta Raise Up, Jaira Burke, and Kate Sanlis and Amanda Plum of the new Atlanta chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) introduced themselves and their organizations to our members and friends at the Open Door Community July 23. Atlanta Raise Up conducts the Fight for $15 and a Union, which MADSA strongly supports. SURJ, a national DSA affiliate, organizes white people to fight racism through education and activism that is accountable to black leadership. Recently elected State Representative Renitta Shannon shared her success story with us, Daniel Hanley reported on Bernie delegates planning to attend the Democratic Party Convention, and other speakers informed us of local campaigns and Jaira Burke of Atlanta Raise Up/Fight for $15 inspires us and invites us to a low-wage workers’ convention in Richmond, VA Aug. 12-13. Photo: Reid coming events. Our meetingst are a great way to learn more Freeman Jenkins about democratic socialism, MADSA activities, and the Atlanta progressive community. Amy Goodman in Atlanta Officer Elections

he night of May 3 was a special treat e will be electing as we co-sponsored “Democracy new MADSA officers in America” producer Amy Goodman’s at our September meeting talk and book signing that benefited and invite YOU to nominate Tcommunity radio station WRFG. Amy Wyourself or someone else and her collaborator Denis Moynihant willing and able to help lifted the spirits of a packed house at carry on our work. Please (L to R) Minnie Ruffin, Reid Jenkins and theBarbara First Joye. Iconium Photo: BaptistLorraine FontanaChurch. contact our nominating committee chair Bob Caine EQUALITY v Summer 2016 4 at [email protected] www.dsa-atlanta.org Moral Monday Revival By Lorraine Fontana

or those of us hoping the Moral Monday Georgia coalition/ movement would re-emerge, the Revival that took place May 23 at St. Mark’s Methodist Church in Midtown was a hopeful event. Could this be the beginning of a re-boot of MMGA? Maybe. FThe definite religious, faith-based underpinnings of this gathering (after all, it was a “revival”) were on display as many clergy from various religions and spiritual traditions were on hand – either to speak or to be present for the consecration at the end of the revival. I myself call it a Love Fest, as that is what I felt was most present throughout the evening – in all its forms, and offered through words, music, movement, compassionate listening and responding, hugging and laying on of hands. . . . Photos by Steve Eberhardt (below) and Lorraine Fontana (above) The Rev. Barber, NAACP Board member and leader of the (Everyone was invited Moral Monday North Carolina movement, stated his opinion to sign a pledge of support (which many of us agree with) that the policies being passed for the revived movement, in too many Southern (and other) legislatures are “morally including the option of indefensible, constitutionally inconsistent, and economically attending a training and insane.” He asked “hasn’t someone been hurting our brothers participating in three and sisters far too long?” – YES! actions, as yet unspecified, In addition to Rev. Dr. William Barber, we heard from Rev. on Mondays in September. James Forbes, senior pastor emeritus at Riverside Church in MADSA was an active NYC, and Rev. Dr. Francys Johnson, president of the Georgia member of Moral Monday NAACP and key MMGA leader. GA in 2014-15, as we A group of folks were called up to the stage to deliver pieces staged weekly rallies of their individual stories – each one having experienced and civil disobedience to hardship/struggle due to their identity or position in our pressure the Georgia legislature on several key issues, including broken system. All who spoke and witnessed were called to the necessity to expand Medicaid. Lorraine Fontana, author come up front and join hands in a line. of this post, excerpted from a longer report on her Facebook Sponsoring organizations included the American Friends page, was among our members who participated and accepted Service Committee,t Georgia NAACP, New Georgia Project, arrest. Editor The Coalition for the Peoples Agenda, Raise Up ATL, Athens for Everyone. – ) Solidarity with Verizon Workers

everal MADSA members joined Atlanta Jobs with Justice and the Communications Workers of America on a picket line May 5 supporting the CWA’s strike againstt Verizon to demand a fair contract, in coordination with similar actions Sacross the country. The strike ended in victory!

Adam Cardo (2nd from left) and Joel Solow (center) with CWA strikers May 5. www.dsa-atlanta.org 5 Summer 2016 v EQUALITY

EQUALITY author.the by preview a for 7 p. See 30306. Ave.NE, DeLeon affordable Ponce Door,910 Open the at pm am-1 11 preserve Atlanta. downtown in housing to Community Door Open the by – won and – led fight Politics,” Prophetic as Occupation Hotel Imperial The Chain: of author Easton, Terry speaker: Featured 24 Sept. (everyoneMeeting Membership welcome!) Express to Conversation. https://www.createspace.com/5350802 How Face-to-Face a Communication: in Solidarity Interpersonal of View published has Markel Norman co-founder MADSA Norm: byMore One Fund. Disobedience CivilGeorgia the benefit will Proceeds conditions. inhumane in held color of an now is She reunion.people overwhelminglylow-income – prisoners foradvocate OWS an at her assaulted actually notorious had who policeman York’s a assaulting allegedly for Prison Riker’s New in three months for jailed and convicted leading be only to Street, a Wall Occupy at became activist Democratic and Young Atlanta Socialists the and joined Texas she Beaumont, up in growing after how, recalls book Memoir American of publication 4 Atlanta’s in Johnnie Avenue, member at 13 Aug. Sat. Martinez’s fabulous new Georgia Beer Garden, 250 Edgewood am, pm-1 7 MADSA Join 13 Aug. Party– Book More and Books New Admission $10. Rising local musicians will perform. perform. will musicians local Rising $10. Admission McMillan’s member MADSA “ asn Or ocs Bekn the Breaking Voices, Our Raising v

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the Douglass-Debs Dinner, you welcomes the Nov.at Douglass-Debs Sat. 6:30, 12 fundraiser, and dinner awards annual MADSA’spopular very Nov.– Dinner SaveDouglass-Debs Date: the 12 Megan and Harrison. Free Miklethun to all. Betsey facilitators with follow, will Discussionrights.” men to work for feminism and human activists,made about toinspire film women a and . . 1971. movement to 1966from women’s modern the founded outrageous, who brilliant womenoften the of history buried the “resurrects documentary This Decatur. St., Sycamore 231 Center, Recreation Decatur the at 14 Sun.,Aug. pm, 2 at Angry” She’s When Beautiful “She’s screen will MADSA 14 Aug. Feministon History Film and Dialogue Socialist Atlanta Raise Up) – New York City; Steve Gill – Berlin, much! Berlin, very all and you miss – We NC. co-founder) Asheville, Gill – Stanford (MADSA Dale Steve Markel City; Norman York and, New Germany; – Up) of Raise (formerly Solow Atlanta Joe Chicago; – Adair left Hope and have Carrillo members MADSA Payton- Brandon elsewhere: the struggle to Atlanta continue outstanding some Recently ForgottenNot But Gone tickets. for low 770-313-4628 Tambor, Milt for Contact (discount students). and $50 income dinner. with Great occasion, Ward. Columbus networking and Mike Killer Awardees: Bernie. for founder, and Labor America Workers of Communications director, former Cohen, Larry speaker: Keynote 30313. GA SW, Dr Atlanta, Northside 170 Hill, Castleberry at Loft the at Larry Cohen See our blogs and and blogs our See much more at more much dsa-atlanta.org dsa-atlanta.org and and dsausa.org Killer Mike Render

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EQUALITY kicked this leftist in the heart a few times. Highly recommended.exciting,illuminating, ultimatelyand is book This oil. and money, arms, were with Nationalist fascists forces the flooding the while inaction Roosevelt administration’s damning the impressive and of critique an offers left the for admiration his of secret no makes Hochschild cheer. andstandmakewantandupone to elicits details and which by enlisted, turns and dismay, who horrify, men women heroic the and the leaders of personalities the animates Hochschild intrigue. political and factions many complicated by conflict a understanding to of S Hochschild Adam By Hearts Our in Spain programvoucherhousing. for federal the in increase substantial a secondly, and evictions their fight can tenants that so services legal increased offer toregainpath license. the nursing on his him lifeputs his and stabilize to helps This rate.reasonable a at apartment decent governmentThe provides also a habit. controltohim his able who lost his nursing license. Once he gets on methadone he is property.the condemns city the if displaced be also mayThey place. another finding from them recordhinders whichtheir on is evictionAny police. the with problemany of because evicted also areThey work. the done have they after even evicted get often will and services their by doing in-kind maintenance but they often get paid little for rent pay to try may They evicted. are they due past months several are they once and payments, meeting theyproblems have course, Of left. little is there paid is rent once people these for but income family’s a of third one up take only should housing that constant states Matthew affordableprice. an their for housing rental find to struggle chronicles He and children. without and male with female, white, and black folks low-income in poor befriends and neighborhoods lives Matthew Desmond author The Wisconsin. E Desmond Matthew By Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City ReviewsBook The author offers two solutions to this problem. One is to is One problem. this to solutions two offers author The addict drug male a of story positive one has author The of rental housing in Milwaukee,in housing rental of victed Civil war, is written in broad, vivid strokes,pain in Ouradding Hearts a measure is an ethnographic study ethnographic an is v

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day-laborers and-despair-atlantas-african-american-latino-and-white- http://southernspaces.org/2007/geographies-hope- Despair”): and Hope of (“Geographies Page7 rentercrisisatl s-renter-s-state-of-emergency- https://start2.occupyourhomes.org/petitions/atlanta- Page 4(“petitionhere”): EQUALITY_ SPRING_16.pdf?1462716638 pages/23/attachments/original/1462716638/ https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/dsaatlanta/ https://vimeo.com/171331397 Page 3:(“here” and“ electoral_work_between_may_and_ november_2016) http://www.dsausa.org/talking_points_for_ dsa_s_ Page 2 disobedience-fund https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/ georgia-civil- Page 1(“Georgia Civil Disobediance Fund”): RALLY AGAINST Georgia Peace Georgia Coalition &Justice ENDLESS WAR photographers, Steve Eberhardt, Lorraine Fontana, DanielHanley. http://www.georgiapeace.org Join Us – Bring your own Links referred to in articles: in referredto Links

(“talking points”): contributers, especially our contributers, especially NO to Endless War! toEndless NO Every Wednesday Moreland AvenueMoreland Thank you ofour toall Reid Freeman Jenkins,

9:00–10:00 a.m. & Ponce Leon de signs or use ours and LuzWright. 404-378-5424 Equality ”):