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Resist Newsletter, Nov-Dec 2007
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Recommended Citation Resist, "Resist Newsletter, Nov-Dec 2007" (2007). Resist Newsletters. 371. https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/resistnewsletter/371 Inside: How We Resist Illegitimate Authority Today
ISSN 0897-2613 • Vol. 16 #6 A Call to Resist Illegitimate Authority November/December 2007 We Can Dance If We Want To RESIST Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary ROBIN CARTON & NoamChom independent journalist Laura Flanders CAROLSCHACHET sky, a RESIST looks beyond mainstream sources to -=; founding member call for accountability and change. ~ adical politics and a and leading critic of US The 40thAnniversary gathering pro- ~ kick-ass party-that imperialism, compares then and vided an opportunity to consider RE- t urns up RESIST's now. Outspoken military resister SIST's roots and impact on movements ·g 00 40th anniversary celebration Camilo Mejia tells his story of for social and economic justice. As the ~ ~ in October, where hundreds conscienti9us objection against the song says, those roots run deep. : ~ heard some of today's leading pro Iraq War that rages beyond the line ~ ~ continued on page eight ~ Q gressive voices discuss grassroots of sight of most Americans. Mandy ~~ activism. And then danced! Carter, strategist and organizer in Inside: :~ This issue of the Newsletter offers the Black, LGBTQ and women's Noam Chomsky ...... p.2 <-S' ]~ a taste of the fun and spirited thinking movements, challenges us to think Camilo Mejia ...... p.4 y~ ~ '½ from that event. You will find remarks and act beyond whatever subgroup 40th Anniversary Photos ...... p. 6 Mandy Carter ...... p. 9 .5 f from our panelists on the question of re of the movement we find ourselves ~ ~ sisting illegitimate authority today-the Bill Fletcher, Jr...... p. 10 ~~ in. For labor activist Bill Fletcher, 0- theme of RESIST since its founding in Jr., the future calls for a new kind Laura Flanders ...... p. 11 ~ f;- 1967 during the Vietnam War. of confederation. And radio and Recent Grant Recipients ...... p.12 ~ ~ E--; ~
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Vol. 16 #6 RESIST Newsletter Pagel Resisting Authority-Then and Now
NOAM CHOMKSY issue embarrassingly mild protests against the war. The protests then t's 40 years since we issued the "Call to were mostly against the bombing Iresist illegitimate authority." I thought of North Vietnam which was bad at the time that it was quite an appropri enough, but a side show. The main ate and powerful document, despite some attack was against South Vietnam, reservations that I had about the title of the it always was. document. When we talk about "resisting illegitimate authority," it presupposes that Activism Today illegitimate authority is somehow an odd , om h m The circumstances are quite ity, that the norm is legitimate authority. different now, and in many ways We should really look at it the other way much improved. Repression today Noam Chomsky participated in RESIST's 40th Anniversary around. Authority is illegitimate, it has to celebration. Photo by Anh Dao Kolbe may be wiretapping, but it's not prove itself, and it very rarely can. The political assassination and mass burden of proof is on authority, not on op geting just about everybody: Puerto Rican efforts by the political police to posing authority, and that's true in every nationalists, the Socialist Workers Party, the destroy any popular movement. There's a aspect of life. incipient women's movement, all the black war, a terrible war, but it's not a half a mil The title of "the Call" made sense at the movements, the entire New Left. lion troops and 60,000 or 70,000 Korean time because the idea of resisting authority One of the unfortunately unforgettable and Thai mercenaries wiping out South was pretty much on the margin. In 1967, early moments in RESIST was when a Vietnam and then going on later to destroy there wasn't much of a sense of challeng couple of board members flew to Chicago continued on page three ing institutions, but rather mostly kind of a in 1969 just to be present at the funeral for cultural challenge-to do things differently, Fred Hampton. He was the black organizer or to be a hippie or something like that. In who was assassinated in a literal Gestapo contrast, the idea of actually challenging style assassination set up by the FBI and existing institutions and their behavior was implemented by the Chicago poijce. But the pretty remote from consciousness. crime elicited far too little concern. Repres sion was severe, there was a war going on, The Roots of RESIST and in effect RESIST itself was focused Nowadays things look pretty ugly in primarily on resistance to the war. many ways, but it looked a lot worse in The war itself had already been going 1967. By then, the effectiveness of the civil on for years by then. There was so little ILLEGITIMATI AUTIIORlff rights movement as a mass popular move protest that people don't even remember ,...,.,,, W;t-..( ~ ~ "61 ment ran aground when it addressed ques when it started as an actual war, rather For Information and grant guidelines, write to: tions of class. When the focus shifted from than repression, subversion and the like. RESIST, 259 Elm St., Suite 201 racist sheriffs in Alabama to hit privilege That was 1962, when John F. Kennedy Somerville, MA 02144 www.reslstlnc.org;[email protected] and power, it quickly collapsed. It's worth sent the U.S. Air Force to start bombing recalling that Martin Luther King was as South Vietnam, initiated chemical warfare Resist Newsletter is published six times a sassinated when he was planning to lead a programs to destroy crops, livestock and year by RESIST, Inc., (617)623-5110. The views expressed in articles, other than edi ground cover. That's a major war. By 1965 Poor People's Movement, something that torials, are those of the authors and do not was not acceptable. the war had in fact expanded. The U.S. was necessarily represent the opinions of the At the time we issued the "Call to re starting to bomb North Vietnam. But even RESIST staff or board. sist," the civil rights movement had pretty then protest was very limited. well disappeared. There was barely the The first major public protest against RESIST Staff: Robin Carton Yafreisy Mejia the war was October 1965, the first in beginning of a feminist movement. There Carol Schachet was no environmental movement, and no ternational day of protest. We did have one talked about issues like gay rights. a demonstration at the Boston Common, RESIST Interns: Alex Hart Repression at that time was far more se a rally at the Boston Common, or rather Malika McCray vere than it is today. There's nothing now intended to. It was just broken up violently Jean Smith by students, among others. You couldn't like COINTELPRO, for example. A major Anniversary Queen: Diana Digges ·government operation that ran through four hear a word any speaker was saying. If administrations, mainly Kennedy, Johnson, you listened to the radio that day or read Newsletter Editor: Carol Schachet and Nixon, COINTELPRO was carried out the Boston Globe the next day it was full of Printing: Red Sun Press O ~ by the national political police, the FBI, tar- bitter denunciations ofpeople who dared to Printed on Recycled Paper with Soy lnlc
Pagel RESIST Newsletter November/December 2007 Resisting Authority-Then and Now continuedfrom pag_e two most of the rest of Indo-China. At the time we issued the "Call to resist," Unlike Vietnam, the Iraq War is the first one in the history of western imperialism the civil rights movement had pretty well as far as I can recall where there was mass popular protest before the war was even disappeared. There was barely the officially launched. And it continues, not beginning of a feminist movement. There at a level that \Ye'd all like to see, but way beyond the level of any comparable stage was no environmental movement, and no of the Vietnam War. The situation now is one in which we one talked about issues like gay rights. can think seriously about resisting authority
tern of corporate power at home, something that was almost unimaginable in the 1960s but is taking place now in many ways. That brings me t9 my second example. The main concern of people at home for a long time has been the health care system, which is a total catastrophe. A majority of the population for decades has been in favor of national health care, perhaps something like extending Medicare to the whole population, which would be far more efficient. Despite popular support, such a notion has never even arisen in a political cam Camilo Mejia (left) and Noam Chomsky (right) consider Mandy Carter's analysis during the RESIST paign. As recently as 2004, if it was even panel. Photo by Anh Dao Kolbe mentioned, health care reform was called across a broad spectrum. When you take a ity, Americans and Iranians agree that the "politically impossible" or "lacking po look at the country now, I suspect that ifyou whole region should be a nuclear weapons litical support''-meaning it doesn't matter counted noses, there's much more activism free zone, including Iran, Israel, and any how much the population wants it because than there was in the '60s. It's separated into American forces deployed there. An even the insurance companies are against it, and atomized small groups, but it's there. And higher percen~ of Americans ( over 80 per the pharmaceutical companies are against in fact we can see even in intensive studies cent) believe that the United States should it. That's not true anymore. Now there's of public opinion how deep it is. By now live up to its legal requirement under the enough popular pressure so that candidates both political parties are way to the right nonproliferation treaty and move to elimi have to at least say something about it, of the population on a host of major issues, nate all of its nuclear weapons. About the maybe not the right things, but something. crucial issues, which means that there is a same percentage think there should be no There is again a population ready to be basis for organizing resistance to authority, threats against Iran, but rather the pursuit organized, ready to understand that the is the authority that shouldn't exist. Let me of normal relations. sue is not just a rotten health care system. give you two examples. Well, that's the public opinion, but every Rather, it's corporate control of a rotten One of the main international issues we one of the viable presidential candidates health care system which makes it that face is a possible U.S. invasion oflran. The says we should continue with the threats way, and that takes us right to the heart leading British ~ilitary historian, Corelli of war against Iran. If anybody cares, these of authority. Unlike the time of RESIST's Barnett, wrote that if it happens we'll be threats are themselves major violations of founding, today the notion of resisting in World War III. I don't know about that, international law given that the U.N Char authority is not an unimaginable notion; in but certainly it will be extremely ugly and ter bars this kind of threat or use of force. fact, it's a common notion. Because resist horrible. What do the American people Politicians and the media discuss threats, ing authority makes sense. Authority is not think about it? Intensive polls of Iranians while the majority of the people supports legitimate unless it proves itself, which it and Americans by WorldPublicOpinion.org something else entirely. The population rarely can do. show that they basically agree on a reason is there, ready to be organized. We have able settlement of Iran/U.S. conflicts. The to find ways to reach those people on the Noam Chomsky is a professor oflinguis vast majority-about 75 percent-agree issues that matter to them and help them tics at Massachusetts Institute of Technol that Iran has a right to nuclear power as a escape from the clutches of propaganda ogy, an ardent critic of US imperialism signer of the nonproliferation treaty, but systems that can really drive people to vi and a founding member ofRESIST. This should not have nuclear weapons. cious atrocities. We know that very well. article is excerpted from his comments at By the same overwhelming major- The same is true of confronting the sys- RESIST's 40'h anniversary celebration.
Vol. 16 #6 RESIST Newsletter Page3 Saying "No" to an Illegitimate War CAMILO MEJIA Finding the moral courage to resist wish I could say that I have a long history meant that I had to work on my fear. Iof resistance, but my resistance began fairly recently in the United States military. One good day I did resist ... The case There are very few places where you can resist illegitimate authority more than in became a big media sensation. I went to the military, because we're engaged in this horrible illegitimate war. jail and got out, and then I joined My first opportunity to resist came Iraq Veterans Against the War. to me in 2003, when my company com mander announced to our unit that we were deploying to the Middle East in support back then. With massive resistance to the tions-wanting to go to college, wanting of Operation Iraqi Freedom. At that point war throughout the world, I felt that the to get out of poverty, wanting to get health I had been reading the news and I had a United States government would ultimately care. They join the military thinking that very detached, impersonal opposition to not invade Iraq--even when my unit was they will be fighting for God and country the war because we had not directly tied stationed in Jordan preparing to go to Iraq. I and democracy and things like that. They Iraq to September 11th. Plus people like had been in the military close to eight years. are not usually very politically aware, and Hans Blix and Mohammed ElBaradei said I was a sergeant-promotable, I became a many of us don't start with an understand that they did not think Iraq had weapons of staff sergeant in Iraq. And I had a pretty ing of what is legal or illegal. mass destruction and that they needed more good military career ... until I rebelled, of That uncertainty about legality came time to investigate. I thought that the Iraqi course. into play quickly with my unit in Iraq. The government was opening all kinds of back first mission of our unit was to keep Iraqi door channels to try to not be invaded. God and Country and Resistance prisoners sleep-deprived by creating fear At the time I was really afraid to publicly Resisting illegitimate authority in the through loud noises and mock executions. oppose a war that had not yet begun, with military means many things. This is a We received direct orders from officers to part of me thinking that this might just pool of people who are not really aware do this kind of thing, and there were a lot be a huge show of force to scare Saddam of the law, who are very young, and who of other people doing it. We did not know if Hussein out of power. I was very nai"ve at some point find themselves out of op- it was illegal, but it just felt wrong. We did not know if it was considered torture, since we were not physically hurting them. Later missions included instigating fire fights and conducting missions by hospitals and "Hell Yes!" Grant by mosques- things that we knew would lead to the killing of civilians. The question oflegitimacy is really hard To honor the moral clarity, <..:> SOCIAL CHANGE ~ ~ to deal with when you're in the context of courage and political commitment 0 0 the military, so it becomes a question of z -< ofits founders, RESIST :J m conscience. It becomes a question of wheth LL l> er what you are doing-regardless of what LL ::0 announces a new tribute grant, the law says about it-is something you feel good in your heart about doing. In my case beginning in 2008: The Hell Yes! c:::~RESIST~ .,
Page4 RESIST Newsletter November/December 2007 Saying "No" to an Illegitimate War
Conscience and Objections had basically become demoralized after My resistance became a matter of over the invasion. IVAW was not formed yet, coming my own fear. When I finally came and my opposition was very isolating at home on a two-week furlough, I refused the time because there was little organized to go back. This was very difficult because response to the war. Fortunately, there were of the bonds that I had developed with the people and organizations that helped me people in my unit, which had nothing to do tremendously, like Military Families Speak with policies or whether the war is legiti Out, and, later, groups like Code Pink and mate or illegitimate, but everything to do Veterans for Peace. with the creation of a human bond in a very intense environment. Your life depended Moving Beyond Isolation on these people, and their lives depended Beyond the anti-war movement and on you and your leadership. I was afraid of the GI side of that resistance, I don't think being called a coward, of being rejected by that people are taking ownership of this my peers, of being called unpatriotic. I was war. That's one reason I would support a also afraid of being court marshaled; I did draft, and then I would advocate for 100% not want to go to jail. resistance to it. Kidding aside, I don't Finding the moral courage to resist Camilo Mejia represents a new chapter of actually support a draft, but conscription military resistance. Photo by Anh Dao Kolbe meant that I had to work on my fear. One would force middle-class America to face good day I did resist, and at the time there these people together as a united front to the possibility that their children might were no combat veterans publicly speak strengthen resistance to this war. IVAW actually fight in a war that we know for a ing against the war. The case became a big is concentrated on organizing active duty fact is horrible. media sensation. I went to jail and got out, bases. We have a chapter at Fort Drum, Part of the problem is that people are not and then I joined.Iraq Veterans Against the New York, where we started the first GI really given the opportunity to experience War(IVAW). coffee house opposed to the war, called the war, especially as compared with the A Different Drummer Cafe, located right Vietnam War. Back then, we had pictures Military Resistance Today outside of the base. and footage-the naked girl running from I want to talk about resistance in the mil Resistance in the military also means napalm, soldiers posing with dead Viet itary and what that looks like today. What launching counter-recruiting and coun namese. Today we are not even allowed to I felt to be the calling of my conscience ter-retention campaigns. It means telling see the coffins coming back from the war. may not be the calling of other people. For people that they should not stay in the mili We're not allowed to see the maimed and instance, we have cases like Joe Darby, who tary because this war is illegal, and that they wounded. We don't hear enough about post provided the photographs that exposed the have every right to refuse. It means telling traumatic stress disorder and suicide rates scandal at Abu Ghraib Prison. He did not them that they not only have the right but going through the roof. All of these things go public right away. He is someone who the duty to refuse this illegitimate war. Our send the message that "this is not your war." went to Iraq and did his job at Abu Ghraib, goal is ultimately to remove military sup You hear that 10, maybe 15 soldiers died and who felt that his conscience was telling port from the war. We are concentrating our this week, but people are not really being him that he needed to make people aware efforts on making sure that the government touched by it. We have .05 percent of the of what was happening there. can no longer rely on the military to wage population directly affected by this war, and Then there is the case of Suzanne Swift, an illegal, illegitimate and immoral war on that's not enough to get people to go into who was the victim and now survivor of other countries. That's our struggle. the streets. That's not enough to get people military sexual assault. She initially resisted Resistance in the military is not going to take ownership, to really identify with the war not on political grounds, but on the to be effective unless there's resistance in the anti-war movement. grounds that she refused to be assaulted. the larger society. When I first decided not We need more than just the soldiers to We have people like Ehren Watada, the to go back to Iraq, the anti-war movement refuse to fight. It's going to take the larger first commissioned officer to refuse orders public to come together and send a message to deploy to Iraq on the basis that the war , ~------~ ' to the government, to stand against the war, in Iraq was illegitimate and illegal. He did , 1:2~~•~T: The Movie! ' and to protect those who refuse to fight. The anti-war effort needs more than the military not go AWOL, and he's not a conscientious Pop some popcorn, log on ·to your to be successful. objector. He's not even opposed to the war computer and watch 40 years of funding in Afghanistan. social change! We need all these types of resistance, Camilo Mejia is a former Staff Sergeant and we need to understand that resisting www.resistinc.org/events.html of the Florida National Guard, an anti war activist and the author ofRoad from is not necessarily going to take the shape Special thanks to Advisory Board member Ar Ramadi: The Private Rebellion of or form that we want it to take. We have to Pam Chamberlain, who compiled 40 years Staff Sergeant Mejia. He also serves as work with all the ways people resist. of activism and grant-making into an chair of the board ofdirectors ofIraq An organization like Iraq Veterans 8-minute slide show with music. Enjoy! Against War ( IVAW) tries to bring all of ' ~------"" , Veterans Against the War. Vol. 16 #6 RESIST Newsletter Page5 40th Anniversary Photo Celebration undreds of area activists and sup Hporters (and many from far outside the area as well) joined in RESIST's 40th Anniversary celebratrion at the Arlington (MA) Town Hall on October 13, 2007. The event featured a panel, music, danc ing, a retrospective slideshow, grantee testimonies, and a whole lot more. You can view the slideshow by visiting RESIST's website: www.resistinc.org. RESIST Board member Catherine Joseph and Cathy Hoffman, Jean Hardisty and Betty Burkes In addition, many of Shirley Royster RESIST's early found ers, past Board members and staffers joined cur rent Board, staff and anniversary planners at a brunch the follow ing morning. They told stories, reminisced and reconnected. Photos were taken by Above: The Second Line Pleasure and Social Aid Society Brass Band provided music for Anh Dao Kolbe, unless the evening. otherwise indicated. Left: Board member Diana Digges cuts a rug to the honk band sound. Below: Murray Rosenblith met up with long time friend Mandy Carter. ~DI ILLEGITIMII www.,
Early RESISTers still fight the power. Photo includes (left Ohmann, Hilde Hein, Saul Slapikoff, Claudette Piper, Fra1
The anniversary kicked off with sparkling pol Mejia, Mandy Carter, Noam Chomsky and m1
Nikhil Aziz and Pam Chamberlain served as the evening's emcees. Below: Supporters filled the floor of Arlington Town Hall during the panel dicussion.
Above: Malena Mayorga and RESIST staff member Yafreisy Mejia. Photo by Ellen Shub
Page6 RESIST Newsletter November/December 2007 -·J...·1• .. ·.~·•·· .
Left: Board members Marc Miller and JLinda McIntosh joins the! bidding~ at Sophia Kim introduce the panel. Photo the silent auction. by Ellen Shub Above: RESIST staffer Carol Schachet and Board member Leila Farsakh enjoy the festivities.
Above: Every party needs a good cake. Below: Frank Joyce and Laura Flanders
Jermaine Carter, Anthony Clark and James Cain offered their reflections on the importance of RESIST's grant to EPOCA. Below: RESIST Staffer Robin Carton, Tarso Ramos and Board member Nikhil Aziz. Photo by Ellen Shub
ight): Paul Lauter, Robert Zevin, Louis Kampf, Richard Joyce and Wayne O'Neil. Photo by Robin Carton al analyses from Bill Fletcher, Jr., Camilo rator Laura Flanders. Photo by Ellen Shub
Above right: Mara Taub, a RESIST grant recipient from the Coalition for Prisoners Rights in Santa Fe, NM, joins others to read the original "Call to resist illegitimate authority." Below: Current and former RESIST Board members, staff and volunteers share stories and memories. Photo by Robin Carton
Vol. 16 #6 RESIST Newsletter Page 7 We Can Dance If We Want To continued.from page one A Short History of RESIST RESIST was born 40 years ago with a "Call to resist illegitimate authority," urging support for those refusing to serve in the Vietnam War. The original "Call," which circulated in public as well as pri vate ways, was eventually signed by over 20,000 people. The approximately 200 initial signers included Noam Chomsky, Grace Paley, Dr. Benjamin Spock, the Rev. William Sloane Coffin Jr., Denise Levertov, Dwight MacDonald, Allen Ginsberg, the Rev. Robert MacAfee Brown, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, W. H. Ferry, Mitchell Good man, David Dellinger,·Barbara Guest, and Marcus Raskin, among others. RESISTers from far and wide participated in a reunion as part of the 40th Anniversary celebration. On October 2, 1967, Rev. William Photo by Anna Carton-Smith Sloane Coffin, Jr., read the "Call" at a press conference at the New York Hilton. Speak Raskin, a former National Security Council those with disabilities; labor and environ ers outlined the anti-draft initiatives sched staffer and Washington think-tank leader; mental activism; and Third World solidar uled to take place in the coming weeks. and pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Spock. ity, as well as anti-war and anti-corporate Attendees were then invited to a meeting at The very first grants RESIST awarded globalization initiatives. Columbia University to delineate priorities, all went to anti-war and student organizing Today, more organizations are working decide how to implement the goals outlined projects. However, it soon became apparent for social change in this country than at any in the "Call to resist," and create a tempo that the war itself wasn't isolated from other time in RESIST's history. As one of the first rary steering committee which would be in governmental policies. funding stops for many groups, we play charge of distributing funds and meeting RESIST broadened its perspective and a critical role by: enabling organizations monthly to report on activities. RESIST within two years funded prison support to respond quickly to pressing challenges was formed at that meeting. work, community organizing in Black with one of the fastest turnaround times for Two weeks later, more than 5,000 people neighborhoods, and a range of projects in grantmaking in the country; providing gen responded at a rally on the Boston Com high schools. eral support which allows grantees to build mon. Local clergy, academics, and others Clearly, the reason RESIST survived its infrastructure and capacity while engaged urged Americans to remember their moral early years is that it maintained a primary in ongoing social justice activism; offering conscience and avoid blindly following emphasis on peace, anti-war and anti-mili technical assistance grants to ensure activ national policies that violate "international tarism issues. Over the years, however, ists can get help with training, consultation, agreements, treaties and principles of law the proportional relationship between that or restructuring as they lay the groundwork which the United States Government has emphasis and others has shifted in response to become stronger, dynamic organizations; solemnly endorsed." These governmental to changes in the movement as a whole. and introducing activists to the larger role policies, hauntingly similar to the current RESIST plays a critical role in introduc ofprogressive philanthropy and connecting war in Iraq, included destroying crops, ing activists to progressive philanthropy. them to other potential funding sources. livestock and civilian structures, interning Some, such as the Center for Constitutional Now as at its founding, RESIST relies civilian non-combatants in camps, inflict Rights, Global Exchange and the Center on the support of individuals committed ing torture and summary executions. The for Third World Organizing now have an to peace, economic justice, human dignity government's actions were always justified nual budgets larger than ours. RESIST also and environmental sustainability in order by raising the fear that the "enemy" could provided the first grants to Lois Gibbs as to keep its doors open- and to help groups be on our doorstep and by claims that vic she struggled to organize her community to across the country do the same. The spirit, tory was just around the comer. confront the environmental disaster at Love conviction and power of RESIST still lie in "The Call" became a central document Canal. Now her organization (the Center bringing together the people who fund and (titled "Overt Act #1 ") in the conspiracy for Health, Environment and Justice) plays who build a movement for social change. trial of five men charged with conspiring a leading role in grassroots advocacy for to "counsel, aid, and abet Selective Service healthy communities everywhere. registrants to evade military service and Robin Carton and Carol Schachet have refuse to carry draft cards." Those indicted RESIST Today been RESIST staffers for the past 12 included a group known as the Boston Five: In 2007, RESIST is alive and well, fund years. This article includes material Rev. William Sloane Coffin, Jr.; Harvard ing nearly 150 grassroots groups each year, gathered from years ofresearch and writ graduate student Michael Ferber; teacher supporting anti-racist work; full human ing, particularly from the work of Tatiana and writer Mitchell Goodman; Marcus rights for women, gay men and lesbians and Schreiber.
Page8 RESIST Newsletter November/December 2007 Moving from "Just Us" to Justice MANDY CARTER people across race and across immigrant status were able to first heard about RESIST in 1969, the work together during the boycott !year that I joined the San Francisco against Mt. Olive Pickles that War Resisters League. RESIST wanted to was organized by the Cucumber find a way for those of us who were not Farm Labor Organizing Commit draftable-women and men over a certain tee ( after all, pickles come from age- to be able to make a personal testa cucumbers). ment of resistance to the Vietnam War. At FLOC brought together Afri that point, it was illegal to "aid and abet" can Americans, Latinos and the anyone who did not comply with the draft, progressive white community to so the action of signing the "Call to resist \land~ Carll'r have conversations together and illegitimate authority" put signers at risk of address bad working conditions Mandy Carter has been a long-time RESIST ally, as well as a five years in prison or a $5,000 fine. grant recipient. Photo by Anh Dao Kolbe and low pay. SONG did not hesi- Those who chose to sign the "Call to tate to join the campaign. Why? resist" expressed individual accountability Day when the first bombs were dropped. Because even though we are seen as a gay and understood its possible consequences. I just burst into tears, wondering: If this is and lesbian group, our common struggle Others did things like questioned the war how wars are now started, then how do we includes issues of race, class, culture, tax-who's paying for this war? In these figure out ways to resist the institution of gender and sexual identity. SONG joined ways, the idea of nonviolent resistance militarism and war today? the boycott and five years later, with many and direct action impacts each of our lives, Two things are on my mind as we move groups around the table, we won. underscoring the role individuals play in forward in our organizing and our move As an out black lesbian, I want to know demonstrating opposition. ment. First, American society is more how our Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgen RESIST was also instrumental as one global than ever. When we think about all der, Queer (LGBTQ) community can find a of the first and main sources of funding the different movements that exist out there, way to avoid the notion, the pitfall of being for another group called Southerners on how do we find the common denominator about "just us." There is so much going New Ground (SONG). SONG wanted to so we don't feel like we're schizophrenically on in the LGBTQ community right now, figure out how to do organizing in the working on this issue or that issue? How do from Ellen Degeneres getting her Emmy South in a way that would connect issues we quite honestly figure out ways in which to WNBA star Cheryl Swoops coming out, of race, class, culture, gender, and sexual people of color and allies have a common things that are culturally incredible. But as identity. We understood that we had to find agenda, or at least can sit around the same movement activists, we need to make sure the common denominators between people table? Rather than looking at what prevents that we do not get so entrenched in the and to find models of organizing that would us from organizing, what would happen if idea that we're only about our gay rights allow us to do work based around those we found out what those common denomi- that we're not thinking about anyone else. connections. SONG believed that was an nators are, or if we identify the common Because at some point we start bumping interesting way of doing work, particularly pieces of work that would have us sitting up against the very people we need to be in the South, and if we could find models at a similar table? having coalitions with. that work in. the South, we could do it Here are some thoughts: jobs, housing, I joined the movement in 1966 when elsewhere. health, education. These common underly the American Friends Service Committee SONG and other grassroots groups ing concerns might be a good way to start came to my high school. They talked about continue to organize in North Carolina, some of the work that has to happen. For something that has kept me in the move many with help from RESIST. The move example, living wage campaigns that are ment: the idea of equality and justice for ment community in North Carolina, which happening all across the country come out all. That philosophical underpinning keeps incidentally outlasted Jesse Helms, remains of that. Health care provides another com us grounded no matter what issues might determined in our opposition to the war. mon ground issue that affects us all. be out there. That is why we are here. For One out of every five troops deployed Another example concerns farm labor our movement, I think we have to ask the to Iraq comes from the state of North organizing. The South has a huge agricul question, are we about justice or just us? Carolina, home of Fort Bragg Army Base, tural industry. Who is working in those It's got to be about justice. Camp Lejeune Marine Base, and Seymour fields? Now it is primarily the Latino com Johnson Air Force Base. munity, but prior to a Latino community Mandy Carter is a founding member of coming in, it was African Americans. And Southerners On New Ground-a RESIST Moving Forward Together who would benefit by keeping Latino and grantee-and the National Black Justice I remember sitting in front of my tele African-American workers apart but the Coalition. She was nominatedfor the vision set when we invaded Iraq the first agricultural industry? Nobel Peace Prize as part of the "1000 time in 1991. It was Martin Luther King That is why it was so important that Women for the Nobel Peace Prize 2005."
Vol. 16 #6 RESIST Newsletter Page9 Forming ANew Collective Identity BILL FLETCHER, JR. common oppression. That simply doesn't work because of the histori n growing up, every Fletcher is reminded cal foundation of the United States. Ithat we are the descendants of a man Therefore, in forging this bloc we named Tecumseh, one of the greatest lead have to be mindful of history when ers of the Shawnee, and of Native Ameri we move forward. cans. In the first decade of the 19th century, Such mindfulness is very dicey he embarked on a mission ignored by most because it makes it hard. For ex historians, although Allan W. Ekert wrote ample, when Dennis Kucinich ran an excellent book called, A Sorrow In Our for President in 2004, his candidacy Heart: The Life of Tecumseh, that I would offered an incredible opportunity recommend. for mass movement-building, but Bill Fletcher, Jr., shares his considerable organizing Tecumseh came to realize that Native Kucinich didn't want to touch race. He experience on RESIST's panel. Photo by Anh Dao Kolbe Americans could not defeat the encroach didn't want to deal with what should ing whites by fighting as Shawnee, as Gramsci, this means that our search must have ·been his natural base to build Winnebago, as Iroquois, as Cherokee; nor ultimately be for what he called a new the kind of bloc that I'm talking about. I could they win in a confederation. Pontiac historic bloc-what I call a social/political think each time we try avoiding that trip and others had attempted to build con bloc-that can fight for power and begin wire it goes off. federations, and these had failed because the process of transformation. In this sense ultimately the component parts often have resistance, contrary to the "Borg" for those The Long Struggle more identity with- and unity with- that of you who are Star Trek fans, resistance Let me close with one thing that's been part than the goals of the confederations. is essential (not futile), but it's insufficient. troubling me but it's very relevant, I think, Tecumseh believed that Native Americans There comes a time when we have to move to the question of resistance. Over the last had to rethink themselves and essentially beyond being resistors to being a resis number of years I've noticed this rise of forge a new identity, that is, ·as Indians, tance. And when we move beyond being people who have decided to renounce and and move towards the construction of an a resistance to becoming a movement of to leave the United States because they're Indian nation state if they were going to the majority in search of the struggle for sick of the United States and it's time to successfully confront the encroaching power to change our environment, we begin move on to some other place. Now I would white Americans. He actually came close to a process of social transformation. say that if you were W.E.B. DuBois you succeeding. But that's for another story. The question now is how do we form had absolutely a reason to leave the United such a collective bloc, or what is the basis States, because in fact you were chased Collective Resistance of this collective identity? In Tecumseh's out of the United States. And there are One of the lessons we can learn from situation, the answer was actually fairly many people, lesser known than Dubois, Tecumseh is that for resistance to be suc obvious, although not simple. The con who in fact have been and will continue cessful the oppressed must assert a collec struction of a new national identity made to be chased out of the United States, that tive identity that defines them in positive perfect sense with an enemy that was very is, where there is a threat to your actual terms· and builds a linkage across various clear and was attempting to squelch out the life and livelihood. That is different from boundaries of the particular oppressions. national existence of a people. We have a simply walking away out of frustration with Tecumseh recognized this fact. He fought more complicated situation in which it is the USA. If one is frustrated and believes against the idea that the Shawnee need to more a question of the oppressed coming to that nothing more can be accomplished, continue to war against the Cherokee, or see themselves in and of that bloc. So the then one should leave, but not make a that it was acceptable to remain furious first thing is that we need to be able to see pronouncement about it. All that accom with the Iroquois because of things that our interests represented there, as opposed plishes is the furtherance of despair. I would had been done, but put forward the idea to seeing it as simply a matter of external suggest that we are morally obligated to that there needed to be the forging of this solidarity, that is, of doing something for resist the Empire. Ultimately what we do new identity. And in fact, every successful someone else. Our interests are aligned provides the space for the rest of the planet national liberation struggle and any suc with, and quite literally in, that bloc. to breathe or to suffocate (ifwe fail to act). cessful movement has come to exactly the The second thing requires that we avoid That's why our resistance-and the work of same conclusion: Anew, collective identity an historical pitfall and, contrary to much RESIST- remains so essential. of the oppressed must be formed. of the past practice of progressive social So we must do likewise, particularly movements, refuse to settle for the "lowest Bill Fletcher, Jr. , is a longtime labor and because the compelling need is for us to common denominator" unity. Usually this international activist, a former co-chair build a movement that in fact can fight for means let's forget about race and pretend andfounder of United for Peace and and gain power and not just resist. To bor it doesn't exist in order to build whatever Justice, and a co-founder of the Black row from the Italian Communist Antonio unity we can in the face of what's called Radical Congress.
Page 10 RESIST Newsletter November/December 2007 Media Resistance and Grit LAURA FLANDERS Each group that was part -1 have good news and bad of the Organizing Commit news. Usually I would start tee for the Social Forum put with the bad and move to the in $5 ,000- nearly enough good, but in this case I'm going money to hire a part-time to start with the good. worker for a year. They de As I traveled around the cided that instead of paying country promoting my book a lot of money to send a few Blue Grit-a book about grass people by plane, they would roots activism and what the send a lot of people by bus. Democratic leadership could Those of us who went to learn from the base if they Atlanta with the media- I felt like it- I found groups all think it was me and one across the country resisting au other person and we called thority. These groups are doing ourselves the medium- we even more. They are figuring were standing on the side out how to reconfigure respon of the street wondering who sible authority, how to respond Despite suffering an ankle sprain the previous day, journalist Laura Flanders both was going to show up. First to what's happening in their moderated the panel and offered her own keen political insights. Photo by Anh Dao we saw some Iraq Veterans Kolbe communities, how to wage the Against the War, 15 or 20. sorts of struggles that will cre- end the war in Iraq, there are more troops After some time had passed, ate the kinds of institutions that will make in Iraq than ever. perhaps a few hundred people walked by our society better, all across the country. We are left with very serious challenges. and I thought, "Okay, they tried." And that's what the book is about. Do the Democrats in Washington have Then the word came, the buses had just Probably half of these groups I've seen legitimate authority right now? How can arrived, and soon we watched as ultimately were funded by RESIST, such as the Rural the rising tide of progressive activism and 15 ,000 people walked down Peachtree Organizing Project (ROP). When anti-gay resistance force Democrats in particular Street in the middle of Atlanta, without panic started spreading in isolated areas, in to do what is right? Who can we look to help or any say-so from authority. They stead of fleeing to the relative safety of cit for the models of change that we need in took over that street, held a weekend of ies, ROP convened community gatherings our lives? conferences about building power at a level to talk about their neighbors' fears. They our media almost never cover. created an amazing statewide network of Another U.S. is Necessary I encourage all of you to support RE rural activists committed to social justice. Recently I encountered one example SIST, because the work you're doing is That is just one of the small groups that . at the U.S. Social Forum in Atlanta that making all the difference. If you saw it are modeling change by giving people the poses those questions differently. Given tomorrow on the mainstream nightly news experience of being deciders in their own that it was in its hometown, you might you would know you were probably fund lives. This is the kind of organizing that is think CNN would actually cover the event, ing the wrong thing. happening across the country, often funded but of course it did not. The U.S. Social I do urge you to continue supporting by RESIST. Forum, the first gathering of its kind ever the independent media that can bring you to happen in this country, attempted to raise word- maybe just a little bit of a whis Demanding Accountability the profile of civil society, to connect civil per- about change movements. Resistance . That's the good news. The bad news is society organizations to each other so they work is percolating up from the bottom, that while there are hundreds of thousands could more effectively become another often with support from RESIST, so please of people all across the country with a vi voice, another power. The slogan of the keep doing the work you're doing. sion for a better country and an idea of how U.S. Social Forum was "Another World is to get there, there is but a handful- and I Possible, Another U.S. is Necessary." do mean one handful-of representatives This was an organizing effort that had Laura Flanders is the host of "Radio in Congress who even listen to what those been undertaken overwhelmingly by people Nation" heard on Air America Radio and people have to say, let alone act respon of color organizations, poor people's orga syndicated to non-commercial affiliates sively towards those people, many ofwhom nizations. They didn't receive foundation nationwide. She is the author most re have helped them get into office. support, because the foundations just didn't cently ofBlue Grit: True Democrats Take That conflict leaves us in a very compli believe they could do it- RESIST was one Back Politics from the Politicians (The cated situation. Just about a year after elect of the few foundations that helped some Penguin Press, 2007). For more informa ing a Democratic majority into Congress to groups to attend. tion, visit www.lauraflanders.com.
Vol. 16 #6 RESIST Newsletter Page 11 GRANTS RESIST awards grants six times a year to Rhode Island Jobs with The Coalition Against Militarism In groups throughout the United States en Justice Our Schools started in 2003 following gaged in activism for social and economic 431 Washington Street, Providence, RI the invasion of Iraq as a small group of justice. In this issue ofthe Newsletter we list 02903; www.rijwj.org teachers, students, community members a few grant recipients from our October 2007 and organizations. Its mission is to em allocation cycle. For information, contact In 1996, local unions and community power and educate students on issues the groups at the addresses below. organizations formed Rhode Island Jobs regarding military recruitment. The group Ex-Prisoners and Prisoners with Justice to build a culture of solidar has dramatically increased the number of Organizing for Community ity and harness a collective power to students signing "opt-out" forms (from Advancement (EPOCA) deliver tangible victories for working 8,000 in 2003 to 18,000 in 2006) which 4 King Street, Worcester, MA 01610 families. They work to improve and de prevents students' private information www.massepoca.org fend working families' standards of liv from automatically being released to the ing, job security and the rights of workers military. CAMS continues to pass out Founded in 2004, EPOCA is comprised to organize. Recently, the group helped leaflets and brochures, hold educational of ex-prisoners, their allies, friends and the janitors' union in downtown Provi workshops and training sessions and raise families working to reform the criminal dence negotiate improved wages, putting awareness of military recruitment tactics justice system and improve treatment them in a position to win health care and and viable alternatives to military service of ex-prisoners. Its New Leaf program other crucial workplace improvements in for students. influences hiring practices by pointing upcoming contract negotiations. A grant of $3,000 from RESIST will out the benefits to both the employer and A $3,000 multi-year grant from RE support the goal of reducing military employee. Currently EPOCA is working SIST will provide general support for this presence in schools and presenting to reform the CORI (Criminal Offender coalition of labor, community, faith-based students with positive alternatives to mili Record Information) system, a major and student groups. tary service. stumbling block for ex-prisoners looking for employment. Coalition Against Militarism Desiree Alliance EPOCA received a grant of $3,000 to In Our Schools (CAMS) 2756 N. Green Parkway, #104, Hender continue its work towards criminal justice PO Box 3012, South Pasadena, CA son, N V 89014; www.desireealliance.org reform and the fair treatment of ex-pris 91031; www.militaryfreeschools.org oners. Formed in 2005, the Desiree Alliance is a coalition of health workers, social scien •••••••••••••••• • ••••••••••••• tists, sex educators, sex professionals and Social Change Needs You! • their supporting networks working to Your contribution to RESIST today So take the plunge and become a • gether for an improved understanding of • will support hundreds of radical RESIST Pledge! We count on you, and • the sex industry and its human, social and groups across the country. the groups we fund count on us. • political impacts. Its goal is to build lead • ership and constructive activism among • You can either make a one-time gift, or [] I'll send you my pledge of$__ • sex workers to advocate for their human, every month/quarter/six months/year better yet, join the Pledge progam. By • labor and civil rights. (please circle one). • becoming a Pledge, you help create a • RESIST's general support grant of [ ] Enclosed is an initial pledge • dependable source of income on which • $3,000 will assist the Desiree Alliance to contribution of$__ . • RESIST can build our grant-making • empower sex workers in their pursuit of program. In return for your pledge, we [] Please automatically deduct my • civil, labor and human rights. will keep you up-to-date on the groups pledge from my credit card (below). • • your contributions make possible. [ ] Here is a one-time contribution of $__ to support your work. • Sharing the Gifts Name ______• Address ______• To celebrate 40 years of • funding social change, • RESIST will give away an Phone number/e-mail (for confirmation only) ______extra $40,000 to all of this Visa/Master Card# ______• years grant recipients. Happy Expiration date ______Anniversary, one and all! RESIST• 259 Elm Street~ Somerville •MA• 02144. Donations are ta:s.-decluctible. • .. . . -~-·-•-• ,----·-•-• Page 12 RESIST Newsletter November/December 2007