Michael Parenti

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Michael Parenti

Template:TOCnestleft Michael Parenti is listed as a sponsor[1] of the Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library in Oakland California. He is a leading marxist/progressive political scientist, having received his Ph.D. in political science from Yale University, and the father of Christian Parenti, another prominent progressive activist.

Political Affairs:Journal of Marxist Thought

Michael Parenti's article "Media Distortion and The Gulf War Protest" was the featured item in the April, 1991 edition of Political Affairs, the theoretical journal of the Communist Party USA CPUSA. He was identified as follows:

"Michael Parenti's latest book, "Make-Believe Media: The Politics of Entertainment", a critical study of Hollywood films and television, will be published in June 1991 by St. Martin's Press."

Political Affairs, once billed as a "Journal of Marxist Thought and Analysis", was cited by the government on several occasions as a CPUSA publication:

1. "Subversive Activities Control Board, Docket No. 51-101, Report and Order with respect to the Communist Party of the United States of America, April 20, 1953, p. 6"; and "Modified Report" issued December 18, 1956, p. 116. 2. Committee on Un-American Activities, House Report 1920 on "The Communist Party of the United States as an Advocate of Overthrow of Government by Force and Violence", May 11, 1948, pp. 5 & 36; also cited in the "House Report 209" on the "Communist Party of the United States as an Agent of a Foreign Power", April 1, 1947, p. 25.[2]

Other articles by Parenti have appeared in the CPUSA newspaper Peoples Weekly World.

Professor Michael Parenti at Cornell University 1975

The maoist-oriented US weekly the "Guardian" of December 24, 1975, p. 4, featured a large article by the Liberation News Service (LNS) entitled "Cornel Students Oust Gen. Ky". It concerned a speech he was to give to "increase the understanding between Vietnamese and American people." However, the LNS article said that "Fifteen hundred people booed Gen. Nguyen Cao Ky off the state Dec. 9 at Cornell University in upstate New York."

Cornell was as hotbed of communists and sympathizers especially in Prof. George McT. Kahin's Southeast Asian studies program, many of them having been leaders of the Hanoi Lobby groups such as the Indochina Resource Center (IRC) and the Center for International Policy (CIP), among others.

As for Professor Parenti, the article wrote:

"The protesters insisted that one of their spokespeople address the crowd for two minutes by Ky and in the face of their growing numbers the fraternity sponors agreed. Prof. Michael Parenti then described to the audience how Ky had commanded bombing missions against the Vietnamese civilian population." (KW: Those raids were often against No. Vietnamese coastal radar installations, anti-aircraft gun positions, and weapons smuggling boats. They had no civilian targets).

"Because he 'jailed, tortured and killed tens of thousands of people, he should not be welcomes here,' said Parenti. "We won't be talked to. We demand and open forum."

Parenti was practicing a form of "tolerating intolerance", one of the key techniques advocated by Marxist Prof. Herbert Marcuse, a University of California professor and mentor of Angela Davis, a Communist Party USA (CPUSA) member being developed for national leadership roles.

CoC National Conference endorser

In 1992 Michael Parenti, Berkeley endorsed the Committees of Correspondence national conference Conference on Perspectives for Democracy and Socialism in the 90s held at Berkeley California July 17-19.[3]

Salute to Sender Garlin

In May 1992 The Communist Party USA newspaper Peoples Weekly World published a May Day supplement. Included was a page of greetings to Sender Garlin, sending greetings for his 90th Birthday. Most of the endorsers listed, were identified members or supporters of the Communist Party USA.

The list included Michael Parenti[4].

IAMUS

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In 1992 Founding Signers of Freedom Road Socialist Organization front Italian-Americans for a Multicultural United States were;

Institute for Policy Studies

There is a good amount of information about Parenti's Marxist ideology and activities on behalf of the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) in the major study of them by S. Steven Powell, "Covert Cadre: Inside the Institute for Policy Studies", Green Hill Publishers, 1987, starting with Part I, "The People, Ideas, and Controversy Behind the Institute for Policy Studies, Chapter One - "East Meets West at IPS", etc.

In 1993 Parenti was listed as a among "former Visiting Fellows and Visiting Scholars and current TransNational Institute Fellows" on the Institute for Policy Studies 30th Anniversary brochure.

Progressive Alliance of Alameda County

The Progressive Alliance of Alameda County held its founding conference June 1 and 2,1996, Federal Building Auditorium, Oakland California.

Individuals came from the New Party, Peace and Freedom Party, Green Party and the left wing of the Democratic Party.

Supporting individuals included;[5]

Sacramento Marxist School

On May 20 2000, Michael Parenti lectured at the Sacramento Marxist School on Democracy vs Capitalism.[6]

On May 6 2005 Michael Parent lectured at the Sacramento Marxist School on U.S. Empire vs U.S. Democracy.[7]

Conference on Perspectives for Democracy and Socialism in the 90s

The Conference on Perspectives for Democracy and Socialism in the 90s was the Committees of Correspondence's first national conference held in Berkeley, California July 17-19, 1992.[8]

Workshops that were held at the conference on Saturday, July 18 included:[9]

Battle of Ideas 1 Culture and the Battle of Ideas. How are the arts and entertainment being used by the ruling class to propagate racism, violence, sexism and hopelessness? What is the role of artists and the arts in advancing a progressive agenda?

Open Letter to the Colombian People, Press and Government, Aug. 1996

"Stop the Bloodshed in Uraba, Due Process for Jose Antonio Lopez, Nelson Campo and others, and an End to Faceless Justice and Political Repression".

We, the undersigned, are North Americans and others who are deeply disturbed by the human rights situation in Colombia.
Massacres, disappearances and torture happen continually in the anguished region of Uraba. We can not understand how paramilitary groups operate so freely in this militarized region where the Colombian army is present in massive numbers, and which does not perform its constitutional function of defending the civilian population. And we can not understand why the regional paramilitary leader is not apprehended and brought to justice for his crimes against humanity.
We call upon all armed parties -- paramilitary units, guerrillas, army, police, urban militias and commandos -- to immediately cease all attacks upon both the civilian population and upon each other. Justice, peace and a fruitful life is never found through murder, torture, kidnapping and intimidation.

Michael Parenti signed the letter, from the Colombia Support Network .[10]

Endorsed Communist Party fund raiser

Peoples Weekly World, September 11, 1999

In September 1999, Michael Parenti co-sponsored a Communist Party USA fund raising event in Berkeley. Rep. Lynn Woolsey co-sponsored the same event. [11]

2003 PWW fundraiser

The war in Iraq, like conflicts in which the United States has been engaged for more than a century, is not about spreading democracy but global corporate expansionism, author Michael Parenti told a standing-room-only crowd at a fund-raiser for the Peoples Weekly World/Nuestro Mundo held Oct. 13 here.

Over 250 people packed the UNITE! union hall to hear Parenti speak on “Democracy vs. U.S. World Domination.”

Despite the recent recall election victory for Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, the audience showed that the people’s fighting spirit and hunger for progressive views are not curbed. The event raised $4,700 for the PWW.[12]

911 "Truther"

Michael Parenti was one of 100 "prominent Americans" who signed an October 26 2004 statement[13]circulated by 911Truth.org calling on the U.S. Government to investigate 9/11 as a possible "inside job".

...we have assembled 100 notable Americans and 40 family members of those who died to sign this 9/11 Statement, which calls for immediate public attention to unanswered questions that suggest that people within the current administration may indeed have deliberately allowed 9/11 to happen, perhaps as a pretext for war.

Not In Our Name

In August 2004 Michael Parenti endorsed an anti “Bush Team” Protest at the Republican National Convention in New York, organized by Not In Our Name, an organization closely associated with the Revolutionary Communist Party[14].

Supporting Bolivian revolution

In September 2007 a statement was circulated by the blog Bolivia Rising in support of the revolutionary government of Bolivia;[15]

The democratically elected government of Bolivia's first indigenous president Evo Morales Ayma, which is heading a process of democratic change, is Washington's immediate target in Latin America today. Bolivia is in Washington's sight, not only because it is viewed as the weakest link of the growing axis of hope in the region, but because of its role as a catalyst for inspiring the struggles of indigenous peoples, regionally and internationally, for real social justice...
Now is the time for all intellectuals, union militants, solidarity activists, political parties and progressive minded individuals who believe in real justice and equality to raise their voices in defense of the Bolivian government and its people. No to US interference in Bolivia!

Signatories included;

Nature, Society and Thought

In the late 2000s, Michael Parenti was an assistant editor of University of Minnesota based Marxist journal Nature, Society and Thought[16];.

"Socialism Betrayed"

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In 2004 Roger Keeran, and Thomas Kenny published "Socialism Betrayed: Behind the Collapse of the Soviet Union"

Special thanks went to Bahman Azad, Norman Markowitz, Michael Parenti, Anthony Coughlan, and Betty Smith for reading the entire manuscript and suggesting editorial and substantive changes. We would also like to thank those who read all or parts of the manuscript and those who shared their ideas and sometimes their encouragement: Gerald Horne, Frank Goldsmith, Erwin Marquit, Sam Webb, Elena Mora, Mark Rosenzweig, Gerald Meyer, Joe Sims, Lee Dlugin, Pat Barile, Daniel Rubin, Phillip Bonosky, Bill Davis, Evelina Alarcon, Tim Wheeler, Scott Marshall, Noel Rabinowitz, Paul Mishler, Jarvis Tyner, Esther Moroze, Marilyn Bechtel, Gerald Erickson, Constance Pohl, Jackie DiSalvo, Richard Najarian and Brawee Najarian, and Jim Miller.

Also thankedd were librarians, Mark Rosenzweig of the Reference Center for Marxist Studies and Jackie Lavalle, for helping with the research, and Eileen Jamison for tracking down numerous books and articles. Also owed a debt of gratitude were Gregory Grossman for helping find sources on the second economy. Also thankedd were SUNY Empire State College for granting a sabbatical leave to Roger Keeran during which he did some early research and writing. Catherine Keeran for her assistance and Alice Ward and John Ward for providing accommodations and company, while Roger did research at the University of Texas. David Granville, Derek Kotz, Ian Denning and Charles Keller, and for technical help.[17]

Independent Progressive Politics Network

In 2009 Michael Parenti served on the Advisory Committee of the Independent Progressive Politics Network[18].

Latinos for Peace

On October 31 2009, Latinos For Peace issued a statement calling for “no escalation of the war in Afghanistan and for expedited withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan as well as an end to the coup government in Honduras”.

More than 100 activists endorsed the call, including Michael Parenti.[19]

Peoples World event

On July 4 2010, at Berkeley, Calif.: the annual Annual Peoples World / Mundo Popular BBQ was held. Scheduled guest speaker was Michael Parenti.[20]

Join us for an afternoon of good people, good food, and good discussion for a good cause! Special guest speaker, Michael Parenti, world-renowned revolutionary scholar. Program at 3 p.m. includes songs to bolster the fighting spirit!

External links

References

Template:Reflist Template:Endorsers of the Conference on Perspectives for Democracy and Socialism in the 90s

  1. ↑ http://www.marxistlibr.org/sponsors.html
  2. ↑ Guide to Subversive Organizations and Publications and Appendixes, HCUA, Dec. 1, 1961, House Document No. 398.
  3. ↑ CCDS Background
  4. ↑ PWW May Day Supplement May 2 1992
  5. ↑ CrossRoads April/May 1996, page 6
  6. ↑ http://www.marxistschool.org/default.aspx?page=allspeakers
  7. ↑ http://www.marxistschool.org/default.aspx?page=allspeakers
  8. ↑ Conference program
  9. ↑ Proceedings of the Committees of Correspondence Conference: Perspectives for Democracy and Socialism in the '90s booklet, printed by CoC in NY, Sept. 1992 (Price: $4)
  10. ↑ Open Letter to the Colombian People, Press and Government: Stop the Bloodshed in Uraba, Due Process for Jose Antonio Lopez, Nelson Campo and others, and an End to Faceless Justice and Political Repression, August 1996
  11. ↑ Peoples Weekly World, September 11, 1999
  12. ↑ PW Raising spirits and funds from coast to coast, December 19 2003
  13. ↑ 911 Truth statement
  14. ↑ http://www.revcom.us/a/1247/rnc_protest_nion_call.htm
  15. ↑ [1] Bolivia Rising on Tuesday, September 18, 2007
  16. ↑ http://homepages.spa.umn.edu/~marquit/nst20n3-4a.pdf
  17. ↑ "Socialism Betrayed: Behind the Collapse of the Soviet Union"
  18. ↑ http://www.ippn.org/IPPN_People
  19. ↑ http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/alanmaki/gGMyTh
  20. ↑ [2] Peoples World, Events, accessed June 22, 2010
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