Black Left Unity

From KeyWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Black Left Unity was an alliance of Black Acivists, mainly associated with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and Workers World Party.

Green Ribbon Campaign

The Green Ribbon Campaign: Justice for Katrina & Rita Survivors was promoted by Black Left Unity.

Green Ribbon.JPG

From a Black Left Unity Google group;

Liz Derias
1/6/08
update from bay on jan 26th solidarity effort
Thanks for this bro Saladin and for sending out the poster Menelik...this is liz from Oakland mxgm here...im going to try and be on the call today for the national solidarity group, but in the event that im not, i wanted to give an update on the solidarity work thats been jumpin off in the bay.
Last week a group of organizations (incl MXGM, the School of Unity and Liberation, St. Peter's Housing Committee, the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, the Katrina Solidarity Network, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Just Cause Oakland, Center for Political Education, Catalyst Project, and Partnership for Immigrant Leadership and Action ) got together to plan for the Jan 26th Global Day of Action. We decided that our action will be at Senator Dianne Feinstein's home on that day, primarily demanding that she move on SB 1686 (the other Gulf Coast reconstruction demands will be part of the programme that day also).
This action will be a chance to push our demands to feinistein, to deepen relationships and alliance among orgs in the bay, to bring together members of local mass based orgs, to build black leadership, to to keep Gulf Coast reconstruction in the media, and to link the bay to the national campaigns (such as the green ribbon campaign and the we charge genocide work). In addition we will be trying to meet w/ Barabara Lee's folks (an effort initiated by the Katrina Solidarity Network), and pushing folks to make calls to Vidder and other congress persons.
Its a good first step what we have going here, and I'll continue to keep folks updated, and Im sure Tim from the KSN and Alicia from POWER will also.
~Liz
Minutes of meeting
Rough minutes of Black left call January 5, 2008
Participants:
Assignments:
Mark-Anthony Working on Vitter cartoon that can be used widely to push for support of S 1668 and beat up on Vitter - to make clear that politicians that wrong the people will have to pay. Looking at putting Vitter in a bulldozer knocking down public housing with a caption like "Housing is a Human Right", "This is a Crime Against Humanity", "We Charge Genocide."
Menelik We Charge Genocide Poster and sent out.
Saladin Green Ribbon Campaign flyer update with 4 point program/demands and sent out.
Area activities:
New York held a press conference on 12/28 announcing the Regional Survivors Assembly on Jan 12, 2008 for parts of Northeast - New York, New Jersey, Philly, Connecticut, etc. Outreach to POP in New Jersey as a key group. Have raised some funds to help with organizing the Assembly. Councilman Baron involved and wearing Green Ribbon.
Bay Area help planning meeting on 1/3 to hold action on 1/26 at Sen Finstein's house to sign on and push for passage of S 1668, initiate Green Ribbon. Target Clinton and Obama who are co-sponsors of s 1668. Solidarity Network discussing holding regular vigils. Looking at pressing Sen's Boxer, Obama and Clinton all listed as co-sponsors of S 1668. Trying to get Barbara Lee to engage more beyond the letter she and Maxine sent to Bush.
L.A. The Labor Community Strategy Center discussing how to get base involved. Looking at at least 10 groups to get to endorse the Green Ribbon Campaign. Will be holding a conference with students - 500 or more called Weapons of Choice dealing with their campaign from the "Highschools to the Prisons" and will introduce the Green Ribbon. Also dong a political cartoon showing sen Vitter in a bulldozer demolishing public housing with caption like Crimes Against Humanity to be used as part of a national campaign to pressure for the passage of s 1668.
Rocky Mt Held Vigils at city halls in Durham on 1/3 and Rocky Mt on 1/4. Passed out flyer and got people to wear Green Ribbons. Both samll, but good energy and potential for increased involvement by continued out reach to community, faith-based and labor organizations. Distributed Green Ribbons at a Kwanza event. Was a good response! Saladin talked with Congressman GK Butterfield about opposing demolition and participating in a press conference with groups in his district calling on HUD to stop the demolition of public housing, to create affordable housing and to urge the CBC to become more visible. He agreed to participate in a press conference. We will work on pulling signers on a letter to GK and other groups together before end of Jan to see about holding press conference. Wrote GK a follow up letter and asked him to endorse the Green Ribbon, wear it and promote it in the congress.
Boston Got out Green Ribbons at Kwanza events. Good response Checking on prices for We Charge Genocide posters.
Richmond, VA Published article in the Defenders Newspaper - Housing crisis from New Orleans to Richmond. Will have radio series on housing crises will introduce Green Ribbon.
New Jersey The Workers World Newspaper did article in current edition on New Orleans housing struggle, included the We Charge Genocide Poster and the Green Ribbon. Will be continue using paper to promote the struggle.
Green Ribbon Campaign
People felt that the Green Ribbon Campaign can be built widely and become a signature piece for keeping attention on the struggle for Reconstruction in the Gulf Coast and the pressing issues like affordable housing.
Brenda W Talking to AFSCME Dist Council 37 and labor organizations
Johnnie S Need to add Green Ribbon to next We Charge Genocide post printing. We need to do a 1 minute youtube and radio PSA on the Green Ribbon and send out to various media contacts. Also opt-ed for media contacts, especially Black media.
Menelik We need to get a survivor family in New Orleans to do a brief youtube type appeal asking people to wear the Green Ribbon and not to forget the survivors to promote widely.
Pressure points:
People felt that Alphonso Jackson needs to be a definite target, including a poster of this chump - something like "I went to sleep Black and woke up (?)" I forgot how he woke up and didn't want to insert my evil thinking. People felt that all of the senators on the committee and those signing onto the bill and I should be approached in someway about actively pushing for the bills passage out of the committee and beyond.
People felt that our efforts should take the form of being present at places where these officials and presidential candidates are speaking, being honored, etc to raise questions, demand they take a stand, etc. We need to "bird dog" them! We should give some report on who we are targeting in our areas.
Black Left Meeting:
There was agreement on need to hold a Black left meeting. There was debate on possible location and whether it should be held in conjunction with a National Survivors Assembly. Some felt that there were no indications of a readiness or capacity among forces in NOLA to convene such an Assembly in the near future. Some felt that it is part of the responsibility of the Black left and Katrina Solidarity Network to help organize such an Assembly. All felt that a National Survivors Assembly is needed, but agreed that a Black left meeting and Survivors Assembly should probably be organized at different times. We should certainly identify Black left survivors/activist to participate in a meeting.
A planning committee was formed including Brenda Stokely, Menelik, Ana Edwards and Tim Thomas. Brenda/Nsia will send out a draft proposal for discussion and refinement to get the ball rolling. The Planning Committee will hold a call on 1/22/08. A report on work of Planning Committee will be made on Black Left call on 2/2/08.
If I left anything important out please add and make any corrections.
Saladin[1]

References

Template:Reflist

  1. https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/blackleftunity/NDbcnkAcFpo BlackLeftUnity › Green Ribbon Campaign Demands]