AMERICAN LEFT HISTORY

This space is dedicated to the proposition that we need to know the history of the struggles on the left and of earlier progressive movements here and world-wide. If we can learn from the mistakes made in the past (as well as what went right) we can move forward in the future to create a more just and equitable society. We will be reviewing books, CDs, and movies we believe everyone needs to read, hear and look at as well as making commentary from time to time. Greg Green, site manager

Saturday, August 19, 2017

From Socialist Alternative- Cornel West & Kshama Sawant: Build the Movement Against the Far Right

8/18/2017 8:38 PM

Socialist Alternative

To t

Draft Bernie Town Hall
& People’s Convergence Conference
September 8-10 in Washington D.C.
www.convergence2017.org

The vicious violence in Charlottesville and white supremacist actions around the country have acted as a collective wake up call, while Trump’s abhorrent response has only added further fuel to the growth of right wing bigotry.

A powerful left challenge and mass movement must be built against racist violence. Leaders like Bernie Sanders, alongside the unions, civil rights, immigrant, socialist, and other progressive organizations must step up to coordinate major national protests to drive back far-right forces. These protests should be linked to a clear anti-corporate, anti-racist, pro-worker program to unite the vast majority of working people against racism and bigotry.

But to push back against the rise of white nationalism, or to build an effective resistance, requires a conscious political strategy to isolate the far-right.

Join Cornel West, Kshama Sawant and others on September 8-10 in Washington D.C. for the People’s Convergence Conference and Draft Bernie Town Hall. The conference will feature a strategy discussion for our movements on “How to Defeat the Right”.

Register for the Conference Today!

While we meet this immediate and vile threat from the far right, we also need to be laying the groundwork for an independent, left political challenge to the corporate politics of both the Democratic and Republican Party leaderships. Trump is a con man who convinced a section of middle- and working class people that he would bring back good jobs.

To defeat Trump and the Republicans we need to provide a clear, anti-corporate alternative with policies like Medicare for All and a major green infrastructure program to create union jobs that can undercut support for right populism. The pro-corporate policies of the neo-liberal leadership of the Democratic Party helped paved the way for Trump and the growth of right wing populism through their close links to Wall Street and Corporate America.

“In light of the barbarous violence of the neo-nazis and white nationalists in Charlottesville, it’s critical working people, youth, people of color, activists and progressive leaders come together to discuss the way forward for our movement and how we can build a political left alternative to isolate and defeat the right wing threat. I think the People’s Convergence Conference is an important event to do just that.” said Kshama Sawant, Socialist Alternative Seattle City Councilmember.

This three-day event will cost over $20,000 to organize. Socialist Alternative, Movement for the 99% and other endorsing organizations do not have the deep pockets of the billionaires, but we have a more potent weapon: the collective power of supporters like you.

Please contribute $25 today.