Tuesday, May 20, 2014


In Honor Of May Day 2014-From The American Left History Blog Archives -From The May Day Organizing 2012 Organizing Archives –May Day 2013 Needs The Same Efforts

Boston's International Workers Day 2013



BMDC International Workers Day Rally
Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at Boston City Hall
Gather at 2PM - Rally at 2:30PM
(Court St. & Cambridge St.)
T stops Government Center (Blue line, Green line)

To download flyer click here. (Please print double-sided)

Other May Day events:

Revere - @ City Hall - gather at 3:pmbegin marching at 3:30 (to Chelsea)
Everett - @ City Hall - gather at 3:pm begin marching at 3:30 (to Chelsea)
Chelsea - @ City Hall - rally a 3:pm (wait for above feeder marches to arrive) will begin marching at 4:30 (to East Boston)
East Boston - @ Central Square - (welcome marchers) Rally at 5:pm

BMDC will join the rally in East Boston immediately following Boston City Hall rally

Supporters: ANSWER Coalition, Boston Anti Authoritarian Movement, Boston Rosa Parks Human Rights Day Committee, Greater Boston Stop the Wars Coalition, Harvard No-Layoffs Campaign, Industrial Workers of the World, Latinos for Social Change, Mass Global Action, Sacco & Vanzetti Commemoration Society, Socialist Alternative, Socialist Party of Boston, Socialist Workers Party, Student Labor Action Movement, USW Local 8751 - Boston School Bus Drivers Union, Worcester Immigrant Coalition, National Immigrant Solidarity Network, Democracy Center - Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridge/Somerville/Arlington United for Justice with Peace, International Socialist Organization, Community Church of Boston

********

All Out May Day 2012: A Day Without the 99% -General Strike Occupy Boston Working Group

In late December 2011 the General Assembly (GA) of Occupy Los Angeles, in the aftermath of the stirring and successful November 2nd Oakland General Strike and December 12th West Coast Port Shutdown, issued a call for a national and international general strike centered on immigrant rights, environmental sustainability, a moratorium on foreclosures, an end to the wars, and jobs for all. These and other political issues such as transparency and horizontal democracy that have become associated with the Occupy movement are to be featured in the actions set for May Day 2012.

May Day is the historic international working class holiday that has been celebrated each year in many parts of the world since the time of the Haymarket Martyrs in Chicago in 1886 and the struggle for the eight-hour work day. More recently it has been a time for the hard-pressed immigrant communities here in America to join together in the fight against deportations and other discriminatory aspects of governmental immigration policy.

Some political activists here in Boston, mainly connected with Occupy Boston (OB), decided just after the new year to support that general strike call and formed the General Strike Occupy Boston working group (GSOB). GSOB has met, more or less weekly, since then to plan our own May Day actions. The first step in that process was to bring a resolution incorporating the Occupy Los Angeles issues before the GA of Occupy Boston for approval. That resolution was approved by GA OB on January 8, 2012.

Early discussions within the working group centered on drawing the lessons of the West Coast actions last fall. Above all what is and what isn’t a general strike. Traditionally a general strike, as witness the recent actions in Greece and other countries, is called by workers’ organizations and/or parties for a specified period of time in order to shut down substantial parts of the capitalist economy over some set of immediate demands. A close analysis of the West Coast actions showed a slightly different model: one based on community pickets of specified industrial targets, downtown mass street actions, and scattered individual and collective acts of solidarity like student support strikes and sick-outs. Additionally, small businesses and other allies were asked to close and some did close in solidarity.

That latter model seemed more appropriate to the tasks at hand in Boston given its sparse recent militant labor history and that it is a regional financial, technological and educational hub rather than an industrial center. GSOB also came to a realization that successful actions in Boston on May Day 2012 would not necessarily exactly follow the long established radical and labor traditions of the West Coast. Our focus will be actions and activities that respond and reflect the Boston political situation as we attempt to create, re-create really, an on-going May Day tradition beyond the observance of the day by labor radicals and the immigrant communities.

Over the past several years, starting with the nation-wide actions in 2006, the Latin and other immigrant communities in and around Boston have been celebrating May Day as a day of action on the very pressing problem of immigration status as well as the traditional working class solidarity holiday. It was no accident that Los Angeles, scene of massive immigration actions in the past and currently one of the areas facing the brunt of the deportation drives by the Obama administration, would be in the lead to call for national actions this year. One of the first steps GSOB took was to try to reach out to the already existing Boston May Day Coalition (BMDC), which has spearheaded the annual marches and rallies in the immigrant communities, in order to learn of their experiences and to coordinate actions. After making such efforts GSOB has joined forces with BMDC in order to coordinate the over-all May Day actions.

Taking our cue from the developing Occupy May Day movement, especially the broader and more inclusive messages coming out of Occupy Wall Street, GSOB has centered our slogans on the theme of “Occupy May First - A Day Without the 99%” in order to highlight the fact that in capitalist America labor, of one kind or another, has created all the wealth but has not shared in the accumulated profits. Highlighting the increasing economic gap, political voiceless-ness, and social issues related to race, class, sexual inequality, gender and the myriad other oppressions we face under capitalism is in keeping with the efforts initiated by Occupy Boston last fall.

On May Day GSOB is calling on the 99% to strike, skip work, walk out of school, and refrain from shopping, banking and business in order to implement that general slogan. We encourage working people to request the day off, or to call in sick. Small businesses are encouraged to close for the day and join the rest of the 99% in the streets.

For students at all levels GSOB is calling for a walk-out of classes. Further we call on college students to occupy the universities. With a huge student population of over 250,000 in the Boston area no-one-size-fits- all strategy seems appropriate. Each kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school, college, graduate school and wayward think tank should plan its own strike actions and GSOB suggests at some point in the day that all meet at a central location in downtown Boston.

In the early hours on May 1st members of the 99% will converge on the Boston Financial District for a day of direct action to demand an end to corporate rule and a shift of power to the people. The Financial District Block Party will start at 7:00 AM on the corner of Federal Street & Franklin Street in downtown Boston. Banks and corporations are strongly encouraged to close down for the day.

At noon there will be a permit-approved May Day rally at Boston City Hall Plaza jointly sponsored by BMDC and GSOB. Following the rally participants are encouraged to head to East Boston for solidarity marches centered on the immigrant communities that will start at approximately 2:00 PM and move from East Boston, Chelsea, and Revere to Everett for a rally at 4:00 PM. Other activities that afternoon for those who chose not to go to East Boston will be scheduled in and around the downtown area.

That evening, for those who cannot for whatever reasons participate in the daytime actions, there will be a “Funeral March” for the banks forming at 7:00 PM at Copley Square that steps off at 8:00 PM and will march throughout the downtown area.

The GSOB is urging the following slogans for May 1st. - No work. No school. No chores. No shopping. No banking. Let’s show the 1% that we have the power. Let’s show the world what a day without the 99% really means. And let’s return to the old traditions of May Day as a day of international solidarity with our working and oppressed sisters and brothers around the world. GSOB urges -All Out For May Day 2012!

4 ways to fight back against Army whistleblower PVT Manning’s 35-year sentence

herolightprojectionThe outcome of PVT Chelsea (formerly Bradley) Manning’s trial on August 21st, while better than the 60+ years the government’s prosecutors were calling for, is an outrage to the idea of American justice, and should deeply concern democracy advocates everywhere. PVT Manning’s 35-year sentence was condemned by public figures as wide ranging as Cornel West, Ron Paul, and the American Civil Liberties Union’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project Director Ben Wizner, who stated, 
[A] legal system that doesn’t distinguish between leaks to the press in the public interest and treason against the nation will not only produce unjust results, but will deprive the public of critical information that is necessary for democratic accountability.
The truth is that the fight for PVT Manning’s freedom is far from over. In fact, there are multiple avenues for relief that could result in PVT Manning serving fewer than 10 years behind bars. Strong showings of public support will significantly improve the chances for each of these avenues to succeed. It won’t happen overnight, but with our nation’s democracy on the line, and a major precedent being set for the rights of whistleblowers everywhere, we think that continuing to organize in support of PVT Manning is the least we can do.
With that in mind, here are 5 of the most important ways you can continue to support PVT Manning right now:
 
1) Sign the petition AND Add your photo in support of PVT Manning’s request for presidential pardon
President Obama has already granted pardons to 39 other prisoners, and a White House spokesperson said he would give consideration to PVT Manning’s request. Showing public support for PVT Manning’s application is the best way to give her a real chance of being released in 3 years, or even sooner.  Sign our petition on Whitehouse.gov, and then submit your photo with a personal message at http://pardon.bradleymanning.org 
 
 
While our current focus is on the White House petition, that is only the beginning of our effort to demonstrate our support for military whistleblowing to the Commander in Chief. You can write to and call the White House in order to express your views in a more personal manner. You can also help by organizing a letter-writing drive with others in your community!
 
3) Donate to the appeals process
The legal appeals process is the most important avenue to hold the U.S. military to account for the many ways in which PVT Manning’s due process rights were violated throughout her trial, from the months of unjust and abusive solitary confinement to the utter failure to provide a speedy trial. PVT Manning’s legal defense will target appeals at all of the ways in which PVT Manning’s trial violated her rights under the U.S. Constitution and the UCMJ. Your donation can help support this crucial process.
By contributing, you’ll also be helping to uphold Americans’ right to a speedy trial, to be treated as innocent until proven guilty, and to be made fully aware of the nature of the charges against them without fear those charges may change midway through the trial.

4) Write to tell PVT Manning of your support!

Near the end of her trial, PVT Manning expressed gratitude to the countless numbers of supporters who’ve written her letters in prison. Now that the trial is over, she is looking forward to having the ability to write people back.
You can write to PVT Manning at the address below. While the outside of the envelope must be marked “Bradley Manning,” PVT Manning will be happy to accept letters that refer to her with her chosen name Chelsea on the inside.
PVT Bradley E Manning892891300 N Warehouse RdFt Leavenworth KS 66027-2304USA
ftmcnair1
Join us at our neighborhood meeting in Dorchester!

This Saturday, May 17, 11:30 a.m. 

Fields Corner Library
1520 Dorchester Ave.
Dorchester
The 15 Now campaign is coming to YOUR neighborhood.

Check out our Dorchester neighborhood meeting and discuss the issues working people face in your neighborhood this Saturday and how you can get involved with the campaign dedicated building a strong movement of working people in the city!
15 Now New England ballot launch meeting in Boston a success!

Read more here.
 
     Like me on Facebook
Big things are happening!

Massachusetts Teachers Association endorses 15 Now!
 
As an acknowledgement of the growing momentum for 15 Now and the movement for $15/hr, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, a union of 110,000 teachers and education staff from around the state, voted to endorse the 15 Now campaign! This a huge victory and sends a message that working people are united in our demand for a $15/hr minimum wage!
 
 
Fast Food Workers to Strike in Boston!
 
This Thursday, there will be strikes by fast food workers in 150 US cities and in 33 countries on 6 continents demanding $15/hr and a union. This will be be the single biggest day of action by fast food workers since the movement began in 2012.
  
Come join 15 Now and others on the picket line this Thursday at either of the two actions in Boston!

5:30 AM - Dorchester
9 Dewar St (Corner of Dewar and Dorchester Ave)
 
11:30 AM - Downtown Crossing
Outside Macy's on Summer Street
 
Like us on Facebook RSVP on Facebook! 

15 Now New England | 50 Saxton St | Boston | MA | 02125
Join us at our neighborhood meeting in Dorchester!

This Saturday, May 17, 11:30 a.m. 

Fields Corner Library
1520 Dorchester Ave.
Dorchester
The 15 Now campaign is coming to YOUR neighborhood.

Check out our Dorchester neighborhood meeting and discuss the issues working people face in your neighborhood this Saturday and how you can get involved with the campaign dedicated building a strong movement of working people in the city!
15 Now New England ballot launch meeting in Boston a success!

Read more here.
 
     Like me on Facebook
Big things are happening!

Massachusetts Teachers Association endorses 15 Now!
 
As an acknowledgement of the growing momentum for 15 Now and the movement for $15/hr, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, a union of 110,000 teachers and education staff from around the state, voted to endorse the 15 Now campaign! This a huge victory and sends a message that working people are united in our demand for a $15/hr minimum wage!
 
 
Fast Food Workers to Strike in Boston!
 
This Thursday, there will be strikes by fast food workers in 150 US cities and in 33 countries on 6 continents demanding $15/hr and a union. This will be be the single biggest day of action by fast food workers since the movement began in 2012.
  
Come join 15 Now and others on the picket line this Thursday at either of the two actions in Boston!

5:30 AM - Dorchester
9 Dewar St (Corner of Dewar and Dorchester Ave)
 
11:30 AM - Downtown Crossing
Outside Macy's on Summer Street
 
Like us on Facebook RSVP on Facebook! 

15 Now New England | 50 Saxton St | Boston | MA | 02125
From The Class Struggle ....

Join us at our neighborhood meeting in Dorchester!

This Saturday, May 17, 11:30 a.m. 

Fields Corner Library
1520 Dorchester Ave.
Dorchester
The 15 Now campaign is coming to YOUR neighborhood.

Check out our Dorchester neighborhood meeting and discuss the issues working people face in your neighborhood this Saturday and how you can get involved with the campaign dedicated building a strong movement of working people in the city!
15 Now New England ballot launch meeting in Boston a success!

Read more here.
 
     Like me on Facebook
Big things are happening!

Massachusetts Teachers Association endorses 15 Now!
 
As an acknowledgement of the growing momentum for 15 Now and the movement for $15/hr, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, a union of 110,000 teachers and education staff from around the state, voted to endorse the 15 Now campaign! This a huge victory and sends a message that working people are united in our demand for a $15/hr minimum wage!
 
 
Fast Food Workers to Strike in Boston!
 
This Thursday, there will be strikes by fast food workers in 150 US cities and in 33 countries on 6 continents demanding $15/hr and a union. This will be be the single biggest day of action by fast food workers since the movement began in 2012.
  
Come join 15 Now and others on the picket line this Thursday at either of the two actions in Boston!

5:30 AM - Dorchester
9 Dewar St (Corner of Dewar and Dorchester Ave)
 
11:30 AM - Downtown Crossing
Outside Macy's on Summer Street
 
Like us on Facebook RSVP on Facebook! 

15 Now New England | 50 Saxton St | Boston | MA | 02125
From The Struggle Against War

National Call for Emergency Antiwar Actions on Ukraine

 When: Friday, May 9, 2014, 10:00 am to Monday, May 26, 2014, 10:00 am
UNAC
National Call for Emergency Antiwar Actions on Ukraine – May 9 to May 26 (endorser list follows the call)
US/NATO war moves in Eastern Europe, the Black Sea, and the Baltic Sea – the borders of Russia – are a danger to the whole world. Positioning destroyers and missiles, scheduling war games, and imposing sanctions (an act of war) risk wider war.
We are deeply disturbed by the expansion of the U.S.-commanded NATO military alliance and U.S. recognition and speedy grant of billions in loans to a right-wing coup government in Ukraine, which overthrew the elected government. This illegal government has used fascist violence against all forms of peoples’ resistance in Ukraine.
By more than 2 to 1, the population in the U.S. is against another war and opposed to US military moves or aid to the coup government in Ukraine (4-28-14 Pew/USA Today poll).
We must make our voices heard.
The time to act is now!
We need jobs, health care and social services, not another war.
We urge nationally coordinated antiwar actions across the U.S. and internationally - protests, vigils, teach-ins, antiwar resolutions and visits to offices of elected officials.
From May 9 to May 26 let us act together, in unity, as a powerful voice against the threat of another war.
Ukraine National Actions May. 9-26 endorsements (list in formation):
National and International groups:
United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC)
International Action Center
Code Pink
ANSWER Coalition
U.S. Peace Council
Veterans For Peace
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
Alliance for Global Justice,
BAYAN, USA
Black Agenda Report
International League for Peoples Struggles,
Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamel
May 1 Worker & Immigrant Rights Coalition,
Lynne Stewart Defense Committee
Colectivo Honduras USA Resistencia,
Pakistan USA Freedom Forum,
Fight Imperialism Stand Together - FIST,
People's Power Assembly
People's Organization for Progress
WarIsACrime.org
The Move Organization
International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamel
Cindy Sheehan’s Soapbox
Swedish Peace Council
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
Jeannette Rankin Peace Center
US Friends of the Soviet People
Coop Antiwar Café, Berlin, Germany
Contempoeranity & Objective thought, Karkov, Ukraine
Labor Art and Mural Project
Solidarity
AAW France (Americans Against the War)
Middle East Crisis Response
Emergency Labor Network
Granny Peace Brigade
Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO), Vancouver, Canada
Labor Fightback Network
Ukrainian National Committee for Freedom of the Cuban Five Heroes
German Freethinkers Association
American Iranian Friendship Committee
Ohio Labor Party
Folkebevægelsen mod Nazisme FMN (The Peoples Movement Aganst Nazism of Denmark)

Individual signers:
Ramsey Clark
Medea Benjamin
David  Swanson
Ray McGovern
Margaret Kimberley, Black Agenda Report
Cindy Sheehan
Suren Moodliar, Massachusetts Global Action & Green shadow Cabinet
Bishop Filipe Teixeira – OFSJC – CCA
Steve Gillis – Vice Pres. USW local 8751 Boston school Bus Union
Leila Zand, Fellowship of Reconciliation
Joel Kovel
Bruce Gagnon
Kevin Zeese
Prof. Bertell Ollman
Phil Wilayto, Editor, The Virginia Defender
Sandy Fessler, Rochester Against War
Ohio State Labor Party


Local Groups:
Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace (Albany)
Chicago Anti-War Committee
MN Anti-War Committee,
Women Against Military Madness - WAMM,
Minnesota Peace Action Coalition,
Jersey City Peace Movement,
Philly Against War
Peace Action – Manhattan
Michigan Emergency Coalition Against War & Injustice (MECAWI)
Chelsea Coalition on Housing
Women’s fightback Network – Boston
Rochester Against War
US Friends of The Soviet People (Minnesota Chapter)
Mayday Bookstore
Veterans for Peace (Twin Cities chapter 27)
Massachusetts Global Action
Northhampton committee to Stop Wars
Worcester Unemployment Action Group
Los Angeles Peace Council
union of Maine visual artists
8th Day Center for Justice, Chicago
Veterans For Peace Chapter, Chapter 72
Ann Arbor Coalition against the War
Veterans for Peace, Chapter 147, Saratoga, NY
Veterans for Peace, Chapter 87
Good Friday Coalition
Code Pink, Taos
Peace Action, Staten Island, NY
Neighbors 4 Peace
Columbus Campaign for Arms Control
Nicaragua Center for Community Action
Salem Peace Committee
Dutchess for Peace
Dutchess Greens
Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace
Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality – Virginia
Northeast Philly for Peace and Justice
Peace Action of San Mateo County
Defenders' Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project
Peace Action, Staten Island
Western New York Peace Center
Left Forum of Grand Rapids
United for Justice with Peace Coalition, Mass.

From The Class Struggle ....

 
If you've already contacted your Representative - thank you!  I am resending this alert because of a glitch that caused an error message to appear and in some cases prevented this letter from reaching Congress.  It's been fixed.
So, if you are one of those who experienced this problem or have not yet sent this important communication to your Representative, I hope you will do so now, and then forward this email to your friends. 
Humbly for peace,
Kevin
**************

Dear Al,
Every year Congress has two chances to reduce Pentagon waste through the appropriations and authorization bills.  Next week the House will vote on its version of the National Defense Authorization Act.

Email your Representative now to reduce Pentagon spending.

As it stands, the bill would authorize $521.3 billion plus approximately  $80 billion for the Afghanistan War and other unrelated Pentagon expenditures that are funded in a separate Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account.  Next week, your Representative may offer or support amendments that will cut wasteful Pentagon pork.

There will only be a short time next week when we will know exactly what amendments the Republican leadership will allow to be voted on so please write your Representative today.

We expect amendments that will:

*End the Afghanistan War as soon as possible — it’s time to bring all troops and contractors home and to not leave any behind after this year.
*Cut the OCO slush fund — Last year it funded some $30 billion of unrelated items.
*Cut the F-35 — the most expensive plane and Pentagon project in history.
*Audit the Pentagon — The Pentagon is the only part of the Government that cannot pass an audit.
*Cut the Littoral Combat Ship — experts say it will cost over three times the original estimate.
*Reduce General's Pensions — currently they are allowed to make MORE in retirement than when working.
*Cut the M1 Abrams Tank — the Pentagon doesn’t even want it.
*Reduce the Nuclear Triad — Without the Cold War we cannot afford to upgrade all the nuclear weapon delivery systems while we significantly reduce our stockpile.
*Cut overseas military bases and support a Base Realignment and Closure Commission — There are over 1,000 U.S. military bases abroad including those in countries who can afford their own security.  Within the U.S. there are bases that the Pentagon doesn’t want.

Again please take time NOW towrite your Representative to cut the Pentagon budget so we can afford other priorities like job creation, education and infrastructure.

Humbly for Peace,
Paul Kawika Martin
Political Director
Peace Action
PS: Please forward this email to your friends!