tinyurl.com/y9j4ya4x/

The Southern Vision Alliance is helping to circulate and support these demands drafted by Durham community activists.

TO: Durham County Sheriff Michael Andrews; Durham District Attorney Roger Echols; Durham County Commissioners Wendy Jacobs, Brenda Howerton, James Hill, Ellen Reckhow, Heidi Carter; Durham City Council Members Cora Cole-McFadden, Eddie Davis, Jillian Johnson, Don Moffitt, Charlie Reece, Steve Schewel; Durham Mayor William Bell; NC Governor Roy Cooper; NC Senate Leader Phil Berger; NC Speaker of the House Tim Moore

On August 14, 2017, in the aftermath of a weekend of white supremacist terrorism unleashed in Charlottesville, the community of Durham united to express their solidarity with the people of Charlottesville, and honor those who were injured or lost their lives standing against racism.  The Durham community then took matters into their own hands, tearing down the Confederate monument outside the old Durham County Courthouse.

On Tuesday August 15, at a press conference called by Durham community organizers who participated in the action, Durham sheriffs arrested freedom fighter Takiyah Thompson. Seven other anti-racist activists have also been arrested. The Durham County Sheriff’s office has indicated that they will attempt to press more charges against people involved in carrying out the people’s will to see this and every monument to white supremacy taken down.

We are in full solidarity with Charlottesville and the brave anti-racist activists who took down the Confederate monument in Durham. We congratulate the people of Durham for their victory in tearing down one of the more visible manifestations of white supremacy.

We demand:

1. Drop the charges against Takiyah Thompson and 7 anti-racist activists! No additional charges issued against anti-racist freedom fighters!

2. The City of Charlottesville to drop charges against anti-racist protesters from August 12!

3. Governor Roy Cooper to call for immediate removal of all Confederate statues across the state!

4. The Durham County Commissioners and City Council to attend mass public forums to allow the community to speak-out about their concerns for public display of Confederate statues.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/trump-continues-failed-military-policy-in-south-central-asia/5605365

Read this critical analysis by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire, on the announcement by United States President Donald Trump that the administration will continue the already 16-year-old occupation of Afghanistan and regional war against Pakistan. These policy imperatives are examined within the context of Trump’s efforts to deflect attention away from his political base among racists and neo-fascists which has come under severe scrutiny since the events in Charlottesville, Virginia on August 12. This report was published by the Center for Research on Globalization. An entry on its website says: “The Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG) is an independent research and media organization based in Montreal. In addition to the Global Research websites, the Centre is involved in book publishing, support to humanitarian projects as well as educational outreach activities including the organization of public conferences and lectures. The Centre also acts as a think tank on crucial economic and geopolitical issues. The Global Research website publishes news articles, commentary, background research and analysis on a broad range of issues, focusing on social, economic, strategic and environmental issues. Global Research articles are used as source material by college and university students. Moreover, numerous universities, libraries and research institutions have established a link to Global Research on their respective web sites. Global Research has also become a source of specialized information and analysis for journalists, senior government officials, financial analysts and non-governmental organizations.”

https://www.facebook.com/DurhamWWP/

FREEDOM FIGHTER BOND FUND: http://durhamsolidaritycenter.org/bondfund/

http://www.workers.org/marcy/klan/

“…As the capitalist crisis deepens, as unemployment grows as the U.S settles its international disputes not merely on the basis of gunboat diplomacy as of old but of nuclear might, what is the only realistic expectation? Some utopian era, when class antagonisms will soften and diminish and collisions between the classes slowly disappear, leaving extremist right-wing organizations like the KKK with no material basis for existence and therefore tending to disintegrate and disappear?

On the contrary, this is the most unlikely and the least possible variant in the next stage of capitalist development.

That being the case, it is most important to discard the liberal straitjacket that only leads to defeat and frustration and arm the mass movement of the working class and oppressed with a revolutionary perspective. It is necessary to politically prepare for the impending struggle not less, but better than, the bourgeoisie pre- pared to win their struggle when they were a subject and oppressed class centuries ago in Europe under feudalism.

It is better to learn the progressive lessons that the bourgeoisie assimilated in their struggle than to become an object of mass confusion through the medium of petty bourgeois preachers and moralists who righteously wave the flag of freedom but abandon it as soon as the class struggle sharpens…”

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/panafricanjournal/2017/08/21/pan-african-journal-special-worldwide-radio-broadcast

Listen to the Sun. Aug. 20, 2017 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. The program features our regular PANW report with dispatches on the Zimbabwe Defense Forces Day where President Robert Mugabe paid tribute to the military of the Southern African state; the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has commemorated the 72nd anniversary of the triumph of the national liberation forces against Japanese imperialism; the Chinese media has published an editorial indicating that the politicization of trade by the United States will damage damage relations with Washington; and activists packed the courtroom in Durham, North Carolina to support members of Workers World Party and other anti-racist organizations who are facing prosecution for the destruction of a confederate statue on Aug. 15. In the second hour we continue our focus on Black August with an interview by Gerald Horne on the Haitian Revolution. Finally we present a rare archival interview with Black Panther Party Field Marshall George L. Jackson from 1971 just several months before he was assassinated.

https://www.newsghana.com.gh/viewpoint-charlottesville-clashes-typify-racial-turbulence-in-the-united-states/

By Abayomi Azikiwe
Editor, Pan-African News Wire, http://panafricannews.blogspot.com/

Durham socialists take direct action while ruling class seeks to reposition itself for a renewed political struggle

Trump’s apologist view of the neo-fascist and racist demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia on August 11 and 12, went up against the standard view of the American elites in regard to issues of race and political culture. Although the U.S. political and economic structures are permeated with racial and national oppression which remain the order of the day as it relates to the social status of African Americans, the posture of Wall Street and the Washington establishment is not to acknowledge this reality.

The display of neo-fascist sentiments on the campus of the University of Virginia and in downtown Charlottesville was far too much for anti-racist and social justice activists to contemplate without a response. Thousands came out into the streets to oppose the “Unite the Right” rally designed to preserve the Southern Confederate heritage.

Police units withdrew when the alt-right operatives went on the offensive attacking the anti-racists and anti-fascist contingents. Eventually the racist mob was not able to hold its event at the location of the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. In retaliation, one of their numbers plowed his vehicle into a crowd of anti-racist demonstrators, killing one young woman, Heather Heyer, and injuring 20 others, including five critically and four seriously.

People across the U.S. were outraged at this blatant act of right-wing terror. Demonstrations flourished spontaneously in various cities and towns from the east coast to the west.

Boston anti-racist and anti-fascist fighters take to the streets August 19, 2017

Hosted by Milwaukee Area Labor Council

FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Come celebrate Labor Day with those who created it: organized workers at the festival built with volunteers and donations. #LABORFESTMKE

Starting with a parade at Carl Zeidler Square Wisconsin Union Memorial in Downtown Milwaukee featuring union affiliates, partners and allies. at 11 am, the festival opens at noon at the Summerfest grounds with free entertainment all day long for the kids and family.

Featuring:
Classic Car show
Entertainment Shows for Children
Grappling (Wrestling)
Live Music
Food and Beverages available for purchase
Raffle tickets to win CASH PRIZES. Grand prize is a Brand New Harley-Davidson motorcycle union-made in MILWAUKEE!

For Local Unions to download paperwork for this event go to https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B46cALakqnsKa1dlVXdaVXphd2M

We hope to see you Monday, September 4 as we celebrate our national DAY OFF together. And, if you think of it, please bring a pair of NEW SOCKS for those in need for our SOCK DRIVE for local charities and MPS schools.

Take care! IN SOLIDARITY,
The Milwaukee Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO