Charleston, S.C.

http://www.daysofgracecharleston.org

Labor Day Weekend

September 5, 9am: National Mass March & Rally
September 6, Time TBA: Strategy Conference

Labor Must Join the Fight to Stop the War on Black America!

The assassination of the Charleston, South Carolina 9 in bible study at the Mother Emanuel AME Church by a white racist terrorist continues to point out how the corporate own media and government policies criminalize Black and people of color to make us scapegoats for the deep economic crisis caused by a system of corporate greed.

Like the racist terrorist bombing of the 16^th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama that killed 4 young Black girls and injured 22 others in 1963; Black and people of conscience throughout the U.S. and internationally are rightfully outraged by this criminal attack on the Mother Emanuel AME Church.

The mantra by those who oppose labor rights, voting rights, women’s rights, gay rights, quality public education, expanding Medicare and living wages, that this act of racist terror has brought people in South Carolina closer together, symbolized by taking down the confederate flag, does not address the real issues and the forces that devalue Black lives and divide the people.

It is no coincidence that Dylan Roof chose the Mother Emanuel AME church to carry out his racist terror. This church represents a historical place where people of conscience meet to organize and plan the struggles against injustice and for Freedom; a legacy left by Denmark Vesey a founder of Mother Emanuel AME who gave his life in the Black Freedom Struggle.

Racism is more than negative thoughts in white folk’s heads. It is part of an organized system of capitalism that devalues anything for profits, not only in the U.S. but globally. The extrajudicial police and vigilante killings of unarmed Black people every 28 hours, and the failure of the courts to convict these killers, sends a racist message that the government devalues Black lives.

Young Black and people of conscience across the country are rebelling against this economic and politically driven racist climate that has declared War on Black America in the form of economic, political and social violence – the police killings, high unemployment, attacks on public education, environmental racism, mass incarceration, gentrification, low wages and attacks on worker, women, union and human rights. In addition to being the conditions of an oppressed people; they are the conditions of the most impacted section of the U.S. working-class.

To challenge and defeat this racist system, the power of the people, especially the Black and general working-class must be organized and mobilized against the economic and political forces and system that places profits over human needs and rights.

The last 7 years has made clear, that without the organized power of the people, especially the Black and general working-class, that elected officials at best, try to exercise power within a system dominated by the corporate power of the 1-percent. Most unfortunately follow the dictates of big money.

Just as the ILA 1422 struggle for labor rights built a national and international movement that demanded and won the Freedom of the Charleston 5; it must utilize the Days of Grace/Rage mobilization to inspire all of labor to mobilize their power to stop this War on Black America and the working-class!

The Southern Workers Assembly, a rank-and-file workers/labor network committed to organizing workers power throughout the U.S. South, calls on Southern workers to mobilize for the Days of Grace/Rage in Charleston, SC on September 5,6, 2015, and to commit to organizing workers power with a program that challenges corporate greed and the racist system that it has created.

Organized labor must become a force for not only for economic justice, but also social justice and fundamental change that benefits the majority of the people without special privileges.

Labor must prepare itself to shut the economy down to stop the War on Black America and the working-class!

Forward Together! Not One Step Back!

Statement issued by Southern Workers Assembly

To learn more about the SWA contingent or to help us build a labor presence, please contact us at info@southernworker.org or 252-314-2363

The National Writers Union, United Auto Workers Local 1981, https://nwu.org/ passed the following resolution unanimously at its Delegate Assembly on August 9. An extensive Civil Rights Committee resolution included support for the Black Lives Matter movement. A resolution supporting the workers disabled by GM in Colombia and giving them a $250 donation was passed, and a 4 1/2-minute tribute to Michael Brown was held at noon. 

Resolution to Save the Life of Mumia Abu-Jamal from ”Medical Neglect”

Whereas Mumia Abu-Jamal, an African-American journalist and former member of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, who was president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists, was sentenced to the death penalty in 1982 for allegedly killing a white policeman. The judgment was based on fraudulent court proceedings, including an incompetent lawyer who neglected evidence showing Abu-Jamal’s innocence, a nearly all-white jury (which studies show often produces the same result as an all-white jury with a Black defendant), self-serving witnesses, and a biased judge, which show that Abu-Jamal is an innocent man who should never have been in jail in the first place and who is a political prisoner in Pennsylvania;

Whereas the National Writers Union passed a resolution inviting the world-renowned Black author to accept an honorary membership in 1995. The resolution was passed when Abu-Jamal had received a date of execution;

Whereas the NWU has continued to support Abu-Jamal ever since, especially in 2011 when his death sentence was overturned and he was moved to general population;

Whereas the NWU became aware that Abu-Jamal suffered a medical emergency in March 2015 when he was on the verge of slipping into a diabetic coma and was suffering from a severe, debilitating, painful skin disease, which went undiagnosed and untreated for months by the State Correctional Institution of Mahanoy;

Whereas the NWU, like others who similarly support Abu-Jamal, believes that the Pennsylvania prison system is negligent and has not used reasonable care, reflecting “medical neglect” and violating his human and civil rights. The NWU supports all efforts in the ongoing struggle to secure specialists, a diagnosis, and a treatment regimen needed to restore Abu-Jamal to full health;

Whereas the Pennsylvania prison system must be required to use all due diligence and every option deemed appropriate in the treatment of and timely diagnosis of Abu-Jamal in order to avoid further medical neglect that might lead to his death;

Therefore, be it resolved, that the National Writers Union will write letters to (1) SCI Mahanoy, (2) the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, and (3) Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf demanding that these authorities comply with the highest standards of health care recommended by the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association, and the Department of Justice and stop the medical neglect that threatens the life of Abu-Jamal. The National Writers Union calls for Abu-Jamal’s release to the care of doctors and medical facilities of his choice so that he can get the treatment he is entitled to;

Be it further resolved that, given the extensive evidence of Abu-Jamal’s innocence, wrongful incarceration, extreme undiagnosed illness after five months and the prison medical system’s failure to diagnose or treat him properly, we add our voices to the international call for the immediate release of Mumia Abu-Jamal;

Be it further resolved that the National Writers Union will set up a Mumia Abu-Jamal Watch Committee to monitor his health situation and suggest further support actions that may become necessary, which will be authorized by a vote of the delegates.

The response to the call for Charleston’s Days of Grace issued by the International Longeshoremen’s Association Local 1422 has been tremendous. Across South Carolina, the South, and the rest of the country, many organizations and indivduals are making plans to come to Charleston, SC on September 5 & 6 for the mass march and strategy conference.

Will you be there?

There are many ways to help build the Days of Grace:

• Endorse: Add your organization’s name to the growing list supporting the call to action
• Distribute fliers: Download the flier online and pass it out in your workplace, school, or community
• Become an organizing center: Sign up to help coordinate transportation from your city to Charleston for the Days of Grace
• Help with outreach in Charleston: Do you live in Charleston and want to help with outreach? Email us at: info@daysofgracecharleston.org
• Share this message with others: Send this message to listservs that you are a part of
• Make this image your Facebook profile picture and share broadly:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 9, 2015

At this time, ‪#‎BlackLivesMatter‬ does not endorse any presidential candidate. Moreover, we are not affiliated with a political party. Our work is not funded or driven by any political party nor is it influenced by local or national candidates.

As stated in our mission, #BlackLivesMatter is an ideological and political intervention; we are not controlled by the same political machine we are attempting to hold accountable. In the year leading up to the elections, we are committed to holding all candidates for Office accountable to the needs and dreams of Black people. We embrace a diversity of tactics. We are a decentralized network aiming to build the leadership and power of black people. We do not endorse any political party and we are not supported by any political party. Our political aims we’ve stated clearly.

Historically, all political parties have participated in the systematic disenfranchisement of Black people. Anti-black racism, especially that sanctioned by the state, has resulted in the loss of healthy and thriving Black life and well-being. Given that, we will continue to hold politicians and political parties accountable for their policies and platforms. We will also continue to demand the intentional dismantling of structural racism.

For more information about #BlackLivesMatter nationally, please visit the official website at www.blacklivesmatter.com, follow @BlkLivesMatter on Twitter, or visit the Facebook page here.

Durham, North Carolina June 20, 2015 [Photo: WWP]

August 11: Mass Meeting: Planning for our Campaign of Resistance

August 18: Mass Meeting II on Campaign of Resistance

The Coalition for Justice will be hosting Mass Meetings on Tuesday, August 11 and Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at All Peoples Church, 2600 N. 2nd Street at 6 p.m.

We will convene to discuss our next action on Friday, August 21 at 12 p.m.

We would love to get as many community members, organizations, unions, and churches in this space as possible so please invite your friends, family, and colleagues. Students and children are also welcomed. The meeting will last approximately two hours (6:00-8:00). Please join us, and let your voice be heard. We are going to continue the fight for Justice, and we know that we are stronger together.

Spread the word!

https://www.facebook.com/justicefordontre

Coalition For Justice protest August 8, 2015 in Milwaukee [Photo Credit: C.M. Despears]

Via U-Stream, Conference Call, Youtube and in person

TUES. Aug 11 @ 7:30pm EST Sharp

 In Person at: Solidarity Center

Please arrive no later than 7pm at:

147 West 24^th St, 2^nd Floor, NY, NY 10011

(Between 6^th & 7^th Ave – Free parking available on street after 7pm, F, M, E  #1 subway or NJ PATH train to 23 St)

Or join us via

Conference Call Audio at 712-432-6100, Access code: 41853116 #

Or watch live U-stream http://www.ustream.tv/channel/IACenter

Or watch on Youtube by Tues 11pm at: IACenter.org

Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1478757319111083/

Pease link to this program and help spread the word

Speakers include:

Dr. Ghias Moussa – Syrian American Forum

Ramsey Clark – former U.S. Attorney General & human rights attorney,

Margaret Kimberly – Black Agenda Report

Larry Hamm – Peoples Organization for Progress

Joe Lombardo – United National Antiwar Coalition

Sara Flounders – International Action Center

With discussion and video comments from

Dr. Cynthia McKinney, David Swanson, Caleb Maupin, Eva Bartlett, Kazem Azin … and others

An ALERT on Dangerous U.S. War Moves – U.S. bombing to support “moderate rebels” new inspections for chemical weapons, “Safe Zone” on Turkish border, new U.S. bases in Turkey… 

Organized by International Action Center – IACenter.org

With participants from: Syrian American Forum, Black Agenda Report, CPR Metro Radio, Go Pro Radio, International League of Peoples Struggles, Peoples Organization for Progress, SI Solidarity Iran, Syria Solidarity Movement, United National Antiwar Coalition, World Beyond War,

Questions for Panelists can be sent via the U-stream link

http://www.gofundme.com/friendsofmaria

Maria’s youngest son, Dontre, who suffered from schizophrenia, was killed by a Milwaukee police officer April 30, 2014, while resting in a downtown park. Like too many others, Dontre was unarmed in his encounter with the police officer, who shot him fourteen times.

Since his death, Maria has fought tirelessly for justice in Dontre’s case, and for the families of other victims of police violence. She founded Mothers for Justice United , to advocate for these families and their loved ones, and to provide support to them. She organized a national Million Moms March for Justice in Washington, D.C., on Mother’s Day weekend, 2015, garnering national attention and gaining the ear of White House officials, other elected leaders, and the Department of Justice. Her fight is not over.

During this time, Maria has struggled to regain her own spiritual and emotional equilibrium, and to get back on her feet financially following a serious disabling injury which affected her employability. Her family and others have provided whatever support they could manage, but Maria is in need of help with her monthly obligations, and medical expenses. She has recently returned to work, but her main focus is her unpaid work with Mothers for Justice United.

Please help us preserve the strength of this courageous leader, and ease her financial worries and burdens as she continues to fight for justice.

Friends of Maria Hamilto, http://www.gofundme.com/friendsofmaria

Ms. Maria A. Hamilton, mother of Dontre Hamilton [Joe Brusky photography]

#ResistPoliceTerror #Resist #UnitedWeFight

From the Coalition For Justice, https://www.facebook.com/justicefordontre

Today is the beginning of a new campaign…RESIST. We have waited PATIENTLY for answers, for justice, for change and much more.

On Tuesday, August 11 & Tuesday, August 18 at 6 pm we will meet at All Peoples Church, 2600 N. 2nd right on the corner of 2nd and Clark. We will sit down with all that are willing and interested in causing minor inconveniences for MAJOR INJUSTICES. We are planning our next day of ACTION FRIDAY, AUGUST 21. We need you to simply come offer your thoughts, ideas, creativity, hands, feet and some time as we CONTINUE to do the work to make this city, the leaders and others in the hierarchy accountable for the work they should be doing and doing so in a timely fashion. We pay their salaries it is their jobs to do the work that will represent the people and their needs…along with protecting and serving WE THE PEOPLE.

SEE YOU ON THE 11TH, 18TH & THE 21ST.
‪#‎ResistPoliceTerror‬ ‪#‎Resist‬ ‪#‎UnitedWeFight‬

Coalition For Justice protest August 8, 2015 in Milwaukee [Photo Credit: C.M. Despears]