International Institute – 111 E. Kirby St. – Room 3(downstairs)
Renewing the New Years
Promise
Building radical grassroots social movements in the new era
January 20th, 1991, Bill Clinton was sworn in as the 42ndU.S. president. The Democrats victory came with much hope and enthusiasm after 12 years of Republican government. After years of government attacks on working and poor people, the 1991 Democratic win left many feeling that change was coming.
The new Clinton/Democratic administration instead continued agendas of aggression – invasions; sanctions and air strikes against Iraq; creation of a mass prison system; cuts in social aid programs; and the expansion of a global economic system that benefited corporations and private interests at the expense of poor and working peoples across the globe.
On New Years Day 1994 an uprising shook the boss class and inspired new social movements against the emerging capitalist globalization. Throughout the southern region of Mexico a new movement declaring itself the EZLN, or Zapatistas, overran the military/police and occupied many cities. The Zapatista movement represented a new voice against the impoverishment of capitalism and the state.
Fourteen years later we are once again emerging from years of Republican rule. We are faced with a far reaching crisis: a collapsing economy; millions facing foreclosure and homelessness; wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; imprisonment of millions of citizens; and schools on the brink of failure. The Democratic Party offers us the words of Change & Hope that so many of our peoples desperately want to hear. However, the Democratic Party only offers these words through our acceptance of their capitalist program. Change & Hope have become concepts only realizable if we accept the rule of the State.
With this New Year we must search out and renew the actual promise for change and hope – that of broad based, independent social movements that fight with militancy and determination. Movements of individuals united on collective, anti-authoritarian, and anti-capitalist visions.
Solidarity & Defense is hosting an evening event of presentations and discussions. The event will feature Detroit and regional organizers speaking about their organization’s visions of social change and how these visions contribute to movement building.
Speakers will include organizers from: Centro Obrero – Southwest Detroit; Y.O.U.T.H (Youth Organizing to Uplift Tomorrow’s Humanity) Northwest Detroit; Solidarity and Defense from Michigan; Members of the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World); Chicago’s Four Star Anarchist Organization.
Solidarity & Defense POBox 15024 Detroit, MI 48215-0024
Who We Are
We are a small but growing alliance of anti-authoritarian militants active in both the workplace and the community. We champion grassroots organizing, participatory politics, and determined action from below. The histories of social struggle and revolutionary action have led us to see that the masses of everyday people – at the base, from the ranks – are the agents of real and popular social change and liberation.
In our lifetimes we have seen inequality grow exponentially. While the majority move downward, a fewer number of elites hold an ever-growing proportion of the wealth of society. At the same time popular culture is more obsessed with materialism and the open promotion of misogyny, anti-immigrant sentiment, homophobia, and racism. The youth are encouraged to get rich or die trying. We end up tearing at each other for an ever-diminishing number of crumbs thrown our way by our politicians, bureaucrats, and bosses. Meanwhile we face a continuous assault from the ruling classes in the forms of global war and the expansion of capitalism into every corner of our lives.
As these ruling classes forge ahead we suffer cut backs, sellouts, and abandonment of our urban and rural communities. The results are a deepening economic, environmental, and social crisis. We must resist these attacks and their effects through mass and popular direct action. This direct action is based on our initiatives outside of and against the rule of the State.
A voice against the dog eat dog world is essential. The movements necessary for this must be built on solidarity within the working classes and with those social struggles fighting for justice and dignity. We must build the capacity for our movements to defend the remaining gains made by the struggles of past generations, while continuing to expand our base by pushing forward the ides of self-reliance and a confidence in ourselves.
There is a culture of resistance growing and taking shape. With each fight there are lessons for our movements to learn from. As we struggle, we improve our ability to combat the rulers, and create the visions of community renewal and human potential. We are Solidarity and Defense.
adopted by the General Membership of S&D, September 13th, 2008
S&D publishes materials endorsed by our general membership, from individual members and supporters, as well as information relating to our work. In each case the aim is to further a broad debate and the development of ideas for action. Entry’s are identified accordingly.
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