Against the Current
Published bimonthly since 1986, AGAINST THE CURRENT is a Solidarity-sponsored analytical journal for the broad revolutionary left. The Sept./Oct. issue features Malik Miah on How Race Fuels the Rightist Agenda, Kit Adam Wainer on Obama's Race to the Top vs. Teacher Unions and Susan Spronk and Jeffery R. Webber interviewing Venezuelan activists Gonzalo Gómez, Stalin Pérez Borges and Luis Primo on the processes of deepening the revolution. Coverage of The Mexican Revolution at 100 continues, featuring an interview with Adolpho Gilly and articles by Dan La Botz, James D. Cockcroft, Heather Dasner Monk, Fred Rosen and Scott Campbell.
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International Viewpoint is the monthly English-language magazine of the Fourth International. IV is a window to radical alternatives world-wide, carrying reports, analysis and debates from all corners of the globe. Correspondents in over 50 countries report on popular struggles, and the debates that are shaping the left of tomorrow.
Put a Socialist in the Senate!
Dan La Botz, a 64-year old Cincinnati school teacher, has filed petitions with the Ohio Secretary of State to become the candidate of the Socialist Party for the U.S. Senate. La Botz, who needed 500 signatures to get on the Socialist Party primary ballot, filed petitions with approximately 1,200 signatures on Thursday, Feb. 18. La Botz, a long time labor and social movement activist, is the candidate of the Socialist Party of Ohio which is the state organization of the Socialist Party USA.
Read more...Keep up with the campaign!
Campaign website- DanLaBotz.com
Order these eye-catching buttons to spread the demand for social and economic justice. If you don't have paypal, email us!
Reads Bail out People, not Wall Street!. Around the edge, these 2 1/8" buttons read "Free Health Care," "Defend Public Services," "Living Wage Jobs," "Free Higher Education," "Troops Home Now," "Rebuild the Gulf Coast," and "Affordable Housing."
Brown and black buttons demand: "Bring all the Troops Home Now!" Wear one everywhere to start a conversation about why US occupation can never be a force for liberation, and people's needs should come before the massive military budget.
These 2 1/8" buttons read, in Spanish and English: ¡Alto a las deporaciones - Legalización para todos! Stop the deportations - Legalization for all!
Videos from Solidarity's Educational Conference
November 14-15 in New York City, Solidarity held a successful conference featuring engaging talks on a number of topics. Click here to view these videos from "Their Crisis, Our Movements"
- Crisis of Capitalism, Challenge to the Movements (David McNally, New Socialist Group)
- The New Imperialism and The Global Fightback (Vivek Chibber, Christy Thornton, Jonah McCallister-Erickson)
- The State of Resistance in Communities & the Workplace (Normahiram Perez, Steve Downs, Penelope Duggan)
- Race and National Liberation Under Obama (Glen Ford, Lalit Clarkston)
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- A Great Variety of Morbid Symptoms, Seen in the Reflecting Pool Yesterday
by John B. Cannon posted on 08/31/10
- Education in the Crosshairs: Thoughts on the New Student Movement
by Nick posted on 08/13/10
- Don't Just Snap, Organize... Let's "Slater" together!
by La Botz for Senate posted on 08/12/10
- Pakistan: Over 20 million people affected by the flood
by Dianne posted on 08/11/10
- Stop police harassment of anti-facists in Russia!
by Isaac posted on 08/8/10
- As Santos Becomes Colombian President, U.S. Bases and Tensions Remain
by Dianne posted on 08/5/10
- Immigrant Rights Protest at Mets Game - Exciting organizing!
by Nate posted on 08/2/10
- Enough Is Enough... We’re Human Beings
by Joanna posted on 07/23/10
- The Sentencing of Lynne Stewart
by Dianne posted on 07/21/10
- NY Governor candidate Howie Hawkins Opposes Increased Jail Time for Lawyer Lynne Stewart
by Howie Hawkins posted on 07/19/10
from the Webzine
- Closets
11 hours 41 min ago - Closets
12 hours 22 min ago - Article Review
1 day 9 hours ago - you did a wonderful job.
2 days 9 hours ago - Douceur.
1 week 7 hours ago - abortion& disabled people
1 week 2 days ago - Sending money to Pakistan within next month
1 week 3 days ago - The reason the ad doesn't say
1 week 3 days ago - Stalinist Slsnders...
2 weeks 3 days ago - Santos charges course; U.S. and Rightwing outfoxed
2 weeks 5 days ago
Barbara Zeluck Presente!
Our comrade Barbara Zeluck died June 5, 2010. She was a lifelong socialist and founding member of Solidarity. Barbara had a long and active life, unwavering in her support for radical social change and movements that she felt were dedicated to mobilizing the working class and raising class consciousness. She always believed that a better world was possible. Read More...
One Year of Obama and the Democrats’ Debacle
Last fall, in the discussion that produced our analysis of “Obama After 200 Days,” we said it would be premature to speak of a “crisis” for the administration. A year after the euphoric 2009 inauguration, it no longer looks premature. People who looked to Obama and the Democrats for leadership are bitterly disappointed, and a very peculiar brand of rightwing politics has seized the initiative.
Read more...
Regroupment & Refoundation of a U.S. Left
As part of the preparation for our 2008 Convention, members of SOLIDARITY have begun a political document describing some perspectives for socialist renewal in the twenty-first century. We welcome responses to this initial draft of the document. Some of the themes here have also been developed in Solidarity's Founding Statement and our 1997 pamphlet, “Socialist Organization Today.”
New Pamphlet: Hell on Wheels
New from Solidarity! Long time transit worker activist Steve Downs has written a pamphlet charting the twenty year story of New Directions, a rank and file caucus in New York City's transit union that he helped build and develop - including the challenges of keeping the rank and file democracy movement alive after New Directions won control of the local.
Read an interview on Zmag.orgRead a review and order your copy today!
From Abortion Rights to Reproductive Justice
New from Solidarity's Feminist Commission, this leaflet responds to the right wing attack on reproductive freedom and argues that the movement must go beyond "pro-choice" to true reproductive justice. This socialist and anti-racist feminist agenda would take up issues such as access to health and child care, forced sterilization, and the division of "productive" and "reproductive" labor.
Download the pamphlet...
As Budget Cuts Loom, a Fight Back Builds at UIC
It seems to be an average day in the bustling student center at the University of illinois at Chicago. Students hurry past me on their way to class. “Have you heard about the budget cuts and tuition hikes?” I ask as I pass out flyers for a rally March 4th, part of a national day of action to defend public education. Some people give me signs of recognition - but most pay me no mind and continue on their way. On this side of campus, things are business as usual even as 20% tuition hikes and huge budget cuts loom.
But recently, undergraduates are starting to take notice. Concerned members of the student government have formed SOC, the Student Organizing Committee and have started holding weekly meetings. So far, this has led to some future lobby days and a ballot initiative that calls the cuts and tuition hikes into question. Then, last month, the Univeristy announced the closing and merger of the existing diversity centers on campus and groups like the Chicano organization, MeSA, started to join the fight back. But the fact is that the budget crisis is still flying under the radar for most undergraduates. And those that are ready to fight are just now beginning to organize.
Meanwhile, UIC's workforce is feeling the brunt of the crisis and have already begun to take action. Amidst a 13 billion dollar budget crisis, The State of Illinois owes the univeristy 483 million dollars in unpaid bills, UIC has responded with layoffs, pay cuts, and furlough days. All the while, those workers that have unions have been trying, unsuccesfully, to negotiatiate fair contracts with the administration.
After nine months of stall tactitcs on the University's part, the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) decided it was time to put their foot down. On February 15th, hundreds of Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants voted 95% in favor of filing an “Intent to Strike” petition, a first step toward actually going out on strike. Then on Friday, February 26th, the SEIU bargaining team of 1,500 clerical workers followed the GEO and recommended that the membership also vote for “Intent to Strike.” Other significant sectors of workers are set to start bargaining this month and, considering UIC's recent behavior at the bargaining table, there is no reason to expect anything but more signals of ”Intent to Strike!”
Like other front line staff, the UIC faculty are also feeling the pinch. This semester, the administration announced mandatory furlough days leading to cancelled class and a 10% cut in pay for faculty. Last week, the UIC newspaper reported that furloughs at the Univeristy of Illinois Medical Center are putting patients at risk.
In response to the furloughs, over 300 faculty have joined the call for a joint furlough day on March 8th. Instead of holding class, professors will hold teach-ins around campus to speak out about the crisis in public higher education.
This all comes on the heels of a rally March 4th organized by a new coalition of the affected sectors on campus. Workers are joining forces in what looks to be a mounting fight over the future of the University. The goal now is to engage the student body in this process and bring them into the struggle. While we know we have a lot of organizing still to do, it appears clear that the events of the past few weeks are just warning shots in a larger battle to come.
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