A-Infos (en) US, Detroit, Renewing the New Years Promise Building radical grassroots social movements in the new era

Saturday Feb. 7th - 6PM – Detroit ---- International Institute – 111 E. Kirby St. – Room 
3(downstairs) ---- January 20th, 1991, Bill Clinton was sworn in as the 42nd U.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: Minneapolis and Chicago IWW (Industrial Workers of the 
World); Chicago’s Four Star Anarchist Organization; Centro Obrero – Southwest Detroit; Bash Back!; 
Y.O.U.T.H (Youth Organizing to Uplift Tomorrow’s Humanity) Northwest Detroit; and Solidarity and 
Defense from Michigan.

solidarityanddefense.blogspot.com
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A - I N F O S  N E W S  S E R V I C E
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