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View Full Version : PSL National Conference on Socialism



Rusty Shackleford
29th September 2010, 04:55
http://www.pslweb.org/images/content/pagebuilder/65041.png
Web Page (http://www.pslweb.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Conference_home)

Saturday and Sunday
November 13-14
University of Southern California
Davidson Conference Center
3415 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90089

The conference will feature speakers, panels, organizing strategy sessions, entertainment, and discussion on topics related to the fight against capitalist exploitation, war, racism, and imperialism. We'll discuss what comes next for the people's movement.

Register today and bring as many people as you can to this special conference.

Socialism: The only alternative to capitalism

In the United States, the richest 400 people have as much wealth as 50 million households combined. The criminal occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq have cost the lives of over a million innocent people, and thousands of U.S. troops, while costing trillions of dollars. The richest banks and corporations have been bailed out by the government to the tune of $14 trillion, all on the backs of working people.

Working people worldwide are being squeezed for every last penny so that Wall Street can maintain its profit margins, and the environment is being destroyed by Big Oil and corporate greed. The epidemic of police brutality, checkpoints and immigrant bashing is intensifying as the capitalist state seeks to protect the class it serves. This is the reality of capitalism.

This is the reality of capitalism. Is this the way it has to be? No. Socialism is an alternative to this irrational and increasingly barbaric system. It is a system that puts human needs over private profits.



• Why socialism is needed in the United States
• The evils of capitalism: mass layoffs and foreclosures
• What’s driving rising food prices?
• Rebuilding the organized workers’ movement
• Why Cuba’s revolution stands strong
• Black liberation and socialist struggle
• Seize BP!: capitalism vs. the people and planet
• Making universal health care a reality
• What can stop the wars on Afghanistan and Iraq?
• Organizing veterans and active duty troops
• Students and youth fight back
• Why is the Pentagon targeting Iran?
• Civil rights and civil liberties under attack
• Stopping the military-industrial complex
• Can we win affordable housing for all?
• Immigrant rights: the case for legalization
• Stop racism: defeating Arizona's SB 1070
• Fighting back against the Tea Party and the ultra-right
• Renewing the women’s rights struggle
• Real equality for the LGBT community
• Venezuela and Latin America’s leftward shift
• Stop colonialism: Puerto Rico, Haiti, Philippines...
• Palestine, Israel and the U.S. Empire
• China and the global capitalist economy
• Why the U.S. is threatening North Korea
• Africa: Imperialism’s hidden interests
• The prison and police brutality epidemic
• Building a revolutionary workers’ party




Register Here (http://www.pslweb.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=13837&news_iv_ctrl=1501)

Also if you are wondering about price:
The conference fee is $80 registration fee covers both days, $40 for students and low-income participants, $150 solidarity price for supporters who want to help subsidize students and those who cannot otherwise afford to attend. However, no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
You can also register by phone at 323-810-3380 or email at [email protected] ([email protected]).

Agnapostate
20th October 2010, 20:46
I got my notification letter in the mail today, though I registered about a month ago. So who's going?

Chimurenga.
21st October 2010, 02:34
I got my notification letter in the mail today, though I registered about a month ago. So who's going?

I'm still unsure if I'm going. It's depending on a few things.

Rusty Shackleford
21st October 2010, 19:37
Ill most likely be there.

Kassad
21st October 2010, 19:52
I'll be there. It'll be the largest meeting of PSL members, candidate members, supporters and other activists in our history. It will be a really monumental event.

Chimurenga.
1st November 2010, 18:12
Schedule is up as well as speakers!

http://www.pslweb.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=14687&news_iv_ctrl=1261

Agnapostate
1st November 2010, 22:36
Us RevLefters should try and interact if possible, see how accurate the thread on IRL people is.

Rusty Shackleford
4th November 2010, 04:06
I wish there was a way to embed Vimeo videos on here.


Heres a video promoting the conference.

http://vimeo.com/16468405

Jimmie Higgins
4th November 2010, 04:57
Nice banner!

Well I'm busy that weekend and it's in SoCal, so I can't make it. But it would have been worth it just to meet up with y'all and I'd love to and sit between a couple of PSL comrades and an Anarchist comrade for a drink or two:).

Red Rebel
8th November 2010, 22:55
I'll be there.

RedScare
9th November 2010, 16:28
Everyone always has the most interesting events in California or in London, equally out of reach for me :(

MarxSchmarx
9th November 2010, 16:38
who are the panelists?

Red Rebel
10th November 2010, 22:00
Speakers include:

Ramsey Clark - Ramsey Clark is an internationally-renowned progressive attorney and human rights activist.
Robert King Wilkerson - Angola 3
Mara Verheyden-Hilliard - Mara Verheyden-Hilliard is a civil rights lawyer and co-founder of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund
Heidi Boghosian - Heidi Boghosian is the executive director of the National Lawyers Guild
Mahdi Bray - Imam Mahdi Bray is a long time civil and human rights activist currently serving as the Executive Director of Muslim American Society Freedom based in Washington, D.C.
Brian Becker - Brian Becker is the National Coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition and a leading member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
Jollene Levid: National Chairperson, AF3IRM
Dr. Henry Clark: Executive Director, West County Toxics Coalition
Izzy Alvaran: Community Outreach Organizer UNITE HERE! Local 2
Gloria La Riva: Coordinator, National Committee to Free the Cuban Five
Jim Lafferty: Executive Director, National Lawyers Guild, Los Angeles
Mike Prysner: Iraq war veteran; Co-founder, March Forward!
Yousef Abudayyeh: National Coordinator, Free Palestine Alliance
Eugene Puryear: Editorial Board, Liberation newspaper
Arturo Garcia: Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines
Muna Coobtee: ANSWER Coalition, Los Angeles

Kassad
11th November 2010, 18:47
I'm leaving tomorrow morning to head to Los Angeles. I'm really excited.

chegitz guevara
11th November 2010, 19:07
Maybe next year. Really wanted to go this year.

red cat
11th November 2010, 20:25
Will the ongoing South Asian revolutions be discussed ? I didn't see them in the list of topics posted in the OP.

Chimurenga.
12th November 2010, 05:01
Will the ongoing South Asian revolutions be discussed ? I didn't see them in the list of topics posted in the OP.

The Philippines will be discussed in the "Resisting US Imperialism" session. Other than that, I don't think so.

I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon. Can't wait to meet some of you.


Maybe next year. Really wanted to go this year.

The next conference will be in two years. Hopefully you can make it then.

MarxSchmarx
12th November 2010, 07:24
Speakers include:

Ramsey Clark - Ramsey Clark is an internationally-renowned progressive attorney and human rights activist.
Robert King Wilkerson - Angola 3
Mara Verheyden-Hilliard - Mara Verheyden-Hilliard is a civil rights lawyer and co-founder of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund
Heidi Boghosian - Heidi Boghosian is the executive director of the National Lawyers Guild
Mahdi Bray - Imam Mahdi Bray is a long time civil and human rights activist currently serving as the Executive Director of Muslim American Society Freedom based in Washington, D.C.
Brian Becker - Brian Becker is the National Coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition and a leading member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
Jollene Levid: National Chairperson, AF3IRM
Dr. Henry Clark: Executive Director, West County Toxics Coalition
Izzy Alvaran: Community Outreach Organizer UNITE HERE! Local 2
Gloria La Riva: Coordinator, National Committee to Free the Cuban Five
Jim Lafferty: Executive Director, National Lawyers Guild, Los Angeles
Mike Prysner: Iraq war veteran; Co-founder, March Forward!
Yousef Abudayyeh: National Coordinator, Free Palestine Alliance
Eugene Puryear: Editorial Board, Liberation newspaper
Arturo Garcia: Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines
Muna Coobtee: ANSWER Coalition, Los Angeles

Got it, thanks for that. Looks like you guys have a fairly wide spectrum.

BTW, why aren't Coobtee and La Riva identified specifically as PSLers?

The Red Next Door
12th November 2010, 16:42
I am leaving today for LA.

Agnapostate
13th November 2010, 08:29
PSL office was swarming with activity when I dropped in a few hours ago to pay conference dues early; it looks like things are definitely going to be interesting. My only regret is that the opportunity costs of attending certain presentations are other presentations that also look fascinating. Hope to see some of you in just a few hours now, but what's the ID mechanism to use?

MarxSchmarx
15th November 2010, 04:26
PSL office was swarming with activity when I dropped in a few hours ago to pay conference dues early; it looks like things are definitely going to be interesting. My only regret is that the opportunity costs of attending certain presentations are other presentations that also look fascinating. Hope to see some of you in just a few hours now, but what's the ID mechanism to use?

Oooh, I think in the future we should have a secret hand gesture or some such. I can't think of a good one but we should definitely have something. Maybe if people have their avatarr pinned on their lapel? Or maybe someone should start a "revleft" caucus in their group. In all seriousness I don't think it can hurt- it will help foster a sense of IRL comradery that can be missing when we are all anonymous posters.

Rusty Shackleford
15th November 2010, 18:21
Met a few comrades from PSL.(from here)
almost overwhelmed by the crowd. (over 500)
free coffee.
first time to LA.
Great Speakers.
The Keynote plenary of the first day was reallly good.


video and transcripts and all that wont be uploaded for roughly a week though

Agnapostate
15th November 2010, 20:05
The highlight was that USC's such a huge campus that Kassad and I got lost and had to run back to the conference hall. :D

Rusty Shackleford
15th November 2010, 22:56
The highlight was that USC's such a huge campus that Kassad and I got lost and had to run back to the conference hall. :D



dude, after the closing plenary/awards ceremony on saturday the fucking campus locked up some gates. i had to walk an extra 15 minutes just to get off campus :thumbdown:

and yes that campus was huge:lol:

Agnapostate
15th November 2010, 23:16
dude, after the closing plenary/awards ceremony on saturday the fucking campus locked up some gates. i had to walk an extra 15 minutes just to get off campus :thumbdown:

and yes that campus was huge:lol:

I tried to leave that way and saw that the gates were locked before I even got there. So I went back in and exited through the doors of the conference center that led onto Figueroa, that were locked from the outside in the morning but that were open from the inside. I saw some people climbing the gates on Figueroa when I walked down the sidewalk to get my bike, and they looked at me completely astonished. "How did you get out?!" "Through the doors." :lol: Fortunately, a truck was coming out and the driver auto-opened the gate.

I had my share of problems, though; it was the commutes there and back that were interesting, but I'll have to comment more later as I'm studying hard. :(

The Red Next Door
16th November 2010, 07:07
I tried to leave that way and saw that the gates were locked before I even got there. So I went back in and exited through the doors of the conference center that led onto Figueroa, that were locked from the outside in the morning but that were open from the inside. I saw some people climbing the gates on Figueroa when I walked down the sidewalk to get my bike, and they looked at me completely astonished. "How did you get out?!" "Through the doors." :lol: Fortunately, a truck was coming out and the driver auto-opened the gate.

I had my share of problems, though; it was the commutes there and back that were interesting, but I'll have to comment more later as I'm studying hard. :(

i was looking for you, did i chat with u?

Agnapostate
16th November 2010, 19:14
i was looking for you, did i chat with u?

Not sure. PM me some details.

Kassad
17th November 2010, 03:05
The highlight was that USC's such a huge campus that Kassad and I got lost and had to run back to the conference hall. :D

I was directionally stupid that day for some reason. It's a hell of a campus though. The conference was phenomenal.

Agnapostate
17th November 2010, 06:08
Hell, that wasn't even half of the "directional" shit that happened to me that day. The only success was getting out. BTW, were you gone the second day? I didn't run into you.

Rusty Shackleford
17th November 2010, 15:32
Keynote Plenary (http://www.pslweb.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=14770&news_iv_ctrl=1261)

ellipsis
18th November 2010, 20:03
Nice banner!

Well I'm busy that weekend and it's in SoCal, so I can't make it. But it would have been worth it just to meet up with y'all and I'd love to and sit between a couple of PSL comrades and an Anarchist comrade for a drink or two:).
Yah, my feelings too. I am sure the red next door would have been pumped to finally see my feet. Plus I could have smoked mad comrades downs after all the stoned insanity they have seen me post.


I am leaving today for LA.

Have fun comrade?

Agnapostate
18th November 2010, 20:21
I did blaze with a (local) comrade on Sunday, actually. :thumbup1: