Activism - Your Role

[RichardAWilson]

Wondering how active everyone has been? Are you affiliated with a political organization? Have you attended rallies? I haven't been as active as I should during the past few years. - I do contribute and am involved with the ACLU, Green Party, write letters to the editor, etc.

However, I used to be much more active and feel like I need to start making more time for activism.

In addition to attending anti-war demonstrations, I even organized one of the demonstrations over the Martin Anderson Murder - (young man here in Florida that was murdered by a boot camp's personnel).

From time to time, I've been involved with the National Organization for Women and Emerald Coast Pride (local organization).

[Column No.4]

I used to do quite a bit but i got tired of being the only one who didnt retreat when the police line advanced. People seem more and more willing to protest but less and less willing to shed blood to make their stance known. I will say that im seriously thinking of attending the G8 summit in Chicago next year.

[Leftsolidarity]

I am in the SPUSA, I also help out any organization that'll ask or I find. I hand out literature in the city about once or twice a month. I help maintain community gardens, clean up vacant houses, pretty much any task layin around the city that me and a few comrades run into. Today I went to the national meeting in Chicago for the organization of the anti-G8/NATO summit protests. This weekend coming up I will be attending a counter-protest against a Neo-Nazi rally. School is starting in a few days so I will start covering the walls with posters and stuff which is always fun.

I think this thread is going to lead to a lot of people tooting their own horn like I have just done hahaha

[Die Rote Fahne]

Not active at all. Living in rural Canada will do that to you. No rallies, no socialist groups, not even fascists to oppose.

[RichardAWilson]

You don't have a local New Democratic Party Branch?

[Die Rote Fahne]

You don't have a local New Democratic Party Branch?

No. We always have a candidate, but no HQ, or any group.

[Chris]

I'm a member of the Communist Party of Norway, Young Communists in Norway and Nature & Youth. Leader of the local cell of Nature & Youth, and member of the local district leadership of the CPN. Been to quite a few demonstrations, and do various party work (especially now that there's an election. People are more political, so much easier to get ideas across). Live in a farm in the middle of nowhere though, so activism necessiates quite a lot of travel.

[Ballyfornia]

Rural Ireland so no.

[danyboy27]

i wish i could get involved into something but most of the time i really dont know what to do or who i could help.

wish i could be more active.

[Red And Black Sabot]

About three or so years ago a group of us started up a Food Not Bombs chapter here which has been going on since then. We've done a lot with that plus food not bombs is great for meeting other like minded folks. Since then, I've helped organize events around May Day the past three years here and last year we organized a Really Really Free Market which is now a monthly event. I was involved in getting our local solidarity network started and just recently worked with fellow wobblies to charter an IWW branch in Atlanta. (we still a whole lot of work to do there) I also am somewhat active with our local cop-watch and help out with Know Your Rights trainings and How To Cop Watch trainings and occasionally I do childcare with our local childcare collective.
That said, I generally don't call my self an activist and try to avoid that as much as possible. In fact, I tend to not get along very well with our local "activist" scene. I go to marches and rallies if I feel there is room for someone with politics like mine to engage other protesters. I generally avoid them though. In atlanta, protests, rallies, and marches and their organizers are hell bent on being as ineffectual, unnoticed, and as well behaved as possible giving liberals nothing more than a chance to pat themselves on the back and feel more accomplished than the radicals who are willing to get their hands dirty and put their own skin on the line. Last march I went to was huge. Tens of thousands but true to Atlanta, it was organized by a pathetically reformist liberal human rights org who sent their peace marshals to get trained by the department of justice. I don't know how many rallies I've gone to where the majority of the time was spent listening to some paid activist and democrats on a podium.
No thanks.

[Bud Struggle]

I have been a member of the CPUSA and the IWW and now am a member of the SPUSA. I have traveled to the Soviet Union and Communist China--as well as Cuba and Eastern block countries before the fall of the wall. I also contributed to the campaign of Socialist Brian Moore for governor of Florida in 2010.

[Islamosocialist]

I have been active in certain periods.

For example, recently, a new political party started that I support very much. I have attended rallies, bought the t-shirt, put up posters, talked to my family about it, and so on.

Prior to that I think my biggest involvement was protesting the Iraq war, before it started.

Before that it was working to bridge religious barriers, even though we're going back several years and I was still angry enough to be a victim of those same barriers. I developed some prejudices during the war that took a long time to put into context .

So, moderately involved. It's certainly no secret, my political views. And I have the support of my family and friends.

[TheGeekySocialist]

been on several protests in London and at University where I also attended rallies, took part in campaigns, supported Left candidates in SU elections, took part in an occupation, spoke at several meetings for Left/activist groups on and off campus, I write song lyrics that I post on line that are highly critical of the current system, post links to stories on regular occasions, express my views often on and off line, signed several petitions, joined a pressure group, active in local anti-cuts group in town where my Uni is and I have written several emails to my local MP about various issues.

im on the commitee for an activist group at my Uni for this coming academic year also, so far iv'e made a number of suggestions for things we can do and ways to engage the student body with left movements in general, in my first year at Uni alone I managed to garner myself a reputation as a radical socialist :cool:

[citizen of industry]

I'm a member of FSP and have written several articles for the FS. I'm a branch officer of my union, involved in a 4 year long dispute with our employer. I'm joining a second union to be involved in the labor scene locally. I've done editing work with Doro-Chiba and assisted members of JRCL(Chukakuha). I've attend rallies and demonstrations anti-nuke, anti-war, labor with Zengakuren, Doro-Chiba and other organizations and unions here.

[Zav]

I've done activism with Greenpeace, PETA, the IWW, various Antifa groups, and did some ALF/ELF action with a few close comrades. I've attended some anti-war and anti-Capitalist protests and rallies, almost went to Toronto in 2010, and almost went to D.C. last week. I've done sit-ins at two squats. I might be at the next major event. I really wish I was more active. If only I had the resources, I'd have been all over the world protesting and such, in Iran, North Africa, Palestine, Greece, Britain, etc.

[PhoenixAsh]

I spray painted an anarchist symbol on a wall somewhere.

I also drew a hammer and cickle on the door of our schools dean....which is prety stupid considering I was the only commie in school and therefore the one and only suspect. But I absolutely refused to clean the auditorium...so I organised the workers (me) and I went on strike and performed a walk out! The Dean agreed and he let me strike for seven days too.

Threw a coke back in the face of a BK manager. Ok...I missed and it hit the girl behind the counter. But its the idea that counts.

And I once keyed a cop car.




Did some other stuff too but that was not really important enough to share here.

[Islamosocialist]

And, the most recent one.

W27u8n7ruck

Denis was a 17-year-old Catholic schoolboy living in Sarajevo. His family was from a smaller town to the west.

He was stabbed to death by three hooligans on the street car for no reason. He did nothing. And, it just so happened the three murderers were Muslim, in a city where more than 80% are Muslim.

Now, it was... and this is controversial to say, but I believe it... no big deal to the political leaders because it was just a child, it was just a Catholic. Our first mayoress in history, the first female to lead the city, was in power at the time. And I was so proud of her, but so disappointed with this murder.

Signs had been for a long time that something like this could happen. And, despite the war, peacetime in Bosnia is VERY peaceful. We have almost no random crime like murders and things like this. And, if it does happen, it's usually people who know each other.

So, everyone was expecting a big religious fight... the Christians blaming the Muslims, the Muslims claiming they did nothing wrong.

But that's not what happened, although the media tried to make it happen.

Instead, everyone in Sarajevo - Muslim, Christian, Jew, Atheist... all came together to mourn Denis and raise him as a symbol of a city where American-style crime was becoming a problem.

Thousands and thousands went to his funeral in his home village, and tens of thousands more protested, and even stormed municipal offices. Our posters had simple messages:

How many more like Denis?

We are all Denis!

And, most importantly:

Forgive us, Denis!

These were, by far, the biggest protests in Sarajevo in recent years. They were, in my opinion (I don't know for certain) bigger and more passionate than the anti-Iraq war protests.

So... what I hope you get from this is: always stand up for religious tolerance. And don't accept violence. If anyone is murdered in your city, rise up and do this.

We got some good results from it. Not enough, but far more than they would have given us otherwise.

[La Comédie Noire]

Been to a G20 summit, did a few rallies in Boston, been to a few IWW meetings, pamphleted some.

I don't know, I just feel silly when I engage in real life activism. It seems so symbolic, all sound and fury, signifying nothing. Plus it's hella awkward when you show up to a meeting or an event and there's only a handful of people there.

Like those pics you see of just three people marching down the street with a banner. You'd think they would give up the banner if there was only three people!

But I digress.

[RichardAWilson]

I keyed a car with a Bush Bumper Sticker.:cool: I was drunk and leaving a bar.

[Bud Struggle]

I supported the International Brigades in Libya especially the Abraham Lincoln Brigade of the US 6th Fleet.

[Luc]

I supported the International Brigades in Libya especially the Abraham Lincoln Brigade of the US 6th Fleet.

What, International Brigades?

[danyboy27]

What, International Brigades?

he is messing with you man, dont pay attention.

[Arlekino]

Few years ago I was giving leaflets campaigning for Socialism, well and 2 nice horses appeared in square interesting people don''t care about Socialism, they more care of those horse, too much wild programmes made by BBC.

[Bud Struggle]

what, international brigades?n a t o!

[DeBon]

I do some volunteering for a local Crime Stopper organization. Whenever I'm not handing out pencils or dressing up as a dog I talk to people and try to steer the conversation towards political beliefs.

Me and one of my friends, who's also a comrade, like to go around the bad side of town and hand out some food and fliers.

That's about it. Not much you can do in Oklahoma. :(

[Leftsolidarity]

I do some volunteering for a local Crime Stopper organization.

How is that? I always assumed that it would take a rather conservative or anti-poor stance but I never looked into it.

[Bud Struggle]

How is that? I always assumed that it would take a rather conservative or anti-poor stance but I never looked into it.

No. From what I understand they specialize in corporate crime. Whistle blowers for government overspending and three martini lunches (which are ILLEGAL btw.) Lots of these people are waiters and maids, butlers for the rich.

The trick of it is the people that are reporting on the rich live in their own houses.

From them the Revolution will surely arize. One of these people once reported RGacky for undertipping. From what I hear from sources in the Flange he has since fled the USA and is now living in a ten percent MAX tipping haven in Northern Europe.

It's a small world so be careful.

[DeBon]

How is that? I always assumed that it would take a rather conservative or anti-poor stance but I never looked into it.

:lol: Nooooooo no it's one of those state funded ones. Basically attending school assemblies, handing out pamphlets with information on 'Stranger danger' and looking both ways before crossing the road, just stuff like that.

[No_Leaders]

Well i've been doing things on and off. When i was a young lad (back in highschool) i spray painted on banks "smash capitalism" spray painted lots of different slogans on grocery stores, schools, put banners up etc. Then when i got to the point now where i'm in my mid 20's to be exact (gonna be 25 D: ) i've been going to protests, informing people in the work place of working class views, going to rallies, helped out with local foot not bombs a few times, organizing other things with comrades. Been doing all those things since i was well probably 18? More so once i hit 20, 21. When i was younger i wanted to goto protests but i was such an arm chair revolutionary reading karl marx in my bedroom alone at 12/13 years old. Didn't do spray painting till i was like 15/16 lol.

Ah being young.. Such nostalgia thinking back to those days, things seemed simpler. Even the ideas of spray painting haha.. I had it in my head that if i did that other people who had similar views would see those slogans and realize they weren't the only ones with those views.. and hopefully take action too. Course i eventually realized it doesn't work that way in terms of getting something going.. But hey i was a teen!