SWOPblogger

by Darryl Lorenzo Wellington

Imagine a racism workshop--not a touchy-feely "prejudice reduction" workshop but an all-out emotional and cathartic conversation on race. Now imagine a church service--not a solemn devotion but the kind of rocking, joyous communion that shakes the floorboards. Now imagine, lofted above the congregation, a sea of protest banners. The orations are secular; the pulpit is political.

This pretty much captures the spirit that dominated the first US Social Forum, held in Atlanta June 27-July 1. Having appropriately fine-tuned the World Social Forum motto to fit the host country ("Another World Is Possible, Another US Is Necessary"), this gathering-- with more than 900 workshops conducted in the Atlanta Civic Center, local hotels and theaters, and drawing some 12,000 registered attendees--made only partial concession to dry political strategy; it was a locus of progressive dreams and activist chutzpah.

Read the rest here: The Nation

Labels: The Nation, United States Social Forum, US Social Forum, USSF

Eric Griego: Infectious hope
U.S. Social Forum in Atlanta makes me feel optimistic for first time since college By Eric Griego

Albuquerque Tribune
July 13, 2007

http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/jul/13/eric-griego-infectious-hope/

The last week of June, I, and about 10,000 other lunatics from around the country and the world, braved the brutal Atlanta summer weather to take part in the first U.S. Social Forum.

Man, it was hot. But I have to say that a sunburned neck, projectile sweat and the constant threat of heat exhaustion were worth being part of what I believe will go down in history as the launch of a new American social movement.

The forum was more than just a collection of idealistic or disgruntled lefties. Sure, there were lots of those. But most of the 10,000 attendees spent the few days in serious discussion, dissection and, I hope, direction-changing of U.S. policy on several domestic and international issues.

The forum tackled social justice, health care, public education and the environment, as well as several foreign policy issues, the most prominent of which, not surprisingly, was the Iraq War.

Why Atlanta? As one of the battle fronts in the civil rights movement, organizers felt that many of the issues discussed in the forum - such as immigration, racism and economic justice - were part of the ongoing struggle for civil rights for all. It was appropriate that so many citizens and leaders took to the streets in the forum's opening march, in what had to be the most diverse, if not the largest, peaceful demonstration since the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

The men and women, old and young, gathered in Atlanta's Civic Center were literally of every color, race, religion and social class. For anyone watching, the myth of an angry, white, middle-class-liberal-led progressive movement was dispelled once and for all. Regardless of their places in society or their pigmentation, what most people there shared was a philosophy that the United States and some of its like-minded allies are leading the world alarmingly down the wrong path.

The U.S. Social Forum was part of the larger World Social Forum series that began in 2001 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. There was much discussion about what attendees were against - the Iraq War, U.S. policy toward Cuba, the flawed immigration bill. But there was an equal if not greater amount of discussion about alternatives to the status quo and the kind of institutions and organization that would be required to carve a different path.

To generalize, attendees broke down along three lines: About a third were activists who were against the current U.S. and world order but had few realistic plans for changing it; about a third were there just to commiserate about how bad things had become since President Bush has been in power; and a solid third were there to find real, serious solutions to moving the United States in a different direction.

I tried to spend time with the third group as much as possible. It was fun, and sometimes infuriating, listening to the other two groups. But in the end, I was looking for some new ideas that might work back here in New Mexico and maybe in Washington.

After five days in the blistering Atlanta heat, I was ready to get back home to the blistering, but much drier, Albuquerque heat. On the plane back, shivering from the air conditioning, I more hopeful than I've been since my college days. Back then, I thought a small group of people or even 10,000 could change the world if they believed they could.

Maybe Atlanta will mark the week that change began. I hope so.

Griego is an Albuquerque writer and former Albuquerque City Council member.

E.W. Scripps Co.
© 2006 The Albuquerque Tribune

Labels: atlanta, US Social Forum, USSF

Background:

US Social Forum Interview (8 parts):
Pt1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XLYq6Vx6IY
Pt2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYEWBYsZOy0
Pt3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4GkxUNJ8wM
Pt4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3hQh9e9jVw
Pt5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfdnA39arWQ
Pt6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hdzh1x-ttY
Pt7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v2n9rh825I
Pt8: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG4ewejNSto

USSF in Action:

Power to the People
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKgsDzXcSY4

US Social Forum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kncStfnpJxI

USSF Opening March
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYENUhPlwsE

March from Capitol - US Social Forum 01
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoPw6FgHpgg

March from Capitol - US Social Forum 02
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L68SwmoBB-I

US Social Forum Opening March (Atlanta, GA)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoVHD42stwI

A Few Pictures from US Social Forum March
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zkvXhhTpVo

USSF 2007 June 27 Disability Action
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq5L6PILws8

Protesta en el Forro Social de Estados Unidos (1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nB2ve9cLMU

Protesta en el Forro Social de Estados Unidos (2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGdkoYT9nNU

First US Social Forum in Atlanta!!!, Pt. 1 (Democracy NOW!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKEITFBtgNE

First US Social Forum in Atlanta!!!, Pt. 2 (Democracy NOW!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsBfkzfqC_w

Democracy Track 1 - U.S. Social Forum, 6/28/2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbFTQ1mH20U

Democratizing the Constitution - US Social Forum June 29, 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAqi1fAQOWo

Youth Media Council Slide Show
http://www.youtube.com/user/YouthMediaCouncil

Using the Media: Make Noise (Atlanta activist, Gloria Tatum, discusses how to use the media in the struggle to end the war in Iraq.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSzeYZUshp4

Using the Media, Part II (Matthew Cardinale, editor of Atlanta Progressive News, discusses the role of independent media in counterbalancing the inaccurate, biased reporting of corporate media)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_iF55mF_wI

Spread Health Not War
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6x0NzKkaiE

DTN Nora Callahan at US Social Forum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPdXA8BWVcU

DTN-Aaron Dixon of Center House in Seattle (at the USSF 2007)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxpzKam1JSA

Kelly Love Jones performs at the Rock Against War/Rock Against Globalization (
RAW/RAG) event in East Atlanta Village. June 28, 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_xnS9tdgw4

Emma's Revolution at the US Social Forum (Friday Concert)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEcNAepozVA

lyeoka for United States Social Forum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6HKJFDO6qA

Pre-Forum Pieces:
Welcome to the US Social Forum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBbwMuPuXbU

USSF 2007 promo video housing is a human right
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khBU4IGFOCc

DC Episode: Mission USSF 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjHpak0g_Bs

On the Way:
Is Another World Possible, Frantszis?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzP0mtoHiPg

Is Another World Possible, Binh?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajyf3IYabpE

Is Another World Possible, Xtian?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBfZMtgajYQ

PHOTOS!!

YES! Magazine USSF 2007 photos
http://www.flickr.com/groups/yes-ussf/

Peoples' Freedom Caravan Pics
http://flickr.com/photos/pfc2007


Lazy approach to finding more .... follow these searches (some overlap):

USSF2007 (search)
http://flickr.com/search/?q=USSF2007

US Social Forum (search)
http://flickr.com/search/?q=US+Social+Forum&m=text

United States Social Forum (search)
http://flickr.com/search/?q=United+States+Social+Forum&m=text

Labels: United States Social Forum, US Social Forum, USSF, USSF2007

You all gotta' see the buses! They're painted with the graphic art from the USSF outreach flyer. Scroll down for the article in yesterday's Journal.

Come back for updates!

Labels: People's Freedom Caravan, United States Social Forum, US Social Forum, USSF

This is great....tomorrow is the big day. We're at crunch time and the excitement level is going through the roof. Our national allies are coming in tonight, everyone's packing tonight, and the media is buzzing about it already.

We're about to make history.

Keep coming back to the blog throughout the caravan. We will be posting, pictures, writings from participants, and hopefully some video as well.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to make this a reality.

Show your solidarity with the Carvan and come to Washington Park at 6:45am, for our send off rally!

******************************

Activists Join People’s Caravan

Bus tour to focus on social, economic disparities on way to forum in Atlanta

BY DEBRA DOMINGUEZ-LUND
Journal Staff Writer

They are seeking another form of U.S. democracy — one they say is based on “equality, living wages, sustainability and human rights.”

About 100 community members and civil rights activists will gather as the sun comes up Friday morning at Washington Park near Downtown Albuquerque to launch a “People’s Caravan” across the nation.

The bus caravan, a grassroots effort by participating groups such as the League of United Latin American Citizens and the Southwest Organizing Project, was created in remembrance of the first Freedom Ride that was met with violence in Jackson, Miss., in 1961.

New Mexicans from civil rights advocacy groups like SWOP, Enlace Comunitario, the Martin Luther King Dream Team and Somos un Pueblo Unido, will launch the bus tour from Albuquerque and visit at least six other U.S. cities until reaching their destination: the U.S. Social Forum, which is expected to draw some 1,000 attendees in Atlanta on Wednesday.

“During the tour, we’ll be meeting up with allies in other cities for rallies, press conferences, meetings with legislators and to even do community work,” SWOP communications organizer Jo Ann Gutierrez-Bejar said.

The caravan will make stops in San Antonio, Texas; Houston; Lake Charles, La.; New Orleans; Jackson, Miss.; Selma, Ala., and finally, Atlanta.

“Our primary mission is to bridge the nation’s democratic divide,” Gutierrez-Bejar said. “We live in a country with structural inequities. Lowincome people of color are divided amongst each other.

“We need to bridge the gap between us with this tour and realize we’re all fighting the same struggles and seeking the same opportunities,” she said.

“We want to look at how certain policies in this nation are tailored for the rich by the rich. We want to get the poor involved so policies are tailored to help get them out of poverty.”

Organizers say that as the freedom riders of the 1960s brought a new vision for the South based on desegregation, this year’s “People’s Caravan” will demonstrate that another United States is possible — one that bridges racial, geographic and cultural divides and moves beyond the status quo “pay to play” politics.

“We are going to Atlanta to build a unified voice of the people,” said Agnes Rivera, New York’s Community Voices Heard leader and a caravan participant.

“We want to make connections across the country to create a domino effect of action and organizing.

“On the caravan and at the forum, we will discuss our social safety net, jobs and public housing,” she said. “We’ll learn from each other and strengthen our work for another world.”

Sandra Ortsman, a member of Albuquerque’s immigrantrights group Enlace Comunitario, said costs, harsh working conditions and distance typically keep the poor apart and away from organizing opportunities.

“This caravan will allow us to unite,” she said. “It will give us a chance to form a partnership and come up with strategies and solutions to do away with injustice and inequities in the United States.”

Labels: atlanta, People's Freedom Caravan, US Social Forum, USSF

Casandra is and has been an incredible asset not only to our organization, but to her community.

She has mobilized against the war and has challenge the heightened military recruitment in our low-income schools in Albuquerque.

Casandra is coordinating the SWOP Summer Youth Recreation Program that includes 20 youth from all over Albuquerque. They are learning about Social Justice issues, Youth Rights Campaigns, Poetry and Filmmaking Workshops and next week... Globalization and Immigration.

Casandra will be attending the US Social Forum in the People's Freedom Caravan and is also making a baby that's due in September. :)

Thank you for your contributions to the movement for global justice Casandra! You are amazing.

Click here to read the entire article which highlights our allies like Genaro Lopez Rendon from Southwest Workers Union and Teresa Almaguer from PODER, SF.

********************

Casandra Stewart, Youth Intern with the Southwest Organizing Project, Albuquerque, New Mexico

SWOP is a statewide multi-racial, multi-issue, community based membership organization. Since 1980, SWOP has worked to make it possible for thousands of New Mexicans to begin to have a place and voice in social, economic and environmental decisions that affect their lives. Their mission is “working to empower our communities to realize racial and gender equality and social and economic justice.”

What is the work you’re involved in?

It’s a grassroots, community based organization. We work to empower the disenfranchised. We work with poor communities of color to make gender and racial equality a reality and to create social and economic justice.

We do door knocking. We talk about issues in the community. We get people involved in issues they see as pressing. We do a lot of empowerment work. We don’t speak for people, we go and find out what people care concerned about and work with them.

We have a youth rights campaign—we want to give young people better options, better choices than war or prison. We’ve been working on getting into schools. The administrations are so afraid to let people hear the other side. We’re working with the school board too—to exercise our right to present alternatives to students. But it’s hard to get access. In lower-income schools, administrations don’t want federal funding revoked. So they’re fearful of any type of criticism. But if you can’t get in through the administration, you get in through the students.

How do you see the work you’re doing intersecting with a larger movement or movements?

In New Mexico we’re good at empowering and strengthening local communities. We want to work on collaborating with national struggles and building strength, especially in the South. All the work we do here in New Mexico around water issues, racism and environmental racism, is all directly related to things going on in the South, New Orleans specifically. Our struggles are very similar.

The Freedom Caravan, which we are co-organizing, is a place to build strong, solid relationships—relationships that demonstrate a willingness to struggle and work together.

How do you see the US Social Forum relating with your work?

The Freedom Caravan started out as an idea of ours to get to the USSF. We want to caravan for the media attention but also for economic reasons—it’s cheaper than flying 100 people out. We’re raising money to make it happen. We made 500 enchiladas for Cinco de Mayo and sold ‘em for $10 a plate. People are committed to raising money for the delegation. Ally organizations and our membership are committed to sending people to Atlanta. All of our members’ costs are subsidized.

When we first pitched the idea of caravanning to other organizations, people were skeptical. How to get people to take 2 weeks off of work? But people totally committed. Here we are a month and a half before and two buses are completely booked by people who are gonna take two weeks to go across the country and to the USSF.

In each place the caravan goes we want to learn about local struggle, learn about how local struggles are similar, how to work together to create change.

Labels: atlanta, Left Turn Magazine, People's Freedom Caravan, USSF

Probably not, but yet we still do. How many times have we been muzzled, shhh-ed, asked to leave, called disruptive, told we're on private property....better yet...threatened.

The ideology in this country about free speech is that: "It's only free if I agree with you, or if you own the means of the media."

Sometimes I would love some people to be shut up, especially when it comes to CNN anchors. The most hateful and ignorant speech comes out of there. The ONLY reason they get to say the most ridiculous crap is because they own the media. So technically it's not free speech, they paid for it.

Let's visit our 1st amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances, unless they pay for it, or pay for someone else's rights to be infringed upon.

Yes that's pretty accurate.

In saying that, we have to fight for freedom of speech. It's fundamental to change and in this political climate it's our dissent.

On to the article below....
The City of Atlanta would be in a tight corner if they passed this "Free Speech Zone," legislation, right before the US Social Forum.

I can picture it now.....10,000 protesting the mayor's office as we pass by Coke headquaters......kill 2 birds with one stone. It would be nice wouldn't it. But no....good thing this crazy law didn't get passed and they came to their senses.
*********************
ATL scraps effort to create ‘free speech zones’
Proposal stems from street preachers protesting at Pride

By RYAN LEE
JUN. 15, 2007Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin was forced Tuesday to back down from a proposal to create “free speech zones” that would actually limit where protesters can demonstrate during large city festivals. The mayor’s proposal stems from incidents at Gay Pride in recent years, but the measure was widely rebuked by gay activists and others as anti-democratic, Orwellian doublespeak.

“In Atlanta we try to make sure there’s a balance of the various First Amendment rights,” said Greg Pridgeon, Franklin’s chief of staff. “We think that people who want to protest ought to be able to have access [to festivals and large events], to be in a spot where they can be heard, be seen, and have their presence felt.

Some gay activists warned that while protecting Pride attendees from unwanted religious protesters, the proposed ordinance could be used to curb everything from anti-war protests to the upcoming U.S. Social Forum in Atlanta.

“It was clear that is was just about zoning free speech across the board, and that it really didn’t matter what the audience was,” said Will Cordery, a queer organizer with the Social Forum. “I think if this had passed, Pride might’ve looked great as far as anti-gay protesters, but who knows what it would’ve been used for next year. We could be the ones silenced.”

Read the entire article here: Southern Voice

Labels: Free Speech, right to protest, United States Social Forum, US Social Forum, USSF

Blogging the People's Freedom Caravan to the USSF

Sarah van Gelder says:

A week from today, I'll be on my way to Albuquerque to join up with one of the People's Freedom Caravan that will be making its way to the U.S. Social Forum. Check back here for my blogs, where I hope to offer you the flavor and the mounting excitement as we make our way across the South, ending up with a march into Atlanta.

The Southwest Workers Union, the Southwest Organizing Project, Southern Echo and the People's Institute for Survival and Beyond are organizing the caravan, which picks up on the spirit of the Freedom Rides of 1961 in which volunteers rode buses throughout the South to press for desegregation.

Evidently, there are other caravans in the works, but the one I'll be on starts off in Albuquerque and makes stops in San Antonio, Houston, Lake Charles, New Orleans, and Jackson, Mississippi.

"The Freedom Caravan is a social movement on wheels, giving us a chance to share and strategize towards achieving ‘another’ US.” That is how Genaro Rendon of Southwest Workers' Union described the caravan.

Along the way, caravan riders will stop to highlight local struggles. Here's how the Southwest Workers Union described the route in their May 23rd posting.

Read More:

Labels: People's Freedom Caravan, United States Social Forum, US Social Forum, USSF, YES Magazine

Check out this video blog from someone in DC at the USSF National Planning Committee.

It features our very own youth intern Rodrigo Rodriguez who's already left Albuquerque to go organize this historic event. He's joined by Julianna Lujan and Monica Cordova! Right on SWOPISTAS - we'll see you in a few weeks.

Check out the video here at My Urban Report

Here's the repost of his blog, but you've got to check out the video. Rodrigo and Cindy lay it out nicely...you've got to attend...

On June 27-July 1, 15-20-thousand people from around the U.S. and world are expected to converge on the city of Atlanta for the first ever U.S. Social Forum. It’s a gathering of activists, grassroots organizations, and youth who are working for change.

Instead of simply attending, or covering the U.S. Social Forum, I’m putting my media knowlege to use by working in the media center. I’ll be coordinating media check-in, and the video pool. That’s why I’m in DC right now. The last logistical meeting is being held as I write. Some of the events include: A march and rally through the streets of downtown Atlanta, there is a Hip-Hop Social Forum, and too many workshops to count. We’re expecting plenty of independent media, bloggers, and hoping mainstream folks check some of the activities as well.

I’m meeting plenty of interesting people, and it’s good to be back in DC. I only lived here a year, but enjoyed every minute of it. The neighborhood where I lived, U-Street has changed a lot. There are towering condos, chain businesses like Subway, and Starbucks, and like so many cities in America, a big time demographic shift is happening. Some call it economic development, but I’ll quote my brother, “It’s called gentrification.”

Labels: atlanta, United States Social Forum, USSF, Video Blogging

By Tara Lohan, AlterNet
Posted on June 1, 2007, Printed on June 1, 2007
http://www.alternet.org/story/52795/

There are a group of people that believe another United States is possible -- another world is possible. These are people who work on labor rights, environmental sustainability, anti-racism, anti-violence, pro-peace and pro-justice campaigns. They are a group of people who are reacting not just to war and repression but are working on building movements, uniting struggles, developing relationships. This group of people is growing every day.

From June 27 to July 1, these people -- thousands of activists, organizers and educators from across the country, will be convening at the U.S Social Forum in Atlanta. So far over 800 organizations have already signed on, and the welcome mat is out to any group or individual that would like to participate.

"It is open to anyone who buys into the mission of social change and believes that another world is possible," said Heeten Kalan of Panta Rhea and New World Foundation, which are helping to fund the endeavor. "There is no set agenda; it is self-organized. That is the value. It is open to all groups. This is your space; let's do something with it."

The USSF sprung from the seeds of the World Social Forum, an annual event that now garners up to 100,000 people a year for a weeklong conference of dialogues, workshops, cultural events, marches and rallies. "The WSF was created to provide an open platform to discuss alternatives to the economic plans created by multinational corporations and the governments at the World Economic Forum," their website explains. "These plans often result in strategies that suppress workers and human rights, and undermine national and Indigenous sovereignty."

As the World Social Forum grew over the years, there was an increasing international call for the United States to hold their own forum. "Our counterparts from around the world have been telling us to work on our connections in the U.S., and that the best way to support them is to build a stronger movement in the U.S.," said Robby Rodriguez of Albuquerque's Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP). "If we are saying we want to be in solidarity with them, then this is the best way we can show solidarity and demonstrate our commitment to the struggle for peace and justice."

In 2003 the World Social Forum International Coordinating Committee asked Grassroots Global Justice to begin to formulate a plan for a U.S. forum. Today, there are 35 organizations currently on the National Planning Committee, which will grow to include 50 organizations.

"We were just blown away by national movements in other countries and began questioning why we haven't achieved that in the U.S.," said Michael Leon Guerrero of Grassroots Global Justice and a member of the National Planning Committee. "The fate of the rest of the world is tied to what happens here in the U.S. The role of our government impacts everyone else in the world because the U.S. empire reaches throughout the globe. What we are looking at is how do we help strengthen movement building the in U.S., and get past geography and build a broader movement? How do we start to think beyond individual organizations and the narrow foci of our work? How does this all fit together -- environmental justice, healthcare, the war, global warming, the Gulf Coast? We are looking to discuss how we can create those integrations and celebrate the work that has been building for decades."

Organizers of the USSF felt that the time was ripe finally in the United States to be able to have a successful forum of this nature -- grassroots movements were ready -- and the social will was there. The pressure of globalization, the effects of the war in Iraq and the tragedy of Katrina have helped shift the mood. Many who are attending the forum are thinking of doing a track on issues like climate change and immigration. There is also serious anti-war sentiment and a plan to examine what the role of the progressive grassroots movement should be in regards to the 2008 presidential election.

On the road to change

Guerrero stresses the forum should not be seen as an event, in and of itself, but as a process, and Rodriquez agrees. His organization, SWOP, is involved in planning a caravan of buses, the Peoples Freedom Caravan, that will travel from the Southwest to the South, stopping along the way to meet with organizations and picking up people to attend the forum.

Right now the caravan consists of two buses from New Mexico, one from San Antonio, one from Houston, four buses from New Orleans, one from Jackson, and potentially one from Montgomery or Selma.

"In each of the communities we stop in, there will be some sort of action. Some way to support the local work -- show solidarity," said Rodriquez. "If one of the themes of the forum is racial unity and how we build it in this country, how do we begin to practice that on the way to the social forum? You don't just show up and racial unity happens. Part of the hope of the caravan is to model the behavior that we are seeking to embrace as a movement. Part of being able to build unity is to hear the stories and walk in the shoes of other communities that are facing a similar struggle in a different part of the country."

The southwest and southern parts of this country are the most disenfranchised, he says, and so it is necessary need to build cross regional solidarity with each other -- especially between African Americans and Latinos.

"And for those that can't make it, it is also a way to bring the U.S. Social Forum experience to them and for us to take their messages to the forum."

Rodriguez says that there has been a lack of real movement building opportunity in this country in recent years and decades.

"The bottom line for us, in terms of what it means to be part of a movement in the U.S. and especially for our members, who are mostly working class and communities of color, is that you feel part of something bigger," he said. "There are not enough opportunities for people to feel that these days. During the civil rights and anti-war and women's and poor movements in the '60s to '70s, there were a lot of opportunities for organizers and grassroots leaders to connect with one another."

At 32 years old, Rodriquez says he has not found that opportunity -- until now. The closest we have come recently, he believes were the WTO protests in Seattle and the recent immigrant rights marches. "They have generated hope and sparked the imagination. There is power in the actions of people when they get together," he adds.

Rodriguez is hopeful that his members who are attending the forum will come back inspired and hopeful about the opportunity for building a better United States, and that the World Social Forum's motto of "Another World is Possible" can be a reality.

"It has to begin in the U.S. because we have such power and influence in the world," he says. "There is a democracy divide in this country that aims to keep poor people and people of color isolated and disenfranchised and voiceless -- we need things like the U.S. Social Forum to bridge the divide."

Thinking globally

The USSF is designed to reflect the diversity of the country, and will include people from all over, including Alaska and Hawaii, and Puerto Rico and Guam. It will include small grassroots groups and larger organizations -- artists, academics and organizers -- labor groups and faith groups and people of all ethnicities and backgrounds.

The hope is that people will take what they learn at the forum and the connections they make, and bring it back to their own communities -- but with the idea of thinking bigger, of seeing how individual communities overlap and how struggles across the country and the world can be united.

"We are asking people to think about what it would take to build strength at the national level. Recently there has been a lot of growth of local organizations and groups statewide -- so now how do we start to think about this as a whole country?" asked Guerrero.

"What is the alternative to neoliberal economic policy? How do we see ourselves as part of a broader movement? It is an absolute necessity to work on a global level -- it is the only chance we have to act against powerful multinationals and change the course of this country," he continued. "Many people are not confident with the direction this country is headed -- with the Bush administration and even with some of the Democrats. So, what would a real people's movement look like in the U.S.? It is time to start to change things. This work needs to happen and we need to break out of our issue silos, our identity silos, our geography silos."

Learn more about the U.S Social Forum.

Tara Lohan is a managing editor at AlterNet.

© 2007 Independent Media Institute. All rights reserved.
View this story online at: http://www.alternet.org/story/52795/

Labels: People's Freedom Caravan, United States Social Forum, US Social Forum, USSF

Bringing a new grassroots vision and innovations to overcome the democracy divide

In remembrance of the courage of the first Freedom Ride that met racist violence in Jackson on May 25, 2006, community leaders again will unite on the People’s Freedom Caravan to promote a new vision of democracy. This is a vision based on human rights, a vision that bridges racial, geographic and cultural divides and moves beyond the status quo ‘pay to play’ politics. From Boston to California, Chicago to Florida, people are getting on buses, vans and cars to share their story as they make their way to the 1st United States Social Forum in Atlanta, Ga. Every one person is a story and the masses of voices are bringing solutions to issues of violence, racism, pollution and poverty. As the freedom riders of the 1960s brought a new vision for the South based on desegregation, the People’s Caravan will demonstrate that another US is possible, one that is based on equality, living wages, sustainability and human rights.

"We are going to Atlanta to build a unified voice of the people! We want to make connections across the country to create a domino effect of action and organizing,” said Agnes Rivera, Community Voices Heard Leader from New York caravanning to the USSF. “On the caravan and at forum, we will discuss social safety net, jobs, and public housing, learn from each other, and strengthen our work for ‘another’ world.”

The southern part of the People’s Freedom Caravan will take off in Albuquerque where organizations are protecting sacred sites and bringing clean water and solar power to unincorporated communities. 100 people will journey to San Antonio to meet another 100 leaders and march for a living wage for all and call for a just, peaceful border. Continuing to Houston, the hub of the oil industry, the group will promote a clean renewable energy for marginalized neighborhoods that struggle against pollution and sickness.

“The stories of Houston will be on the bus, promoting our right and everyone’s right to breathe clean air and live in healthy communities. With 250 people joining us here, the local people can share their vision with this social forum on wheels and get their voices to Atlanta,“ explained Bryan Parras of the Southern Human Rights Organizing Network in Houston.

With over 4 buses, the caravan will stop in Lake Charles, La. to promote education instead of incarceration and protect communities from contamination. In New Orleans, 4 buses will join to highlight the commitment to rebuild, the protection of the right to return, promotion of affordable safe housing and human rights for all workers. The caravan will split as some buses head down the Gulf Coast, tracing the path of the hurricanes, while other head to Jackson to remember the legacy of the civil rights movement and the steps needed to achieve true equality. Converging in Selma, Alabama, the caravan representing young and old, indigenous, migrants, Latinos, African-Americans and Asians will call for a renewed struggle to overcome the democracy divide and recognize the human rights of all people. As over 1000 people head the Atlanta, they will launch the USSF with a march into the city.

"The People's Freedom Ride is our opportunity to find the wisdom in a united struggle for justice. Post-Katrina life in New Orleans has shown that there is no recovery of the Gulf Coast, but only a massive a privatization scheme that takes away our homes, communities, and human rights. Any hope for displaced hurricane survivors to return to our homes with dignity and justice relies on a mass movement that begins with the People's Freedom Ride to the US Social Forum," said Monique Harden, Co-Director of Advocates for Environmental Human Rights.

Route and stops:
• June 22nd – Albuquerque, NM 505.247.8832
• June 23rd – San Antonio, TX 210.299.2666
• June 24th (afternoon) – Houston, TX 318.514.9924 / (evening) Lake Charles, LA 504.606.8846
• June 25th – New Orleans, LA 504.301.9292
• June 26th (morning) – Jackson, MS 601.982.6400 / (evening) – Selma, AL 617.880. 9208
• June 27th – March on Atlanta to USSF

Participating Organizations:

Action for Community Education Reform, Mississippi
Activists With a Purpose, Grenada (MS)
Advocates for Environmental Human Rights, New Orleans (LA)
Ashe' Cultural Center, New Orleans (LA)
Centro de Igualdad y Derechos, New Mexico
Circle of Love Center, Selma (AL)
Citizens for Education Awareness, Mississippi
Coalition In Defense of the Community, Houston (TX)
Committee for Environmental Justice Action, San Antonio (TX)
Community In-Power Development Association, Port Arthur (TX)
Concerned Citizens for a Better Tunica County, Tunica (MS)
Concerned Citizens of Greenville, Greenville (MS)
Enlace Comunitario, Albuquerque (NM)
Elwood Community Church, Selma (AL)
Federation of Child Care Centers of Alabama, Montgomery (AL)
Fourth World Movement, New Orleans (LA)
Friends and Families of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children, Lake Charles (LA)
Fuerza Unida, San Antonio (TX)
Georgia Stand Up, Atlanta (GA)
Houston Indy Media Collective, Houston (TX)
Indianola Parent Student Group, Indianola (MS)
Latino Health Outreach Project, New Orleans (LA)
League of United Latin American Citizens, Houston (TX)
Left Turn, New Orleans (LA)
Lower 9th Ward Health Clinic, New Orleans (LA)
Mary Queen of Vietnam Church, New Orleans (LA)
Millions More Movement, Houston (TX)
MLK Dream Team, Carlsbad (NM)
Mossville Environmental Action Now, Mossville (LA)
Moving Forward Gulf Coast, Slidell (LA)
National Alliance of Vietnamese American Service Agencies, New Orleans (LA)/national
New Mexico Acequia Association/Sembrando Semillas, New Mexico
New Orleans Workers' Center, New Orleans (LA)
Nollies Citizens for Quality Education, Mississippi
One Torch, New Orleans (LA)
Parents and Youth United for a Better Webster County, Webster (MS)
People’s Hurricane Relief Fund, New Orleans (LA)
People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, Houston (TX), New Orleans (LA)
People’s Organizing Committee, New Orleans (LA)
PODER, San Francisco (CA)
Project South, Atlanta (GA)
SAGE Council, Albuquerque (NM)
Saving Our Selves Coalition, Alabama
Somos Un Pueblo Unido, Santa Fe (NM)
Southern Echo Incorporated, Jackson (MS)
Southern Human Rights Organizing Network, Houston (TX)
SouthWest Organizing Project, Albuquerque (NM)
Southwest Workers Union, San Antonio (TX)
T.E.J.A.S, Houston (TX)
Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement, Houston (TX)
Vietnamese-American Young Leaders Association of New Orleans, New Orleans (LA)
Youth Innovation Movement Solutions, Mississippi
Youth Leadership Organization, San Antonio (TX)
Youth Media Council, Oakland (CA)

Labels: United States Social Forum, US Social Forum, USSF

May 4, 2007

After 46 Years, Another Ride for Freedom, This Time From NM

Albuquerque – Forty-six years ago today (Friday), both black and white activists climbed on buses in Washington, D.C. to begin the historic “Freedom Rides” into the Deep South. Now, in that same spirit, grassroots organizations and activists are planning a “People’s Freedom Caravan” across the Southern U.S., beginning next month in Albuquerque and ending at the U.S. Social Forum in Atlanta. Joann Gutierrez-Bejar with the Southwest Organizing Project says the goal is to unite communities across the Southern U.S.

“You know, in this country there’s a democracy divide that really pits low-income people of color against each other. By going on this caravan, we see people struggling in the same way and that we’re no different.”

The caravan leaves on June 22nd, making stops in San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans and Jackson, Mississippi before reaching Atlanta five days later. The U.S. Social Forum is expected to be one of the largest gatherings of progressive groups in the country. It runs until July 1st.

Gutierrez-Bejar says the caravan will arrive just as the opening march of the U.S. Social Forum is getting underway. She says the forum represents a unique opportunity for change, and she hopes others will make the trip to Atlanta.

“People really need to attend. This is our chance; this is our opportunity; and we need to just take advantage of the space that has been made for us.”

Editor’s Note: Gutierrez-Bejar is at 505.247.8832. More information at www.swop.net.
Producer: Eric Mack Phone: 888-471-1722 Fax: 303-253-8905 E-mail: nmns@publicnewsservice.org

******************

Mayo 4, 2007

Después de 46 años, otro viaje hacia la libertad, y esta vez parte de NM

Albuquerque – Hoy (viernes) hace cuarenta y seis años, activistas negros y blancos se subieron a los autobuses en Washington, D.C. para iniciar la trayectoria histórica “Viaje hacia la libertad” rumbo al sur. Ahora con el mismo espíritu las organizaciones de reforma social y los activistas están planeando una “Caravana libertadora de la gente” por todo el sur de los EEUU , comenzando el próximo mes en Albuquerque y terminando en Atlanta en la sede de U.S. Social Forum. Joann Gutierrez-Bejar de la organización Southwest Organizing Project dice que la meta es unir a las comunidades de las regiones del sur de los EEUU.

“Te digo, en este país hay una democracia dividida que hace que la gente de escasos recursos de color se echen los unos a los otros. El viajar en esta caravana nos abrirá los ojos para ver que hay otros que aun siguen batallando como nosotros y que no somos los únicos.”

La caravana parte de Albuquerque el 22 de junio, con paradas en San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans y Jackson, Mississippi antes de llegar a Atlanta cinco días después. En la sede del U.S. Social Forum se espera que sea la reunión mas grande de grupos del movimiento progresivo del país. La reunión continúa hasta el 1° de julio.

Gutierrez-Bejar dice que la caravana llegará justo en el momento en que la reunión del U.S. Social Forum comienza. Dice que el U.S. Social Forum representa una oportunidad única para realizar cambios y tiene la esperanza de que otras personas también vayan a Atlanta a participar.

“La gente realmente necesita asistir a esta reunión. Esta es nuestra oportunidad y necesitamos aprovechar el espacio que se nos ha otorgado.”

Nota del editor: Gutierrez-Bejar TEL. 505.247.8832. Para más información visite: www.swop.net.

Teléfono: 888-471-1722 Fax: 303-253-8905 E-mail: nmns@publicnewsservice.org
Para grabar las realidades llame al 1-888-600-9800

Labels: Freedom Rides, People's Freedom Caravan, SWOP, USSF

The New Mexico delegation to the US Social Forum needs your support!

Come to our Enchilada Dinner

When: May 5, 2007, 6:00-8:00pm

Where: St Francis Xavier Parish Hall, 820 Broadway SE

Donation: $10-$15 per person, sliding scale

In June 2007, 100 New Mexicans representing 9 social justice organizations will travel together to the United States Social Forum in Atlanta, Georgia.

The U.S. Social Forum is a historic gathering of community based social justice organizations from throughout the country. For 5 days we will share experiences, strategies, and perspectives.

We will travel to the forum on two charter buses, participating in the "People's Freedom Caravan." We'll learn about social justice history and current struggles in San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, Jackson, and Selma along the way. In each city our friends will then join the caravan on our journey to Atlanta.

We need your support in order to make our delegation a success. Please join us on May 5 for an evening of food, friends, and fundraising!

Labels: USSF

IF ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE - ANOTHER U. S. IS NECESSARY!

United States Social Forum
Atlanta, GA
June 27-July 1, 2007
www.ussf2007.org

Where will the USSF take place?

We will be headquartered in downtown Atlanta at the Atlanta Civic Center, the Westin Hotel, Central Park, Renaissance Park, and the Downtown Marriott. We will also utilize space at the Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless, Auburn Ave. African-American Research Library, Atlanta Central Library, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, CARE, the APEX Museum, Trinity United Methodist Church, and Amnesty International to name a few. Community and Cultural events are also being planned for Hammonds House African American Gallery, 7 Stages Theatre, Horizons Theatre, Charis Books and More, Gateway Theatre, and Eyedrum.

The Call for Program Proposals is now on the website! Click the link on the left side of the opening page. You can complete your proposal(s) online or download the proposal form in Word and complete to submit by mail. Don't forget to register before you submit you proposal. What happens at the U.S. social forum depends on what you want to happen - share some education about what you do, share your vision for a better world, share strategies ad campaigns that will move us to a better way of organizing for change.
EACH REGISTERED ORGANIZATION CAN SUBMIT UP TO FOUR PROPOSALS FOR THE SOCIAL FORUM PROGRAM!

Where will I stay?

USSF rooms at the Downtown Marriott are sold out!

We still have rooms at the Westin! Hurry before they are sold out too.

The Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel
2O10 Peachtree St - Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Phone: (404) 659-1400 - Fax (404) 589-7424
Attendee - for Group Rates US SOCIAL FORUM Visit
http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/booking/reservation?id=0702066903&key=7ED14

ROOM TYPE AND RATE
Single, Double, Triple, Quad: $127.00
Suite: $300.00
Roll away beds: $15.00 per day additional fee

Other Hotels (http://www.ussf2007.org/other_hotels)

the following list of hotels also offer USSF Group Rates
*QUALITY HOTEL DOWNTOWN ATLANTA
*ATLANTA HOLIDAY INN DOWNTOWN
*DAYS INN ATLANTA DOWNTOWN
*CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL ATLANTA AIRPORT
*COURTYARD (MARRIOTT) EXECUTIVE PARK

I understand only organizations can present programs and events at the USSF, but what is the minimum organization registration you can pay?

The lowest posted organizational rate is $125 for 3 people. Any organization that finds that rate a hardship can write and request a solidarity discount.

How do I get my ideas for a USSF program on the schedule?

Your organization can register for the USSF on-line then access the Call for Proposals, also on the website. You can submit as many proposals as your organization can support.

Then what happens?

The Program Working group along with help from other working groups will review the proposals and group them according to the themes and purpose. June 28 - programs that seek to educate us and raise our consciousness; June 29 programs that call us for us to create a vision for the near future; and on June 30 programs that help us shape strategies for change.

More information -- www.ussf2007.org

Transportation, call for films and videos, youth hostel, call for submissions, vendor application, ride and housing share board and more...
--
Alice Lovelace
National Lead Staff Organizer
United States Social Forum
(404) 586-0460, Ext. 32 office
(404) 525-4728 fax

Labels: atlanta, United States Social Forum, USSF, World Social Forum

This just in..



About the USSF

The US Social Forum is more than a conference, more than a networking bonanza, more than a reaction to war and repression. The USSF will provide space to build relationships, learn from each other's experiences, share our analysis of the problems our communities face, and bring renewed insight and inspiration. It will help develop leadership and develop consciousness, vision, and strategy needed to realize another world.

The USSF sends a message to other people’s movements around the world that there is an active movement in the US opposing US Policies at home and abroad.

We must declare what we want our world to look like and begin planning the path to get there. A global movement is rising. The USSF is our opportunity to demonstrate to the world Another World is Possible!

Read more about the USSF at
http://ussf2007.org

To get involved and find out about SWOP's delegation to the forum, call the office at 505 247 8832 or email monica@swop.net. SWOP is planning a social justice bus tour of the south on the way with our friends over at Southwest Workers Union.

united states social forum

Labels: SWOP, United States Social Forum, USSF