"Darkness descends over the political process just as it has descended over government operations. Black Friday is black indeed, since any control we the people might want to assert over our future appears to have been effectively blacked out. But what of our universities, the third major institution of our society, and traditionally thought of as bastions of independent thought, investigation, pursuit of truth, and therefore light? But a university is first a foremost a product of the society within which it is embedded. Embedded in a free society, a university can be a beacon of light. Embedded in a totalitarian society, a university’s mission is to transmit the darkness." - Who We Are and What We Want, (RASP pamphlet)
Some 400 activists from across the country attended the anti-corporate Midwest Rising: Convergence 2011 in St. Louis, last month (Aug. 12-15). During the four days of action and training, people learned how to be better organizers and also how the capitalist system oppresses working people in America and all people everywhere, and destroys the environment.
The long weekend, hosted by Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment, was filled with solidarity and empowerment for change in our communities. The first day featured workshops on organizing against oppression, neo-liberalism and capitalism.
Following the workshops, a rally at Bank of America protested the bank's fraudulent attack against working-class people by refusing to modify their loans and foreclosing on them. People decided that they would pull their money out, but the bank was not having it. Not only did they not let people in to withdraw their money, but they had the nerve to have the St. Louis Police Department station riot police around the corner.
More than 100 people attended the action at the busy Market and Eighth Street intersection. Many passing motorists honked in support.
The Convergence continued the next two days with films and discussion on education and the environment, including a showing of the film "The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for Superman." Sunday was training for direct action and how to handle a situation involving blocking of intersections and dealing with police response against protesters, including being arrested.
Aug. 15 was the big hour and moment to show St. Louis corporate bosses that the people mean business and we hit hard. Midwest Rising split into different groups with one hitting Verizon to show solidarity and picket with the CWA workers on strike. Other groups protested Arch Coal for mountain-top removal and in support of the battle to save historic Blair Mountain; Monsanto for producing genetically-modified foods; the Board of Education for allowing education funds to be used instead to provide a tax credit for Peabody Energy, the world's largest coal company; and Representative Russ Carnihan's office, to ask him why he took a trip to Israel paid for by AIPAC.
Around mid-morning, people from the Appalachian-Arch Coal contingent showed up to support the CWA workers. Then, demonstrators were to head downtown, but the First Student bus company, which has a contract with the school board, refused to provide transportation, so protesters took the Metrolink to the downtown action.
Protesters gathered in a park and after a song, more than 100 people marched down Market Street and held the busy intersection connecting Bank of America’s regional offices and Peabody’s world headquarters until the police forced demonstrators onto the sidewalk. Fifteen people were arrested and taken to the notorious St. Louis City Justice Center. The action made a strong impact on families and workers in the area.
More of these rallies will be held across the country - because the people are getting sick and tired of the Corporate Capitalist System. It would be a shame to let this grass-roots movement against Corporate Capitalism be subverted by those with ulterior motives. So, get out there and get militant. Also be vigilant and operate in the stealth mode... You can be sure the agents of the Enemy will be present.
Nonetheless, we cannot afford to pass up these opportunities to create a climate for change....
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