At the US Social Forum in Detroit, June 22-26, Common Action delegates will be taking part in two Common Action sponsored workshops. We hope you will join us!
These workshops are also part of the New World From Below Convergence, an anarchist and antiauthoritarian convergence of over 30 workshops and events at the U.S. Social Forum.
Wed, June 23rd
10:00am - 12:00pm
Woodward Academy: 1435
Class Struggle Anarchism in the 21st Century: Re-Centering on People's Movements
Sponsored by Common Action, Buffalo Class Action, organizations affiliated with Anarkismo, Workers Solidarity Alliance, and the Class Struggle Anarchist Conference
This workshop will focus on what has been at the heart of anarchism since its birth in the 19th century: a commitment to furthering the class struggle of working peoples. Anarchists affiliated with Anarkismo and the Class Struggle Anarchist Conference will discuss the workplace and neighborhood organizing we are doing in cities across the country. Members will share their experiences working on movements to strengthen the working class, including topics on tenants' rights organizing, workplace struggles, anti-militarism work, struggles to preserve public education, preventing sexual violence, and working against white supremacy. We will discuss the relevance of anarchist politics to the economic crisis that is destroying cities across North America, as well as the attendant racism, sexism, and nationalism that is heightened by such a crisis. We will also discuss the challenges anarchists face in supporting truly democratic and participatory social movements in the 21st century. How can we best overcome the structural hurdles to building strong people's movements? How can we collectively deal with and engage people drawn to the rhetoric of the right? How can we build people’s power? What will it take to make a people's victory?
Friday, June 25
3:30pm - 5:30pm
WSU Cohn: 222
Another Economy is Possible: Communities in Solidarity
Common Action
Our current economic system isn’t working for people or the planet. What visions do you have for another economy - an economy based upon the values of solidarity, equality, freedom, democracy, and sustainability? We will explore historical and contemporary examples of alternative economics in practice, as well as discuss strategies for organizing for a new economy. This workshop is part of our work in the northwest, where we ask participants to tell and write their stories of how the economic crisis has impacted them personally. Through personal stories we also explore the "intersectionality" of economic oppression, how economic structures support and are supported by racism, patriarchy, and other forms of oppression. We point toward democratic and participatory, rather than state directed, structures as possible solutions. We use an inclusive and participatory pedagogy.
