Tidbits and Announcements - May 2, 2012

* Statement Concerning May 1st Events in Cleveland (Occupy
  Cleveland)
* Re: Workers Around the World Mark May Day (Stan Nadel)
* Re: The Challenge of Creating a 21st Century Left Politics
  (Daniel Jordan)
* Re: Killing Democracy One Vote at a Time (David Worley)
* BOOK PARTY / FORUM Occupy the Economy Challenging
  Capitalism - May 8 - Brecht Forum - New York
* RIFFS ON RACE AND WAR Honors Malcolm X, May 19 - Harlem
* How Class Works 2012 Conference - June 7-9 - Stony Brook

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* Statement Concerning May 1st Events in Cleveland
http://occupycleveland.com/

Media Contact: Katie Steinmuller (216) 202-4499 Media
Contact: Peter Schanz (614) 704-2481

May 1, 2012 - Cleveland - While the persons arrested
Monday evening by the FBI have participated in Occupy
Cleveland events, they were in no way representing or
acting on behalf of Occupy Cleveland. Occupy Cleveland
has affirmed the principles of non-violence since its
inception on October 6, 2011.

Occupy Cleveland has spoken out and worked against
violence in all its forms, including:

* Wars and occupations * Economic violence of financial
inequality, unemployment, debt, and foreclosure * Social
violence of racism, sexism and homophobia *
Environmental violence of global warming and fracking

Occupy Cleveland believes the only way to respond to a
violent federal and corporate state is through active
non- violence.

It is unfortunate that this occurred on the eve of May
Day, the day the Occupy movement and workers around the
world have taken to the streets, demanding justice. What
has happened in no way discredits the issue and the non-
violent methods of Occupy Cleveland and the Occupy
movement worldwide.

==========

* Re: Workers Around the World Mark May Day

"Only" c. 100,000 people turned out for this year's
march and rally in Vienna.

Stan Nadel Salzburg Austria

==========

* Re: The Challenge of Creating a 21st Century Left
Politics -  My Frustration with Left Electoral Politics
- Bill Fletcher

Many years ago Jane Fonda said "Hold your nose and vote
for Carter." Well, for the past 40ish years I've been
conned into "holding my nose and voting for . . . ." I'm
tired of it.

Consider Fletcher's derisive comment that critics say we
should "Create a pure, anti-corporate (if not anti-
capitalist) third party right now and start running in
elections even if we do not have a snow-ball's chance in
hell of winning."

What is it about the left that we're collectively so
willing to see year after year, election after election
this country get pulled further to the right? What
passes for middle of the road today was far right crazy
a while back. The middle is right of the old right.
Rather than just keep going along, we need to take some
lessons from the current whack job right -- the Tea
Party. I detest absolutely everything about that
movement in a box, but this -- They have damn well done
a good job of not just rallying a base,. but creating
one. And in turn, they did a damn good job of getting
their foaming at the mouth candidates elected.

So why do we get lectured about going along to get along
when evidence of very different strategies stares us in
the face. Why do authors like Fletcher make such inane
comments as saying we have only two choices? And why are
those choices couched in such high rhetorical fashion?
His comments sound like they were written for a debate
class. Why does he belittle with jargon the idea of
becoming radicalized when evidence shows that
radicalization works? Why do we not allow ourselves to
get mad as hell -- like our opposition -- and refuse to
take it any more?

We on the left have lost our way, we have lost the
battle of ideas and words. The left has become this
tired old thing ready to be put out to pasture. And
given how things keep sliding to corporatism, it just
may be time to admit it's over. We have become wimps. We
need to take a lesson from the Tea Party.

Mr Fletcher, we are on the same side, advocates for
social justice and human rights. But it is time to stand
up and really advocate, time to piss off those who
oppose these values. If it is just to go along with what
is happening, you're right, I concede the field, because
in fact the battle for social justice is over.

Daniel Jordan

==========

* Re: Killing Democracy One Vote at a Time

No doubt the intent of these voter ID laws is malicious
and their affect in many upcoming elections will be
pernicious. However, possession of an "official" ID is
more and more a requirement to participate in civil
society at any and all ways. The obstacles to obtaining
such ID ($ costs, complicated paperwork, and the catch
22 that you need ID to get ID) can be difficult for
many. It would behoove progressives to mount a national
campaign to help all the poor, the elderly, and the
young to obtain official ID, not only so they can vote,
but voter registration could be incorporated into such a
campaign. This would require a lot of money and
organization, but it might be a more helpful use of
resources than simply spending money to lobby for repeal
of these malicious voting restrictions (not that I
oppose such lobbying).

Maybe this would be a project that could unite the
League of Women Voters, Common Cause, and other "good
government" groups and Civil Rights groups like NAACP,
etc. that have some cash. More partisan groups could
help provide volunteers to do some of the fieldwork.
Helping a person who doesn't have a birth certificate
get a state ID is more complicated than signing them up
to vote, and in some cases it may require paying their
fees to recover the necessary documentation, but it's
not beyond the capability of those of us who support a
more inclusive electorate. And obtaining an ID can help
people with many other things besides voting. "Don't
mourn. Organize."

David Worley

==========

* BOOK PARTY / FORUM Occupy the Economy Challenging
Capitalism

Brecht Forum New York, NY

May 8th, 2012 7:30 PM

Occupy the Economy

Rick Wolff

https://brechtforum.org/civicrm/event/info?id=
12119&reset=1

Today's economic crisis is capitalism's worst since the
Great Depression. Millions have lost their jobs, homes
and healthcare while those who work watch their
pensions, benefits and job security decline. As more and
more are impacted by the crisis, the system continues to
make the very wealthy even richer. Tonight we celebrate
the publication of Occupying the Economy, a series of
eye- opening interviews with prominent economist Richard
Wolff conducted by  David Barsamian.

While others blame corrupt bankers and unregulated
speculators or the government or even the poor who
borrowed, the authors show that the causes of the crisis
run much deeper. They reach back to the 1970s when the
capitalist system itself shifted, ending the century-old
pattern of rising wages for U.S. workers and thereby
enabling the top 1% to become ultra-rich at the expense
of the 99%. Since then, economic injustice has become
chronic and further corrupted politics. The Occupy
movement, by articulating deep indignation with the
whole system, mobilizes huge numbers who seek basic
change. Occupying the Economy not only clarifies and
analyzes the crisis in U.S. capitalism today, it also
points toward solutions that can shape a far better
future for all.

David Barsamian is founder and director of Alternative
Radio and author of Targeting Iran. He is best known for
his interview books with Noam Chomsky, including What We
Say Goes.

Richard D. Wolff is Professor of Economics Emeritus,
University of Massachusetts, Amherst where he taught
economics from 1973 to 2008. He is currently a Visiting
Professor in the Graduate Program in International
Affairs of the New School University, New York City and
he also teaches classes at the Brecht Forum in
Manhattan.

Sliding scale: $6/$10/$15 Free for Brecht Forum
Subscribers

==========

* RIFFS ON RACE AND WAR Honors Malcolm X, May 19

http://offoffbroadway.broadwayworld.com/article/RIFFS-
ON- RACE-AND-WAR-Honors-Malcolm-X-
May-19-20120427#ixzz1tGu2ZLZK

Celebrating the day of his birth at the place of his
tragic death, Riffs on Race and War, a one-woman show
with live music, honors the legacy of Malcolm X on his
87th birthday. Riffs... examines universally resounding
realities such as social inequality and the need for
unity across humanity.

The show takes place at the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty
Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, 3940 Broadway,
New York, NY 10032, Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 7:30PM.
Early bird ticket sales are $15 before May 14th and $20
after.  All proceeds to benefit the Malcolm X and Dr.
Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center.

Karen D. Taylor was compelled to write the play,
because, she says, "America has never talked openly
about what its relationship to race actually is, but had
no trouble jumping to the 'post-racial' mythology so
popular post Obama, but we have gotten a wake-up call in
the form of Trayvon Martin's death." Taking up the
mantle, passed on by leaders like Malcolm X, who very
candidly discussed this country's social history, the
play also offers a look at the importance of personal
responsibility.

"Riffs on Race and War" will be presented by the Malcolm
X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center
(formerly the Audubon Ballroom, which is where Malcolm
was gunned down). Conceptualized, written, and performed
by Ms. Taylor, "Riffs..." presents original songs and
the music of diverse artists that include Curtis
Mayfield, Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, and jazz trumpeter-
composer, Donald Byrd. The outstanding instrumentalists
of "Riffs on Race and War" are Marcus Persiani, pianist;
Kelvyn Bell, guitarist; Lonnie Plaxico, bassist; and
Jeff Haynes, percussionist.

Immediately following the performance, there will be
birthday cake for all.

"Riffs on Race and War" is made possible in part with
public funds from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund,
supported by the New York City Department of Cultural
Affairs and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural
Council. The commissioning and development of "Riffs on
Race and War" has been provided through the Harlem Stage
Fund for New Work, which has received support from the
Jerome Foundation.

For tickets, visit
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/243035

==========

* How Class Works 2012 Conference

Dear Friends and Colleagues

I invite you to come to the How Class Works - 2012
conference at SUNY Stony Brook June 7-9, 2012.  Nearly
200 people from 15 countries on all continents except
Antarctica will present in over 50 sessions - senior
scholars and graduate students, labor and community
activists, artists, all exploring ways in which class
dynamics shape society and our lives, and how we can
engage these class dynamics to improve the lives of
working people.

Plenary sessions:

Thursday June 7, 7 p.m.: Jeffrey Clements, "Corporations
Are Not People: Responding to the Supreme Court in
Citizens United"

Friday June 8, 9 a.m.: "May Day in NYC - Occupy and
Labor" Nastaran Mohit, Domestic Workers United;
Thisanjali Gongoda, Occupy Wall Street; Amy Muldoon,
Communication Workers of American; Teresa Guttierrez,
May 1st Coalition (tentative)

Saturday June 9, 9 a.m.:  "The U.S. in 2012" - a
roundtable discussion with Bill Fletcher, Jr., Juan
Gonzalez, Bob Herbert, Frances Fox Piven

See the full schedule with registration housing, and
other information at:

http://www.stonybrook.edu/workingclass/conference/2012/

I hope to welcome you to Stony Brook in June

Michael Zweig Director, Center for Study of Working
Class Life Department of Economics State University of
New York Stony Brook, NY 11794-4384 631.632.7536
[log in to unmask] www.workingclass.sunysb.edu

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