This week feedback was strong for “Why I’ll Be At The Women’s March On The Pentagon This Weekend,” “You Can’t Separate Violence and the Police,” and “Theory 101: Historical Materialism and the Legacy of Columbus.” Readers shared their experiences with organizing against war, solutions to police violence, and historical reflections.
In “Why I’ll Be At The Women’s March On The Pentagon This Weekend” Bruce Dixon discusses the importance of attending the first march on the Pentagon in 50 years during a midterm election season where no candidates are taking a position for peace in foreign policy.
Jack Gilroy, who reports serving jail time for non-violent protesting against war, writes:
“I had done a lot of lobbying in Congress over the years before and after my six months in jail and you're right on. So few Democrats are willing to speak the truth on foreign policy. We're trapped. Knowing that is not enough to stop what you and I are doing. Please carry on, Brother. I'll be outside of the UN in a couple of weeks making a point of our terror in Yemen, one of many areas of terror. 'The greatest purveyor of violence in the world is my own country.' Remember who said that in 1967 just a short distance from the UN? Remember he was killed one year to the day after saying that by forces proven in court to be the US government? I've also done prison time for nonviolent actions in response to drone killing from satellite bases in the USA. No support from the Democratic Party progressive leadership. of course, from our state of NY. It's a good economic boost to have the 174th Attack Squadron in Syracuse. Drone building is something that Schumer pushes for NYS… jobs don't you know… morality out the door”
In radio segment “You Can’t Separate Violence and the Police” Micol Seigel, author of Violence Work: State Power and the Limits of Police, discusses the foundational role of racism and violence in the existence of the police as an institution.
Marc Solomon grapples with alternatives:
“This is why we need to envision a community-based public safety function where the first point of contact for law enforcement and dispute resolution is not an armed agent of the state. I think we need to shrink the police to the absolute minimum required to deal with the actual violent threats that are a tiny percentage of incidents to which the police are deployed. I would like to see a complete reconceptualization of the police into some other armed, trained formation that dealt with violent threat but is not a paramilitary organization operating in civil society.”
In “Theory 101: Historical Materialism and the Legacy of Columbus” Danny Haiphong presents a historical materialist analysis of the importance of Columbus Day in the cultural life of the United States.
Tommy Caputo writes:
“For centuries, the leading capitalist countries have been waging wars of aggression to acquire resources and expand their markets. That went on under the guise of spreading Christianity and civilization. Today it’s called spreading democracy. Margaret Thatcher said socialism works by using other peoples’ money. Capitalism works by using other peoples’ lives.”
Our politically active and movement-oriented readership is an asset to BAR. We want to keep seeing more letters and comments reflecting our readers’ knowledge, experiences, and visions for the future.
Jahan Choudhry is Comments Editor for Black Agenda Report. He is an organizer with the Saturday Free School based in Philadelphia, PA. Join the conversation at comments@blackagendareport.com.
Giving Juneteenth the imprimatur of a state stamp of approval makes it problematic, and no longer the people’s holiday it has been for nearly 100 years.
The Biden administration and congress work together in their efforts to secure what they think is U.S. domination. They are playing a dangerous game and now try to bring back a draft through sleight…
Zora Neale Hurston’s sermon on the “Pet Negro” system provides devastating and timely insight into the psychology of Black folk working in the service of white power. Preach, Sister Zora!
Dan Kovalik’s new book makes a case for Palestine.
The struggle to defeat the war on African people can be understood through an analysis of the ongoing relationship between African people and the state.
