[O29] We should vote monday on this demand; we need real closure

[John Harris]

We are being encouraged by Keith to vote for "this demand" below in his
proposal.
I think it would be useful to check out the link to the Statemant of the
Coalition when
considering the proposal:
http://www.oct29.org/wst_page2.html

In addition to the assault on Arabs, Muslims, and South Asians, it also
takes up the question of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo:
"As at Abu Graib, prisoners in U.S. custody have been tortured and
abused at the detention camp in Guantanamo and in U.S. prisons.
According to The New York Times "The best thing Washington can
now do about this national shame [Guantanamo Bay] is to shut
it down." - Editorial, June 5, 2005. A U.S. departure from Guantanamo
is long overdue. The practice of outsourcing torture to locations outside
of U.S. custody, the “rendition” policy, must be ended.
End the Torture and Abuse of Prisoners!"
According to Keith, this demand should be "trumped" by the demand below.
The vast majority of Cubans would support a U.S. departure from their
country.

The overthrow of the democratically elected government of Haiti by U.S.
Marines and installation of a murderous gangster regime along with the
brutal conditions of occupation suffered by Palistinians are addressed
in the Statement as well. "End the Occupations of Haiti and Palistine and
Afghanistan!" is also a demand that should be "trumped" according to
Keith.

U.S. intervention in Venezuela, Colombia, and the Philippines, are also
addressed.
U.S. Hands Off Venezuela, Colombia, and the Philippines should also be
"trumped"
according to Keith.

The following section by Keith from an earlier post seems to be a bit
demogogic:
"Finally, the coalition, if it were truly representative, would be comprised
of the Arab and Muslim groups, who are, in fact, in the process of trying
to organize against anti-Arab racism.  We can have an all-white movement
that speaks to the issues of those in "middle America," or we can strive to
have an all-inclusive, democratic, and diverse march that speaks to the
issues
of those most clearly and directly targeted by the war and by the
government's
main public justifications for the war. "

Keith presents us with a choice between an "all-white movement" or one that
can be
"all-inclusive, democratic, and diverse". So we must vote again on this
demand!
And if it fails again then we may be seen as less than "all-inclusive,
democratic, and diverse".
The Coalition was founded on the principle of Nonexclusion. Everyone is
invited. We resisted
an "invitation only" approach. According to Keith, we are not seeking a
"march that speaks
to the issues of those most clearly and directly targeted by the war and by
the government's
main public justifications for the war" unless of course we accept the
demand below:
Stop the Racist Attacks on the Black, Latin@, Arab & Muslim Communities
which
for some odd reason doesn't include the thousands of South Asians who have
also been targeted
by the roundups of the government.
It seems that Keith feels that many of us are not being "democratic" because
we object to the fact
that throughout June, July, and August he felt no need to raise this
proposal. At the June meeting
that he attended it was clear that a Fall action was being called and it was
decided to consult with
other organizations before setting a date. It would seem that we were trying
to be "inclusive".

The October 29th Coalition will have its way as it has in past meetings on
Monday and we will move
forward and do the best we can as always.

In Solidarity,
John

  -----Original Message-----
  From: O29-bounces at massglobalaction.org
[mailto:O29-bounces at massglobalaction.org]On Behalf Of Keith Rosenthal
  Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2005 11:50 PM
  To: o29 at massglobalaction.org
  Subject: [O29] We should vote monday on this demand; we need real closure


  Hey all,
     After further discussion on and off this listserve, it is clear that
this debate is really important and that the space available at last
monday's meeting was insufficient for all sides to clearly air their ideas
on the question of adding a demand against anti-arab racism.  Moreover,
after further discussion with organizations of color and other concerned
activists (including District 7 activists, and Muslim and Arab student and
community groups), it is clear that the vote we took on Monday was (to say
the least) inconclusive and needs to be revisited.  Because it was a tie
vote, and not a clear win or lose either way, it is clear that we needed
this discussion and our now in a better position to take an informed vote
again.
     In light of Bush's speech today declaring the necessity of war on Islam
as the "prime reason" for continuing the war on Iraq.  And in light of the
mounting anger amongst people of color and the rest of the population about
the government's racist neglect of people in New Orleans as a direct
connection with the US war on Iraq; it is important that we vote again, and
pass a demand against racism.
     This need not be a long-drawn out process, but can be a simple vote
with maybe one or two speakers for and against so that our group can have
some real closure on this question.
     One thing, however: this is not about "process" and it is wrong for
anyone to base a "no" vote on "process."  If you are for adding a demand
against racism to the flyer because you think it will be crucial in helping
to broaden the protest and draw in larger numbers of people, then vote for
it.  If you are against adding a demand on racism because you think that it
will be a liability, or lead to a smaller turn-out, then vote against it.
Period.  It's as simple as that and need not be more complex.
     Oh yeah, and to those who would like to hurl insults and jokes at
people like myself for trying to raise a demand against racism (Suren): I
wonder how much of a joke you think the attacks on Arabs and Muslims in this
country and in Iraq have been and I hope we are not teaching children to
laugh at the ease with which we can brush aside the importance of dealing
openly with the oppression of people victimized by this war.

     At this Monday's meeting, therefore, we should re-vote on a demand
against racism.  And, in order to hopefully make the demand more ammenable
to some people's objections, I am proposing that it be worded as such: "Stop
the Racist Attacks on the Black, Latin@, Arab & Muslim Communities".

     Whichever way this turns out, we should all be united in building this
protest and building a collective movement that can stop this war.  However,
I recommend that in order to do this most effectively, we should pass this
demand, or at the very least, get some clear closure on this one way or the
other, and not leave things at last week's tie vote.


  Solidarity,
  Keith Rosenthal








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