Conference on War, Socialism and the People's Struggle

Conference on War, Socialism and the People's Struggle: A conference on imperialism and how to end it

Saturday, October 18, 2008 - Humphrey Institute at the U of M in Room 25, 301 19th Ave S. Minneapolis, MN

Over the last six years there has been an upsurge in the people's struggle in the United States: The growth of a mass anti-war movement not seen since the fight against the war in Vietnam in the 1960s and 1970s; the emergence of an immigrant rights movement and the largest struggle for equality since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s; and a growing fight back against foreclosures, job cuts and cuts in health care, education, welfare and a growing economic crisis. Fight Back! has covered these struggles and sees the growth of the people's struggle calling for a higher level of understanding of our common struggle against imperialism- a system based on giant corporations that cross the globe in search for ever-greater profits, and these corporations' control of our government and use of military force to achieve their goals. Fight Back! is sponsoring this conference so that activists can share their experiences and learn more about imperialism and how we can fight to end it and replace it with a system of socialism, where people's needs, not corporate profits, are the basis of society. Join us on Saturday, Oct. 18 in Minneapolis, Minnesota for this important conference on imperialism and how to end it. At the conference there will be workshops and discussion that brings together activists from the anti-war, immigrant rights, the labor, oppressed nationality, student and low income movements. There will be presentations from some of the leaders of these movements and from Freedom Road Socialist Organization. We will also be talking about how grassroots organizing, bringing together a broad united front of different forces, building a revolutionary organization and the direction for the people's struggle in 2009, especially in light of the economic crisis.

9-9:45 Registration

9:45 Welcome

10:00 - 11:30 Summation from front lines of anti war struggle, RNC 2008
Jess Sundin and leaders of the anti-war movement will deliver a presentation that evaluates the protests against the Republican National Convention, the political tasks to oppose the war in Iraq and U.S. imperialism's attacks around the world. There will be a brief discussion on the impact of the upcoming elections on the anti-war movement.

11:30 - 1 pm - Mass Line
The mass line is the basic political/organizational approach that socialists use to organize. Although the term 'mass line' was coined by the Communist Party of China, the basic method of reliance on, and the mobilization of, the masses of people has been utilized by all successful revolutionary parties. Mick Kelly will use organizing of the protests against the Republican National Convention as the context for this study of the mass line.

1:00-2:00 Lunch

2:00 - 3:15 Imperialism
Imperialism controls much of our world. U.S. imperialism is attempting to dominate Iraq and control the land and resources of the Middle East. Imperialism is not just an aggressive foreign policy. Stephanie Weiner and Kati Ketz will lead a study that will define imperialism and talk about the attitude of progressives toward it.

3:00 - 4:15 Economic crisis
Rising Unemployment, looming inflation, a 700 Trillion dollar bailout of the rich. An economic crisis has arrived. Steff Yorek and Cherrene Horazuk will lead a discussion on the Marxist political economy, the source of the crises taking place in the economy and a discussion of what we are likely to see coming down the road.

4:15 - 5:00 Revolutionary organization
To successfully create social change requires organization. Tom Burke will explore the relationship of revolutionary organization to the Marxist Theory of Knowledge and introduce Freedom Road Socialist Organization.