January 2007 Local Meeting
From SP Boston
The Socialist Party of Boston met at noon on Sunday, 28 January 2007 in the Lucy Parsons Center. Following a film on the Iraq labor movement, we planned some upcoming events, especially the 24 March demonstration on the Common, and organized support for illegally locked out workers.
Film
- What is our country doing in Iraq?
- What should the next step be?
More and more Americans are asking these questions, but rarely do we hear from those most affected by the Iraq war: the Iraqis themselves.
Meeting Face to Face chronicles the 2005 tour of six senior Iraqi labor leaders through the United States. Speaking to American audiences for the first time, they explained why the primary condition for peace in Iraq is ending the occupation, and why an independent labor movement is crucial in creating a secular, democratic society.
The Iraq-US labor solidarity tour was sponsored by US Labor Against the War. Running time 27 minutes, discussion to follow. Visit MeetingFaceToFace.org for more information.
Agenda
- Introductions and agenda approval (5 min.)
- Reports on recent events (10 min.)
- Assembling Peace
- First Night
- Preliminary reports from January 27
- Finances report
- Future events and actions (30 min.)
- Appeal from NY IWW.
- Appeal from SNC.
- Vote on whether to endorse 24 March demonstration on the common and determine what contributions we can make.
- International Women's Day -- March 8.
- New England Regional Meeting -- April 21.
- May Day.
- Other upcoming events include the Northeast Anarchist Consultation in February, concerts by David Rovics, Utah Phillips, and Anti-Flag in March.
- Consider organizing additional campaigns such as counter-recruitment work, more regular fair food actions, or restarting the Democracy Commission.
- Schedule the next local meeting (15 min.)
- Dates, times, locations -- look into regularly scheduled meetings.
- A discussion, film, or some other way to interest and attract people.
Highlights
- We agreed to endorse and contribute to the demonstration planned for 24 March.
- We agreed to send a letter of solidarity to illegally locked out workers trying to unionize in Brooklyn, to be accompanied by a donation to their lockout fund.
- We did not plan any events for International Women's Day, but will keep an eye on what might be planned by other groups.
- We will see if there is any interest in getting together to go to any of a number of progressive concerts in March -- David Rovics, Utah Philips, or Anti-Flag. Contact us at spboston (at) spboston (dot) org if you'd be interested in joining in.
- We will try to make future meetings regularly scheduled for noon on the last Sunday of the month so that we can know the schedule well ahead of time and not need to worry about having to reschedule at the last minute.