This intergenerational conversation between beloved freedom fighters who have made long-term commitments to fighting for justice in the world have worked in very different contexts and who have weathered political storms because of their convictions. They will engage about politics, perseverance, and their fears and optimism for the future.
Day 2
Inside/Outside: Governing Power, Municipalism and Radical Democracy
The progressive congressional leaders known as the Squad have significantly impacted political alignments in Washington. In contrast, the 2016 election of Donald Trump was a different kind of game changer. In this plenary, we will explore the following:
How do fights for freedom and justice connect to electoral and legislative work? What does it mean to fight for state power when the state itself is problematic and compromise is the norm? What would it mean to abandon this arena of struggle? What is possible within it, and what isn’t? What is the principled relationship between movements and progressive elected officials, ballot initiatives, etc.? Why do organizers distinguish between local and national elections and campaigns? Why is it important to differentiate between governing power and electoral victories? What does accountability look like in systems not designed for it, and what systemic changes are needed for a real and robust democracy?
Challenges and Imperatives of Building Mass Movements And Coalitions
How do social justice organizations bring their movements up to scale? What are the terms of unity, and what does the big tent look like? How do movements engage in principled struggle internally? How do small groups reach, represent, and learn from grassroots local organizers and the larger communities that movements seek to mobilize and serve? How do organizers build movements that radically include all sectors and groups within our communities? How do we make sure they are open and accessible in every way? What is the role and power of organized labor to the larger social justice movement (where does bargaining for the common good come in)?
Solidarity, DeColonization, Migration, and Land
The early 2000s saw an upsurge in the immigrant justice movement: Standing Rock and other indigenous-led struggles over land, resources, and the planet. Millions the world over have been displaced by war, repression, economic inequalities, and climate. These struggles and trends challenge humans to rethink the political and violent nature of “borders” as demarcations that contain and exclude. The Land Back movement has also foregrounded the history of settler colonialism and dispossession, as has the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST in Portuguese) in Brazil. This panel will explore the tactics, demands, and strategies of land and migration related to a justice agenda for the 21st century.
Feminists On The Frontlines: What Does a Feminist Politic of Transformative Change Look Like?
From Puerto Rico to Chile to the Movement for Black Lives, intersectional feminist politics have been on the front lines of movements for change. In the past, women have been key players in social justice movements, but not necessarily feminist politics. How does this new reality change strategies for transformative justice? What has been the backlash (from femicides and homophobic and transphobic violence to attacks on reproductive justice), and why is it so important to forge intersectional feminist frameworks in efforts to change the world?
Implications of Gaza For the World
The International Court of Justice at the Hague rendered a preliminary finding that it is plausible that Israel is committing war crimes and engaging in genocidal acts. Other international human rights experts have gone even further. We mourn the loss of all life in the region and the world. However, Gaza stands out at this moment. This panel will reflect on the significance of the ethnic cleansing of Gaza and the upsurge in protests on U.S. campuses and around the world. How might global politics change as a result?