Autumn and winter regularly mark times of introspection for activist communities. As we head into the colder seasons, we gather to determine what has been fought for and lessons learned. We evaluate previous goals, set new ones, and strategize. In images we remember the fights of 2012. We bring you a photo essay by contributors Casey McKeel and Clayton Conn for May Day 2012.
Today marks one month after 80% of the Chicago Teachers Union's (CTU) rank and file members voted to accept a major victory, ending a week-long strike. The CTU has been fighting for better working conditions for teachers, and therefore better learning conditions for students. As part of her ongoing column, "Future Imperfect", Iris Kirsch gives us an analysis of why the CTU campaign was so effective, and why it's important to teachers' struggles across the US.`
This video is based on five participant-oriented interviews conducted during the September 11th, 2012, Baltimore solidarity action with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) strike. The rally took place at the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute.
The Allendale community showed that they will not take the loss of their recreation center lying down. Their active involvement and willingness to protest has saved Mary E. Rodman Rec Center so far, but the fight will have to continue to save the programs that are important to them and to stop the center from being closed next fiscal year.
It's been nearly one year since The United Workers (UW) and their allies gathered at the corner of Charles & Lombard Streets to begin their "Haunted Harbor" action march. The march took place on Sunday morning, October 30, 2011. It was the culminating experience of the "Fair Development Conference", a conference organized by The United Workers to discuss and organize around economic justice.
On September 8, 2012, dozens gathered at Sojourner-Douglass College for a panel talk about alternatives to the War on Drugs. Speakers included former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke, members of the Caravan for Peace, Laura Carlsen of the CIP Americas Program, Dominique Stevenson of the Friend of a Friend prison mentoring program, Jasmine Tyler of the Drug Policy Alliance, Maryland State Delegate Dan Morhaim, and Gillian Maxwell of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition. Video and audio of the panel are found below.
In a city like Baltimore, we see very large differences between what happens in which neighborhoods; these differences are a result of the decisions that get made around urban development. It is crucial to understand how a city’s economy is built, these prioritizations, and how things could be done differently.
ACTIVIST SPEAK: a fascinating language used within activist communities that is tailored as a tool for successful organizing. In Cooperation without Capital, you will find some of these terms. Now, for your radical rabble-rousing pleasure, we define these terms here, as well as a few others that are handy to have up your sleeve.
On Thursday evening, 6 September 2012, Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse invited Hyatt Regency Baltimore workers to share why they launched a global boycott of Hyatt Hotels. Among those who told their stories were: Regina Davis, Charlotte Knox, A.C. Castro, Kris Castro and Jeremy Pollard. This video documents some of the discussion's highlights, such as: campaign goals, tactics, strategies, as well as the personal challenges involved in winning the fight against Hyatt's unfair labor practices.
