Thousands Gather in Atlanta for U.S. Social Forum
Thursday 28 June @ 14:15:19 |
 (Editor’s note: The diversity represented by this regional gathering of social justice advocates in Georgia presents an important tool for dialogue on the path toward peace and justice. When a female Iraq War veteran sits down at the same table as an Iraqi oil worker, we should pay attention.)
Thousands of people have gathered in Atlanta for the first-ever U.S. Social Forum. The regional gathering is an offshoot of the World Social Forum, a meeting of social justice advocates that attracts tens of thousands of people each year. World Social Forums have been held in Brazil, Venezuela, Pakistan, India, Mali and Kenya. The theme for the U.S. meeting is ‘Another World Is Possible - Another U.S. Is Necessary.”
This evening’s plenary session is:
U.S. Imperialism, War, Militarism and Prisons:
Movements Towards a United States Based in Peace, Economic and Environmental Justice
Thursday, June 28
8 to 9:30 p.m.
Atlanta Civic Center Auditorium
This plenary will look at war, militarism, and prisons from the perspective of the United States. What kind of nation are we becoming? How are the forces of war, militarism and incarceration tearing at the very social fabric of communities here and abroad? The panel will focus on peace and justice movements from the perspective of working class, poor, indigenous and people of color communities in the US. Speakers will provide insight and analysis of the impact of corporate and public policies on women, youth and LGBTQ peoples. The panel will also emphasize solutions as participants will explore visions and strategies for a just US at home and abroad.
Speakers:
Eli Painted Crow, a new network of women Iraqi Veterans
Faleh Abood Umara, Iraqi Federation of Oil Workers’ Unions
Kai Barrows, Critical Resistance
Julian Aguon, Nasión Chamoru
Julian Moya, SouthWest Organizing Project (SWOP)
Yifat Susskind, MADRE
Judith LeBlanc, United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ)
Moderator:
Linda Burnham, Women of Color Resource Center
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