Report from the U.S. Social Forum PDF Print E-mail

Image
12,000 march in Atlanta to kickoff first US Social Forum

David Solnit, Courage to Resist. July 9, 2007

The broadest gathering of GI resistance and GI resistance solidarity related groups and activists since the Vietnam War took place as part of the first ever US Social Forum in Atlanta, Georgia June 27 - July 1.

More than forty people from 30 organizations involved in GI resistance support work got to meet each other, share what they can offer, what they need, and what they are hungry for. Discussions of ways to stay in touch, coordinate support work, days of actions, and resources will continue. It was a huge step forward in building a stronger network needed for the growing GI resistance and solidarity movement.

Initiated by Courage to Resist, Iraq Veterans Against the War and the Catalyst Project, the session included folks from Veterans for Peace, Peace Action, NYC Indymedia, Center on War and Conscience, GI Rights Hotline, Payday/Refusing to Kill, War Resisters League, Women of Color Resource Center, Service Women's Action Network (SWAN), SmartMeme Training and Strategy Project, Paxpeace Coalition, Global Exchange, San Diego Military Counseling Project, Teen Peace Project, National Lawyer Guild, Military Project, Port Militarization Resistance, Western Mass Social Forum, and many more.

Image

The US Social forum was the first time US social change movements have come together, as movements have globally within the World Social Forum process. 12,000 people participated, a majority seemed to be youth and people of color. GI resisters were featured in numerous panels on anti-war organizing and strategy. Anti-war Iraq Army veteran Eli Painted Crow spoke as part of the main Social Forum Plenary to thousands. Perhaps most significantly, Iraq Veterans Against the War led a packed forum that featured unveiling their new "Theory of Consent" anti-war strategy (check out Kelly Dougherty explaining it on YouTube).

The World Social Forum is an ongoing process and series of gathering to build networks, discuss alternatives and increase the cooperation and strength of social movements to better stand up to corporations and governments at the root of many social and ecological problems.

Also: Photos by Courage to Resist's Lori Hurlebaus of the kickoff march
 
< Prev   Next >
[ Back ]

Donate

Donation Button Please help Courage to Resist support the troops that refuse to fight with your urgently needed tax-deductible donation today. We also host a number of individual defense funds if you wish to contribute to a specific resister. Read more .

eNewsletter

Sign up for our national bi-monthly e-newsletter and we will keep up-to-date about upcoming military trials, coordinated actions, letter writing campaigns, and more. (Archive)
Subscribe Unsubscribe

Why Donate?

Carlos Arredondo
"After Alex was killed in Iraq, my ex-wife told me that he didn't want to go back ... If I had known about Courage to Resist, Alex might be alive today."
— Carlos Arredondo,
Gold Star father
read more | donate now

GI Rights Hotline

For help getting out of the military, or related military issues, call the new GI Rights Hotline number at 877-447-4487. Free, confidential, and accurate info for troops, vets, recruits, and their families.