[Antiracism] On Rosa Parks Day (Dec. 1) Take Action Against Poverty, Racism & War

[Nick Camerota]

FROM: Western Mass. International Action Center
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IN THIS EMAIL:
[1] IAC mourns the passing of ROSA PARKS
[2] UPDATE on the December 1st Nationwide Rosa Parks Anniversary: Actions in 
more than 100 cities (Dec. 1-3), plus a mass march on Wall Street in NYC
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[1] The International Action Center & the Troops Out Now Coalition mourn the 
passing of a civil rights giant ROSA PARKS; we honor her memory by 
intensifying the struggle against racism, poverty and war

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Rosa Parks and extend our heartfelt 
condolences to her family and friends; we feel a profound solidarity with 
all who mourn the loss of this great freedom fighter, an enduring symbol of 
equality, social justice, peace and unity.

Fifty years ago, Black people in Montgomery, Alabama were forced by law to 
sit in the back of public buses and give their seat to any white person who 
demanded it. In refusing to relinquish her bus seat to a white man, Rosa 
Parks sparked one of the most successful mass boycotts in history. The 
Montgomery bus boycott to end segregation on public transportation also 
introduced the world to a young reverend named Martin Luther King Jr., who 
would become its principal leader.

Although declining health made it difficult for Ms. Parks to maintain an 
active public life in recent years, all of us were hoping she would be able 
to experience the 50th anniversary of her historic stand against racism and 
know the movement was honoring that anniversary nationally with a day of 
protest against poverty, racism and war. She will be with us in spirit on 
December 1 and we hope the events around the country will do justice to her 
memory.

HELP KEEP ROSA PARKS' SPIRIT ALIVE: Please endorse the December 1-3  
National Days Against Poverty, Racism and War at 
http://www.troopsoutnow.org/dec1endorse.shtml

ROSA PARKS RESOURCES:
- For a short essay by historian and author Horace Randall Williams on the 
significance of the Montgomery Bus Boycott: 
http://www.troopsoutnow.org/statements/mntgbus.shtml
Also try this website:  http://teacher.scholastic.com/rosa/index.htm
- There are a number of excellent documentaries and dramatizations of the 
Montgomery bus boycott including The Story of Rosa Parks, starring Angela 
Bassett, and The Long Walk Home, starring Whoopi Goldberg.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
[2] UPDATE on the December 1st Nationwide Rosa Parks Anniversary: Actions in 
more than 100 cities -- including Springfield -- (Dec. 1-3), plus a mass 
march on Wall Street in NYC

A December 1st Rosa Parks Anniversary Day Working Committee was formed 
during the September 10 National Strategy Meeting of the Troops Out Now 
Coalition attended by more than 100 activists representing various regions 
of the country. The Working Committee has been engaged in outreach and 
helping develop plans for Dec. 1-3 activities. Initiating organizations 
include the Troops Out Now Coalition, Million Worker March Movement, 
Teamsters National Black Caucus, Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & 
Injustice.

The phenomenal success of the September 24 antiwar marches and the Millions 
More Movement rally have provided a natural opportunity for the antiwar 
movement, African Americans and other people of color, along with poor and 
working people to create a massive Nationwide Rosa Parks Anniversary Day 
Against Poverty, Racism and War, while advancing the joint struggle beyond 
December 1-3. And this effort is gaining support and gathering momentum with 
more than 750 groups and individuals endorsing the call (see endorsers list 
at http://www.troopsoutnow.org).

Members of The Rosa Parks Day Working Committee have already forged strong 
alliances with activists and leaders within the African American community 
in the Gulf States, taking direction from them regarding the kind of 
solidarity they need. The Working Committee is mindful of the concerns these 
groups are expressing and supports their demands.

* DECEMBER 1-3 UPDATES: NYC Council Resolution, Wall Street March, Katrina 
Contingent's Demands, and more.

A DECEMBER 1st SPRINGFIELD, MASS. EVENT IS BEING PLANNED: details TBA 
shortly. The WMass Organizing Committee is also attempting to determine how 
many area residents want to travel to NYC for the December 1 MARCH ON WALL 
STREET. Please let us know ASAP if you are interested:
email wmassiac at hotmail.com (type "WALL ST MARCH" in the subject line) or 
phone Catherine Donaghy at 413-587-0059.

TODAY New York City Council member Charles Barron is slated to announce a 
request for a formal resolution by the Council to declare December 1 Rosa 
Parks Day. Councilor Barron's resolution also calls on businesses and 
schools to close for the day, or allow students and workers to leave and 
participate in that day's protest.

Plans for the December 1 mass march and rally on Wall Street are moving 
forward and many veterans of the civil rights movement have been invited to 
take a leading role in this event. Representatives from the Gulf Coast 
communities will also be present to remind everyone of:

- the hundreds of thousands of people forced to leave New Orleans and other 
Gulf Coast cities remain desperate and homeless and if the government and 
big business have their way, Black people will never be able to return.

- money earmarked for hurricane relief and rebuilding is going into to the 
pockets of rich contractors instead of the people, while the government 
plans even deeper cuts in healthcare and social programs to finance the war 
and windfalls to the rich.

HOW YOU CAN HELP Build The Nationwide December 1 Rosa Parks Anniversary Day 
Against Poverty Racism and War:
- Set up an organizing committee on your campus, in your work place, or the 
community in which you live, to plan December 1st event/s.
- Draft your own local December 1 Day leaflets, reflecting local issues and 
struggles, or download flyers from 
http://troopsoutnow.org/flyers/dec1call.pdf
- Circulate a petition or introduce a resolution to your student senate, 
union executive or delegates' council, municipal government, or place of 
worship, concerning December 1st.

SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES PLANNED in cities and towns across the country, 
include:
- Student walkouts are being planned for Dec. 1st, with some students 
marching to, or assembling at, military recruiting stations for rallies and 
demonstrations.
- Signing pledge cards to take off work, or participate in extended lunch 
breaks, or sick outs.
- Some local organizers are planning rallies in downtown shopping areas, or 
in front of Walmart stores, to encourage shoppers to boycott one major store 
(or several).
=======================
This message sent by the Western Mass. Organizing Committee for
the December 1 National Day Against Poverty, Racism & War
413-587-0059
wmassiac at hotmail.com
http://www.iacenter.org
-------------------------
TROOPS OUT NOW COALITION
- Boston:
617-522-6626
iacboston at iacboston.org
http://www.iacboston.org
- National Office:
212-633-6646
http://troopsoutnow.org
=======================