From The Center for Marxist Education
 

 

Special CME event on Robert F. Williams and the Deacons for Self-Defense, with James Smethurst, African-American Studies, UMass-Amherst

Time: 3-5pm

Place: The Center for Marxist Education, 550 Mass. Ave. 2d FL, in Cambridge

near the Central Square MBTA Staion on the Red Line

Massive racist violence challenged the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. Robert F. Williams, leader of the NAACP in Monroe, NC, and a WWII and Korean War veteran, organized and advocated armed defense of the Movement against this racist violence, which emanated not only from the Klan but from police and sheriff departments (often closely connected to the Klan).

Williams placed a special emphasis on recruiting veterans. The NAACP removed him from his position, and the federal government persecuted him, forcing him into exile, first in Cuba then in China. From Cuba and China, he edited the radical black newspaper, The Crusader, and broadcast the radio show, Radio Free Dixie. He had a profound influence on the Black Liberation movement. Excerpts from a recent documentary on Williams will also be shown.

The speaker, Jim Smethurst, teaches African-American Studies at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and has written many articles and books on the African-American struggle and culture. Don't miss this one!

Also on Saturday February 23:

PROTEST 1,000 DAYS OF DETENTION OF US ARMY PRIVATE BRADLEY

MANNING

Time: 1-2pm

Place: Pardon Bradley Manning Square, Park Street MBTA Station-Boston

Common, Boston, MA

Organized by the Bradley Manning Support Network (www.bradleymanning.org) who reports:

When he returns to court in Fort Meade, MD, for a pretrial hearing from February 26 to March 1, Judge Denise Lind will rule on the defense's motion to dismiss charges for lack of a speedy trial. Defense lawyer David Coombs has laid out the ways in which the government has violated the 5th and 6th Constitutional Amendments, Rule for Court Martial 707, and Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 10 in taking this long to try Bradley Manning. Prosecutors were supposed to arraign Manning within 120 days but took well over 600. They're also supposed to remain actively diligent throughout the proceedings, but Coombs has showed substantial periods of their inactivity and needless delay. Bradley's due process rights have been clearly violated, and the only legal remedy is to dismiss charges.