A strategy session designed to equip youth and students with the arguments and the resources to campaign effectively around the 2004 election. The workshop will address the following questions: What's at stake in the 2004 election? How to beat the Bush agenda? What can students do to affect change? What's up with the Democrats & John Kerry? How can advocates on campus for women's rights, racial justice, LGBTQ rights, education funding, the environment, peace and civil liberties best work together? What about upcoming mobilizations like the RNC protests? How can people on the Left hold the next administration accountable and work towards a progressive governing majority? The 2004 election will be a referendum on the Bush administration and its disastrous, regressive policies. Let's make sure students and youth rise to the occasion, fighting for change in our schools, in our communities, in the streets, at the ballot box and beyond!
Sunday - July 25 10:00am-12:00Noon
Location: McCormack 213 / McCormack
Student movements around the world have led successful campaigns to defend the rights of young people to universal quality education, decent housing, meaningful job opportunities, and more. At the same time, these movements, lead by powerful national student unions, have built their own student-run institutions to provide their members with everything from affordable healthcare to cheap travel discounts. In the U.S. there is essentially no comparable national student movement, let alone one that is capable of conducting large-scale student strikes. In this panel discussion, international student movement leaders will share their perspectives on organizing and draw lessons that U.S. students can use to build a more effective movement in this country. The panel will offer a comparative examination of the structural, political and cultural realities that can determine the success of student movements. Invited speakers include leaders from the Canadian Federation of Students and the French National Student Union (each representing hundreds of thousands of students) along with members of the International Union of Socialist Youth - the world's largest youth political coalition.
Sunday - July 25 2:30-4:00
Location: McCormack 430 / McCormack
In addition to the events at the Boston Social forum DSA will be at many events scheduled during the Democratic Convention including:
July 26 Forum: Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Justice 12 pm - 2 pm
St Paul's Church, 138 Tremont Street Park St. on Green line or Downtown Crossing on Orange/Red line
Moderator: Zeenat Khan, Member Massachusetts State Democratic Party
Speakers: Representative Dennis Kucinich, (D. Ohio); Reverend Jesse Jackson, Executive Director Rainbow/Push Coalition (invited); Tom Hayden, Activist/Journalist; Dr. James Zogby, Founder and President of the Arab American Institute (AAI)
July 27 - Building the Peace Movement
Policy Discussion: Issues of Peace 12 pm - 3 pm
Panel One: Ending the Occupation in Iraq
Panel Two: Building a Department of Peace and Non-Violence
The Paulist Center, 5 Park Street T stop: Park St. on Green line, or Downtown Crossing on Orange/Red line
Moderator: Mimi Kennedy, Actress/Activist Speakers: Phyllis Bennis, Fellow, Institute for Policy Studies; Tom Hayden, Author/former Senator; Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio); Steve Cobble, Political Strategist
July 28 Rally and Street Theater:
What Have We Become? Guantanamo to Abu Ghraib
12 pm - 2 pm
Location: Copley Square
T Stop: Copley Square on the Green Line
Street theater, music, speakers Speakers: Nancy Murray, ACLU; Joshua Rubenstein, Amnesty International, Rep. Dennis Kucinich Co-sponsors: United for Justice with Peace, Boston Mobilization in cooperation with American Civil Liberties Union Massachusetts (ACLUM) and the Kucinich campaign
Thursday, July 29 - Beyond Boston
Progressive Convention: "Building the Progressive Wing of the Democratic Party" hosted by Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) 10 am - 3:30 pm
Roxbury Community College, Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center T stop: Roxbury crossing on the Orange line.
Moderators: Danielle Feris, Progressive Democrats of America; Laura Blubaugh, Progressive Democrats of America; Mimi Kennedy, Actress, Activist & Progressive Democrats of America; Tim Carpenter, Progressive Democrats of America; Warren Tolman, Clean Elections Activist
Speakers: Cynthia Peters, Fund the Dream DNC Coalition ; Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio); Representative John Conyers (D-Michigan); Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Illinois) (invited); Dorris "Granny D" Haddick, Senatorial Candidate (D- New Hampshire); Reverend Jesse Jackson, Executive Director Rainbow/Push Coalition (invited); Dr. James Zogby, Founder and President of the Arab American Institute; Marianne Williamson, Global Renaissance; Kevin Spidel, Progressive Vote; Boston Councilman Chuck Turner (District 7) ?and others TBA
