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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Progressive Activism in Bloomington-Normal |
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by Adam (Jones)
Email: adjameson (nospam) yahoo.com (unverified!)
Phone: 309-820-1713
Address: 308 E. Jefferson St., Bloomington, IL 61701 |
23 Apr 2001
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A report on progressive activism in Bloomington-Normal, and ideas about activist causes supporting one another. |
Dear all,
Although this letter primarily deals with the Bloomington-Normal community, I don\'t mean to exclude our friends in U-C and elsewhere. ISU\'s People Against the Mistreatment of Animals\' success uniting with related groups elsewhere should encourage all of us to look for others we currently aren\'t in contact with. (Does anyone know about activism at Heartland Community College?)
The following notes reflect thoughts that have grown out of conversations I\'ve had with many in the Bloomington-Normal activist community. I\'d like to thank everyone who\'s contributed so far, and I hope we can all build upon these ideas.
We\'ve had a great semester for activism in Bloomington-Normal, and I bet that you, like me, are thinking about how we can keep moving forward this summer and next semester. Every group at ISU, IWU, and elsewhere in the community has their own agendas and events, and I encourage all of us to look for ways to lend each other support. This weekend\'s protests in Quebec City, like 1999\'s WTO Ministerial Meeting protests in Seattle, demonstrate that our causes are intricately intertwined, and that we can have a strong impact when we stand together.
Let\'s organize a Rush to the Left for the beginning of the Fall semester. The basic idea is that all progressive groups at ISU, IWU, and elsewhere in the community would converge in a visible location to show support one another, and to demonstrate to ourselves and to others (including new students at both schools) that we are a significant force for change. Other fall events suggest themselves as subsequent mass rallying points, such as Noam Chomsky\'s ISU visit (anyone know the date for that?) and November\'s WTO Ministerial Meeting. Which, unfortunately for us, is in Qatar, where I don\'t imagine any of us will be able to go (or a place where we\'d be allowed to say much if we could make it). Let\'s organize a mass protest in Bloomington-Normal, then travel to Chicago or another major city, gathering people as we go. Such an event will require major planning from all of us, as well as coordination with national and international protests. The sooner we begin work, the better.
On a lighter but no less important note, some of us have spoken about holding one or more activist social events. We often find ourselves working together without knowing much about one another personally. A cookout or other event (vegetarian, natch) would offer a great chance for us to get together, become better friends, and learn more about one another. And such an event, like a Rush to the Left, might attract new people.
Also, let\'s begin building a schedule for the summer and fall semesters. The intention behind this isn\'t to prevent individual groups from doing what they want to do, or to set things in stone, but rather to help educate ourselves and others as to what activist events will be held. The sooner we plan an event, the sooner we can begin publicizing it.
Throughout the rest of 2001 (and after) we can let others know that Bloomington-Normal and the rest of Central Illinois is a home of strong, pluralist progressive activism.
I don\'t intend any of the above ideas to suggest that the activist groups in Bloomington-Normal or elsewhere rearrange themselves into a formal structure. I remain as wary of formality and hierarchy as ever. The Urbana IMC has shown that we can unite our voices without drowning out one another.
Finally, PABN (Progressive Activism in Bloomington-Normal) is a progressive activist network for Bloomington-Normal and the surrounding areas. The PABN site <www.pabn.org> will soon feature an events calender, links, online petitions, and contact information for local progressive activist groups. If you know of upcoming an progressive event, or someone who would like to receive this weekly mailing, please contact me.
Please help spread this info! Thank you for taking the time to read it.
Best regards,
Adam (Jones)
adjameson (at) yahoo.com
aejones (at) ilstu.edu
309-820-1713
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See also:
http://www.pabn.org
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