Prison Strike Info Session: Prison Rebellion/Outside Complicity

  • July 18, 2018 12:58 pm

from Facebook

A presentation and discussion in the lead-up to the upcoming national prison strike beginning August 21st, 2018. We’ll cover a quick analysis of prisons and policing in the U.S., some history of prisoner resistance during the rise of mass incarceration, and emphasize organizing and rebellion inside over the past decade. We’ll also take a closer look at outside actions during the national prison strike in 2016 to try and glean lessons and inspiration to continue supporting those fighting inside while undermining and attacking prisons and policing beyond the prison walls themselves.

“August 2018 is going to be lit. By that we mean: massive,
transformative, world-changing.”

For the initial strike call, see:
http://sfbayview.com/2018/04/south-carolina-freedom-fighters-call-for-national-prisoners-strike-aug-21-sept-9-2018/

For more info, see:

https://fireinside.noblogs.org
https://incarceratedworkers.org
https://redistributethepain.wordpress.com
https://michiganabolition.org
https://itsgoingdown.org

For more additional information about the info night or if you have any questions please email delawarevalleyanti-prisonnetwork@protonmail.com

Anarchists, Communists, Socialists: Part 1 of Building a Revolutionary Coalition – RED & Comrades

  • July 13, 2018 6:11 pm

from Radical Education Department

“Anarchists, Communists, Socialists: Bridging the Divides in Philly”
Part 1 of RED’s series on “Building a Revolutionary Coalition in Philly”
With Activists from IWW, Philly Socialists, Food Not Bombs Solidarity, RED
Wooden Shoe Books, Philadelphia
July 11, 2018

Event Description:
In Philly, like in many other cities, radical groups often work separately. We come together for certain events, or anniversaries like May Day, but beyond these we can tend to stick to our own projects. How can we create more radical support for, and coordination with, each other? How can we build a radical, durable, and broad-based coalition in Philly?

This summer, the Radical Education Department (RED) is working with other radical groups in the city to coordinate a series of three discussions—building off of our Wooden Shoe discussion this past spring on “Antifascist Education.”

The overall theme for this summer series is “Building a Revolutionary Coalition in Philly.” The first talk, at the Wooden Shoe, will be around the theme “Anarchists, Communists, Socialists: Bridging the Divides in Philly.” One goal is to discuss ways to create more solidarity between groups in the city, exploring the deep history of radical coalitions—among anarchists, communists, and well beyond—along the way.

Download the flyer for the event here.

Building a Revolutionary Coalition in Philly

  • July 8, 2018 11:45 pm

from Facebook

Anarchists, Communists, Socialists: Bridging the Divides

Featuring a panel of individuals discussing their experiences from radical organizations, including:
*Philly Socialists
*Philly IWW
*Philly Food Not Bombs
*Radical Education Department

In Philly, like in many other cities, radical groups often work separately. We come together for certain events, or anniversaries like May Day, but beyond these we can tend to stick to our own projects. How can we create more radical support for, and coordination with, each other? How can we build a radical, durable, and broad-based coalition in Philly?

This summer, the Radical Education Department (RED) is working with other radical groups in the city to coordinate a series of three discussions—building off of our Wooden Shoe discussion this past spring on “Antifascist Education.” The overall theme for this summer series is “Building a Revolutionary Coalition in Philly.” The first talk, at the Wooden Shoe, will be around the theme “Anarchists, communists, socialists: Bridging the divides in Philly.” One goal is to discuss ways to create more solidarity between groups in the city, exploring the deep history of radical coalitions—among anarchists, communists, and well beyond—along the way.

https://radicaleducationdepartment.com

Insurgent SupremacistsThe US Far Right’s Challenge to State & Empire

  • May 9, 2018 3:00 pm

from Instagram

 

A major study of movements that strive to overthrow the U.S. government, that often claim to be anti-imperialist and sometimes even anti-capitalist yet also consciously promote inequality, hierarchy, and domination, generally along explicitly racist, sexist, and homophobic lines. Revolutionaries of the far right: insurgent supremacists.

In this book, Matthew N. Lyons takes readers on a tour of neonazis and Christian theocrats, by way of the patriot movement, the LaRouchites, and the alt-right. Supplementing this, thematic sections explore specific dimensions of far-right politics, regarding gender, decentralism, and anti-imperialism.

Intervening directly in debates within left and antifascist movements, Lyons examines both the widespread use and abuse of the term “fascism,” and the relationship between federal security forces and the paramilitary right. His final chapter offers a preliminary analysis of the Trump presidential administration relationship with far-right politics and the organized far right’s shifting responses to it.

Both for its analysis and as a guide to our opponents, Insurgent Supremacists promises to be a powerful tool in organizing to resist the forces at the cutting edge of reaction today.

[May 16 at 7PM at Wooden Shoe Books & Records 704 South Street]

Solidarity Not Borders: From Athens to Philadelphia

  • March 11, 2018 12:06 pm

from Facebook

Come to the Wooden Shoe to learn about non-state, non-NGO solidarity work with global migrants, with a focus on Greece. Collective member Sharon Jacobs will share experiences from months living and organizing with migrants in an Athens squat, and we will watch an episode of the subMedia show Trouble connecting the situation in Athens with migrant struggles around the world. We’ll discuss connections between Greece and other places where migrants face state repression and human rights violations, within a context of international conflict and imperialism.

This event is being held in solidarity with Refugee Accommodation and Solidarity Space City Plaza (https://www.facebook.com/sol2refugeesen/) and the #17m18ActionDay against anti-migration policies between states.

[March 18 from 7PM to 9PMat Wooden Shoe Books 704 South St]

Antifascist Education (a discussion)

  • March 8, 2018 12:02 pm

from Facebook

The Radical Education Department (RED) is hosting a discussion about anti-fascist education in both senses of this expression: i) educating ourselves about the deep and broad history of anti-fascism; and ii) mobilizing education as a weapon for anti-fascist struggles today.

The discussion will explore the connections between fascism, capitalism, the patriarchy, and racism, as well as the ways that liberal ideology abets fascist movements by misrepresenting issues such as violence and free speech. It will also point out the importance of linking the many sites of antifascist struggles at universities, prisons, public monuments, and beyond.

Ultimately, the discussion will map possibilities for countering a rising tide of fascism with a broad radical left politics that isn’t only on the defensive but goes on the offensive!

This event has been organized by John-Patrick Schultz and Gabriel Rockhill, who are founding members of RED, an autonomous collective dedicated to the construction of a radical internationalist Left through the training and federation of its cultural warriors. They will be joined in the conversation by two longstanding activists: Ania Loomba, who has recently been involved with the Campus Antifascist Network, and Kempster (Ghani) Songster, co-founder of The Redemption Project. For more information and/or to get involved: https://radicaleducationdepartment.wordpress.com/

[March 15 from 7PM to 9PM at Wooden Shoe Books 704 South St]

Food Drive for West Virginia Teachers

  • March 7, 2018 6:40 pm

from Philly IWW

The Philadelphia Industrial Workers of the World is collecting non-perishable food items to donate to striking teachers in West Virginia. We will be driving the collected food to fellow workers next week.

If you want to contribute to the food drive, you can leave non-perishable food items in the food drive box at Wooden Shoe Books on south street.

Are you not sure what to donate? Here are some ideas:

1. Canned beans
2. Peanut butter
3. Canned fruit in fruit juice (not syrup)
4. Canned vegetables,
5. Rice
6. Quinoa
7. Nuts
8. Shelf-stable milk
9. Whole grain pasta
10. Pasta sauce
11. Cereal
12. Dried fruits

If the strike ends before we can deliver the food, we will be donating the food to the Cedar Haven Nursing Home strikers.

Street Medic Training

  • January 13, 2018 12:22 pm

from Facebook

Philadelphia Black Rose will be holding a Street Medic Training event on the anniversary of last year’s inaugural protests. Come learn the essentials of stateless emergency medical attention!

Due to some logistical limitations this time around, this will be a shortened version of the street medic training we originally planned. Half of the event will focus on theory and current practice of street medicine. The other half will involve a discussion of what we view as the most essential care one is able to provide in an uncertain situation, assuming a minimal medical capacity.

[January 20 from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM at Wooden Shoe Books and Records 704 South St]

First meeting of the Official Philadelphia IWW GMB

  • January 1, 2018 3:35 pm

from Facebook

The first meeting of the Official Philadelphia IWW General Membership Branch.We will discuss who to adapt to being chartered and organizing leads.
[January 7 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM at Wooden Shoe Books and Records 704 South St]

A Benefit for The Wooden Shoe w/ Thulsa Doom & More at JB’s

  • December 29, 2017 12:03 pm

from Facebook

+++FRIDAY JANUARY 5TH+++

A BENEFIT FOR THE WOODEN SHOE
http://woodenshoebooks.com/home.html

With the help of staff at Johnny Brenda’s, the collective, volunteer supporters and friends of Wooden Shoe Books and Records are kicking off a fundraiser to expand the music collection. Founded in 1976, the Wooden Shoe is an all-volunteer, collectively-run, anarchist book and record store on South street in Philadelphia. Special thanks to Billy of Population Zero for setting this up. Come out of the cold and heat up.

THULSA DOOM
https://thulsadoomnyc.bandcamp.com/

NIGHTFALL
https://nightfall.bandcamp.com/

TRASH KNIFE
https://trashknife.bandcamp.com/

THE CHARLEY FEW
https://thecharleyfew.bandcamp.com/

8PM Doors / $10 / 21+

[Johnny Brenda’s 1201 N. Frankford Ave]

100 Year Anniversary: Origins & Legacy of the Russian Revolution

  • October 28, 2017 5:02 pm

from Facebook

A Libertarian Socialist Perspective

Activist historian John Kalwaic will discuss the Russian Revolution on its 100th anniversary. The discussion will begin with some historical context of the origins of Tsarism and serfdom. This talk will cover origins of Russian revolutionary ferment in the empire, the pogroms, industrialization, labor strife and peasant revolts.

The main focus will be on anti-war sentiments, and how they fueled the 1917 February Revolution and the October Bolshevik Coup. This part of the talk will talk about how horizontal movements emerged and later dissipated or repressed. It will go through the Russian Civil War discussing Red, White and Anarchist Partisans and how Russian was both a victim and perpetrator of imperialism. This part will also present the echo of the revolution around the world.

Then we will turn to the legacy of the Revolution such as Stalin Modernization, World War II, Cold War, anti-colonial movements and the break up of the CCCP and eventually the rise of modern Russia.

[November 4 from 7pm to 9pm at Wooden Shoe Books 704 South St]

CrimethInc.: From Democracy to Freedom

  • October 20, 2017 1:31 am

from Facebook

Democracy is the most universal political ideal of our day. George Bush invoked it to justify invading Iraq; Obama congratulated the rebels of Tahrir Square for bringing it to Egypt; Occupy Wall Street claimed to have distilled its pure form. From the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the autonomous region of Rojava, practically every government and popular movement calls itself democratic.

And yet it was democracy that brought Donald Trump to power, not to mention Adolf Hitler.

What is democracy, precisely? How can we defend ourselves against democratically-elected tyrants? Is there a difference between government and self-determination, and are there other ways to describe what we are doing together when we make decisions? Drawing on the latest book from the CrimethInc. collective, the presenters will explore these questions and more. Join us for a lively discussion!

crimethinc.com/democracy

[October 27 7PM to 9PM at Wooden Shoe Books 704 South St]

IWW Proto Branch Meeting

  • September 26, 2017 10:44 am

from Facebook

Monthly IWW branch meeting will be in the Basemnt of the Wooden Shoe.
[October 1st from 6-9PM at Wooden Shoe Books 704 South St]

Antifa: the Anti-Fascist Handbook

  • September 9, 2017 8:02 pm

from Facebook

Discussion with author Mark Bray

As long as there has been fascism, there has been anti-fascism — also known as “antifa.” Born out of resistance to Mussolini and Hitler in Europe during the 1920s and ’30s, the antifa movement has suddenly burst into the headlines amidst opposition to the Trump administration and the alt-right. They could be seen in news reports, clad all in black with balaclavas covering their faces, fighting police at the presidential inauguration, and on California college campuses protesting right-wing speakers …

Simply, antifa aims to deny fascists the opportunity to promote their oppressive politics — by any means necessary. Critics say shutting down political adversaries is anti-democratic; antifa adherents argue that the horrors of fascism must never be allowed the slightest chance to triumph again.

In a smart and gripping investigation, historian and former Occupy Wall Street organizer Mark Bray provides a one-of-a-kind look inside the movement, including a detailed survey of its history from its origins to the present day — the first transnational history of postwar anti-fascism in English. Based on interviews with anti-fascists from around the world, Antifa details the tactics of the movement and the philosophy behind it, offering insight into the growing but little understood resistance fighting back against the alt-right.
[September 16th from 7PM to 9PM at Wooden Shoe Books 704 South St]

Assembly: A discussion with Micheal Hardt

  • August 31, 2017 7:18 pm

from Facebook

Drawing on ideas developed through their well-known Empire trilogy, Hardt and Negri have produced, in ASSEMBLY, a timely proposal for how current large-scale horizontal movements can develop the capacities for political strategy and decision-making to effect lasting and democratic change.

In recent years “leaderless” social movements have proliferated around the globe, from North Africa and the Middle East to Europe, the Americas, and East Asia. Some of these movements have led to impressive gains: the toppling of authoritarian leaders, the furthering of progressive policy, and checks on repressive state forces. They have also been, at times, disorganized and ineffectual, or suppressed by disoriented and perplexed police forces and governments who fail to effectively engage them.

Why have the movements, which address the needs and desires of so many, not been able to achieve lasting change and create a new, more democratic and just society? If these new social movements are to achieve meaningful revolution, they must invent effective modes of assembly and decision-making structures that rely on the broadest democratic base. We have not yet seen what is possible when the multitude assembles.
[September 7 from 7PM to 9PM at Wooden Shoe Books 704 South St]