Where do we go from here?", the closing plenary of the 40th Anniversary of the Founding of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) / Ella Baker Conference, went on record in support of the demonstrations and protests taking place in Washington D. C. challenging the actions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. In the spirit of the conference, which examined the legacies of SNCC and Ella Baker as they relate to the struggle for freedom, justice and equality for all peoples, the participants condemned the anti-democratic and impoverishing policies of these two powerful U.S. backed institutions.
At the very time the demonstrations were taking place, new and veteran freedom fighters rejected the claims of the IMF and World Bank that their policies are eradicating poverty and hunger around the world. Building schools and bridges do not outweigh the devastating effects of structural adjustment policies, environmental destruction, and unfair trade. These effects are felt throughout the Third World, or the so-called geographic South, and horribly impact people of color. Economic policies of globalization have also resulted in pain and destruction for people of color in the U.S., as specifically manifested through privatization, welfare reform, evironmental racism, 'Right to Work' laws, and the failure to pay working people a living wage.
It was noted that many of the participants would have been in Washington, D.C. among the ranks of protesters were it not for the fact that this historic conference had to be held on the anniversary of the founding of SNCC. We are encouraged by this new movement of resisting exploitation, with its youthful character, civil disobedience, and coalition building between the various social movements, including organized labor. This burgeoning movement holds great promise, just as the meeting at Shaw University on the weekend of April 15-17, 1960 did. The struggle continues.
Information about the conference and future related events can be found at:
<http://www2.ncsu.edu/ncsu/chass/mds/ellahome.html>
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Ajamu Dakarai Dillahunt ardillahunt @igc.org "Organize the South" "Free Mumia Abu-Jamal"