Joanna's Question about Homeless Mobilization

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

><<Why have there
>>  been no mobilizations on the part of the most
>>  disposesed members of our
>>  society? I'm curious...it has been going on for over
>>  twenty years now...
>
>Joanna, yours is an excellent question!
>I know of numerous times that there have been
>occupations of empty housing around San Francisco and
>their supporters but I dont know of any
>demonstrations.
>
>Doesn't it seem that there is a preference on the
>American Left
>to take up issues "Over there" than to take up issues
>at home.  Why is that?  Could it be that the Left in
>this country is based mostly among students?
>
>I remember when I was going to university, a lot of us
>were heavily involved with the anti-apartheid
>movement.
>When the university workers went on strike, my student
>comrades did not want to get involved beyond the level
>of not crossing the picket lines, even though, when I
>spoke at the union meeting a vowed to get student
>support, my suggestion was warmly received by the
>workers. 
>
>-Thomas

When OSU workers (e.g., custodians, food service workers, bus 
drivers, electricians, etc.) represented by CWA Local 4501 went on 
strike in 2000, we (student & community activists) occupied the 
administration building for the duration of the strike (more than 
three weeks), as well as organized picket supports, held demos and 
rallies, staged a work stoppage of OSU TAs & professors, etc.  (Some 
of you long-time LBO-talkers remember my posts on the strike: 
<http://nuance.dhs.org/lbo-talk/0005/author.html>).  Here's an 
article about the strike & student strike support from a local 
weekly: <http://www.columbusalive.com/2000/20000504/news3.html>.
-- 
Yoshie

* Calendar of Events in Columbus: 
<http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/calendar.html>
* Anti-War Activist Resources: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/activist.html>
* Student International Forum: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/>
* Committee for Justice in Palestine: <http://www.osu.edu/students/CJP/>