NYC GDC Statement in Support of Tariq Khan
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
To the University of Illinois Office of Student Conflict Resolution ([email protected]), Assistant Dean of Students Rony Die ([email protected]), and Associate Dean of Students Justin Brown ([email protected]):
As an organization committed to defending members of the working class as they struggle for a more just world, we denounce, in the strongest possible terms, the Office of Student Conflict Resolution’s mind-boggling capitulation to the bigots waging a campaign of targeted harassment against Tariq Khan.
It is unconscionable that Khan is being disciplined by your office when his department and even the Champaign County Court have been able to see through the ruse of the right-wing outrage machine targeting him. Turning Point USA, the organization which Khan’s accuser belongs to, has a well-documented history of going after students, professors, and other faculty for their political beliefs, encouraging TPUSA members to mob their targets’ employers and schools with calls for dismissal and expulsion, while also harassing their targets personally through threatening calls, emails, and even stalking. After the amount of suffering that TPUSA has inflicted on Khan and his family, it is ludicrous for your office to top it off by threatening his education and livelihood.
Should your office be truly interested in supporting a safe and secure university environment, it should look into the well-documented history of TPUSA’s abuses and immediately suspend any disciplinary action against Khan, issue him and his family a formal apology, and commit to better protecting your community in the future.
In Solidarity with Tariq Khan,
The New York City General Defense Committee
February Newsletter
General Membership Branch (GMB) meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month at 7 PM.
Email [email protected] for location details.
Fellow Workers,
Welcome to the February edition of our e-newsletter! Feedback and collaboration are always encouraged. Simply reply to this email to learn how to get more involved in its production.
In addition to the events listed here, you can always check the Google Calendar of the NYC General Defense Committee (GDC) for more happenings. If you would like to submit radical events in and around New York City to the calendar, email details to [email protected].
UPCOMING BRANCH EVENTS
Every day at various times: We need Fellow Workers to participate in consumer education. Please email FW Frank if you would like to sign up for a shift.Saturday, February 17 from 4 to 7 p.m.: Securing communications and information within your organizing efforts has never been more important. Join the NYC GDC for an information security training. Register for free here.
Saturday, February 17 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Enjoy FW Dorian Wallace's performance in the Precarious Sounds / Sounding Sanctuary conference at Silver Center Block (28 Waverly Place, Manhattan). Register for free here.
Sunday, February 18 from 12 to 6 p.m.: Join the NYC GDC for a second day of training — this time focusing on picketing and marshaling. Register for free here.
Saturday, February 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Join an IWW contingent in flyering at the People's Day of Action rally in Foley Square. Please email FW Ryan if you would like to participate.
Sunday, March 4 from 5 to 8 p.m.: The Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee (IWOC), along with the Stop the Raids Coalition, is hosting their monthly Family Gathering Against the Raids. Come to the Bronx Social Center for letter-writing and hat-passing for desperately needed commissary money. Email [email protected] for more details.
Thursday, March 8 from 4 to 6 p.m.: Join an IWW contingent in flyering at the International Women's Strike rally in Washington Square Park. Please email FW Liss if you would like to participate.
Tuesday, March 13 at 7 p.m.: Attend the monthly meeting of the NYC IWW GMB. Watch this list for location details or email [email protected].
Monday, March 19 from 7:30 to 10 p.m.: Join the NYC GDC in viewing the next installment of Trouble, an anarchist documentary series, at Starr Bar (214 Starr Street, Brooklyn).
Friday, March 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, March 24 from 12 to 5 p.m.: Learn how to respond to widespread natural and man-made disasters with Mutual Aid Disaster Relief in this two-day training at The Base (1286 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn). Register for free here.
PROTESTS, PICKETS & MORE AROUND THE CITY
March 11 to 15: Fast alongside members of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) in the Freedom Fast in NYC. Sign up here.Thursday, March 15 at 5 p.m.: Join the CIW for the Time's Up Wendy's March. Get more info here.
Every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Join striking Spectrum workers at these locations around the city.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Mike Pesa, a longtime member of the IWW who currently belongs to the Baltimore GMB and previously belonged to the New York City GMB, needs our support. FW Mike’s wife, Heidi, a former kindergarten teacher, suffered a brain injury, and insurance will not cover the costs of her recovery. Read more about it here, and please donate here.ORGANIZING RESOURCES
The branch has voted to collect dues online! You can pay dues in person or on our revamped website, which will be launching soon!The IWW one-pager is officially complete — and it looks great! You can find the document here. Make copies at home, surreptitiously at work or at a unionized print shop, and distribute to help explain what the IWW is and what we do.
WHAT WOBBLIES READ & LISTEN TO
"Amazon Patents Wristband that Tracks Warehouse Workers' Movements," Portside"Burgerville Workers Union Finish Three-Day Strike," IGDcast
"The Enigmatic Anarchist," Jacobin
Death in the Haymarket by James Green
January Newsletter
General Membership Branch (GMB) meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month at 7 PM.
Email [email protected] for location details.
Fellow Workers,
Welcome to the first e-newsletter of 2018! Feedback and collaboration are always welcome!
In addition to the events listed here, you can always check the Google Calendar of the NYC General Defense Committee (GDC) for more happenings. If you would like to submit radical events in and around New York City to the calendar, email details to [email protected].
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, January 23 at 7 p.m.: If you are interested in anti-repression work, come attend the NYC GDC's monthly meeting. Email [email protected] for location details.Tuesday, February 13 at 7 p.m.: Attend the monthly meeting of the NYC IWW GMB. Watch this list for location details or email [email protected].
PROTESTS, PICKETS, & MORE AROUND THE CITY
Monday, January 15 from 2 to 4 p.m.: Join a coalition of working-class groups in Columbus Circle to rally in solidarity with all striking workers. RSVP here.Every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Join striking Spectrum workers at these locations around the city.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Mike Pesa, a longtime member of the IWW who currently belongs to the Baltimore GMB and previously belonged to the New York City GMB, needs our support. FW Mike’s wife, Heidi, a former kindergarten teacher, suffered a brain injury, and insurance will not cover the costs of her recovery. Read more about it here, and please donate here.The Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee (IWOC) is fighting draconian new package restrictions in New York State prisons. Read more about it here, and sign a petition against it here. In addition, if anyone is interested in writing to Fellow Workers who are currently incarcerated, please email [email protected].
In August, the NYC GDC held a successful fundraiser for J20 defendants (which include quite a few Wobblies), but more support is still needed. Please donate to the GDC fund for J20 here.
ORGANIZING RESOURCES
The branch has voted to collect dues online! This will be rolled out along with a revamped website that a group of FWs have put a ton of work into. Watch the list for the launch!The GMB is working to account for its assets (social media accounts, finance accounts, etc.) and move ownership to the branch and/or appropriate officers or committees. Please email [email protected] if you currently run or have access to any of the branch’s assets.
The IWW one-pager is officially complete—and it looks great! You can find the document here. Make copies at home, surreptitiously at work, or at a unionized print shop, and distribute to help explain what the IWW is and what we do. Thank you to the Fellow Workers who put so much work into this!
WHAT WOBBLIES READ & LISTEN TO
Also Me (FW Kevin, who is working on a new record that documents his experience organizing with the IWW)Battling for American Labor: Wobblies, Craft Workers, and the Making of the Union Movement by Howard Kimeldorf
"How a Fast Food Worker Became an Activist," Civil Eats
"Wobblies of the World, Unite: An Interview with Peter Cole," Jacobin
December Newsletter
General Membership Branch (GMB) meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month at 7 PM.
Email [email protected] for location details.
UPCOMING EVENTS
In addition to the events listed here, you can always check the Google Calendar of the NYC General Defense Committee (GDC) for more happenings. If you would like to submit radical events in and around New York City to the calendar, email details to [email protected].Thursday, December 14, 2017 from 6 PM to 11 PM: Two Wobbly bands — The Missioncreep and The Squeegee Men — are playing at The Gateway (1272 Broadway) in Brooklyn. Come out and support Fellow Workers Ben, Joseph and Martin! RSVP here.
Tuesday, December 26, 2017 at 7 PM: If you are interested in anti-repression work, come attend the NYC GDC’s monthly meeting. Email [email protected] for location details.
Tuesday, January 9, 2017 at 7 PM: Attend the monthly meeting of the NYC IWW GMB. Watch this list for location details or email [email protected].
PROTESTS, PICKETS & MORE AROUND THE CITY
The Revolutionary Abolitionist Movement (RAM NYC) has launched their Community Bail Fund, helping those who cannot afford bail. The RAM NYC Community Bail Fund intends to release at least one person each month from Riker’s Island or central bookings. Support the fund here.Tuesday, December 19, 2017 from 7:30 PM to 9 PM: Join Democracy at Work for an evening featuring Kali Akuno, co-founder and co-director of Cooperation Jackson, the successful network of worker-owned cooperatives building an alternative, solidarity-based economy in Jackson. RSVP here.
Every Day from 8 AM to 5 PM: Join striking Spectrum workers at these locations around the city.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Officer elections were held at December’s branch meeting! The 2018 NYC GMB officers are:Branch Secretary: FW Frank;
Branch Treasurer: FW Liss;
Organizing Department Liaison: FW Ben.
The IWW one-pager is officially complete — and looks great! You can find the document here. Make copies at home, surreptitiously at work or at a unionized print shop and distribute to help explain what the IWW is and what we do. Thank you to the Fellow Workers who put so much work into this!
There is a push in the IWW to organize people working in education (K-12 or higher education). If you work in education and would like to connect with this organizing, please contact FW Jen.
In August, the NYC GDC held a successful fundraiser for J20 defendants (which include quite a few Wobblies), but more support is still needed. Please continue to donate to the GDC fund for J20.
WHAT WOBBLIES READ & LISTEN TO
The Portside: “Workers ‘Proud Beecher’s Cheese Will be Union Cheese’ After Voting to Join Teamsters Local 553”Huffington Post: “Amazon Temp Workers Who Deliver the Holidays are Getting Squeezed”
IGDcast: “#DropJ20 Podcast Update #3: Police Take the Stand”
November Newsletter
General Membership Branch (GMB) meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month at 7 PM.
Email [email protected] for location details.
UPCOMING EVENTS
In addition to the events listed here, you can always check the Google Calendar of the NYC General Defense Committee (GDC) for more happenings. If you would like to submit radical events in and around New York City to the calendar, email details to [email protected].Friday, November 17, 2017 at 7 PM: Fellow Worker Terry has written a book, A Serf’s Journal, about his experience organizing during the Jeff Boat wildcat strike in 2001. The book launch will be held at Bluestockings Bookstore. RSVP here.
Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at 7 PM: If you are interested in anti-repression work, come attend the NYC GDC’s monthly meeting. Email [email protected] for location details.
Sunday, December 3, 2017 from 6 PM to 9 PM: The Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee (IWOC), along with the Stop the Raids Coalition, is hosting their third monthly Family Gathering Against the Raids. Come to the Bronx Social Center and hangout with family members affected by unjust New York City Housing Authority “gang raids.” There will be food, letter-writing and the hat passed for much-needed commissary money. RSVP here.
Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 3 PM: The NYC GDC is hosting a self-defense training with Pop Gym at The Spectrum. Email [email protected] for more info.
Sunday, December 10, 2017 from 6 PM to 9 PM: Come and learn about IWOC’s work and how you can get involved. This event will cover all the ways you can help organize our Fellow Workers who are incarcerated. Location to be decided. RSVP here.
Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at 7 PM: Attend the monthly meeting of the NYC IWW GMB. Watch this list for location details or email [email protected].
PROTESTS, PICKETS & MORE AROUND THE CITY
Friday, November 17, 2017 from 9 PM to 12 AM: Come out to the Pine Box Rock Shop and sing karaoke to raise money for protesters arrested on Inauguration Day in Washington DC (also known as J20 defendants). RSVP here.Monday, November 20, 2017 at 5:30 PM: March with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers as they bring their fight against Wendy’s to NYC and demand a “harvest without violence.” RSVP here.
Every Day from 8 AM to 5 PM: Join striking Spectrum workers at these locations around the city.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Last month the NYC GMB co-hosted the book launch of Wobblies of the World. The event was a huge success, featuring editor Peter Cole and Nation journalist Michelle Chen. Check out the recording on Facebook.In August, the NYC GDC held a successful fundraiser for J20 defendants, which include quite a few Wobblies, but more support is still needed. Please continue to donate to the GDC Bail Fund for J20.
WHAT WOBBLIES READ & LISTEN TO
The Nation: “Here’s One Union That Can’t be Touched by ‘Right to Work’ Laws”The New York Times: “How Prosecutors Turn a Protest into a ‘Riot'”
Slate: “Barbara Ehrenreich: Worker Abuse Is Rampant, and Sexual Harassment is Just the Start”
Dissent Magazine: “Belabored Podcast #138: Wobblies of the World, Then and Now, with Peter Cole”
Radical Underground (Podcast)