SDS National Update: Protest the verdict for Trayvon, SDS condemns repression, REGISTER for the National Convention!
Students for a Democratic Society
Continue the fight for justice for Trayvon Martin! Protest the verdict!
Last night, Saturday, July 13th, Trayvon Martin's murderer, George Zimmerman, walked away from his trial a free man. This obvious injustice has outraged the country. Students for a Democratic Society calls on all chapters and all others who wish to end racism and national oppression to hold actions this week to demand JUSTICE FOR TRAYVON. We must take it upon ourselves to fight institutional racism, for the self-determination of African Americans and full equality for all oppressed nationalities. We must make sure these tragedies come to an end.
SDS condemns repression through privacy invasion both on- and off-line.
For a long time, those who run the United States have made it a point to gather as much information on citizens as it can, with or without their consent, with or without their knowledge, and always with the condescending attitude that it is necessary to protect us from an ambiguous enemy. This year especially, the extent to which our supposedly benevolent protectors went to invade and observe our lives is apparent.
Early in 2013, there was much talk of CISPA, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing And Protection Act, a law that would essentially legalize spying on the online activities of millions, all for the sake of “security.” Of course, “security” for the average citizen whose privacy would be egregiously violated was not on the agenda. Without a warrant, anything a U.S. resident posts online would become automatically available to the U.S. government. Messages on Facebook, a progressive blog on Tumblr, specific search histories on Google, and many other online expressions of our very lives would be available to any government "analyst."
While CISPA never made it past the U.S. House, in mid-2013 we found out that it didn’t matter: Those in power had been stealing our private information and watching our activities all along. Several national and international newspapers released information leaked by the hero Edward Snowden, information indicating that the NSA has been spying on residents of the U.S. for years, with little oversight and absolutely no transparency. Dozens of U.S. corporations were also voluntarily giving the NSA access to their data, willfully turning over information that by any standard should remain private.
The Justice Department has directly attacked the freedom of the press and the privacy necessary to do their valuable work. In May 2013, the Department of Justice seized the phone records and emails of Associated Press journalists, an act reviled by both the public and the press worldwide.
This all comes after years of spying on the online activities of those within our borders using programs instituted by the George W. Bush administration, in collusion with multinational communications corporations. And it further adds to the well-worn tools of more traditional government repression such as infiltration of progressive and anti-war group, as well as manufacturing terroristic plots in order to charge and convict those entrapped by government agents.
Students for a Democratic Society stand for civil rights and liberties. We oppose any infringement upon the right to privacy, either online, in the home, in public or otherwise. We both condemn the intrusions committed by governments and corporate executives, and praise the heroes who attempt to expose the truth such as Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden.
These examples, as well as many more, of repression through invasion of privacy are a shameful infringement on our rights. Any bill that proposes ideas like CISPA or SOPA, or any activity that enacts them outside the rule of law should be vigilantly opposed. SDS stands in solidarity with groups working around the clock to maintain the safety of our privacy both on- and off-line.
All out of the 2013 National Convention October 11th-13th - Clarksville, TN
On the weekend of October 11-13 Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) will be holding our seventh National Convention at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Since our reorganization in 2006, SDS has grown to be the largest anti-war and education rights student and youth organization active in the US today. In the past seven years SDSers around the country have won major victories on their campuses and in their communities fighting tuition hikes and for the right of all people to a good education. We have built large coalitions with other student and youth organizations not only to fight back against attacks on education but also to land serious blows against white supremacy, patriarchy, and militarism.
We continue to move forward towards a bright future.
This October students from around the country will converge on the city of Clarksville to discuss the future of the student and youth movement in the US. Workshops at the convention will cover topics including environmentalism, anti-war, education rights, LGBTQ liberation, feminism and women’s liberation, anti-racism, immigrant rights, national liberation, and more. There will be food, speakers, and music as well.
You can register for free for the convention today by filling out the form below. We also have an open call for workshops and if you are interested in doing a workshop you can fill out the workshop registration form and an organizer will get in touch with you. Although no one will be turned away due to lack of funds, we are taking donations to cover the costs of food, housing, speaker fees, music, etc. and if you can donate it would contribute a lot to making this convention a success (just click on the link below).
Students for a Democratic Society