New Coalition to Free Mumia Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Greetings All: Following a meeting of most of the undersigned (some simply couldn't make it to the meeting) we came up with the following letter which is self-explanatory. Some of us who have been working with the Moblization have decided that it has not fulfilled its mission of providing a democratic, non-sectarian, non-chauvinist, non-racist coalition of groups, organizations, parties and individuals through which we can bring everyone together to work in concert on behalf of Mumia and other political prisoners. We certainly do not want to further fragment the movement; quite the opposite. We want to be inclusive not excusive. Therefore, we are sending you the letter below followed by a draft of PRINCIPLES OF UNITY (subject to amendment) in the hope that you will see fit to join us and spread the word of our first general meeting. Forward forever; backward never! Ona move, Kiilu "It is the silent acquiescence of millions that supports the system. When you don't oppose a system, your silence becomes approval, for it does nothing to interrupt the system. Many people say it is insane to resist the system, but actually it is insane not to." --Mumia Abu-Jamal May 10, 1999 Dear Folks: We (the undersigned) feel strongly the need to build a democratic coalition that embraces all organizations and individuals moving to free Mumia Abu-Jamal. To date, a number of organizations have been working to free Mumia, including the Black Radical Congress; Jericho; the Mobilization to Free Mumia; the National Peoples Campaign; the People of Color Task Force to Free Mumia; Refuse and Resist; the Santa Cruz Coalition to Free Mumia and many others. Now is the time for all of us to come together to share our strength, resources, and ideas in order to create a powerful movement that functions on principles of unity. We are therefore initiating a process through which we urge you to play an active role. We envision an umbrella group that reflects the ideas and goals of all concerned. Almost needless to say, Mumia's life is on the line. The time factor could be six months to two years. There is no time to waste. In the words of the late revolutionary leader Chris Hani, "The struggle is about sacrifice." With this in mind, we urge you to sacrifice whatever you must to join us on Sunday, May 23 from 1-3 p.m. at 408 14th Street, Oakland (nr 12th Street/Civic Center BART). We wanted a general meeting to be held at an accessible location in the East Bay so as to target communities of color who have been noticeably absent from the movement thus far. Devorah Major will contribute her skills as a professional facilitator to chair this meeting. In respect for people's busy agendas and limited time, please arrive early or on time. We will respectfully hold to the time frame of two hours. For more information, please contact Kiilu Nyasha (415) 391-3844. In Strength and Solidarity, Bato Charles Frazier Shabaka ji Jaga David Johnson Babatunde Lea Pierre Labossiere Kamau B. Moyenda Kiilu Nyasha Traci Owens Lesley Phillips Cameron Sturdevant Sundiata Tate J.R. Valrey Donna Wallach PRINCIPLES OF UNITY 1. We must adopt the formula "unity, criticism, unity" as a means of resolving contradictions. i.e., beginning with the desire for unity, solving problems through criticism and struggle, and arriving at a new unity on a new basis. To check up regularly on our work and in the process develop a democratic style of work, to fear neither criticism nor self-criticism,. to apply such maxims as "Say all you know and say it without reserve;" "Blame not the speaker but be warned by his/her words;" and "Correct mistakes if you have committed them and guard against them if you have not." Opposition and struggle between different ideas is a constant occurance within any organization. We must stand for active struggle because it's a weapon for ensuring unity within the group. The mistakes of the past must be exposed without sparing anyone's sensibilities; it is necessary to analyse and criticize what was bad in the past with a scientific attitude so that work in the future will be done more carefully and done better. "Learn from past mistakes to avoid future ones." However, our aim in exposing errors and criticizing shortcomings is to "cure the sickness and save the patient." The main task of criticism is to point out political and organizational mistakes, not to be overcritical of personal shortcomings or minor faults which ould lead to individuals becoming timid or overcautious and forgetting the political tasks which are primary. The attitude toward anyone who has made mistakes in the work should be one of persuasion, not one of exclusion unless he/she is incorrigible. In engaging in internal criticism, we should guard against subjectivisim, arbitrariness, and the vulgarization of criticism. Statements should be based on facts and stress the political side. Internal criticism is a weapon for strengthening the organization and should never be used as a means of personal attack. We must not become complacent over any success, but constantly criticize our shortcomigs just as we should wash our faces or sweep the floor every day. 2. We must oppose the tendency toward selfish departmentalism by which the interests of one's own group are looked after to the exclusion of those of others. Lack of consideration for the whole movement and complete indifference to other organizations, localities and people are characteristic of a selfish departmentalist, a sectarian tendency which will become very dangerous if allowed to develop. 3. We must struggle to avoid sectarianism, selfishness, dishonesty, slacking, corruption, seeking the limelight, sexism, racism, and reactionary nationalism. Selflessness, cooperation, honesty, forthrightness, whole-hearted devotion to the movement and quiet hard work will command respect. 4. Every individual working within the movement for change should be a friend of the people and not a boss over them, a student-teacher, not a bureaucratic politician. We must forge close links between ourselves and our communities, serving the people body and soul. As for people who are politically backward, we should not slight or belittle them, but befriend them, unite with them, convince and encourage them to go forward. 5. The young people are the most active and vital force in society. They are the most eager to learn and the least conservative in their thinking. We must help our young people to understand that we cannot change this situation radically in a short time, and that only through the united efforts of our younger generation and all our people working together can we succeed. Many things become baggage, encumbrances if we cling to them blindly, uncritically, e.g., a comrade with a short record of struggle may shirk responsibility on this account, while a veteran may become opinionated because of his/her long record of struggle. Any specialized skill may be capitalized on and so may lead to arrogance and contempt of others. Even one's age may become grounds for conceit. The young, because they are bright and capable, may look down upon the old; and the old, because they are rich in experience may look down upon the young. We must bridge the generation gaps and all other impediments to unity. 6. We must be clear about the nature of contradictions among the people. Those between ourselves and our enemies are antagonistic contradictions. But within our ranks, the contradictions are non-antagonistic and should be handled accordingly. Words and actions should help to unite and not divide; they should help to consolidate and not undermine the organization; they should be beneficial and not harmful to the unity of the entire movement. The only way to settle questions of an ideological nature or controversial issues among us is by the democratic method -- of discussion, of criticism, of persuasion and education and not by the method of coercion or repression. 7. The following is an abbreviated translation of Mao's definition of "liberalism:" Liberalism is extremely harmful in a revolutionary collective. It is a corrosive which eats away unity and undermines cohesion, causes apathy and creates dissension; prevents policies from being carried through and alienates organizations from the people. Liberals often talk revolution but practice capitalism. They keep both goods in stock and find a use for each. They apply revolutionary principles to others but liberalism to themselves. Here are some of the manifestations of liberalism: * To let things slide for the sake of peace and friendship when a person/group has clearly gone wrong, and refrain from principled argument. * To indulge in irresponsible criticism in private instead of actively putting forward one's suggestions to the organization. To say nothing to people's faces but to gossip behind their backs or say nothing at meetings but badmouth afterwards. * To let things drift or say as little as possible while knowing perfectly well what is wrong; to be worldly wise and play safe and seek only to avoid blame. * To indulge in personal attacks, pick quarrels, vent personal spite or seek revenge instead of struggling against incorrect views for the sake of unity and progress, or getting the work done. * To hear incorrect views or dishonest, racist, sexist remarks without rebutting them. * To be among the people and fail to politicize or raise awareness, speak at meetings or conduct investigations, forgetting the goals of the organization and showing no concern for the plight of our people, esp. our political prisoners. * To see someone harming the interests of the people and the organization and make no effort to dissuade or reason with them but allow them to continue. * To work half-heartedly, to muddle along without a definite plan or direction -- "So long as one remains a monk, one goes on tolling the bell." * To regard oneself as having rendered great service to the revolution, to pride onself on being a veteran, to disdain minor tasks, to be slipshod in work and slack in study. * To be aware of one's own mistakes and yet make no attempt to correct them, taking a liberal attitude toward oneself. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- BRC-NEWS: Black Radical Congress - General News/Alerts/Announcements Subscribe: Email "subscribe brc-news" to ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytrc-05.22.99-03:09:18-10334