Thurs 8/1: Mobilizing Boston to the March on Washington

Thursday August 1st, 2013, 7 PM

Spontaneous Celebrations
45 Danforth Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Call/text (617) 506-3762 in case you get lost!

RSVP on Facebook

Proposed Agenda
(1) Mobilizing Boston to the March on Washington
60 minutes
Suggested resources
The fight against racism doesn't stop here
The part of the dream they forget
Standing strong against the NYPD

(2) Learning through discussion and struggle: Socialist education & division of labor
45 minutes

This year is the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. What was planned as a commemorative march in D.C. has transformed into a full blown nationwide mobilization -- bolstered by the protests in the wake of the Zimmerman verdict. How can we organize across the city, alongside civil rights, feminist, labor, and environmental activists, to bring people down for the march? As socialists, what is our role in helping to mobilize people, and how do we navigate working with liberal and non-revolutionary groups?

Finally, come to our meeting to discuss plans for a day school on Marxism-Feminism -- specifically Black Feminism & Social Reproduction Theory. If we hope to be solid activists in the struggles of today, we need to educate ourselves on important theory.

5/30 Dorchester Branch Meeting

Please join the UMass Boston ISO over the summer, as we merge with the two other branches in Boston. Meetings will be Thursdays at 7 PM in Dorchester. Check out the e-mail announcement below!

ISO Organizing Meeting

Thursday, May 30th, 7:00 PM
1353 Dorchester Ave (http://goo.gl/maps/gCqd4)
Dorchester, Mass

Take Ashmont red line to Fields Corner station

Branch Meeting Agenda Proposals

Meeting Agenda Proposal No. 1
1. 45 minutes -- Teacher Organizing Report and Education Actions June 4th and 5th background reading Teacher Unions at a Crossroads and background on education deform in Mass (both attached)
2. 45 minutes -- Comradely debate: why its important and how we approach it (background reading http://socialistworker.org/2010/12/02/marxism-and-organization)
3. 30 minutes -- Taking new proposals. Voting on proposals.

Meeting Agenda Proposal No. 2
1) Summer Strategy: 60 min
2) Comradely debate: why its important and how we approach it : 30 min
3) Vote: 15 min

Branch Meeting 4/4

"The empire's new clothes"

War & Imperialism in the Age of Obama

Thursday April 4th, 2013, 5:30 PM

Campus Center, 2nd Floor, Room 2545, UMass Boston

Proposed Agenda:
1) Discussion: "Imperialism in the Age of Obama" -- 50 min
Including building for a city-wide event
Please read the article "The empire's new clothes"

Additional resources:
“Obama's drone wars"
“They agree on Islamophobia"
"Shoulder to shoulder with apartheid Israel"

2) Assessing Palestine Organizing -- 25 min
3) Building for "Fighting Rape Culture" forum & "Socialism 2013" -- 35 min

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In 2008, Barack Obama stood out from other Democratic candidates for his early opposition to the war in Iraq. Millions of people voted for the "Change" candidate -- and an end to the war & imperialism of George W. Bush. But after four years, it's clear that Obama has continued many of the same or similar policies as Bush. More racist scapegoating of Muslims. More assassinations by unmanned drones. More troops in Afghanistan. Why has Obama continued these policies, and what will it take to stop the U.S. war machine?

Join the International Socialist Organization to discuss the connections between war, Islamophobia, and capitalism in the Obama presidency.

Branch Meeting 3/28

Steubenville is the norm:

How can we fight rape culture?

Thursday March 28, 2013, 5:30 PM

Campus Center, 2nd Floor, Room 2545, UMass Boston

Proposed Agenda:
1) Discussion: "How can we fight rape culture?" -- 30 min
Please read the article "How can we fight rape?"

Additional resources:
“Guilty verdicts are only a start”
“The Fight Against Rape Culture & Sexual Violence” (video)
3) Building for our forum "The Fight against Sexism & Rape Culture" -- 60 min
4) Socialism 2013: What it is and why you should go! -- 30 min

RSVP on Facebook

The case in Steubenville, OH has shown a light on a reality that has been obvious for many women all along. We live in a deeply sexist society -- one that sympathizes with the perpetrators of sexual violence while all too often blaming their victims. Through the activism of thousands, both online and offline, Jane Done has received support and some justice. But what comes next, especially for the millions of Jane Doe's and others out there?

"The two guilty verdicts are a start, but we also have to build a society that tells young men that they aren't entitled to have access to women's sexuality. We have to address what real consent means. And we especially have to challenge the institutions--the sports teams and coaches, the frat houses and college administrations, the military officials--that perpetuate a sexist culture in which rape is allowed to happen." - Nicole Colson, from SocialistWorker.org

Join the International Socialist Organization to discuss the recent case in Steubenville and how we might fight sexism today.

3/21 Branch Meeting

Education Meeting
Women's Liberation & Socialism:
Where does sexism come from, and how do we end it?



Thursday March 21, 2013, 5:30 PM

Campus Center, 2nd Floor, Room 2545, UMass Boston

Proposed Agenda:
1) Introductions/go-around -- 10 min
2) Education discussion: "Women's Liberation & Socialism" -- 60 min
Please read Chapters 1 & 5 from "Women & Socialism" by Sharon Smith
Don't have a copy of the book? Read Chapter 1 here, and Sharon Smith's fantastic article "Marxism, feminism, & women's liberation"

Additional resources:
“Turning Back the Clock? Women, Work and Family Today”
“The Origins of Women's Oppression” (audio)
“Marxism and Women's Liberation” (audio)
3) Building for our forum "The Fight against Sexism & Rape Culture" -- 45 min
Please read "Guilty verdicts are only a start"
4) Proposal on branch organization -- 10 min

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"If women's liberation is unthinkable without communism, then communism is unthinkable without women's liberation." -- Inessa Armand

From Dehli to Steubenville, from the attacks on women in the halls of Congress to the victim-blaming media -- sexism is far from dead. We need to fight against sexism in today's society -- but how can women achieve permanent liberation? The feminist movement of the 1960s made real gains -- so why have nearly all those gains been rolled back? For socialists, women's oppression is rooted in class society. As long as there is a 99% and a 1%, there is a basis for sexism to live on.

Join the International Socialist Organization to discuss the origins of women's oppression and how to achieve real liberation.

3/14 Branch Meeting

Who's to blame for violence in U.S. cities?:
Taking on racism, poverty & budget cuts



Thursday March 14, 2013, 5:00 PM(NEW TIME)

Campus Center, 2nd Floor, Room 2540, UMass Boston

Proposed Agenda:
1) Introductions/go-around -- 10 min
2) Political discussion: "The roots of violence in U.S. cities" -- 35 min
Please read "The not-so-random violence in U.S. cities" (http://socialistworker.org/2013/02/11/the-not-so-random-violence)

Recommended additional reading:
The crime of "saggy pants"? (http://socialistworker.org/2013/03/04/the-crime-of-saggy-pants)
Rahm's scorched earth assault on our schools (http://socialistworker.org/2013/03/04/rahms-scorched-earth-assault)
3) Organizing on campus for Palestinian liberation -- 35 min
4) Discussing a branch education plan -- 30 min
5) Updates on Parking Organizing -- 10 min

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While the media has focused on the Sandy Hook shooting in white suburbia, communities of color have been devastated by continued violence. Since 2008, more than 530 young people have been killed in Chicago. When the issue of violence in black and brown communities does get raised, politicians blame "absent fathers", "saggy pants", or not enough police on the streets.

While politicians and the rich blame the victims of the system, socialists see violence as a product of the racism & poverty built into capitalism. We think we need to address the devastation of communities of color from racism and economic crises, not put more people in prison.

Join the International Socialist Organization to discuss the roots of violence in U.S. cities, and find out how you can get involved in the work we're doing on campus.

2/14 - Branch Meeting

"Where We Stand" & Fighting for the UMass we Deserve



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Thursday Feb 14th, 2013

5:30 - 7:30pm

Campus Center 2nd Floor, Room 2540

Proposed Agenda

1) Where We Stand Discussion :: 50 min
Please read up to page 17 of the Where We Stand packet (pdf)

2) Fighting for the UMass we deserve: What's Next? :: 35 min

Please read A rebellion against testing

Extra & optional: Labor Studies and the Corporate University

1/31 - Branch Meeting

Welcome back!

Weekly Branch Meeting

 

Proposed Agenda

 

1) Checking in on building for "Socialism 101: The Case for an Alternative" -- 20 min

 

2) Building for our Radical Black History forum -- 40 min

 

3) Learning from other branches: Discussing NYU's Document 25 min

 

4) Convention Guests: 10 min

 

Thursday Jan 31 2013

5:30 - 7:30 pm

Campus Center 2nd Flr 

Rm 2540

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Welcome back! The U Mass Boston branch of the International Socialist Organization is looking forward to an exciting semester of struggle and radical politics. With Obama in his second term of office, we're guaranteed another four years of the bipartisan austerity agenda. While education budgets are cut, unions attacked, undocumented workers deported, and the military budget left untouched, we know that more resistance is bound to occur. Building a socialist alternative to the war, racism, and oppression of capitalism is urgent.  Join us for the first branch meeting of the semester. We'll be discussing plans to organize for our upcoming forums on campus along with strategies for growing the ISO. We look forward to seeing you!

11/8: Branch Meeting

Understanding Election 2012:
What's Next? + Capitalism & Climate Change

Thursday, November 8th, 7 PM
Wheatley Hall 1st Floor Room 030

Proposed Agenda

1) Understanding the 2012 Election Results: What's Next? -- 30 min

2) Capitalism and Climate Change Discussion -- 50 Min

Please read "How to fight climate change" from SocialistWorker.org

Additional reading: "Hothouse Earth - Capitalism & Climate Change" Part I + Part II by Chris Williams

3) Building "Frankenstorm and Climate Change" Public Forum -- 20 min

Branch Meeting: November 1st @ 7 PM

Growing the ISO on Campus
Assessing the Conference & Next Steps

Thursday, November 1st, 7 PM
Wheatley Hall 1st Floor Room 030

Proposed Agenda
1) Post Conference Branch Assessment: Growing the ISO at UMB -- 40 min

2) District Forum "Frankenstorm and Climate Change" featuring "Ecology and Socialism" Author Chris Williams -- 30 Min

Please read "How the 1% conjured a monster storm" from SocialistWorker.org

3) Center for Economic Research and Social Change Fund Drive -- 20 min

4) Boston ISO District Day School on "Bolsheviks Come to Power" by Alexander Rabinowitch -- 15 min

10/25 Branch Meeting: All Out for NEMC!

The UMB branch of the ISO's weekly branch meeting

Building for the New England Marxism Conference

Thursday October 25th
7:00 pm
Wheatley 1st Floor Room 030

Proposed Agenda
1) Building for the New England Marxism Conference 60 min

Facebook RSVP for the Conference here!

Millions of people have come to the understanding that capitalism isn’t working. And millions of people around the world- from mine workers in South Africa to students in Quebec to teachers in Chicago – are fighting back. Marxism provides a revolutionary understanding and strategy for ridding society of exploitation and oppression once and for all. We want more than just resistance – we want to win. The New England Marxism conference aims to arm a new generation of activists with the politics and theory necessary to fight for different world.

With the conference approaching this weekend there is a real urgency in making sure that we can register as many students as possible. Interested in coming? Want to help build the socialist left at UMass? Join us for a discussion on where we are at in the process of building for the conference and next steps we need to take to make sure we can reach our goal of bring 20 students from UMB.

This Week's Branch Meeting: 10/18

The UMB branch of the ISO's weekly branch meeting

Building for the New England Marxism Conference &
The Walmart Strikes: Fight Back, Live Better

Thursday October 18th
7:00 pm
Wheatley 1st Floor Room 030