[Nyclocal] Report back- Peace Conference/MLK Day Actions

[natsec at sp-usa.org]

I agree Kristin, just want to add one or two things. While the turnout for
the Peace Conference was lower than last year, we're still talking about
200 + folks (at least 50% POC) though out the dat and groups ranging from
WRL & Peace Action to the New Black Panthers & the Latin Kings.

We had the most visible "Party" table and a dozen SPers (including
co-chairs Andrea Pason & Jerry Levy) there.

for folks who want to see some photos go to:
http://njsocialistparty.org/peaceconf08photos.html

Greg


> Comrades,
>
> I have been very busy during this extended (for some of us) weekend.   On
> Saturday I made the long trek from Brooklyn to Newark New Jersey for the
> People's Peace Conference.  While the turn out to the conference was
> fairly
> low it seemed to me to be worth while for us to have a table as we were
> the
> only socialist organization present with the exception of Worker's World
> who
> had a tiny table in the back which was often unstaffed.  We were able to
> give out some copies of the upcoming issue of the Socialist (which Greg
> made
> copies of to make sure we had some on hand) and collect a few signatures
> towards getting our presidential candidates on the ballot in New Jersey.
>
> Today I woke up early and headed into Manhattan to attend two actions.
> The
> first was the IWW march; This started at 33rd St. in front of the
> Starbucks
> regional headquarters.  There was a very nice turnout considering the
> freezing temperatures.  We stayed in front of the Starbucks for about an
> hour.  The IWW handed out literature about Starbucks' union busting and we
> all participated in pro-union chants accompanied by a marching band!  From
> Starbucks we marched several blocks to Wild Edibles, a top zagat rated
> Fish
> market which pays less than minimum wage and has fired many workers for
> attempting to organize.  It was here that the action got interesting.
> When
> we were there for a little while the owner and his lawyer showed up and
> called the police on us, who did nothing to interfere with our rally.
> Since
> the owner was present this rally seemed particularly effective and through
> the lack of interference by the police the owner was at least showed that
> there is nothing he can do about his store being picketed at.  We stayed
> in
> front of the store until around 1pm at which time we ended with a rousing
> rendition of Solidarity Forever and some of us headed over to the IAC
> anti-racism march.
>
> The IAC march was a typical NYPD permited march with droning chants and
> legally closed streets.  Not much to really report from this one.
>
> ~Kristin
>
> PS- I put fliers for both the February film and the healthcare merger in
> the
> mail room of my building and people have been taking them.
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