Building blocks of a new movement

[IndianaGreen]

Building blocks of a new movement

There are no shortcuts to building a social movement. But every protest, sit-in, picket line and occupation can contribute to that process.

March 4, 2010

THE PROTESTS against the suffering caused by California's budget cutbacks planned for March 4 are an important milestone in efforts to resist the impact of the economic crisis in that state--and across the country. The question now is how to build on that resistance and expand on it.

The struggle so far in California provides important lessons for activists everywhere. It began when scattered actions against budget cuts by students at a few campuses converged with the fight of a relatively small union, the University Professional and Technical Employees. The union's one-day strike became a rallying point for students and faculty in the state's main university system last September.

There was nothing automatic about the spread of the movement, however. It has taken months of meetings, debate and diligent organizing to expand the base of activists. Throughout the fall, university students provided much of the energy for the movement with ongoing protests and a series of building occupations.

These actions helped spur the big public-sector unions representing teachers and other government employees into backing the March 4 statewide day of action to defend public education from further cuts pushed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Actions will include rallies, protests, walkouts and job actions.

This dynamic needs to be recreated in states and cities across the U.S. California, of course, isn't alone. The budget crisis of every state is set to worsen as tax receipts dry up as a result of recession, high unemployment and home foreclosures. Nevada, for example, faces a gap of 33 percent for its next budget year, and Arizona is close behind at 30 percent. Illinois' projected 2010 budget shortfall of $11 billion is proportionately nearly as bad as California's.

http://socialistworker.org/2010/03/04/building-blocks-new-movement

And there is also this:

SDS Call to Support and Take Action on March 4th

Submitted by kosta on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 02:41

On March 4th, student groups and others across the country will be taking action to defend the right to education at all levels, from pre-K through 12, adult education, community colleges, to the university level. Budget cuts affect all, but especially the working class and oppressed nationality students that will be hit the hardest by further budget cuts that attack our right to education.

SDS supports the national call to action for actions on March 4th and is calling on all SDS chapters to take up the call to fight back and be a part of the nationwide resistance movement that is saying enough is enough – no more budget cuts on the backs of students and workers! While this country is continuing to spend millions on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and giving our money to rich bankers, state universities are cutting scholarships for oppressed nationality and working students, and eliminating funding for women’s and cultural centers that focus on Black and Chican@ programming and education.

SDS works for the democratic transformation of education in this country through its national campaign, Student Power for Accessible Education. The goals of this campaign are:

1. Universal, free, equitably-funded schools at all levels
2. Schools run democratically by students, workers, teachers, and the local community
3. Debt cancellation of all student loans
4. Affirmative action and a focus on anti-oppression to end all forms of oppression in our schools and communities

We in SDS call on students across the country to stand up and take action against budget cuts at your university. Protest proposed budget cuts, sit-in at administrator or board of trustee meetings, call for walk-outs, host a teach-in, chalk or table on campus to educate your fellow students. Get out and make your voice heard against budget cuts and for accessible public education.

http://www.studentsforademocraticsociety.org/