USPCN helps refound the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression

USPCN helps refound the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression

On November 22^nd – 24^th, 2019, members of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) participated in the historic refounding conference of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression at the Chicago Teachers Union headquarters on the west side of the city. At the Friday kick-off rally, 1,200 people were in attendance (representing 100 cities and 28 states), and over 800 people attended the workshop and plenary sessions on Saturday and Sunday. Speakers from different movements and campaigns explained throughout the weekend why they support the National Alliance, which was originally founded in 1973 by Angela Davis, Black liberation organizers, and many others. One of the speakers was our beloved hero, Rasmea Odeh, who sent a solidarity statement from Jordan via video.

On Saturday, USPCN-Chicago chapter members spoke on multiple panels and workshops, on subjects included Defending Palestinian Political Prisoners, Lessons from the Palestine Liberation Movement, Rasmea Defense Campaign, Black and Palestinian Solidarity, and Attacks on Our Movement by the Federal Government.

The conference attendees and speakers included former political prisoners and torture survivors, mothers and families of current and former political prisoners, and families of victims of police violence and killings. Also in attendance were veterans of the Black, Chicano, Puerto Rican, and Filipino liberation movements, as well as representatives of immigrant, women’s, and labor rights movements. USPCN worked closely with Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)-Chicago to mobilize the largest non-Black, non-Latinx contingent at the conference, as over 40 Arabs, mostly youth and students, participated.

On Sunday, the conference unanimously voted to re-establish the National Alliance, and elected Frank Chapman as its Executive Director.

As we move forward and reflect on this historic achievement and gathering, we first salute the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, along with other Black forces across the country, for organizing this conference.

Second, we must recognize that this is an achievement of grassroots organizing. The Chicago Alliance’s campaign to enact a Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC) helped pave the way to the refounding of this National Alliance. It was incredible organizing that led to the collection of 60,000 signatures from Chicagoans in support of CPAC, that convinced 19 alderpeople in the city council to support CPAC, and that ensured the conviction of a white police officer for killing a Black teenager named Laquan McDonald. And this multi-ethnic, multi-racial, grassroots work is now expanding across the country.

It has been confirmed that five cities have started CPAC campaigns since the end of the conference, and at least five more have committed to launch their own in the near future.

USPCN is proud to be a member of the new National Alliance, knowing that it will defend our Palestine Liberation Movement and other movements and communities as well. And we reaffirm our commitment to standing alongside our siblings in the struggle for Black liberation, because we know that Black liberation will lead to liberation for all!

USPCN – November 2019