It is fruitless to examine the contemporary economic, political and ecological crisis without the optics of imperialism and neoliberal capitalism. From Chicagoans demanding an end to police impunity to Sacred Stone Camps water defenders, the police act as agents for the extraction and financial corporations, enablers of ecological violence. State violence against indigenous peoples, union workers, farmers and students is the norm. The International League of Peoples Struggle US (ILPS) national meeting in Chicago brings those lenses to its analysis, starting with a historical assessment of Imperialism to this present moment by Professor Jose Maria Sison of ILPS and a solidarity statement from Palestinian resistance hero Leila Khaled, both of which which were read.
Next, Jesús RodrÃguez-Espinoza, the Consul General of Venezuela speaks on the importance of international solidarity and Venezuela's anti-imperialist work in support of social justice continuing in spite of the economic and political war directed at it by the US. Frank Chapman speaks on the fight for civilian control over the police in Chicago to end the impunity, bestowed by Chicago's business interests, for criminal acts against people of color and the poor, and to democratically change the nature of policing. Hatem Abudayyeh speaks on behalf of Rasmea Odeh, about the FBI's collusion with Israel to crush Palestinian solidarity work, intimidate people calling for justice and an end of Israeli Apartheid and closes with an update on the campaign to defend Rasmea Odeh. He explains their organizing successes to date.
International League of Peoples Struggles (ILPS) http://www.ilps.info/index.php/en/
Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression naarpr.org
Arab American Action Network (AAAN) www.aaan.org
Program: 00:00 - 9:53 Professor Jose Maria Sison - ILPS (read) 9:53 - 18:58 Leila Khaled (read) 18:58 - 29:45 Jesús RodrÃguez-Espinoza - Venezuela Consul 29:45 - 42:55 Frank Chapman - CAARPR 42:55 - 1:06:48 Hatem Abudayyeh