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Phoenix, AZ – Only a few days remain before the harshest anti-immigrant law in the U.S., SB1070, goes into effect in Arizona. This law mandates racial profiling, ramps up the persecution of whole communities of people, and promises to unleash a major crisis of human rights if it is enforced.

Earlier this summer, SDS voted to support the efforts of grassroots organizations to oppose the implementation of this law in Arizona – and to struggle against attempts to bring copy-cat legislation to other states. That struggle begins in earnest this week, as SDS chapters around the country gear up for big actions in Phoenix and elsewhere.

On Thursday, July 29, enforcement of SB1070 is scheduled to begin in Arizona. In response, groups around the country have called for a national day of action for legalization and human rights. SDS chapters from California, Minnesota, and Washington are moblizing for actions in Phoenix. In Milwaukee, SDS activists are helping organize actions against copycat legislation locally.

This week's actions are just getting started. Stay tuned for updates about events organized by SDS activists across the country. If your chapter is participating in the day of action and you'd like to see it listed here, send an email to sds.freedom.summer@gmail.com

La Lucha Sigue! No one is illegal!

Students for a Democratic Society is calling for students across the country to protest the U.S. government’s plans for a massive escalation of the war in Afghanistan. President Obama will announce his plans next week to mobilize 30,000 to 40,000 more combat troops in Afghanistan. We must respond with protest. A majority of people in the U.S. oppose the occupation; we must make this opposition visible. Take action by holding a street protest, a film screening, a teach-in, or anything you can do to demonstrate public opposition to this unjust war.

We categorically reject U.S. wars, occupations, and bombings of the people of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. The Afghan people have a right to self-determination, to control their own resources, and take care of their own affairs. It is not the place of the U.S. to bomb Afghanistan into submission and control its destiny. The only way for Afghanistan to be free is for the bombings to halt, and for all U.S. and NATO troops to leave the country immediately. We support the people of Afghanistan in their struggle for liberation and freedom from foreign occupation and domination.

Funding for education, not for war and occupation! U.S. out of Afghanistan and Iraq NOW!

SDS Antiwar Working Group
November 29, 2009

Get in touch

Contact the SDS Antiwar Working Group if your campus is organizing, or if you’d like help in getting something going:
sdsantiwar.wg@gmail.com | http://sdsantiwar.wordpress.com

Written by Adrian Wilson.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen direct actions, occupations, and militant protests at four University of California campuses in just 48 hours. But given that UC’s bosses are trying to kill public higher education in California, this should hardly come as a surprise.

On Thursday night, 75 UC Davis students occupied Mrak Hall - with 200 more outside in support, facing off against riot police. The UC Davis Student Senate – normally a fairly conservative group – tried to enter the building to join the occupation, but were turned back by the police; they then passed a resolution of no confidence in UC President Mark Yudof. County sheriffs arrested a total of 52 students, all of whom were taken to county jail; the arrestees were still in jail on Friday morning.

SDS members at the University of Minnesota are facing student conduct code charges for dropping banners at freshman convocation on September 3rd of 2009. These charges include theft, disorderly conduct, misuse of university facilities, and unauthorized access of a university building. What is more, these were charged against us without the university having any sort of proof or evidence that any particular individuals did it.

Individuals still enrolled at the U of M were obligated to go to individual interviews with the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity (OSCAI). After the first couple of meetings it was clear to us that the university was employing scare tactics as a way to dismantle the group and “rat” each other out. The OSCAI interviewers claimed that suspension, expulsion, and a revocation of degrees would be possible, and one member did in fact note that the interviewer questioned his ability to graduate.

An outpouring of support for SDS came into the inboxes and voicemails of all the individuals in charge of the reprimands our chapter now faces. Students from across the country called in, alumni spouted their disapproval, faculty, graduate students, staff, grassroots organizations all demanded that university drop their outrageous charges against SDS at the U of M. A warm thank you goes out to all who took the time to stand up for free speech, a right to dissent on our campuses, and most importantly to defend SDS at the U of M calling for overpaid administrators to be cut instead of more tuition hikes.

SDS is supporting the National Day of Action for Education Rights on November 10, part of the" Education is NOT for $A£€ - Global Week of Action '09". The following press release is from organizers of the November 10 Education Rights action in the U.S.