SEP/IYSSE public meetings

Military-police violence in Ferguson, Missouri: The war comes home

27 August 2014

The events in Ferguson, Missouri following the August 9 police killing of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown mark a political turning point for the entire country.

In response to popular protests, the suburb of St. Louis was transformed into a war zone. SWAT teams decked out in battle fatigues descended on the city, wielding high-power shotguns and automatic rifles and driving armored vehicles. National Guard troops were deployed in response to peaceful protests. The governor declared a “state of emergency,” and basic democratic rights were effectively abolished.

The turning of Ferguson into an armed camp is not just about Ferguson. It is about the character of social and political relations in the United States as a whole. The enormous levels of social inequality, the ruthlessness of the financial aristocracy, the disintegration of American democracy—all have been exposed in the imposition of de facto martial law in an American city.

Since 2008, under the direction of the Obama administration, trillions of dollars have been transferred to the banks and Wall Street, while the vast majority of the population faces pervasive unemployment, declining wages and increasing debt.

At the same time, the corporate and financial elite that runs the country is engaged in unending war abroad, and in the process has built up a gigantic military-intelligence-police apparatus that acts as a law unto itself. Now, the war is coming home—the same methods of repression and violence employed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the anti-democratic measures systematically built up using the pretext of the “war on terror,” are being used against social protest within the United States.

The Socialist Equality Party and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality have called this series of public meetings to review the social roots and political lessons of police violence in Ferguson, Missouri.

Meeting details:

Additional meetings are being scheduled. If you would like to inquire about holding a meeting at your school or in your city, contact the SEP.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Tuesday, September 2, 5:00 pm

Delgado Community College

Student Life Center, “The Cove” meeting room on the first floor

Map

San Diego, California

Tuesday, September 2, 5:30 pm

San Diego State University

Aztec Student Union, Metztli Room

Map

Morehead, Kentucky

Wednesday, September 3, 7:00 pm

Morehead State University

Rader Hall, Room 105

Map

Annandale, Virginia

Thursday, September 4, 3:00 pm

Northern Virginia Community College Annandale

CC Building Rm. 208

8333 Little River Turnpike

Map

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Thursday, September 4, 7:00 pm

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Michigan League, Koessler Room

911 N. University

Map

Berkeley, California

Thursday, September 4, 7:00 pm

University of California, Berkeley

Wheeler Hall Room 221

Map

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Tuesday, September 9, 7:00 pm

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (East Bank)

Amundson Hall Room 120

Map

Chula Vista, California

Wednesday, September 10, 6:30 pm

Chula Vista Public Library-Civic Center Branch

Library Conference Room

365 F St.

Map

Tampa, Florida

Thursday, September 11, 6:00 pm

Marshall Student Center Room 2709

4202 East Fowler Ave

Map

Los Angeles, California

Sunday, September 14, 3:00 pm

Carson Community Center Room 206

801 E. Carson St., Carson (across from Civic Plaza Drive)

Map

New York, New York

Saturday, September 20, 2:30 pm

Secret Theatre

4402 23 St, Long Island City, Queens

E, G, 7 trains at Court Sqaure; N, Q trains at Queensboro Plaza; F train at 21 st. Queensbridge (8 minute subway ride from Grand Central)

Map

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