If you haven’t already registered for the National Conference on Socialism in Los Angeles, we urge you to do so today. Nov. 13 and 14 will be a weekend full of presentations and discussion about socialism and the class struggle in the United States and abroad. This unique conference offers something for everyone—organizers, activists, students and anyone interested in learning more about socialism.
Below is the conference schedule, including brief descriptions of major panel topics, organizing sessions and our special International Solidarity and Awards Session. Please check back often for updates and register for the conference today!
Saturday, November 13
The entire conference will take place in the Davidson Conference Center, USC campus, in South Los Angeles. Doors open at 8:00 am for registration and continental breakfast. Saturday’s program will begin at 9:30 am and end at 11 pm.
Opening Plenary
Building the struggle against capitalism across the United States
9:30 am – 10:30 am
Keynote Plenary
Tasks and perspectives of the socialist movement
11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Lunch Break (Plus screening of “The Sand Creek Equation”)
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
During lunch, there will be a special screening of the new documentary, “The Sand Creek Equation” by award-winning filmmaker Travis Wilkerson (“An Injury to One”). The film takes the viewer on a lyrical journey from occupied Gaza to Sand Creek, Colorado, the site of a notorious massacre by U.S. troops of Native Americans. The filmmaker will introduce the film.
Major Panel Session #1
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
In each of the Major Panel Sessions, conference participants will have three panels to choose from. They are listed below.
(1) Resisting U.S. imperialism: Is it just bad policies or the system?
This panel will discuss imperialism, what it is, and how it affects people across the world. It will examine the policies of the Bush regime and compare them to what’s now happening under Obama. An overall analysis of Lenin’s thesis on the subject also will be presented, along with discussion about Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, the Philippines and elsewhere.
(2) Fighting to win: How we can defeat immigrant bashing, anti-LGBT bigotry, Islamophobia and the ultra right
The struggle for class unity is more important than ever. This panel will analyze how to build a united fight back by focusing on the movement to overturn racist, anti-immigrant laws and win equality, the battle for LGBT and women’s rights, what’s behind the sustained attacks on Arabs and Muslims, and what the rise of the Tea Party means for workers.
(3) Building a new workers’ movement: Organized labor and the challenges ahead
Organized labor is under attack by Wall Street, corporate giants and capitalist politicians. This panel will feature labor leaders and workers who resist and organize to stop these anti-worker policies. Topics include the dynamics of the labor movement today, organizing the unorganized and the prospects for a class-wide fight back.
Major Panel Session #2
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
(1) The class struggle in Africa and the fight against imperialism
Class struggle exists everywhere in Africa, but it is rarely discussed or covered in the United States. This panel will feature experts on the workers’ struggle in Africa, discussing the conditions for working and poor people today. Featured topics include South Africa after apartheid, Sudan: united or divided, Zimbabwe and imperialism, and overcoming the legacy of colonialism and underdevelopment.
(2) Socialism and the Latin American revolution
“Down with Yankee imperialism” is an increasingly popular slogan south of the U.S.-Mexico border. This panel will discuss the leftward shift in Latin America and the class dynamics at play. Topics include Cuba’s economic reforms and socialism, an appraisal of the Venezuelan revolution; what’s happening in Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Brazil and Colombia; Mexico’s revolutionary legacy, and the new role of China in Latin America.
(3) Fighting racism and the expanding police state
What role do the police play in society? Why do they target and kill Black and Latino people more than anyone else? This panel includes lawyers and activists from across the country involved in the movement against racist police violence, terror and repression. Strategies will be discussed and victories will be shared, with the goal of building a more effective struggle against the expanding police state.
Dinner Break
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Special International Solidarity and Awards Session
Fighters for justice, champions of freedom
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
This exciting session will feature former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, Robert King Wilkerson of the Angola 3 and many other guest speakers, PSL members musicians and dancers. The first ever PSL “Fighters for Justice, Champions of Freedom” awards will be presented in this session to political prisoners, radical lawyers and longtime leaders in the people’s struggle.
Reception
9:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Sunday, November 14
Doors open at 8:00 am for registration and continental breakfast. Sunday’s program will begin at 9 am and end at 3 pm.
Organizing Session #1:
Practical experiences of building a revolutionary socialist movement
9:00 am – 10:30 am
This session will feature four different breakout groups that will discuss organizing work taking place around the country, from Los Angeles to Texas to New York and beyond. Organizers in all struggles are encouraged to attend, share experiences and figure out ways to push the working-class struggle forward.
Organizing Session #2:
10:45 am – 12:30 pm
There will be three sessions for conference participants to choose from.
(1) Revolutionary writers’ clinic
Hone your skills as a revolutionary writer and learn new ones in the Revolutionary writers’ clinic. One of the PSL’s top editors will lead this session about how to write articles, frame slogans and draft flyers to forward the class struggle.
(2) Expanding the reach of socialist media
As socialists, the goal is to reach more people with revolutionary ideas. How can we do this? What means to we use? Videos, websites, Liberation newspaper and more will be discussed in this session. Hear from people involved in creating the new wave of socialist media and learn how to get involved.
(3) Developing the PSL’s Spanish-language work
Reaching out to and recruiting Spanish speaking people and immigrants is a central focus of the PSL today. In Los Angeles and across the country, members and friends have embarked on a new plan to better engage workers and students that speak Spanish. Discuss what is happening, what our ideas are, and how you can become part of this important work.
(4) Introduction to Socialism
This class will answer basic questions about socialism and communism, including: Is Marxism relevant in the 21st century? How do socialists view the rise and fall of the Soviet Union? Why only socialism can solve the ills of capitalist society and bring about a different world.
Lunch Break (Plus screening of “The Sand Creek Equation”)
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Closing Plenary
Next steps for the socialist movement: Where we go from here
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Click here to register for the conference. For more information visit www.PSLweb.org/conference.
