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Fwd: [COMMUNISM LIST]Fw: Statement from the Black Radical Congress
by Seyed Javad
15 September 2001 13:19 UTC
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seyedjavad
From: "Karl Carlile"
Reply-To: communism@lists.econ.utah.edu
To:
Subject: [COMMUNISM LIST]Fw: Statement from the Black Radical Congress
Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 08:56:39 +0100
Communism List:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~kampf/
Workers of the world unite!
_______________________________________
This is a Press Release/Statement from the Black Radical Congress
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Black Radical Congress (BRC)
For Immediate Release
September 13, 2001
Terror Attacks of September 11, 2001
During this extremely sad and traumatic time, we extend our sincere and
heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of all those who lost
their life on September 11th. We also wish for the speedy and full recovery
of those who were injured, and we hope and pray that in the aftermath of the
attacks, rescue crews can find as many people still alive as possible.
The Black Radical Congress (BRC) strongly condemns the horrific terror
attacks which occurred on September 11th, 2001. The brazen murder of
countless thousands of civilians cannot be supported or condoned.
It is without question that US imperialism has brought genocidal levels of
death and destruction to people around the world. Whether one looks at the
situation in Iraq with the continual blockade and air bombardments, the
situation in Palestine where the US continues to give virtually uncritical
support to the Israelis in their national oppression of the Palestinians,
the economic blockade against Cuba which aims to undermine its economy and
weaken its population, or any number of other places, one clearly sees the
callousness and evil intent with which US imperialism treats the lives and
property of others, especially non-white peoples around the globe.
Yet, even with a firm understanding of the causes of the desperation, fury,
and hatred of US imperialism, turning to terrorism to fight global
oppression and exploitation is not an acceptable strategy. A clear and
unambiguous distinction must be made between radical/revolutionary political
action on the one hand, and terrorism on the other, regardless of whether
the causes that *appeared* to inspire the terrorist action(s) are just. Open
and unmitigated attacks on civilian targets do not advance
radical/revolutionary causes and must be repudiated. Rather, such attacks
inevitably antagonize the populace, weaken any existing popular support, and
help legitimize heightened levels of repression by the imperialist state
against *all* progressive/radical/revolutionary political activity,
including increased restrictions on the civil rights of the people.
We already hear, in the voices of those in power, calls for war and
vengeance. War and vengeance without a precise target, but striking out
blindly, is nothing more than self-serving jingoism. Given the track record
of the US, this could include indiscriminate bombings or missile attacks,
such as the attack against the Sudanese pharmaceutical laboratory two years
ago, which was later found *not* to have been connected with any sort of
terrorist activity.
The dangers presented by the September 11th terrorist acts do not restrict
themselves to the external threat. We hear on television and radio calls for
changing the laws and regulations in order to make it easier to conduct
surveillance and to carry-out covert operations against potential opponents
of the US. Rather than accomplishing anything in terms of reducing the
threat of terrorism, such steps will eliminate basic civil liberties and
strengthen the existing tendency toward a racist and classist police state.
The police are already out of control and on the rampage in communities
across the country. We cannot afford to further unleash their undemocratic
and frequently murderous behavior in the name of national security.
We should add here that the terrorist attacks have also brought potential
damage to the growing anti-capitalist globalization movement. The ruling
class has been making noise for months about the demonstrations that
accompany the gatherings of capitalist globalizers. They have inferred that
these demonstrations will get increasingly out of control. There is no
question that the events of September 11th will be used as a pretext to both
discourage activity, as well as to clamp down on any and all popular outrage
with neo-liberal globalization.
It is also critical in moments such as these that we as human beings fight
and resist popular impulses toward scape-goating and racism. From almost the
moment of the first attack on the World Trade Center, there has been an
assumption floated within the media that Arabs or Muslim fundamentalists
were behind the attacks. The reaction to the attacks is reminiscent of what
we witnessed immediately after the Oklahoma City bombings. There was a
widespread assumption that Arabs or Muslims were behind the attack on the
Federal Office building. Few establishment observers expected, or led any of
the public to expect, that the terrorist could be -- and was -- a homegrown,
white American right-winger.
Therefore, it is important to reserve judgment until a more thorough
investigation is conducted. This is particularly important given the
anti-Palestinian/anti-Arab/anti-Muslim bias of the media. The automatic
assumption of the US media is that Palestinians specifically, and Arabs
generally, are animals, or at best, fanatics with no concern for human life.
The just and righteous Palestinian cause is rarely given credible time, and
when offered, generally dismissed by allegedly objective (but really
pro-Israeli) commentators. Therefore, in the current situation of horror
following these criminal acts, we must actively oppose any and all witch-
hunting and stereotyping which is bound to emerge.
Yet another danger we currently face will be xenophobia and, general
anti-immigrant sentiment. This will almost inevitably be directed at
immigrants of color and particularly those who "look" like they might be of
Middle Eastern (North African) origin. The attacks on immigrants and the
condemnation of entire communities must be stopped before they escalate out
of control. We already see some of this happening with numerous reports of
anonymous death threats sent to Arab and Muslim institutions, as well as the
spray painting of racist slogans and direct, personal threats and attacks on
individuals who are assumed to be from the Middle East (North Africa). We
call on all clear-thinking people to be especially vigilant at this time in
making sure that in the aftermath of this tragedy, another tragedy born of
pain, anger, and hatred does not occur. True anti-racism may require us to
put ourselves at risk physically in order to defend Arabs and Muslims from
unwarranted attacks.
Lastly, Black America must not condone or be indifferent to the horrendous
loss of human life resulting from this tragedy, nor can we allow these
horrific acts to be used as an excuse to further repress Arab-Americans,
Muslims, or those perceived to be opponents of capitalist globalization. As
a people that has survived over 400 years of genocidal oppression on these
shores, we are all too familiar with the human suffering caused by both
terrorism and racial hatred. From the amputations, beatings, and rapes of
Chattel Slavery, to the New York City Draft Riots of 1863, to the post-
Reconstruction terrorism of the Klu Klux Klan, to the Tulsa Race Riots of
1921, to the government sponsored Counter-Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO)
of the 1960s, to the contemporary state-sanctioned police murder and
brutality we are fighting today, we as Black people have lots of experience
with the horrors of terrorism in the US, as it has too frequently been
directed against us. That is why we must show our full and unqualified
support and compassion for all those suffering as a result of this horrible
tragedy, most of whom have come to experience terrorism for the first time,
as we continue our 400+ year struggle to rid ourselves of this evil, both
domestically and around the world.
-30-
NOTE: When responding or sending us feedback about this statement, please
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