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The question was asked whether the willingness of the "sectarian groups" in Quebec to unite in forming a single political organization could be translated to US 21st century realities -- There is a model -- (maybe!) The FIFTH AVENUE PARADE COMMITTEE that began organizing demonstrations against the US War in Vietnam during 1965 involved Trotskyists, Communists, Pacifists, and Liberals from SANE --- this organization got a national meeting in Cleveland in the FALL of 1966 to opt for recurring NATIONAL demonstrations against the war (one in NYC and one in SF) in APrill of 1966 -- Fast forward to 1969 and we had the MOBE in the Fall --- The anti-war movement was sustained, of course, by the successful resistance of the Vietnamese, the US government's persistence in pursuing "victory" in the war, the mounting GI toll, and the fact that young people flocked to the movement in droves --- Sectarianism tore SDS apart but SDS was only part of the movement -- demonstrations kept getting larger through 1971 --- BUT -- uniting around the goal of ending the war (with 1000 different tactics playing roles -- including by the way, the creation of the Peace and Freedom Party in Cal) was not the same as forming a working class party. Attempts to do that in the 1970s (the various "New Communist Movements") reverted to sectarian form and the potential "moment" was lost .... There may be lessons from "what could have happened" in the early 1970s for today -- RIGHT NOW -- we have a reason for a sustained movement -- resistance to Trump and Trumpism, resistance to revived out-there racism and the xenophobia that permits too many Americans to buy Trump's bullshit about an "invasion" --- that sustained resistance has got to continue -- and the coalition is very broad, including people we might otherwise want nothing to do with (remember "war criminals for peace" who joined the anti-Vietnam War coalition when Nixon was President!!) --- but that sustained movement (which will be with us through 2020 and maybe [gasp!] 2024) might be another 1970s moment to contemplate. <http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm> > <http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/nelsontim86%40gmail.com> > <http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm> > <http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/mameerop%40gmail.com> _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
