From January 8-10, 2012, the African People’s Solidarity Committee (APSC) will hold its National Plenary Conference in St. Petersburg, Florida. APSC is the organization of white people and other allies that works under the leadership of the African People’s Socialist Party that leads the Uhuru Movement for African liberation.
This annual conference will address such questions as: What are the root causes of the economic crisis and intensified US wars we are currently facing? Is there a connection between racism, Wall Street and the growing gap between the wealthy and the oppressed in this country and the world? How do we fight for social justice and real transformation and be part of creating a viable future for all of humanity?
According to APSC Chairwoman Penny Hess, “We in the white community should not expect a life of comfort and security while the rest of the world struggles for their next meal. That life of affordable college educations, good jobs, annual vacations, home ownership and 401K retirement plans was dependent on the ability of Wall Street corporations to forcibly extract wealth — natural resources and cheap labor — from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.
“Today we see the people of those nations rising up to challenge imperialism and white power. While many inside the U.S. are criticizing Wall Street and the financial industry, reform of the banking will not fix the fact that capitalism was born on the backs of African and oppressed peoples. There’s a new world on the horizon. The traditional African values of collective labor and equitable sharing of resources provide an exciting vision for a sustainable future. We can be a part of that future if we can take up our responsibility to return the stolen wealth and dedicate our efforts towards the realization of this positive vision.”
African Socialist International (ASI) Chairman Omali Yeshitela will present the keynote address. He is expected to shed light on the historical basis for the current imperialist crisis, to present an outline of the inevitable victory for the struggles of African and oppressed peoples, and to mobilize conference participants to redouble their efforts in support of the rising worldwide African liberation struggle. Leading the African People’s Socialist Party into its 40th year of heroic revolutionary struggle, Omali Yeshitela has formulated the brilliant theory of African Internationalism and travels the world today organizing Africans into a single united party to put Africa and its resources into the hands of the African working class and poor peasantry.
APSC Chairwoman Hess will deliver a multi-media presentation entitled “The rise and fall of the white nation: Solidarity with the liberation of African and oppressed peoples.” She will draw upon the teachings of African Socialist International (ASI) Chairman Omali Yeshitela to discuss the historical consolidation of the white nation at the expense of the African nation and to argue that the impending break-up of the European Union and the economic and political crisis of imperialism foretells the death of the white nation even as the African and Arab nations are rising up. Hess is also expected to present a financial analysis of the current imperialist economic crisis and a review of the responses made from white political movements including the Tea Party and the Occupy Movement.
International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement President Diop Olugbala, will offer a presentation entitled “African resistance, the State, counterinsurgency and why we need organization”. Olugbala, under his legal name of Wali Rahman, recently waged a powerful campaign for mayor of Philadelphia, forcing the needs and aspirations of African and other oppressed peoples into public debate through the electoral arena. He has been the target of U.S. government counterinsurgent activity beginning at least as far back as 2008 when he led a protest inside of then-candidate Barack Obama’s campaign rally, demanding “What about the black community, Obama?”
Conference attendees will get familiarized with the 40-year history of the African People’s Socialist Party and the impact that the Uhuru Movement has had on the political terrain of the U.S. and the world. They will also hear updates on the activities of the various components of the Uhuru Movement, each playing a part in the African People’s Socialist Party’s overall strategy for African liberation and self-determination, including:
- The African People’s Education and Defense Fund with its Uhuru House community centers, wellness and fitness programs and new business incubator commercial kitchens.
- The All African Development and Empowerment Project’s community gardens, maternal and infant mortality reduction initiative, rainwater harvesting and micro-electrification projects in the U.S. and Africa
- The African Internationalist Student Organization, organizing on campuses
- The Burning Spear Newspaper, Burning Spear Publications and Uhuru News independent media projects
- The International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement’s campaigns defending the democratic rights of the African community
The central work of the African People’s Solidarity Committee is to organize for reparations from the white community to African people, owed by the imperialist corporations and governments as well as by the individual descendents of Europe. This fundamental principle of the organization is carried out through broad educational campaigns to win systemic changes, as well as through specific fundraising — or “material solidarity” — initiatives.
Participants in APSC’s national plenary conference will discuss the organization’s 2012 strategies for winning reparations, including:
- Day in Solidarity with African People events and online “Take the Pledge” campaign
- Hosting events for the U.S. speaking tour of Nurse Mary Karoma, leader of the Sierra Leone section of the All African People’s Development and Empowerment Project
- Oakland, California Summer Project to renovate the Uhuru House
- Support the development of the Uhuru House “Jiko” commercial kitchens in St. Petersburg and Oakland, California
- Online Auction fundraiser
- Uhuru Solidarity Movement national Convention in Philadelphia
The Plenary conference also serves as the kick-off for APSC’s annual “reparations tradition”, a fundraising drive that aims to raise $60,000 in 2012 from members and supporters, through a combination of on-the-spot donations and annual pledges to be paid monthly throughout the year. Those who cannot attend, are encouraged to contribute towards this goal.
The conference is open and will take place at the Uhuru House, 1245 18th Ave. S. in St. Petersburg, Florida. There is a nominal cost for registration and meals. To register or get more information, visit uhurusolidarity.org or call 727-683-9949.
