The political trial of the Uhuru 3 is set to commence September 3, 2024, at the federal courthouse in Tampa, Florida. From now until then, all roads lead to Tampa. The International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement (InPDUM) was organized to defend the democratic rights of the African community. One of those democratic rights is the right to anti-colonial free speech. InPDUM is not merely a defensive organization.
As a mass organization under the leadership of the African People’s Socialist Party (APSP), InPDUM is organized to go on the offensive against the colonial assault against the African community. Our weapon is our platform, the Revolutionary National Democratic Program, our ideology of African Internationalism and the people themselves. InPDUM meets the African community at their political door.
It is for this reason that, for many, if not most, people, InPDUM was their first introduction to the Uhuru Movement. Personally, I first met InPDUM through street outreach, public forums held at our local library and cultural events.
Since our inception as a national organization in April 1991, our organization hit the ground running in defense of the African community and pushback against the State. It includes the successful defense of the Cross City 5 in 1991, the campaign to free Fred Hampton Jr., the defense of Tyron Lewis in the Battle of St. Pete, the defense of the Liberty City 7, the mobilizations for Lovell Mixon and even recently the successful defense of InPDUM San Diego member Denzel Draughn.
InPDUM won these campaigns by going to the streets. In this issue, we share some excerpts from our organizing manual on various outreach methods that will equip you with the tools needed for this Long Hot Summer leading toward September 3rd in Tampa, Florida.
Different types of political action that you can engage in this summer
Visit the Hands Off Uhuru website for a variety of outreach materials that will help you build your political actions this summer: handsoffuhuru.org/takeaction. There, you can find petition sheets, talking points, posters, leaflets, and other outreach materials.
The following excerpts from our Branch Building Manual explain different forms of outreach and political action. As well it gives you the suggested timelines needed to build actions:
- Tabling – Picking a high-traffic area, setting up a table and displaying books, leaflets, petitions, and any other materials and speaking to people as they walk by and getting them to take action by joining, signing up, signing the petition, donating, buying The Spear, etc. (Minimum time needed to organize: Should be part of the overall branch outreach calendar so that it can be staffed and materials can be made well in advance. But can be pulled together quickly if needed.)
- Leafletting – Also, in high-traffic areas, people have leaflets and hand them out to passers-by, letting them know what it is about. (Minimum time needed to organize: This should be part of the overall branch outreach calendar so that it can be staffed and materials can be made well in advance. But can be pulled together quickly if needed.)
- Postering – Choose high-traffic areas in the African community or highly public areas. You want to choose surfaces that are not likely to be removed easily. Materials needed will be homemade wheat paste or wallpaper paste. These work best. If not, staples or adhesive spray can be used but are not as reliable. (Minimum time needed to organize: this should be part of the overall branch outreach calendar so that it can be staffed and materials can be made well in advance. But can be pulled together quickly if needed.)
- Weekly Community Mass Rally – Regularly held, open public event with an established program featuring culture, refreshments, keynote speakers, reports from branch committees, and an open discussion portion. (Minimum time needed to organize: 2 weeks)
- Demonstrations – Public acts of organized resistance held in a specific location with the goal of addressing attention and agitating the public around a specific issue. Demonstrations usually involve chanting, carrying placards and giving out leaflets that inform the people why you’re there and what they can do. (Minimum time needed to organize: One week ideally, but can be pulled together very quickly if needed (even overnight!)
All actions should be followed up with phone banking, door-to-door drops and outreach. There are other methods that can be used once you solidify your base such as community forums, potlucks, film screenings and studies.
Set goals and sum them up after every action
There should always be political goals and practical goals. Political goals are the ideas you want to successfully convey to the people. Practical goals are the things that you want to achieve concretely. These goals should be highly measurable.
Hold the plan accountable. Once the plan of action is completed, it must be held accountable through regular meetings of the committees doing the work.
Following the political actions, a summation meeting of the committee must be held during which the result of the political action is fully discussed.
Remember that your outreach plans are always relative to the forces you have. No matter how small, outreach will grow your numbers exponentially. Don’t be afraid to get out there.
Report on your activities
Each coordinator must submit reports on whether or not their goals were met. The reports must give details about why goals were met or not met.
The summation meeting and reports from it should serve as the basis for an article to be submitted to The Burning Spear.
Send reports, photos and videos of your actions to our outreach coordinator, Kobina Bantushango, at inpdumoutreach@gmail.com or info@inpdum.org.
As well, email us for a complete copy of our revised Branch Building Manual.
Follow us on all our social media channels and download the RNDP from our website inpdum.org.
All Roads Lead to Tampa!
All Out for the Uhuru 3 Trial!
Drop the Charges!
