Reflections on Revolution: Radical Movements from the Weather Underground to Prisons to Palestine
On May 16, 2009, Laura Whitehorn, ex-political prisoner and former member of the Weather Underground, and Susie Day, writer and activist, spoke to a jam-packed audience at Concordia University’s de Seve cinema as part of the 10th Annual Montreal Anarchist Bookfair. The event, “Reflections on Revolution,” gave insightful perspectives, both historical and contemporary, on issues ranging from justice for political prisoners, to Palestine solidarity, to queer liberation.
Laura offered interesting commentary on the importance of viewing armed struggle as a tactic rather than a political framework in and of itself especially when doing solidarity work for anti-imperialist struggles. She also stressed the urgency for all groups on the left to include in their mandate a demand for the freedom of all political prisoners, a point which was driven home by the poignant story Susie told of visiting their friend, Herman Bell, in prison on his birthday. Susie also spoke of the heart-wrenching experience of supporting a partner and lover who is behind bars, something which was she and Laura’s reality for almost fourteen years. Other themes of the talk included the connections between queer organizing, prisoner justice and HIV/AIDS activism, and some history of leftist organizing in North America around solidarity for Palestine, a theme which was also taken up at length during the question and answer period. For a complete audio recording of this event, please visit: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/program/33591
“Reflections on Revolution” was collaboratively presented by members of Certain Days Freedom for Political Prisoners Calendar, the Prisoner Correspondence Project, Project 10, Q-Team, and Tadamon!, with the support of QPIRG McGill, QPIRG Concordia, the 2110 Centre for Gender Advocacy and Open Door Books.
