Workers World April 20, 2000: Teach-in ‘uplifts and recharges’ students

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------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the April 20, 2000 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------

MUMIA, IMF, GLOBALIZATION

Teach-in ‘uplifts and recharges’ students

By Bryan G. Pfeifer

Milwaukee

The air in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Union Theatre was electric on March 29. Students chanted and spoke out against the World Trade Organization and offered support for political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal.
The teach-in focused on organizing for the April 16-17 Washington protests against the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, as well as the May 7 Day for Mumia at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York.
"Win the war," chanted Chairperson Toni Tavita Robinson as she opened the teach-in, attended by a multinational crowd of over 200. Robinson is a member of the Progressive Student Network, the sponsoring student organization for the teach-in. The event was endorsed by the A Job is a Right Campaign, Student Association, Rainbow Alliance, Black Student Union and Wisconsin for Mumia.
Brian Becker, co-director of the New-York-based International Action Center, delivered the keynote address. Becker has frequently debated U.S. policy makers and war makers on Fox Network News. He has co-authored several books, including the newly published "War, Lies and Videotape."
Becker spoke in place of Key Martin, who died on March 18. Martin founded the People's Video Network and was a Workers World Party National Committee member. The teach-in was dedicated to Martin, an anti-capitalist fighter for almost 40 years.
Becker's talk focused on the role of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. He said the economic policies dictated by these two institutions are enforced by the Pentagon--the iron fist.
Even if the IMF and World Bank disappeared tomorrow, Becker pointed out, capitalism and the Pentagon would remain. He stressed that activists need to fight to end the profit system that is based on private ownership of the wealth created by the workers of the world, rather than oppose China's right to join the WTO.
Becker implored the students to direct their fight against U.S. imperialism. And he encouraged everyone in the audience to attend the April 16-17 protests against the IMF and World Bank, as well as the historic May 7 event for Mumia Abu-Jamal in Madison Square Garden Theater.
Other speakers included Kendra al-Kaleem, Student Association secretary; Ian Fritz, Progressive Student Network; Ajita Talwalker, Student Association; Dr. Doreatha Mbalia, chair of the Africology Department; Amy Lyn Daroszeski, Rainbow Alliance; Jeff Rivera, A Job is a Right Campaign; Johanna Lowe, vice-president of the Black Student Union; and Ifama Jackson, Wisconsin for Mumia.
Topics included the corporatization of public universities, including UWM, anti-sweatshop efforts and lesbian/gay/bi/trans struggles. The talks were interspersed with music spun by deejay Dr. B.
Many "were uplifted and recharged by the event," said Dr. Ahmed Mbalia, a professor in UWM's Africology Department and member of Africans on the Move, an endorser of the teach-in.
Students new to political activism and those who have been fighting for social justice for years echoed Mbalia's comments. Most said they had become motivated to get more involved in social struggles like anti-police-brutality work, as well as protesting the WTO and supporting Abu-Jamal.
After the teach-in more than two dozen students signed up to attend the April 16-17 protests in Washington and the May 7 event in New York. Many others asked for more information.
A number of those in attendance, including Student Association President Laty Keodouangsy, voiced their appreciation of Becker's analysis. They said he brought clarity to the question of why the U.S. movement should not be derailed into attacking China.
"I realized that I can't be an educator without being a fighter," Keodouangsy concluded. "They go hand in hand. And I really did appreciate the opportunity to get inspiration from fellow fighters."

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