File spoon-archives/postcolonial.archive/postcolonial_2001/postcolonial.0109, message 147


From: "Barry E. Jackson" <djackson1-AT-stny.rr.com>
Subject: Fw: [BRC] Terror Attacks of September 11, 2001
Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 14:04:42 -0000



----- Original Message -----
From: "Black Radical Congress" <blackradicalcongress-AT-mail.com>
To: <brc-press-AT-lists.tao.ca>
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2001 10:43 AM
Subject: [BRC] Terror Attacks of September 11, 2001


> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> This is a Press Release/Statement from the Black Radical Congress
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Black Radical Congress (BRC)
>
> For Immediate Release
>
> September 13, 2001
>
> Contact:
> Art McGee <artmcgee-AT-usa.net>
> Bill Fletcher, Jr. <bfletcher4-AT-compuserve.com>
>
> Terror Attacks of September 11, 2001
>
> During this extremely sad and traumatic time, we extend our
> sincere and heartfelt condolences to the families and loved
> ones of all those who lost their life on September 11th. We
> also wish for the speedy and full recovery of those who were
> injured, and we hope and pray that in the aftermath of the
> attacks, rescue crews can find as many people still alive
> as possible.
>
> The Black Radical Congress (BRC) strongly condemns the
> horrific terror attacks which occurred on September 11th,
> 2001. The brazen murder of countless thousands of civilians
> cannot be supported or condoned.
>
> It is without question that US imperialism has brought
> genocidal levels of death and destruction to people around
> the world. Whether one looks at the situation in Iraq with
> the continual blockade and air bombardments, the situation
> in Palestine where the US continues to give virtually
> uncritical support to the Israelis in their national
> oppression of the Palestinians, the economic blockade
> against Cuba which aims to undermine its economy and
> weaken its population, or any number of other places,
> one clearly sees the callousness and evil intent with
> which US imperialism treats the lives and property of
> others, especially non-white peoples around the globe.
>
> Yet, even with a firm understanding of the causes of the
> desperation, fury, and hatred of US imperialism, turning to
> terrorism to fight global oppression and exploitation is not
> an acceptable strategy. A clear and unambiguous distinction
> must be made between radical/revolutionary political action
> on the one hand, and terrorism on the other, regardless of
> whether the causes that *appeared* to inspire the terrorist
> action(s) are just. Open and unmitigated attacks on civilian
> targets do not advance radical/revolutionary causes and must
> be repudiated. Rather, such attacks inevitably antagonize the
> populace, weaken any existing popular support, and help
> legitimize heightened levels of repression by the imperialist
> state against *all* progressive/radical/revolutionary political
> activity, including increased restrictions on the civil rights
> of the people.
>
> We already hear, in the voices of those in power, calls for
> war and vengeance. War and vengeance without a precise target,
> but striking out blindly, is nothing more than self-serving
> jingoism. Given the track record of the US, this could
> include indiscriminate bombings or missile attacks, such as
> the attack against the Sudanese pharmaceutical laboratory
> two years ago, which was later found *not* to have been
> connected with any sort of terrorist activity.
>
> The dangers presented by the September 11th terrorist acts
> do not restrict themselves to the external threat. We hear
> on television and radio calls for changing the laws and
> regulations in order to make it easier to conduct
> surveillance and to carry-out covert operations against
> potential opponents of the US. Rather than accomplishing
> anything in terms of reducing the threat of terrorism, such
> steps will eliminate basic civil liberties and strengthen
> the existing tendency toward a racist and classist police
> state. The police are already out of control and on the
> rampage in communities across the country. We cannot afford
> to further unleash their undemocratic and frequently
> murderous behavior in the name of national security.
>
> We should add here that the terrorist attacks have also
> brought potential damage to the growing anti-capitalist
> globalization movement. The ruling class has been making
> noise for months about the demonstrations that accompany
> the gatherings of capitalist globalizers. They have inferred
> that these demonstrations will get increasingly out of control.
> There is no question that the events of September 11th will
> be used as a pretext to both discourage activity, as well as
> to clamp down on any and all popular outrage with neo-liberal
> globalization.
>
> It is also critical in moments such as these that we
> as human beings fight and resist popular impulses toward
> scape-goating and racism. From almost the moment of the
> first attack on the World Trade Center, there has been an
> assumption floated within the media that Arabs or Muslim
> fundamentalists were behind the attacks. The reaction to
> the attacks is reminiscent of what we witnessed immediately
> after the Oklahoma City bombings. There was a widespread
> assumption that Arabs or Muslims were behind the attack on
> the Federal Office building. Few establishment observers
> expected, or led any of the public to expect, that the
> terrorist could be -- and was -- a homegrown, white
> American right-winger.
>
> Therefore, it is important to reserve judgment until a more
> thorough investigation is conducted. This is particularly
> important given the anti-Palestinian/anti-Arab/anti-Muslim
> bias of the media. The automatic assumption of the US media
> is that Palestinians specifically, and Arabs generally, are
> animals, or at best, fanatics with no concern for human
> life. The just and righteous Palestinian cause is rarely
> given credible time, and when offered, generally dismissed
> by allegedly objective (but really pro-Israeli) commentators.
> Therefore, in the current situation of horror following these
> criminal acts, we must actively oppose any and all witch-
> hunting and stereotyping which is bound to emerge.
>
> Yet another danger we currently face will be xenophobia
> and, general anti-immigrant sentiment. This will almost
> inevitably be directed at immigrants of color and
> particularly those who "look" like they might be of Middle
> Eastern (North African) origin. The attacks on immigrants
> and the condemnation of entire communities must be stopped
> before they escalate out of control. We already see some of
> this happening with numerous reports of anonymous death
> threats sent to Arab and Muslim institutions, as well as
> the spray painting of racist slogans and direct, personal
> threats and attacks on individuals who are assumed to be
> from the Middle East (North Africa). We call on all
> clear-thinking people to be especially vigilant at this
> time in making sure that in the aftermath of this tragedy,
> another tragedy born of pain, anger, and hatred does not
> occur. True anti-racism may require us to put ourselves
> at risk physically in order to defend Arabs and Muslims
> from unwarranted attacks.
>
> Lastly, Black America must not condone or be indifferent
> to the horrendous loss of human life resulting from this
> tragedy, nor can we allow these horrific acts to be used
> as an excuse to further repress Arab-Americans, Muslims, or
> those perceived to be opponents of capitalist globalization.
> As a people that has survived over 400 years of genocidal
> oppression on these shores, we are all too familiar with the
> human suffering caused by both terrorism and racial hatred.
> From the amputations, beatings, and rapes of Chattel Slavery,
> to the New York City Draft Riots of 1863, to the post-
> Reconstruction terrorism of the Klu Klux Klan, to the
> Tulsa Race Riots of 1921, to the government sponsored
> Counter-Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO) of the 1960s,
> to the contemporary state-sanctioned police murder and
> brutality we are fighting today, we as Black people have
> lots of experience with the horrors of terrorism in the
> US, as it has too frequently been directed against us. That
> is why we must show our full and unqualified support and
> compassion for all those suffering as a result of this
> horrible tragedy, most of whom have come to experience
> terrorism for the first time, as we continue our 400+
> year struggle to rid ourselves of this evil, both
> domestically and around the world.
>
>
> -30-
>
> NOTE: When responding or sending us feedback about
> this statement, please indicate whether we have your
> permission to share your comments publicly, as part
> of a broader discussion and debate. Thank you.
>
> Black Radical Congress
> National Office
> Columbia University Station
> P.O. Box 250791
> New York, NY 10025-1509
> Phone: (212) 969-0348
> Email: blackradicalcongress-AT-visto.com
> Web: http://www.blackradicalcongress.org
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> BRC-PRESS: Black Radical Congress - Official Press Releases/Statements
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Unsubscribe: <mailto:majordomo-AT-tao.ca?body=unsubscribe%20brc-press>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Subscribe: <mailto:majordomo-AT-tao.ca?body=subscribe%20brc-press>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Help: <mailto:worker-brc-press-AT-lists.tao.ca?subject=brc-press>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/brc-press-AT-lists.tao.ca>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Archive: <http://groups.yahoo.com/messages/brc-press>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Archive: <http://www.escribe.com/politics/brc-press>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> <www.blackradicalcongress.org>  | BRC |  <blackradicalcongress-AT-visto.com>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



     --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---

   

Driftline Main Page

 

Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005