2012 Workshop Schedule: April 13, 14 & 15
For the most up-to-date schedule please pick up a program during the Book Fair @ the welcome table!
This online schedule was last updated @ 9:26am 4/12/2012
Friday, April 13th:
Voices of Indigenous Solidarity – Friday 7-10pm Judson Memorial Church
presented by the Native Resistance Network
Saturday, April 14th and Sunday, April 15th:
C1) May 1 Encuentro – Sunday 4:15-7pm Judson Main Hall
Discussion space for upcoming May Day organizing.
CAUCUS DISCUSSIONS
Closed meeting sessions for people with unique identities that affect their daily and political lives. We ask all book fair participants to respect the privacy of these spaces. Participants in each caucus will pick a facilitator if desired and decide the direction and/or purpose of the gathering.
C2) Queer/Trans/Gender-Non-Conforming Caucus – Saturday 12:45-2:15pm Judson Garden Room
C3) Anarchist People of Color Caucus – Saturday 7:45-9:15pm Judson Assembly Hall
C4) Radical Women’s Caucus – Saturday 4:15-5:45pm Think Coffee Basement
C5) Radical Parent’s Caucus – Saturday 12:45-2:15pm Judson Balcony
1) Clyde Watkins, Madman – Saturday 6-7:30pm, Judson Garden Room
Dennis Williams
A short film screening how artist and capitalist general philosophies are in complete opposition to one another. artist is synonymous with individuality – artist are naturally those who are not disposed to conform to the societal roles and norms mandated by the capitalist system. individuality / artist pose a direct threat to capitalism. *all age appropriate
2) A Termite’s Approach to Penal Abolition – Sunday 2:30-4pm, Think Coffee Basement
This workshop is about prisoner support/solidarity from the perspective of a collective that operates out of a minimum security prison. We’ll talk about the ins and outs of meeting on the inside, what our group structure is and why, and the ways we have dealt with the prison administration over the years. We’ll also talk about why we go inside and how the group started. There will be time at the end for discussion regarding the usefulness of this tactic in the broader fight against prisons and incarceration and its applicability in the NYC context.
3) Hip Hop is our life/Hip Hop is resistance – Saturday **3:30-5pm** Judson Balcony (time offset from regular schedule)
Spiritchild
*Hip Hop 101
*Discussion on the elements of hip hop and the importance of preserving this culture of resistance.
*Local to Global Connections with social struggles of black and brown movements for liberation.
*also making connections to current youth work with alternative to incarceration programs throughout nyc.
*Performances (within workshop presentation)
*all age appropriate
4) Queer Resistance in the Age of Austerity – Saturday 2:30-4pm Tamiment Library
Fray Baroque, Tegan Eanelli
“Queer Ultra Violence” is an analytical anthology that chronicles the (non)organization and militant queer tendency known as Bash Back! Although short lived, Bash Back! had an astonishing impact on both radical and queer organizing in the United States. Bash Back! took on gay assimilation, anti-queer violence, the queer radical establishment, and capitalism with a queer struggle that rejected traditional identity politics. The anthology complies essays, interviews, and communiqués to document the new queer tendency spawned by the Bash Back! years.
5) Research for All: Open Source and Open Access Tools – Saturday 12:45-2:15pm, Tamiment Library
Bronwen Densmore
The information landscape is dynamic and evolving. Online tools have given researchers and activists access to an unprecedented amount of information, but conducting research in the wild presents its own set of challenges, particularly when it comes to accessing content that comes bundled with copyright and licensing restrictions. The Open Access and Open Source movements are working to protect access to the resources that can allow everyone to fully participate in the interpretation and creation of information. In this workshop, we’ll discuss some of the ways you can take advantage of these tools to further your own work. *appropriate for teens
7) House Devil, Street Angel: A Personal Documentary About Fathers, Sons and Ending a Cycle of Abuse – Sunday 2:30-4pm Judson Assembly Room
Fivel Rothberg
Film followed by a discussion about anarchist men, masculinity and our role in continuing the violence that is embedded in broader society. We could talk about radical parenting and the role that radical parenting has in fighting this type of oppression. As a parent of a 13-year-old, a self-identified anarchist, a longtime media justice activist and a new member of Parents for Occupy Wall Street, I could help steer the conversation toward connections of activism and parenting. *appropriate for teens
8) Anti-Politics, Hubris, and the Allure of Tasks – Saturday 11-12:30pm Tamiment Library
Letters journal
What began as a noble attempt to think and act outside and against the Left has not led us to brighter shores. I will argue anti-politics no longer has even eristic value and that the beginnings were not as noble as they appeared to be. After a critical survey of the brief history of anti-politics, I will present alternative proposals.
9) Occupation and Direct Action vs. Electoralism – Saturday, 12:45-2:15pm @ 6th St Community Center
As the 2012 national elections approach, liberals and reformiss will be arguing for voting for Obama and theDemocrts as, at least, the “lesser evil,” if not a positive god. Historically, anarchists have opposed participation in elections to the capitalist state anarchist argue that elections are not really democratic, that they strengthen the state and capitalism, and that the greater evii cannot be beaten by supporting the lesser evil. Instead, anarchists have advocated mass demonstrations, workers’ strikes, and civil disobedience, such as have been exemplified by the Occupy movement. But today society faces terrible crises: economic, military, and ecological.
10) Self-defense and street combat for anarchists… – Sunday, 4:15-5:45pm Judson Assembly Room
J. “G.” J.
will provide a basic overview of offense and defense when dealing with recalcitrant fascists and / or pig police. We will deal with holds, strikes, traps and disarming techniques. No prior martial arts experience is necessary. The techniques are simple and effective, derived from the Yip family Wing Chun lineage (invented by a womyn, for wimmin and slight-bodied people). Anyone with experience, ideas and techniques of their own are welcome and encouraged to share! Come prepared to move, and preferably with someone you trust to work with. I try to make this as fun and non-triggering as possible! *appropriate for teens
11) Occupy Anarchism; Commons Not Capitalism – Saturday, 12:45-2:15pm Think Coffee Basement
Cindy Milstein
As the do-it-ourselves occupations that have swept across the globe from Egypt to United States are proving, direct democracy and cooperation are becoming powerful everyday experiences for millions, with people self-organizing everything from civic defense and trash collection to tent encampments and general assemblies. This compelling and quirky, beautiful and at times messy experimentation has cracked open a window on history, affording us a rare chance to grow these uprisings into the new landscape of a caring, ecological, and egalitarian society–a world of our own collective making and doing. This talk will draw out some of the promise as well as dilemmas of the occupy moment, focusing specifically on the anticapitalst/antistatist opening of notions and lived practices of “the commons,” and then facilitate a conversation, in hopes of better strategizing toward increasingly expansive forms of freedom. . *appropriate for teens
13) Occupy Wall Street’s Anarchist Roots: How Nonhierarchical Values Became the Principles for a Mass Movement – Saturday 4:15-5:45pm Judson Assembly Room
Chris, Marisa, Matt, Guy
This panel will explore the history of Occupy Wall Street and the influence that anarchist ideology and methodology has had on the movement, both in its planning and in its implementation. Panelists will discuss the brief history of the movement, the roles that anarchists have played within it, and the ways that it has incorporated the principles of anarchism toward a more free society. *appropriate for teens
14) Poetry Reading – Sunday 1:15-1:45pm Bluestockings Books
My name is Monique Everhart I am a poet and writer from the Bay Area, currently living in South Florida. I ran an all women’s literary salon in San Francisco, “La Femme Anarchist”. I have had the opportunity to read my poetry at the Spoken Word Festival Stolckholm, The Salon in London with Penny Rimbaud (Crass) and at Lit Quake in SF. I have a collaberative spoken word CD called “Fuck Your Freedom”, available from Adversary Press. My poems are anit-capitalist, anti-imperialist, feminist and dark.
15) Taxes and War and You – Saturday 2:30-4pm Bluestockings Books
National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee
A workshop on military spending, what are war taxes – including income and excise taxes – how to resist, and consequences. If you are trying to figure out how to refuse to pay taxes that fund U.S. wars and militarism, this introductory workshop will explain the techniques of war tax resistance, consequences of saying no, and historical examples of people who have been successful war tax resisters. Tax day is April 17 so the timing with the bookfair is perfect.
16) Liberation from Cairo to Occupy Wall St. – Saturday 4:15-5:45pm Judson Garden Room
WW3 Illustrated
Cartoonists from the magazine World War 3 Illustrated will present a slide show of their of most recent comics dealing with the uprisings of the last year, accompanied by dramatic readings and music by Eric Blitz and Andy laties. Featured artists include Seth Tobocman and Ethan Heitner.
17) WW3 youth activist comics workshop – Sunday 2:30-4pm Judson Balcony
Paula Amram, Ethan Heitner
Youth Activist is an upcoming issue of WW3, the longest running political comic in the United States. So much of the radical activism right now is led by youth, who are taking huge risks, and creating new forms of activism with other youth and adult allies. The broad international definition of youth often goes up to age 35. We’re recruiting and working with youth and youth-allied artists, cartoonists, and writers to find people who want to contribute to the Youth Activist issue of WW3. We want art and writing by youth, and also material by adult allies about youth activism. Youth and adults will also pair up to create work for this issue. *all age appropriate
18) Sustainable Resistance: Anarchist Praxis Beyond the Narcissist/Martyr Binary – Saturday 2:30-4pm @ 6th St Community Center
Nathan Eisenstadt
In response to activists’ lived experiences of trauma and burnout, and a high ‘dropout rate’ from radical social movements around the age of thirty, new discourses and practices are emerging that stress ‘care of the self’ and sensitivity to emotion and collective ‘well-being’ as part of a ‘sustainable resistance’ and one that more consistently prefigures the kind of world anarchists are attempting to create.
18.5) Bristol Space Invaders – Sunday noon-1pm Bluestockings Books
Nathan Eisenstadt
Bristol Space Invaders is UK based collective that emerged after an international call-out for days of action in defence of squats and autonomous spaces in 2008. Since its inception the group have been responsible for a range of temporary spectacular event-spaces from large urban convergence centres for particular actions/struggles/gatherings to illicit theatrical speakeasies, high-grade free restaurants, art galleries, squatter-estate agents and finally a more permanent space: “the Factory” a huge squatted Social Centre in Bristol, England.
19) Native Resistance – Saturday 2:30-4pm Judson Assembly Room
Demelza Champagne, Vinicio Paredes
Our two person panel will focus on indigenous resistance movements in North, meso, and South America. One speaker will focus on anarcha-indigenism, or the intersections of anarchism, feminism, and indigenism. This talk will highlight the differences and similarities between anarchism and indigenism, and focus on anarchist and indigenous solidarity. The other member of the panel will focus on indigenous resistance movements within Latin America. *appropriate for teens
20) Anarchism and Animal Liberation – Saturday 7:45-9:15pm Judson Garden Room
The panel offers a critique of animal oppression from an anarchist perspective. Veteran social justice activists and writers – all anarchists – will discuss why anarchists should care about the consumed in a system that reduces everything – workers, animals, the environment, consumers – to units of profit. *appropriate for teens
22) Syndicalist Organizing in New York’s Industrial Food Sector – Saturday 4:15-5:45pm @ 6th St. Community Center
Focus on the Food Chain, Brandworkers International
Immigrant workers and organizers in the City’s food processing and distribution sector will discuss embracing syndicalism as the most effective way to improve the workplace and build a movement to transform the food chain, the economy, and society. *appropriate for teens
23) Come Hell or High Water: A Handbook on Collective Process Gone Awry – CANCELLED
Delfina Vannucci, Richard Singer
This workshop/forum/panel will discuss the book “Come Hell or High Water: A Handbook on Collective Process Gone Awry” which helps individuals navigate the world of egalitarian, directly democratic groups. From their experiences working with egalitarian and anarchist organizations, Delfina Vannucci and Richard Singer offer a street-level view of how social relationships and power work. Lessons are learned and hindsight is 20/20, and Come Hell or High Water offers readers both in this little gem.
24) DECONSTRUCTING “SLUT” – Sunday 2:30pm -4:00pm @ 6th St Community Center
Does the terms “slut” truly advance the cause of women’s dignity or is it reactionary and confusing especially to young women not primed for irony? This lively debate and discussion will be include at least one “Slut Walk” organizer and will be presented by Fran Luck, radical feminist historian, and producer of Joy of Resistance (WBAI’s radical feminist, and multicultural radio program along with Allison Guttu, Staff Attorney and Pro Bono Coordinator.
25) Jail Support Past, Present, Future: Anarchists, OWS, and Telecommunication – Saturday 7:45-9:15pm Judson Balcony
Why is jail support so important to anarchists- both philosophically and in practice? OWS Jail Support operates differently than jail support has previously in NYC. It is mostly activists who have a background in the legal system, and OWS has been a unique situation for jail support. This panel will include explanations of how OWS Jail Support functions, what the major difficulties have been, how medic-run jail support works, what the major differences are, and an overview of the basics of providing jail support in NYC.
26) Occupy Everywhere! – Sunday 4:15-5:45pm Think Coffee Basement
Internationalist Perspective
How to resist the recuperation of the movement by the state and how to further its development in an explicitly anti-capitalist direction.
28) Food Justice for Anarchists, Come One, Come All! – Saturday 11-12:30pm Judson Garden Room
Alice, Ashley, David, J.”g.”J., and Lana
New York City is alive with projects and people working toward a more sustainable, accessible, responsible, and delicious food system. However, many groups operate within state, corporate, or non-profit frameworks.
As anarchists, we must ask: what does it mean to work toward food justice in a way that is non-hierarchical and anti- oppression? How do we build a better food system while nurturing community and fighting the state and capitalism? How can food be relevant in a successful fight against gentrification?
29) Friends Speak About Marie Mason – Saturday 2:30-4pm Judson Garden Room
Friends of Anarchist political prisoner Marie Mason discuss her case, her support and her future. What does it mean to call for someone’s freedom in a world where freedom is inaccessible even to those not incarcerated? What can we really do to achieve our friend’s release from prison, and not simply shout slogans about her release? Relevant to anyone who works to change their circumstances or suffers the pain of being separated from their friends/family by incarceration.
31) May Day and the Politics of Borders – Sunday 2:30-4pm Judson Main Hall
An exploration of the anarchist roots of May Day, and we’ll use that discussion as a jumping off point to discuss issues of immigration and borders through an anarchist lens. The event will help educate anarchists about the important role anarchist organizers played in the history of May Day as well as inspire discussion around the current immigration stuggle, anarchist involvement in it, and the role national borders and more subtle borders of hierarchy and difference play in participants’ lives.
32) Consensus Decision-Making: A Workshop on Technique and Trouble-Shooting – Saturday 2:30-4pm Think Coffee Basement
The Center for What’s Possible
In this workshop on consensus decision-making and effective communication, we facilitate a discussion of equal parts technique and trouble-shooting. We dialogue with participants about their experiences with consensus, while presenting facilitation techniques, nonverbal communication tactics, and exercises to help develop a more productive process. This praxis-oriented seminar gives new and experienced practitioners the opportunity for reflection and skill- building.
33) Radical Physical Education: technical tools for body liberation – Saturday 12:45-2:15pm Judson Assembly Room
We will go over the basic building blocks of all movement and assemble those blocks in ways that make us feel stronger, freer, and more grounded. I’ll share some tools I’ve picked up that have helped me increase my sense of autonomy in my body. Bring your tools, and your questions. All experience levels welcome. Wear clothes that can move.
34) Questions of Solidarity: The Palestinian Call For Boycott, Divestment And Sanctions – Saturday 12:45-2:15pm Bluestockings Books
Adalah-NY
The Palestinian BDS call represents a mass popular movement that is coordinated and supported in a non- hierarchical fashion, pressuring both the Israeli state and Palestinian political elites. It demands an end to Israeli military occupation, complete equality for Palestinian citizens of Israel, and a recognition of the right of all refugees to return to their homes.
In this workshop we will present critical questions that solidarity activists should consider when engaging with liberation struggles and decolonization movements.
35) The Role of Leftist Media Today – Sunday noon-1:30pm Think Coffee Basement
Alex Red
A focus group on the role of leftist and anarchist media today. The intention would be to bring those interested and/or involved in radical media together to brainstorm and network with one another on what radical propaganda should be focused around and how it should be organized.
36) Harm Reduction, an Anarchist Approach to Drug Use – Saturday 4:15-5:45pm Bluestockings Books
Mike Duncan
Discussion of legal and illegal mind altering drugs, including psychiatric medication. what they do, what their risks and benefits are, and options for dealing with the negative personal and social impacts of their use.
Skill share will include training in the use of naloxone, a temporary antidote to prescription narcotics and heroin for use in the event of an overdose.
37) Fuckin (A) – Saturday 6-7:30pm Judson Assembly Room
In the anarchist tradition of resource sharing and co-education, Fuckin’ (A) (your friendly local radical feminist sex positivity collective) invites you to participate in a workshop on the personal, social, and political implications (and how-to’s!) of sex positivity, good communication, informed consent, safer sex practices, and some juicy bits about bodies and fucking. The past year’s large-scale social mobilizations in NYC and across the country have made it even more clear that it’s important to keep our communities thinking and talking about sex, gender, interpersonal relationships, and their intersections with anti-authoritarian radicalisms. So, let’s come together to educate our comrades, our friends, and ourselves about how consensual, communicative, awesome, radical sex strengthens our sense of community safety and solidarity while expanding our active resistance against contemporary capitalist society’s systemic oppression!
38) How Privilege Politics Propels Us and Trips Us Up – Saturday 6-7:30pm Think Coffee Basement
This panel–made up of folks involved with Anarchist People of Color groups and identities, and who wanna smash capitalism, patriarchy and white supremacy–will define “privilege politics”, discuss how it adds to movements and what it takes away from them, and identify what should be kept, thrown away and/or reworked.
40) The Struggle for Animal Liberation- Lessons From and For Those Fighting Oppression Worldwide – Sunday 4:15-5:45pm @ 6th St Community Center
Dr. Jerry Vlasak, a long standing advocate, will speak about Animal Rights & Animal Liberation
41) David Graeber: Dual Power – WAITING FOR CONFIRMATION
David Graeber will speak on the dual power, which has taken on a broad meaning in the hands of anarchists and Libertarian socialists who use it to refer to the concept of gradual revolution through the creation of “alternative-institutions” and “counter-institutions” in place of and in opposition to state and corporate power.
42) Anarchism 101 – Saturday 11-12:30pm Judson Assembly Room
The purpose of this workshop is to introduce some of the histories and theories of anarchism(s) by showing how anarchist organizations work to reflect the values that they want to see in the world.
43) Decolonizing Anarchism – Sunday noon-1:30 @ 6th St Community Center
Maia Ramnath, David Porter
This panel focuses on the relationship between anarchism and liberation movements against colonialism, neo-colonialism and the centralized state, as illustrated in the contexts of Algeria and India. We explore how actors in both colonized and colonizing countries, from self-identified anarchists to those expressing compatible principles though using other language, approached or participated in these movements. Diverse anarchist activities and critiques in these massively transformational historical contexts well illustrate contradictions and potentials for anti-authoritarians to participate with statists in common resistance, solidarity and liberation efforts more generally. Issues to be discussed will include “multi-stage” liberation, internal anarchist organization, interaction with nationalism and national liberation struggles, and a non-Western-centric definition of anarchism.
44) Colombian Popular Movements – Sunday 2:30-4pm Judson Main Hall
Join the International Peace Observatory (IPO), an international organization working in solidarity with Colombians in processes of non-violent resistance, for a talk on Colombian popular movements and the best ways to support them. Learn about ongoing struggles for land, self-determination and human rights amidst one of the world’s longest-running US backed conflicts. Hear about the role of international solidarity and accompaniment and what you can do to get involved! Presented by an experienced IPO volunteer who will discuss their time in Colombia’s conflict zones.
Closing Plenary Sunday 7:15-?
Tiokasin Ghosthorse
others TBA