What would Socialism look like?
Tuesday, November 1, 8:30pm
at Occupy Providence, Burnside Park

This is one of the most common questions that people coming to radical ideas first raise.  It’s difficult to imagine a completely different society based on collective democratic control of all aspects of the society, not to mention the struggle to achieve it.  But as Marx put it, “Communism is for us not a state of affairs which is to be established, an ideal to which reality [will] have to adjust itself. We call communism the real movement which abolishes the present state of things. The conditions of this movement result from the premises now in existence.”  So if the seed of this “new society” is already present in the husk of the old, how do we make socialism blossom?  And what will that look like?

The fight against oppression and the struggle for economic justice: what’s the link?
Thursday, November 3, 9:00pm
at Occupy Providence, Burnside Park

A big question for the Occupy Movement has been the question of special oppressions: racism, sexism, homophobia, nationalism.  For some, these are “side issues” that are not directly applicable to the slogan “We Are the 99%”.  For others–especially socialists–the struggle for the 99% must take into account the oppression of sections of that group.  How are we to understand the differences–but also the linkages–in these struggles?  Join us for this discussion of a pressing issue in the movement.

For more information, call 401-484-1733  or email info@risocialism.org.
RSVP on Facebook.

The State of Georgia is attempting to execute an innocent man – again.

The case against Troy Davis is built on sand. Troy’s case has long stood as one of the worst examples of the bias and flaws inherent in the death penalty system. He was convicted of murdering off-duty police officer Mark MacPhail in 1989, but there has long been compelling evidence of his innocence. Even so, Georgia officials are pushing to kill Troy – and have scheduled his execution for 7 p.m. on September 21. He was convicted largely based on the testimony of eyewitnesses, but seven of the nine witnesses who testified against Troy at his original trial have since recanted, with several saying they were coerced by police into falsely identifying Troy as the man who shot MacPhail.

RALLY and SPEAK OUT to stop the execution of Troy Davis! Join an international day of action!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 5PM

Federal Building adjacent to Kennedy Plaza

Call 401-484-1733 for more information or to co-sponsor the rally!

ISO Providence Weekly Branch Meeting
Thursday, August 4, 7pm
Wilson Hall 103, Brown University
For information, call 401-484-1733 or
…email info@risocialism.org.

While many on the liberal left were upset about the outcome of the Debt Ceiling Debacle, the truth is actually worse than they think. There can be no doubt that the final deal will be disastrous for workers and the poor in this country. But what makes it worse is that, for all the braying of the Teabaggers, the real attack was led by Obama himself. This was not an “abject surrender” on the part of the administration; the deal is in fact exactly what Obama said he wanted as early as 2009. The truth is that it’s the Democrats who want to inflict pain on working people – and we must build an alternative to their two-capitalist-party system if we want to have any hope of fighting back. We recommend this article from Socialist Worker as an important introduction.

Also at this meeting, we’ll discuss organizing for the Providence Slutwalk on September 17 and the upcoming Verizon Contract Deadline. Join us!

ISO Providence Branch Meeting
Thursday, July 28, 7pm
Wilson Hall 103, Brown University
For information or directions, call 401-484-1733
…or email info@risocialism.org.

The heroic struggles of workers in the US reached a climax during the 1930s. In the midst of the greatest crisis of capitalism the world had hitherto seen, workers in major industries carried out general strikes, sit-downs, mass protests, anti-racist and anti-fascist campaigns, and organized an entire culture of resistance. The struggles of the 1930s resulted in the greatest burst of unionization in US history–and the greatest boost to workers’ living standards. Today, as the Obama administration shreds the last vestiges of the New Deal with cuts to Social Security and Medicare–cuts Republicans could never have carried out–it’s important to remember where those reforms came from, and to explore what kinds of struggles and organization could achieve such victories.

The suggested reading is the chapter on “Depression Decade” in Subterranean Fire by Sharon Smith. If you don’t have a copy of the book, an abridged version can be read online at the International Socialist Review.