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"Opposing Antisemitism in the Movement," New York City, July 23, 2006

Opposing Antisemitism in the Movement:
A Workshop for Activists

New York City, July 23, 2006

When: Sunday, July 23, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Bluestockings, 172 Allen Street, between Stanton and Rivington Streets, Manhattan (directions below).

Antiauthoritarians and social justice activists often think they're immune from racism and prejudice. But many Jewish activists' experience shows that forms of antisemitism are alive and well in the social justice movement. This not only drives away many Jewish activists, but profoundly affects our work as a movement.

This workshop brings together two longtime activists who have studied how the left responds to antisemitism for an evening of instruction and experience-sharing that will help us understand and combat its effects in the activist community.
Antisemitism is more than a “prejudice.” It's a political worldview that can creep into the work of even dedicated fighters against oppression and injustice. This workshop will begin with the essentials: What is antisemitism? How is it different from what we've been taught it is? We will then explore the ways that antisemitism manifests itself today within movements against capitalism, the state, corporate globalization, and other forms of oppression, and what problems have kept the left from tackling antisemitism historically. We will look at how antisemitism damages the struggle for justice. Finally, we will discuss how we as activists can get better at seeing and fighting antisemitism where it arises.


This workshop is designed to be an interactive learning experience, where participants are encouraged to discuss their own experiences and concerns. The panelists are:


April Rosenblum, a Philadelphia-based activist and author of “The Past Didn't Go Anywhere,” a pamphlet for radicals on resisting antisemitism.


Peter Staudenmeier, a faculty member, Institute for Social Ecology and author of “Fascist Ecology: The 'Green Wing' of the Nazi Party and its Historical Antecedents.”


Eric Laursen (moderator), a writer, organizer, and longtime global justice and antiwar activist.


$5 suggested. No one turned away.


Subway directions: Bluestockings, 1 block south of the Second Avenue stop (F train) and 5 blocks from the Essex-Delancey Street stop (J,M,Z trains).