Learning and Action

I heard a podcast episode this week on the history of the current conflict in Sudan as well as the work of grassroots movements on the ground in Sudan and in the Sudanese diaspora. Though it is from about one year ago, it is still an extremely informative resource. I feel so much more aware after that one hour than I was before. Listen to hear about the broader context of the conflict, the long revolutionary struggle there, and the significant work of local groups to create a new way of doing things. If we see widespread collapse of key structures in our own context, these groups in Sudan today will be the elders showing us the way through.

Listen here or on your podcast service to “Breaking Down Sudan’s Struggle: What the World Is Missing”. I highly recommend Kelly Hayes’s Movement Memos podcast. I’ve been going through some of the archive and every episode I’ve heard has been extremely thoughtful and relevant - some of the best resources I’ve found on any topic they tackle, and very thought-provoking.

Action for Sudan

The organizers interviewed in this episode are part of the Sudan Solidarity Collective, a network gathering resources and transferring them to civilian-led groups in Sudan such as emergency response rooms, resistance committees, mutual aid groups and independent labour and farmers unions leading relief efforts. If you’re looking for where to give to get resources directly to those who understand the local situation and are involved in locally-driven transformation of the political realities there, it’s a great place to give. I encourage you to listen to the podcast episode to hear more about the model of mutual aid and political education these groups are involved in on the ground in Sudan.

Action for Gaza

Mass action makes a difference. Microsoft has just cut off Israel’s spy agency from using its cloud and AI to surveil Palestinians, after global boycott pressure from the BDS Movement. While many of its Israeli contracts remain, this is a win.

The BDS Movement just recently became able to receive online tax-exempt donations in the US - you can donate here and see more about current campaigns here.

If you’re in Illinois, you can help press for divestment of public funds away from the bonds that fund Israel’s military and occupation through this petition. Pressure already caused the relevant board to reschedule a hearing to avoid protesters and we need to continue to bring pressure on them.

Action Against ICE and Eileen Burke

If you’re in Chicagoland, you can join this protest Saturday:

Mass Protest against Eileen Burke State’s Attorney’s Office with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

Date & Time: Saturday, September 27th at 1 PM 

Location: Daley Plaza (50 W Washington)

Why we're protesting Eileen Burke:

• She opposes freeing the wrongfully convicted

• She publicly said she would charge and prosecute people targeted by federal agents

• She dropped the charges on an officer who beat 17 year old Arab youth Hadi Abuatelah to the point of hospitalization 

• She has the power to shut down and investigate the Broadview ICE Facility and refused to do it

• She also has the power to charge the officers involved in the murder of Silverio Villegas-Gonzales