SPARK! Organizing for Revolution
Module 5
Agents of Counter-Revolution
The capitalist ruling class has an extensively developed toolkit at its disposal to maintain its dominance; the military and police, to economic coercion and sanctions, control of media narratives, intelligence and surveillance, and cultural and educational institutions. What kind of threat does an organized revolutionary force pose to the US imperialist order and the ruling class? What tools and methods does the ruling class use to attempt disorganize revolutionary movements? What can we learn from the experience of past revolutionary movements confronting repression, and how can we be prepared to resist disorganization efforts in the current moment?
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Resisting Disorganization–COINTELPRO
In the 50s and 60s, during the height of the radical civil rights movements, the FBI and the US ruling class launched organized counter-revolutionary projects like McCarthyism and COINTELPRO to dismantle revolutionary movements. McCarthyism, part of the “Red Scare,” forced millions to sign anti-communist loyalty oaths, investigated millions of workers, and deported hundreds for suspected communist ties, effectively severing left-wing ideas from American society. COINTELPRO further disorganized and dismantled revolutionary groups like the Panthers, exposing the U.S. government's repressive nature. As we face heightened repression in the movement for Palestinian liberation today, studying this history of repression is more crucial than ever.
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Resisting Disorganization–Imperialism and Hybrid War
In this session, we will investigate US imperialism and the strategies and tactics it employs as it wages a war for global domination. Focusing on Washington’s counter-revolutionary agenda – from their media machine to the economic sanctions, to military occupation and political coups, – we will unpack the toolbox of of hybrid war, equipping us with necessary knowledge to resist these complex forms of disorganization as we push our struggle against US-led imperialism today.
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Saturday Dialogues: The Worker's Front
Over the past 10 months, since Israel launched it’s most aggressive genocidal campaign on the Palestinian people, we have seen historic labor strikes take place across the world, and even here in the heart of empire. While millions of workers in the U.S. remain unorganized, union popularity is at its peak, driven by a surge of interest from a new generation of young workers who are looking to the labor movement as a vehicle to fight for their future. What have the struggles of workers across the country to build a fighting labor movement looked like in this moment of heightened contradictions and crisis? What challenges has it faced? Why do we need an organized labor movement in the struggle against US-led imperialism?