SDS Holds 4th National Convention

The following is from Fight Back! News:

by Chapin Gray

Murfreesboro, TN – Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held its fourth annual national convention here, July 11 -12, bringing together around 100 students and youth activists from across the country.

The new SDS was formed in 2006 and since then has grown to over 100 chapters. This past year SDS has organized students around many issues, including education rights, labor solidarity and against the wars in the Middle East.

This convention consisted of workshops, discussions and meetings that covered topics ranging from direct action and civil disobedience, to Colombia solidarity and G20 resistance. The convention body also passed a proposal to have a national day of action on Oct. 7 to protest the eights anniversary of the U.S. war on Afghanistan.

Participants also decided to send a statement of solidarity to the Quad City Die Casting workers, who the day before the convention held a dramatic action at Wells Fargo bank in Rock Island, Illinois.

“It was great meeting so many amazing activists, both ‘veteran’ SDS members who have been organizing for years.. and students who are in the process of starting a chapter,” said Ryan Costello from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. “I am excited about starting organizing on my campus in the fall and proud to be involved in an organization that is playing such a leading role in the student movement, that is making history.”

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Statement of Solidarity with Workers of Quad City Die Casting

July 9th, 2009

We, as members of the UNC-Asheville Students for a Democratic Society, write this statement to express our support for the workers of UE Local 1174 in Moline, IL. Since the over 100 workers of Quad City Die Casting learned in May of this year that the factory was loosing it’s financing from Wells Fargo, they have been fighting for their jobs.

This announcement was a shock to everyone as it came on the heels of Wells Fargo receiving a $25 billion bailout from the U.S. Government; money that was suppose to go to situations just like the one the Quad City factory is facing. The factory has loyal customers and workers who have been there for decades; it is unacceptable for Wells Fargo to refuse to finance.

The UE at Quad City Die Casting is calling for a commitment from Wells Fargo to keep the company open and we join in this demand. We stand in solidarity with all the workers who are putting themselves on the line to wage this fight both in these past few months, today in Rock Island, and in the weeks and months to come. We pledge to support the workers and to participate in calls for any national days of action. We call on other SDS chapters to do the same.

Wells Fargo is indeed a roadblock to economic recovery. We say:

Bail out the workers!
Make the rich pay for the crisis!
Keep Quad City Die Casting open!

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