Members of the Refuse & Resist! Youth Network are on a speaking/organizing tour, visiting several cities in the Midwest during the next two weeks. They are sending us a diary of their travels as they go.
If you'd like to hook up with the Youth Network in one of these cities, or arrange to have them visit your area, please contact the R&R! National Office: info@refuseandresist.org or yn@refuseandresist.org
November 10th, 2000
Today we drove past the shores of Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio to Yellow Springs, home of Antioch College. Antioch is a very progressive school with a variety of campus organizations and a politically conscience student body. It's unique in that half of the year students are away on co-ops, or internships, around the US and beyond. Their system is run democratically, meaning that students vote on many issues affecting them on campus. Many Antioch students are involved in the fight against the criminal injustice system, homophobia, sexism and environmental issues. Last year Antioch students drew international attention when they chose Mumia as their commencement speaker at the graduation ceremony. Despite threats and attacks from the Fraternal Order of Police, the Antioch students and administration were determined to allow Mumia to speak, inspiring many people.
We spoke to over 30 students, discussing the history of Refuse & Resist!, the past year in the youth resistance movement, where Mumia's case is at, the upcoming demonstration for Leonard Peltier in New York, and what R&R! has to offer such an active campus.
Mumia's case was the most talked about issue. Students told us that during Mumia's commencement speech, only 8 out of hundreds of people turned their back in protest. Another interesting thing that we learned was that although Mumia received the most votes of eligible commencement speakers, many students didn't know about him until after he was chosen. Him being selected as speaker provided an opportunity for all the students to learn about Mumia's case and the importance of stopping his execution.
During the discussion period, one women talked about how the groups she had worked with in the past have been male-dominated, and asked a woman on the Speaking Tour if her experience with Refuse & Resist! was similar. The R&R! member answered that in her experience, it isn't just a spiel when R&R! talks about fighting against the oppression of women. Women take on many of the leadership positions in Refuse & Resist! and are encouraged to call men out when they feel like they've been treated unfairly. In R&R! women and men stand shoulder to shoulder in the struggle to defeat the politics of cruelty.
Many students mentioned that they feel bombarded by all the different issues discussed on campus. They feel overwhelmed by all the problems in our society. One point that resonated with people was the fact that Refuse & Resist! looks out on society and picks the key battles - understanding that as these struggles are won they send ripple effects throughout society. The students were refreshed to see an organization that fights these battles with the determination to win, while understanding that different people will participate in different ways.
Students said that on a campus that gets so many speakers, the R&R! youth were really inspiring. After the event one woman said that we were "so real, so genuine" in our convictions. They were also inspired that we were their peers on the front lines.
The meeting ended with a common form closure that the Hobart Williams Smith chapter of R&R! does at the end of all their meetings, with everyone gathering arm-in-arm in a circle and screaming for 20 seconds. Three different students told us that they want to do their internships in three different R&R! Chapters this summer. They are starting a chapter on campus, and have already begun to plan their first meeting! It won't be easy to sustain a chapter at Antioch since the student body switches each semester, but we are confident that the resisters in Yellow Springs, Ohio will make it happen.
The Antioch students showed an amazing amount of love, hugging us and thanking us for coming to their school. One student brought some delicious brownies to the meeting. After the meeting, we hung out in a dorm room - we didn't inhale! - in the midst of Marley, Ani, and Che posters, listening to Creedence Clearwater Revival and Wyclef Jean.
After a few hours of hanging out, we took off for Chicago, driving all night under a bright orange full moon, inspired by our first 6 amazing days on the road, looking forward to 6 more days of causing trouble, meeting rebellious youth, and planting seeds of resistance throughout the Midwest.
[posted 11/12/00]
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email: info@refuseandresist.org or yn@refuseandresist.org