Clarksville, TN – On Wednesday, July 16 a small group of Palestine solidarity activists gathered here to say, “Free Palestine!” The protesters are demanding an immediate stop to the attacks on Gaza by Israel and an end to US military aid. Holding a banner that said, “Clarksville stands with Palestine” the group chanted, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” and “Free, free Palestine!”

Since July 7 Israeli bombs have killed over 200 Palestinians, mostly women and children, nearly all civilians. Protestors said the attacks on Gaza over the last two weeks are part of the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people by the Israeli government.

Protesters condemned the heinous attacks on 15-year-old Tampa student Tariq Khdeir and his cousin Mohamed Abu Khdeir. Tariq Khdeir was visiting Palestine to attend a wedding when his cousin Mohamed was kidnapped, tortured, and burnt alive by Israeli settlers. The next day Tariq Khdeir was brutally beaten, arrested, and held without charge by an Israeli police intelligence unit. After protests around the country demanded his release from house arrest and return to the U.S., Tariq finally arrived in Florida late on July 16, 2014.

Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at Austin Peay University organized the protest. SDS leaders say they will continue to organize in solidarity with Palestine and against U.S. war and occupation around the world.

#ClarskvilleTN #ClarksvilleTN #Palestine #PeoplesStruggles #Israel #ClarksvilleSDS #Siege #GroundInvasion #Tennessee #MiddleEast

The white supremacist organization calls itself American Renaissance and its yearly conference draws fascists including the Klan, neo-Nazis, and other white supremacist hate groups to the park. Previous speakers at the American Renaissance conference included David Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan leader and neo-Nazi who inspired and is greatly admired by Frazier Glenn Cross – the killer responsible for the recent brutal slayings in Kansas City. In fact, leaders from the White Patriot Party, which was a Ku Klux Klan faction founded by Frazier Glenn Cross, are among the previous attendees of American Renaissance conferences.

SDS member and native son of Dickson County Sean Collette said, “Nazis have murdered millions. The Klan has lynched and terrorized thousands. Recently, we were all horrified to hear that a white supremacist with ties to American Renaissance murdered several innocent people in Kansas City. It is very clear to us that these white supremacists are a threat to our lives and to the safety of our community. We want to send a message to these terrorists that their presence in Montgomery Bell will not be tolerated. And, we also want to send a message to the world that folks in Dickson County aren’t the type of people to stand idly by in the face of fascism. We are going to confront this issue head on and protect our community.”

#ClarksvilleTN #AmericanRennaissance #Antiracism #ClarksvilleSDS #Antifascism #FrazierGlennCross

Clarksville, TN – In less than one week, progressive students from throughout the country will attend the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) 8th annual National Convention, Oct. 11-13, at Austin Peay State University here. Featured at this year’s convention are Rebel Diaz, Sara Flounders and Kait McIntyre.

SDS is the nation’s largest multi-issue student organization. Since its re-founding in 2006, SDS is broadly building the student left – helping to lead mass campaigns against tuition hikes, school privatizations, and student debt. SDS is the leading voice of the student movement against U.S. wars and occupations.

Sara Flounders, anti-war activist and co-director of the International Action Center, will speak about the ongoing wars, occupations and so-called ‘humanitarian interventions’ of the U.S. government. Speaking with Flounders will be Kait McIntyre, an SDSer with the Chicago Anti-War Committee. McIntyre says about the convention, “As students, much of the technology utilized by the U.S. to further its wars and fuel the military-industrial complex begins at our college research institutions. I believe the SDS Convention will offer student organizers the tools to take back their campus and demand money for education and human needs, not war and destruction across the globe.”

Rebel Diaz will perform at the convention as well as host a workshop on Saturday called “Hip Hop and Immigration.” Rebel Diaz is a politically-minded hip-hop group based out of South Bronx, New York. Their workshop will focus on the historic role of immigration, the criminalization of immigrants and youth of color, and hip-hop’s role and responsibility in defending immigrant rights. Rebel Diaz will perform at 8:00 p.m. on Oct. 12 in Clement Auditorium. Admission is free and it is open to the public.

Other workshops will feature topics such as abortion rights, overcoming problems with organizing through student governments, revolutionary organizing in America’s heartland and the international student movement.

Preston Gilmore, a Clarksville SDSer and lead organizer on the SDS National Working Committee explains, “The SDS National Convention is of huge importance to the student movement. It allows all of us to learn from each other’s experiences and gain knowledge about how to synchronize our campaigns and build a national movement that unites students across the country. We are in a historical period where atrocities are being committed not only abroad, but also right here at home. From the murder of Trayvon Martin to the threat of U.S. war with Syria, students and young people are looking at the world they will be inheriting and are rising up to fight back. The convention provides an opportunity for us to meet each other. We will come together to build a more powerful movement together.”

The convention is free for everyone and is open to the public. Registration will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11 in the University Center on the Austin Peay State University campus with introductions from speakers and organizers beginning at 7:00 p.m. On Oct.12 the convention will open at 9:00 a.m. in the University Center ballroom and will run until 7:00 p.m. Rebel Diaz will perform at Saturday night in the Clement Auditorium. On Oct. 13, the convention runs from 10:00 a.m. until around 1:00 p.m.

#ClarksvilleTN #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #SDS #SaraFlounders #SDSConvention #RebelDiaz #ClarksvilleSDS

Clarksville, TN – In just four weeks, progressive students from throughout the country are convening for the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) 8th annual National Convention at Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tennessee. The convention runs from Oct. 11 through Oct. 13. SDS will bring together new and old chapters as well as students from other progressive organizations. Featured at this year’s convention are hip-hop group and immigrant rights activists Rebel Diaz; Sara Flounders, a longtime leader of the anti-war movement; and Kait McIntyre, a lead organizer from the Chicago Anti-War Committee.

SDS is the nation’s largest multi-issue student organization. It re-established itself in 2006 at the height of public outrage against the U.S. war on Iraq. Since its re-founding from the 1960s organization, SDS is building broadly amongst the student left, helping to lead mass campaigns against tuition hikes, school privatizations and student debt. SDS is the leading voice of the student movement against U.S. wars and occupations. SDS organizes against the U.S. war in Afghanistan, against the occupation of Palestine, in solidarity with the people of Colombia, and against drone warfare in the Middle East. SDS is now leading and participating in the ongoing campus protests against U.S. war and intervention in Syria. SDS has good relationships with anti-war groups, trade unions and other progressive-minded youth organizations, which will be represented at this year’s convention.

On Oct. 12 there will be workshops and panels that reflect the campaigns and goals of SDS chapters. Sara Flounders, anti-war activist and co-director of the International Action Center, will speak on the ongoing wars, occupations and so-called ‘humanitarian interventions’ of the U.S. government. Speaking with Flounders will be Kait McIntyre, an SDSer with the Chicago Anti-War Committee which is one of the leading groups opposing U.S. intervention in Syria and which is currently building for a regional action, the Midwest Action Against Drones (http://midwestactionagainstdrones.wordpress.com). McIntyre says about the convention, “As students, much of the technology utilized by the U.S. to further its wars and fuel the military-industrial complex begins at our college research institutions. I believe the SDS Convention will offer student organizers the tools to take back their campus and demand money for education and human needs, not war and destruction across the globe.”

Rebel Diaz will perform at the convention as well as hosting a workshop on Saturday called “Hip Hop and Immigration.” Rebel Diaz is a politically minded hip-hop group based out of South Bronx, New York. Their workshop will focus on the historic role of immigration, the criminalization of immigrants and youth of color, and hip-hop’s role and responsibility in defending immigrant rights. Rebel Diaz is performing the night of Oct. 12 on the Austin Peay campus.

Other workshops will run through Saturday and part of Sunday, with topics such as abortion rights, overcoming problems with organizing through student governments, revolutionary organizing in America’s heartland, and the international student movement. These workshops are facilitated and led by SDS chapters, affiliate organizations and guests.

Preston Gilmore, an Austin Peay SDSer and lead organizer on the SDS National Working Committee explains, “The SDS National Convention is of huge importance to the student movement. It allows all of us to learn from each other’s experiences and gain knowledge about how to synchronize our campaigns and build a national movement that unites students across the country. We are in a historical period where atrocities are being committed not only abroad, but also right here at home. From the murder of Trayvon Martin to the threat of U.S. war with Syria, students and young people are looking at the world they will be inheriting and are rising up to fight back. The convention provides an opportunity for us to meet each other. We will come together to build a more powerful movement together.”

SDS is asking anyone interested in student organizing to register for the convention on the web at http://www.newsds.org/2013/6/3/all-out-2013-sds-national-convention-oct-11-13th. Some travel stipends are available, with housing, food and entertainment provided. A sliding scale registration fee is being asked, but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds.

#ClarksvilleTN #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #SDS #ClarksvilleSDS

Clarksville, TN – On Aug. 30, 20 students and anti-war veterans protested on the campus of Austin Peay State University to oppose threats of U.S. military attacks on Syria. Student groups at the rally included Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA). Protesters held banners and signs, chanted, gave speeches and handed out flyers urging people to call the White House at 202-456-1111 to put the heat on Obama to not bomb Syria.

While holding large banners that read “Drop tuition, not bombs!” and “Hands off Syria!” people chanted “One, two, three, four, we don’t want your racist war! Five, six, seven eight, no more killing, no more hate!” and “What do we want? Peace! When do we want it? Now!”

Anti-war veteran Lara Jennings spoke, “The people of Syria have the right to determine their own destiny free of U.S. intervention. The U.S. government is repeating the same lies of ‘weapons of mass destruction’ that were told to attempt to justify the invasion of Iraq to attempt to justify the invasion and bombing of Syria. We will not stand for this.”

Later, students marched around the campus with banners and signs reading “Money for education, not war!” while handing out flyers that included a SDS’s “Emergency Call to Action to Demand Hands Off Syria.”

SDS member Adele Morello said, “The U.S. government is trying to drag us into another war and they need to see that we the people are not for another war. We need jobs not war. We need money for education, not for war. Now is the time to stand up for what is right and tell them we are not going to follow blindly and unquestioningly into another war. We are against dropping bombs on Syria or anywhere else, worldwide! No more U.S. military intervention abroad!”

The rally was organized in response to national SDS’s call to action for students everywhere to hold rallies, marches and demonstrations to oppose threats of U.S. military attacks on Syria. Students vowed to continue to keep the pressure on and carry forward the struggle against U.S. military intervention and warmongering.

#ClarksvilleTN #StudentMovement #SDS #Syria #HandsOffSyria #AntiIntervention #ClarksvilleSDS #MiddleEast