The first ever United States Social Forum was an overwhelming success.
Held in Atlanta from June 27th to July 1st, 12,000 people officially
registered, and up to 15,000 participated in workshops and related
cultural and political activities. Every state was represented as well
as Mexico, Palestine, Guam, Puerto Rico and 64 other countries.
There were 1,000 plenaries, workshops and cultural events. United for
Peace and Justice (UFPJ) made a strong showing among the nearly 1,000
groups present. We led eight workshops, had a representative speak on
a major plenary, sponsored one of the main cultural events and played
a positive role in the three day Peace Caucus.
The USSF began with a strong peace and justice theme as many of the
3,000 folks in the opening march Wednesday afternoon carried anti-war
signs and banners. When they came to the Civic Center for opening
ceremonies – and for other activities throughout the five days - they
had easy access to the Peace and Justice Tent which was right outside
the Civic Center main doors with UFPJ member groups displaying
information and UFPJ’s information table saw a lot of traffic.
On Thursday we held workshops during every available slot;Torture,
Terror and Political Repression – from Cointelpro and Attica to
Guantanamo and the Patriot Act; Ending the War in Iraq, Preventing a
New War; Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions and Our Nuclear Realties; and “Keep
on Singing Loudly”: the Power of Politics and Song. Building a
Stronger Movement: Multi-Racial Organizing for Justice in the Middle
East and at Home was held on Friday and on Saturday morning Engendering
Peace across Struggles for Social Justice; Militarism – the 800 lb
Gorilla in the (class)Room; and How to Build a More Coordinated
Peace/Antiwar Movement? were held. UFPJ Steering Committee
members,
co-chairs and staff helped to facilitate these workshops and panels, as
well several others.
In addition to the workshops that we specifically sponsored, or a
member group of UFPJ sponsored, there were a number of events and
workshops that UFPJ co-sponsored with partner organizations, such as
the workshop on No Foreign Military Bases.
Judith LeBlanc, a UFPJ co-chair, was among the presenters during the
first night’s plenary on War, Militarism and the Prison Industrial
Complex.
(https://www.ussf2007.org/en/plenary_dialogues)
There was a major concert held on Friday night. The Indigo Girls
opened, six other bands performed with hip-hop, reggae and R&B
highlighted. UFPJ co-sponsored the performance of the politically
powerful and musically dynamic duo, Emma's Revolution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEcNAepozVA
We want to extend a special word of thanks to two people who served in
the leadership of United for Peace and Justice over the last few years
and played a major role in organizing the USSF. Allison Budschalow
represented the American Friends Service Committee and George Friday
represented the Independent Progressive Politics Network on the
National Planning Committee for the USSF. They helped make it possible
for UFPJ to make a contribution and play a positive role at the Social
Forum.
The USSF was organized primarily by and for grassroots, people of color
led groups and this was clear on the ground in Atlanta. There were
many young people, mostly women and many folks for whom this was the
first event like this that they had ever attended. The Social Forum
began with much potential and ended with just as much promise. It’s
now our charge to realize this potential and promise, and to take back
what we’ve learned and the experiences at the USSF into our own
communities
and organizing. | 
