A movement is being born...
In 2012, a powerful beginning was made in the mass campaign to raise big money to get Bob Avakian’s vision and works into every corner of society—involving thousands of people across the country in a multitude of ways, reaching out into the urban ghettos and barrios coast to coast, the deep South, college campuses, inside the prison walls and beyond. But this is only the beginning—this has to truly reach everywhere. What has been brought forward so far—through the energy and determination of all those who’ve participated, the generosity of those who have contributed in all kinds of ways, and the efforts of people on the ground who’ve stepped up to be part of this—shows the real potential for this campaign to break through to a whole new level in the coming year.
What has been learned so far…the people who have been inspired…all this is a basis to project BA’s voice, for this leader to become a point of reference throughout society. In 2013, real strides need to be made in cohering a nationwide movement that is on a mission to introduce many more people to real revolution, the new synthesis of communism,and the revolutionary leadership who has brought this forward. All this will make a huge difference—radically changing what people think is tolerable about the world today and what is possible for a whole new, better world.
Hitting the road with the BAsics Bus Tours
Three BAsics Bus Tours: 1) through California, 2) from Atlanta, GA to Sanford, FL (where Trayvon Martin was killed), 3) through the urban hellholes of New York City and surrounding areas—brought this campaign to those who catch the most hell every day under this system. Multinational, multigenerational crews of volunteers connected BA’s voice directly to the people through spreading BAsics, showings of BA’s talk Revolution: Why It’s Necessary, Why It’s Possible, What It’s All About, and more. Across the country, people contributed to the tours and followed them online.
The BAsics bus
Revolution Graphic
Inside the prisons
A growing number of prisoners have taken up BAsics, from the talks and writings of Bob Avakian as a lifeline—passing this and other works by BA hand to hand, holding discussion groups, writing to Revolution newspaper, and deeply engaging BA’s work. Thousands of dollars more is needed to not only fill all the prisoner requests for BAsics and other revolutionary literature, but to spread the word throughout the prison population and society.
“I want to urge everybody out there to get their hands on this book [BAsics] and to help get it into the hands of others, not just prisoners, but into the hands of youth who are in danger of becoming prisoners themselves… Help them unlock their potential and give them a sense of purpose that doesn’t involve killing each other. Give them an alternative to the criminal lifestyle that doesn’t involve conforming to this horrid system… Put them on the path to becoming communists…” —from a California prisoner
The debate throughout society over two futures
The new synthesis of communism brought forward by BA has been concretized in the Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America (Draft Proposal), a sweeping and concrete vision and program that provides an inspiring and living sense of a socialist state and society with the goal of communism. In 2012, debates were held at college campuses, and this Constitution was taken out in the midst of those fighting the power. April 15, 2013 has now been set as the date for a debate between Raymond Lotta, who advocates for BA’s new synthesis, and Slavoj Žižek, well-known philosopher and cultural critic, on the theme of “the history and prospects for communist revolution.”
Fostering a "culture of revolt against a revolting culture"
BA Everywhere has pulsed with radical culture—the participation of poets, rappers, and musicians…from the parks and street corners to the theaters and jazz clubs. This needs to be taken to a new level in 2013, including new ways of documenting the special connection between BA and the voices of those cast on the bottom of society engaging the biggest questions of the revolution. Stay tuned for word about the release of the film about a very special event held in spring 2011, On the Occasion of the Publication of BAsics: A Celebration of Revolution and the Vision of a New World.
On stage at “On the Occasion of the Publication of BAsics:
A Celebration of Revolution and the Vision of a New World,” April 11, 2011.
A movement bubbling from below
The vibrant backbone of this whole campaign has been the movement begun around the country to spread BA’s work throughout society, and raise funds to do so. Thousands have participated in the distribution of BAsics quote cards…planting a radically different pole in society, in ways that allow people to step into this from wherever they are. Through this, BA’s work has been linked with people fighting the power, including protests against police shootings in New York, Anaheim, Chicago, Cleveland, and elsewhere. People across the country have sent in responses to the BA quotes—engaging BA’s work and through this, engaging each other. Many thousands have watched BA video clips online on a range of burning questions.
With the BAsics Bus Tour in Atlanta, Georgia in 2012
Get BAsics...
Spread BAsics
Order the e-book at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or itunes. Or the book:
$10 plus $3.98 shipping/ handling/tax. Send money orders or checks to RCP Publications, PO Box 3486, Merchandise Mart,
Chicago, Il 60654.
BA Everywhere… we've begun to see and feel the difference it could make—let's take that even further!
Contribute...
to The Bob Avakian Institute
Mail checks or money orders to:
The Bob Avakian Institute
(or The BA Institute)
1016 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60607
Or online at thebobavakianinstitute.org
Please be aware that neither The Bob Avakian Institute nor Prisoners Revolutionary Literature Fund are tax exempt and donations made to either are not tax deductible.
to the Prisoners Revolutionary Literature Fund:
Mail checks or money orders made out to PRLF:
Prisoners Revolutionary Literature Fund
1321 N. Milwaukee Ave. #407
Chicago, IL 60622
Or online at prlf.org
The Bob Avakian Institute is a nonprofit institute organized for educational purposes. Its mission is to preserve, project, and promote the works and vision of Bob Avakian with the aim of reaching the broadest possible audience. In furtherance of its mission, The Bob Avakian Institute financially supports projects aimed at Spreading BA Everywhere.
At this time, donations can only be solicited and accepted from residents of the following states: California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming. All donations from these states are greatly appreciated. Residents of these same states can donate online at thebobavakianinstitute.org. (Disclosure statements can be found at The Bob Avakian Institute website at thebobavakianinstitute.org.)
If you would like to make a check or donate online to the BA Everywhere campaign but live in a state other than California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Nevada, NJ, NY, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming, contributions can be made payable to RCP Publications online at revcom.us/BAfundcampaign or sent to RCP Publications, PO Box 3486, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL 60654 (indicate “BA Everywhere”). Contributions or gifts to RCP Publications are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.
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