From a reader:
"Yeah! That's right! Goddamn these motherfuckers! Revolution! Get With It!"
April 7, 2014 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us
"Yeah! That's right! Goddamn these motherfuckers! Revolution! Get With It!"
This was the response of a Black man in his 30's who jumped to the microphone after hearing a section of BA Speaks: Revolution—Nothing Less! at a BA Everywhere fundraising picnic in a local park in the hood, hosted by the Revolution Club of the Bay Area.
About 50 people showed up to participate with a significant number coming from the surrounding community of both Black and Latino families. This was the result of 10 days of broad BA Everywhere work throughout the hood with outdoor film showings, street corner agitation, and what we call 'blues brothers' outings (driving through the hood with a bullhorn and stopping to 'chop it up' with gatherings of people). We asked for BA Everywhere donations on the spot as well as distributing penny jars to people who were serious about donating Our leaflet for the picnic contained sections of the statement from Harlem ("The Harlem-Bronx Bake Sale for BA Everywhere, 'The goal is to get BA's name and viewpoints heard globally'").
The program was lively with poetry and readings of quotes about the film from the current issue of Revolution Newspaper; and there was a reading of the above mentioned Harlem statement as well. Also during the program, a member of the neighborhood stood up, who with another friend had baked cookies and brownies for BA Everywhere, which had recently been sold at a Revolution Books poetry open mike. As the mc's emphasized what the BA Everywhere campaign was about nationwide, some penny jars were displayed as examples of how people had raised funds for BA Everywhere and then returned them full to the picnic. More penny jars were distributed on the spot to be collected on May Day! In addition there was a literature table prominent with the film and BAsics; and the paper was gotten out broadly at the event.
The video clip, from the beginning of the film, was watched very intently. A Latino couple who were concerned about the rise in deportations remarked about BA "He doesn't apologize for anything. He speaks the truth!" An older Black man added, "it's very profound. The majority of people here find it to be very truthful. It's something to reflect on." Another said "Penny jars?? It [the idea] helps with self-esteem to change the whole world." A young Black man said "these people care about us. The police ARE serving us — In a very bad way! Revolution is the solution going back to the Black Panther Party. It's just going to take more people."
A brief fundraising meeting was held after the program, while people were eating, to discuss plans for carrying BA Everywhere further into May. The young Black man who'd earlier jumped to the mic now shouted "I can be part of a car washing team" as a challenge for others to join. (A carwash has been planned for April 12 at a local church parking lot). In fact a few others made commitments as well to participate in this next fundraising project.
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