In my recent trip to Mexico, the most hopeful movement that I observed is the Movement for Peace With Justice  and Dignity founded by the poet, Javier Sicilia. Check out the article in the New York Times, Sunday, October 2, 2011

A New Generation, A New Politics: Contemporary Anti-Authoritarian Activism in the United States and Canada.
Talk by Chris Dixon

Wednesday, October 5th, 11:45 A.M. to 1 P.M.

Place: Library Lobby, Evergreen

Talk by Chris Dixon to be based on his paper, “Building ‘Another Politics” Dixon – Another Politics

Description of talk: The last decade has seen the exciting convergence of anti-authoritarian radicalism and broader-based movements in the U.S. and Canada. Coming out of this convergence, a growing cohort of activists are developing shared politics, practices, and sensibilities based in overlapping areas of work. This cohort is a political tendency, the anti-authoritarian current, which cuts across a range of left social movements. What distinguishes this current is its commitment to combining anti-authoritarian, anti-capitalist politics with grassroots organizing among ordinary, non-activist people. Drawing on in-depth interviews with organizers across North America, this presentation will trace the strands that have led into the anti-authoritarian current, explore the defining principles of its politics, and the discuss questions it poses for all of us committed to social transformation.

Biography:  Chris Dixon, an Evergreen alumnus, is a longtime anarchist organizer and writer who recently received his PhD from the University of California at Santa Cruz. In 1999, he helped launch the Direct Action Network and was deeply involved in organizing for the protests against the Seattle WTO ministerial. Dixon’s writing has appeared in numerous publications and collections, and he is currently completing a book based on interviews with anti-authoritarian organizers across the United States and Canada involved in broader-based movements. He serves on the board of the Institute for Anarchist Studies and the advisory board for Upping the Anti, and lives in Sudbury, Ontario, where he is involved with anti-war and indigenous solidarity organizing.

Sponsored by the TESC Academic Programs: Venezuela, Zinn and the Art of Protest, Power in American Society, and Reinterpreting Liberation; the Academic Deans; the Sustainability and Justice Planning Unit, and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

For more info, contact bohmerp@evergreen.edu, or 867-6431

On July 11th, 2011, KIRO reporter, Brandi Kruse, requested an interview with regards to the claims by Tony Overman and the police, which they later admitted to being false. In mid June, 2011, they told Kruse   they had not collaborated in identifying protesters at various actions by using photos Overman had taken and not published.  I sent her the following. In her radio show, she only used the first three sentences.

“I am not surprised that Overman gave photos to the police. It is sad and revealing that many people claimed with no knowledge whatsoever that Overman would never, while working as a newspaper photographer, show his unpublished photos to law enforcement. He did.  That the police also lied when they said they never saw unpublished photos from Overman, is also, unfortunately, nothing new.  The larger issue is criminalizing and marginalizing by Overman and much of the mainstream media and law enforcement,  those who protest and engage in direct action against the many illegal and immoral wars the U.S. is waging. The media and police and judges should be focusing instead on the real injustices and those who cause them–corporate leaders whose wealth grows daily while millions cannot afford health care or find a job; and on government leaders, Democrats and Republicans, who put corporate needs above human needs. Meaningful social change comes from social movements challenging in the streets–racism, economic inequality, climate change, war, poverty, etc. We should be praising and joining the protestors, those who struggle for justice and peace, rather than worrying about whether their actions upset the powerful.”   Peter Bohmer, July 11, 2011

Text of Radio show and Northwest News Report by Brandi Kruse, KIRO, July 12, 2011

Where do the strategies, tactics, and lifestyles of contemporary activists come from?

Panel discussion led by author, Andrew Cornell

When: Thursday,  May 12th, 2011:  Noon-1:30
Where: Lobby of Library Building, Evergreen State College,

Oppose and Propose, by Andrew Cornell, just out from AK Press, documents and examines the history of Movement for a New Society. MNS was a radical formation in the 70s and 80s that brought together many of the ideas and practices that are now commonplace among radical activists, such as consensus decision-making, spokescouncils, collective living, unlearning oppressive behavior, and nonviolent direct action. This book opens critical questions for activists today. Join us in welcoming author Andrew Cornell to Olympia.

There will be a panel  led  by Andrew Cornell and also joined by Harjit Singh Gill, a thoughtful  activist from the San Francisco Bay  area, and Chris Dixon, who graduated from Evergreen in 2000 who  was instrumental in having Mumia as a graduation speaker that year,  was an active campus organizer and a major organizer  of the 1999 Seattle protests against the WTO which he has written about.   They will lead a discussion on the lessons from the theory and practice of Movement for a New Society for people interested in activism today.

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=213079755377398
Flyer at: http://olyblog.net/sites/default/files/flyer_1.jpg

Here is a a slide show of the many thousand person march and rally for Immigrant Rights in Seattle, Sunday, May 1st from Judkins Park to Memorial Stadium.

Thanks to Elliot Stoller for producing this; music by Suni Paz.

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Here is a video of the Seattle, 2011, May Day march, also produced by Elliot Stoller

Attached  is a brief description of the 2011-2012 Venezuela program and the application for admission into it.  We will be going to Venezuela from January to March, 2012. I am teaching this program with Anne Fischel. We are building on and slightly modifying the program we taught in 2008-2009.

Venezuela Application 2011-2012

CHANGE IN  LOCATION:  Tuesday, Feb. 15^th Egypt Event  MOVED to Washington State Labor Council , 906 Columbia SW,  3^rd floor (9^th and Columbia),  downtown Olympia

Panel Discussion: The Struggle for Democracy and Justice in Egypt, Tunisia, the Middle East and North Africa:  People’s Victory, and What is Next!

Tuesday, February 15^th, 2011

Time: 7:00-9:30 P.M.

at  the Washington State Labor Council, 906 Columbia SW, 3^rd floor (9^th and Columbia),  downtown Olympia (NOTE CHANGE IN LOCATION). It is a bigger space.

Sparked in late December, 2010 by the Tunisian revolt, a wave of uprisings has spread rapidly across North Africa and the Middle East, capturing the attention and imagination of the world. In this unfolding and continuing wave of resistance, the popular upsurge in Egypt that has caused  the three decade old dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak to crumble. Mubarak’s forced resignation and the victory of the January 25^th Revolution is of world historic significance.  The courage of the Tunisian and Egyptian protesters is truly inspiring. Join us for a panel discussion focusing on the roots and dynamics of this uprising and of the new social movements in Egypt and the region, up to date information about what is happening, possible implications and future possibilities for Egypt and other countries including Palestine-Israel, and the U.S. role and interests there.

Speakers will include Savvina Chowdhury (Evergreen professor of feminist economics), Hassan Ziada (born in Alexandria, Egypt; presently an adjunct faculty at Washington State University, and Imam at the Islamic Center of Tri-Cities), Steve Niva (Evergreen professor of international political-economy and Middle East studies), and David Price (St. Martin’s professor of anthropology and sociology). All the speakers have studied Egypt, and lived and traveled there.  Following their presentations, we will open up the space for questions and discussion.

For more information, email:   j_bhill@hotmail.com;   phone 253-334-8871

or me, peterbohmer@yahoo.com

Here is the text of my talk introducing Noam Chomsky   in Pittsburgh, PA on November 1, 2010 where he received the annual  award from the Thomas Merton Center for  lifelong contributions to social justice. Introducing Noam Chomsky