May Day in Memphis

Comrades,

Come out tomorrow at 2pm for our May Day march in celebration of International Worker's Day. We will start the park at the corner of Union and Manasses and march to city hall. Come out and carry a red flag in solidarity with the workers of the world. Do your part. Make a difference.

In Solidarity,

The University of Memphis Marxists

University of Memphis Students Stand Against Injustice. Free the Cuban 5!

Comrades,

Here are a few photos from today's information table and petition drive for the Cuban 5. Thank you to all of you who stopped by the table today especially those of you who brought your friends along. Every signature counts and your individual effort makes a difference.

We had a number of great discussions and collected dozens of signatures in a few short hours. Many of our fellow students were outraged and shocked at the hypocrisy and injustice of the American system in the case of Cuba and its heroic 5.

In Solidarity,

The University of Memphis Marxists

Five Days for the Cuban Five

Comrades,

in support of the "Five Days for the Cuban Five" actions taking place in Washington D.C. beginning tomorrow April 17, we will have a table in the U.C. from 11-3 to collect signatures for a petition to free the Cuban Five as well as to end the blockade of Cuba.

Come by to sign the petitions and say hello and bring your friends. If you have the time, stay a while and help out. Show your international solidarity by lending your support to the Cuban people tomorrow afternoon.

http://www.thecuban5.org/wordpress/2012/03/30/april-17-21-5-days-of-activities-for-the-cuban-5-in-washington-dc/

In Solidarity,

The Marxist Student Union

One Year in The Marxist Student Union

Comrades,

As the spring semester winds down and the last meeting of the Marxist Student Union this academic year comes to a close, I can’t help but look back over the past ten months fondly. In that brief time, we have had over 7,500 visitors to our webpage and established a visible Marxist presence in Memphis.

     We began last July and made our debut on campus at the Student Involvement Fair the following month.

During that first semester we hosted discussions of Lenin’s Three Sources and Three Component Parts of Marxism , What Is To Be Done, and  The Communist Manifesto. Furthermore, our faculty adviser read a selection from The Communist Manifesto during Banned Books Week at the campus library. 
    The Marxist Student Union also actively supported our fellow union member Lee Harris in his campaign for the City Council seat of District 7 and were there at his campaign headquarters on Chelsea Avenue for the victory party when he defeated the Ford machine. 

That semester, the Marxist Student Union  issued a statement of support and solidarity to Occupy Memphis and helped organize its anti-Capitalist caucus. We hosted a screening of The Good Fight: The Story of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in cooperation with the anti-Capitalist caucus and sang the Internationale more than once.

In response to our support of the Occupy movement we were listed as one of the “dangerous groups” who supported OWS by Glen Beck and were also attacked online by Andrew Breitbart.

    The Vice-President of the Marxist Student Union was able to travel to the People’s World headquarters in Chicago to receive invaluable media training and actively participate in Occupy Chicago.

We also helped organize a rally and march at Occupy Memphis in support of OWS when they were evicted from Zuccotti Park. Representatives from Worker’s Interfaith Network, Graduate Students of African-American History, AFSCME, the CPUSA, the MSU, as well as Lee Harris and Steve Mulroy spoke before our march. Part of our preparations for the event were covered by Current TV reporter Christof Putzel. 

In keeping with the internationalist ideals of Marxism, we devoted the spring semester to Cuban solidarity.  Beginning with a screening of Che, we worked to educate the campus community about Cuba and build popular support for the Cuban Revolution. Our adviser, Dennis Laumann, gave a talk (to a packed auditorium) on the pivotal battle of Cuito Cunavale in the Angolan Civil War and its role in ending apartheid.

We were present at the formation of the Memphis Bus Riders’ Union, and continue to support the ongoing effort to empower the poor and working class people of Memphis in their struggle for adequate public transportation.

     The Marxist Student Union also hosted a talk by Dr. Guiomar Dueñas-Vargas, an Associate Professor of History and internationally recognized scholar, titled “Why the Cuban Revolution Did Not Fail.” Professor Dueñas-Vargas discussed the conditions in Cuba that led to the revolution in amazing detail and showed how the Cuban Revolution continues to benefit all of the people of Latin America.

We drew our semester to a close with a discussion of the Cuban Five. In the meeting we detailed the history of U.S. sponsored terrorism in Cuba, the biographies of the five Cuban anti-terrorist officers, and the miscarriage of justice their sham trial represents. Next week we will have a table in the University Center to collect signatures for a petition to free the Cuban Five in support of the “Five Days for the Cuban Five” actions taking place in Washington D.C. April 17-21.

Next year we hope to further educate the campus community about Marxism and advocate social and political action from a Marxist perspective by focusing on the civil rights struggle and the Black Power movement. Join the Marxist Student Union next fall. 2012-2013 promises to be a great year.

In Solidarity,

The University of Memphis Marxists

The Marxist Student Union Speaks Out

Comrades,

Check out this great story in the Daily Helmsman on the Marxist Student Union. Many thanks to Christopher Whitten for the coverage and Brian Wilson for the great photograph.

Marxist Student Union Speaks Out.

Make sure to pick up a copy of the Helmsman on campus tomorrow.

In Solidarity,

The University of Memphis Marxists

Anti-Cuban Sentiment Pervades Southern Florida

Over the course of his career Ozzie Guillen has made it clear, "I don’t admire his [Fidel Castro's] philosophy"(Men's Journal 2008). The manager of the Miami Marlins simply, "admires him [Castro]" for his ability to stand in the face of what many would consider overwhelming odds while maintaining widespread popular support in Cuba. Guillen is on record saying Castro is a "bullsh!t dictator."

Nonetheless, he respects him because, " A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that mother—— is still here.” He clarifies that, "“Everybody in the world hates Fidel Castro, including myself,” (Time April 2012).

For this sentiment,Ozzie Guillen is immediately suspended from his job,  due in part to people like Francis Suarez, chairman of the Miami city commission.,Prior to the suspension Suarez said,. “On behalf of many angry residents, I’m calling for real action to be taken and for the removal of Mr. Guillen"(Time).

For his comment, Guillen apologized profusely, "on his knees" and said his statements were "the worst mistake of his life." Guillen explains, “I was surprised that he’s still in power. That’s what I was trying to say to the journalist"(New York Times April 10, 2012). 

The defense attorneys of the Cuban 5 petitioned the court to move the proceedings outside of Miami due to the overwhelming bias of the population against Cuba. The petition of the  Cuban Five was denied despite the fact that it was, and remains, an impossibility for a Cuban to get a fair trial in southern Florida.

Considering that Ozzie Guillen, the manager of a major league baseball team, has been treated so harshly for doing so little how can anyone believe the Cuban Five were fairly tried?

Free the Cuban Five! 

Free the Cuban 5!

Comrades,

Here is the flier for our event this Thursday at 6pm. Please print it out and share it with your friends. I hope to see everybody there.

In Solidarity,

The University of Memphis Marxists