With all of the “left” and “progressive” groups out there why do we need a People Power Movement? Doesn’t creating another group just further splinter a divided “progressive” community?
To answer these questions we need to look at our organization’s Principles of Unity:
We Believe in Independent Politics.
This means that in studying history we clearly see that fundamental change is only made when the People get involved. It doesn’t matter how wonderful a “leader” can put phrases together or inspire people. If the people don’t invest their lives in the struggle for change then we can’t win. Many groups don’t believe this, they don’t have faith in the people despite their words, instead many of them focus on lobbying the politicians, appealing to judges who uphold the system, getting media attention, or organizing a chain of disconnected rallies and marches. Don’t get me wrong these things can be used at different points in a struggle but they do not represent a way to victory for us. They are only tactics that we can use as we educate and organize among the people.
We Believe in Fighting and Ending Racism.
Many people incorrectly believe that racism has been around forever and will be around forever. There can be nothing further from the truth. Racism developed during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade to justify slavery. Not only were Africans enslaved during that time but so were Native American people. Racism provided the theoretical and structural basis for slavery. Back then and today it also serves to divide people who otherwise would unite against a common enemy. Dividing people into races and giving them different places in society based on the color of their skin has allowed Corporate America to divide and conquer us. Many of the “progressive” groups talk about racism but for the most part do not allow people of color into their leadership. And when they do they don’t see racism as central to our struggle.
We Believe that Women are Powerful and Must be in the Leadership.
In 2012 women are still paid less than men for the same work. Moreover, despite the fact that “progressive” groups are supposed to struggle for equality between men and women there are still many groups who operate under a male chauvinist mentality and structure. Usually, while women are doing most of the work, men are making the decisions and getting all the credit. In our organization we actively promote women’s participation and leadership. Without the active recruitment of women into our group we could not sustain our work.
We Believe in a United Working People Under the Leadership of People of Color.
We are anti-racist and pro-working people. We do not believe that the rich should rule over everyone else. In order to have a truly democratic nation we need to unite all working people and organize for fundamental change. Our unity must be based on anti-racist principles that will allow us to organize without the fear that our enemies will divide and conquer us. That’s why it is important to have those who have suffered the most from racism—people of color—lead our movement.
We Reassert our Belief in Independent Politics.
Many “progressives” continue to depend on the two party system despite the fact that the Democrats and the Republicans are both financed and controlled by Corporate America. We will never break Corporate America’s control over this country by running for office under the two corporate parties. Every now and then you will find a politician who really cares about the people but she/he cannot overturn a whole system on her/his own. For that we need a truly independent, democratic, People’s Party. Just like the Banks and corporations control the Democratic and Republican Parties we need to control a party of our own. We need a party that will represent our interests.
Why do we need a People Power Movement? Because we can’t win if we continue to believe in this system of Corporate, anti-democratic and racist, rule. We need more democracy not less; we need Popular Control of our public institutions and government. And as laid out in our principles above we need to organize with clear ideas and beliefs. We can’t change this society if we don’t change how we think. Our thinking directs our actions; therefore, we need groups like the People Power Movement that are fighting for our interests.
