December 10 is Human Rights Day. On this day, U.S.-led Western states that are responsible for a majority of the most horrific crimes against humanity will cynically exploit the human rights idea, partially to deflect from their sordid records, but also to enlist the liberal human-rights framework into their arsenal of ideological weapons.
This Human Rights Day must be different. As tens of thousands of people are dying in Ukraine during an avoidable war to the ongoing wars in Yemen and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the slaughter of Palestinians in occupied Palestine, and the hundreds of thousands who died unnecessarily from COVID-19 in the United States, it must be stated—without any equivocations—that if human rights are to have any value, they must be liberated and reconstructed to serve the oppressed.
That has been the work of the Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) since its inception in 2017. Embracing the Black radical human-rights and peace traditions, the tagline of this formation has been: “A People(s)-Centered Human Rights Project Opposing War, Repression and Imperialism.”
We love peace!
It is only within the context of social peace that the possibility of human freedom, as well as individual and collective development and progress, can take place. But powerful forces correctly understand peace is a threat. It is a threat because those whose existence depends on the use of extreme forms of state and institutional violence understand the inexplicable link between peace and social justice.
But without justice, there can be no peace!
That is why the Black Alliance for Peace correctly stated, “Peace is not the absence of conflict, but rather the achievement by popular struggle and self-defense of a world liberated from the interlocking issues of global conflict, nuclear armament and proliferation, unjust war, and subversion through the defeat of global systems of oppression that include colonialism, imperialism, patriarchy, and white supremacy.”
There can be no ambiguity here. We do not fight for the ideas in people’s heads—we fight the structures of oppression.
And human rights?
BAP operates within the framework of the Black radical human-rights tradition that is being popularized as the People(s)-Centered Human Rights framework (PCHRs). What constitutes that framework?
PCHRs are “those non-oppressive rights that reflect the highest commitment to universal human dignity and social justice that individuals and collectives define and secure for themselves through social struggle,” according to BAP National Organizer Ajamu Baraka.
This people(s)-centered framework proceeds from the assumption that the genesis of the assaults on human dignity at the core of human-rights violations is located in the ongoing structural relationships of colonial-capitalist oppression. Therefore, the PCHRs framework does not pretend to be non-political. It is a political project in the service of Africans, as well as the colonized working classes, peasants, and socially oppressed. It names the enemies of freedom: The Western white-supremacist, colonial-capitalist patriarchy.
Below, you will see examples of the ongoing work BAP member organizations, regional formations, local chapters and individual members are engaged in to build popular, independently organized power. Help us to sustain this work by donating today. But, even more importantly, become a monthly sustainer. No amount is too small.
We are recommitting to the victory the people must achieve and we hope you join us.
BAP IN THE STREETS
Here is a round-up of BAP members in action, going back as far as May.
BAP-Philly member Asantewaa Nkrumah-Ture spoke on a plenary, “Palestine In Context: U.S. Imperialism & U.S.-Israeli Relations,” at the Annual Al Awda Right of Return Conference, which was held May 6-8 at the People's Forum in New York City. She is seen above alongside Mnar Adley of Mintpress News; Suzanne Adely, president of the National Lawyers Guild; and anti-imperialist activist Bill Dores. Below is Asantewaa at an Al Nakba rally on May 15 in Philadelphia.
BAP-Philly member Deandra Jefferson spoke, too, at the al Nakba rally.
Then Asantewaa spoke at a July 6 abortion rights rally that was co-sponsored by Party for Socialism and Liberation, Socialist Alternative and others groups.
BAP member organization Pan-African Community Action (PACA) was able to make it out to a #LetHaitiansDecide march on October 9 in Washington, D.C. Haitians and their supporters protested U.S. policies in Haiti, demanding the Biden administration stop propping up a corrupt regime that has plunged Haiti into chaos. Featured above on right is Netfa Freeman, who represents PACA on BAP’s Coordinating Committee. Here is a snippet of the march.
On October 15, BAP NYC members, like Coordinating Committee member Margaret Kimberley (above), joined the Bronx Anti-War Coalition in the Bronx, New York, and the Black is Back Coalition in Newark, New Jersey, as part of the U.S.-based United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC)'s Week of Anti-war Actions. BAP is a proud member of UNAC.
The two photos above feature BAP Mid-Atlantic Region members, such as Mid-Atlantic Co-Coordinator Jacqueline Luqman (further above with a raised fist) and Khari Gzifa (above on right, in blue), doing outreach during Howard University’s homecoming weekend (October 21-23) on its Washington, D.C. campus.
“We are an alliance of organizations and individuals and we oppose the blockade of Cuba,” said Carlos Sirah (pictured above), an African/Black military veteran of the U.S. war on Iraq and a BAP-SoCal (southern California) coordinator. He spoke at the U.S. Hands Off Cuba Committee’s rally on October 29 in Los Angeles. Kawsachun News captured his comments, too.
Mid-Atlantic Region members, such as Jacqueline Luqman and Khari Gzifa (pictured above on left and right, respectively), joined the Black Is Back Coalition (of which BAP is a member organization) on November 4 at Malcolm X Park in Washington, D.C., for the 14th annual Black People’s March on the White House. Later, they marched to the White House. In this tweet thread, check out more photos plus videos of Jacqueline Luqman and Netfa Freeman speaking.
Plus, check out BAP NYC members (above) handing out our new 16-page Haiti zine on November 19 at a People’s Forum event, “The Real Path to Peace in Ukraine.” Be sure to download and print out copies of the zine.
BAP’s U.S. Out of Africa Coordinator Tunde Osazua, a member of BAP Atlanta and of BAP member organization Community Movement Builders, represented at the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, which is being held December 5-8 in Geneva, Switzerland.
BAP-Philly member Asantewaa Nkrumah-Ture (above) spoke December 5 at an event launching Anakbayan’s Philadelphia chapter. Anakbayan is a youth organization that is part of the National Democratic Movement of Filipinos inside the country and across the Filipino diaspora.
PRESS AND MEDIA
Black Agenda Report editors and columnists Margaret Kimberley and Danny Haiphong recently interviewed Garland Nixon on “The Left Lens” discussing U.S. policy in Ukraine and Taiwan, regime change efforts, and Nixon's ban from Twitter.
Margaret, also on the BAP Coordinating Committee, was a guest on the Revolutionary Blackout Network discussing Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as well as U.S. foreign policy towards Russia and China. And was recently on the “Mother of All Talk Shows” with George Galloway talking about the revelations that Twitter is in lockstep with the Democratic Party and how Big Tech has become an arm of the party.
“By Any Means Necessary”, co-hosted by BAP Mid-Atlantic Coordinator Jacqueline Luqman on Radio Sputnik, interviewed Netfa Freeman, BAP Coordinating Committee member and organizer with BAP member organization Pan-African Community Action (PACA), to discuss the mass political repression of Haitians in the Dominican Republic, the Biden administration's upcoming U.S. African Leadership Summit, and PACA’s statement published in Black Agenda Report, “DC Government’s Racial Equity Plan is Elite Capture by The State”.The interview starts at the 1:02:24 mark. Jacqueline and Netfa also went deeper into the last aforementioned topic with Black Power Media’s Remix Morning Show crew, starting at the 1:02:51 mark.
Netfa was asked and quoted about the U.S. African Leadership Summit for The Final Call article, “Africa Must Unite, Rise Up and Beware of Smart, Crooked Deceivers” by Staff Writer, Brian E. Muhammad.
Haiti/Americas Coordinator Jemima Pierre was on the Black Myths Podcast hosted by BAP member Too Black discussing both the current situation in Haiti and the history that anchors it. Check out Part 1 and Part 2. Jemima was interviewed on CODEPINK’s “WTF is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean” discussing “The Impending U.S Invasion of Haiti” as well as on an extended episode of Useful Idiots - “US Threatens Haiti with Intervention.”
John Parker of Bay Area BAP was a speaker at Covert Action Magazine’s fundraiser at the Peoples Forum, “Pushback Against Empire”.
Tunde Osazua, Coordinator of BAP’s U.S.-Out of Africa Network and BAP member Nicholas Richard-Thompson teamed up on an episode of Revolutionary Left Radio to discuss AFRICOM and BAP’s month of action against it, neocolonialism, proletarian internationalism, and more.
Hood Communist Radio, produced by BAP Coordinating Committee member Erica Caines, released 4 new episodes in the last 2 weeks:
International Solidarity Will Break Sanctions,
Kwame Nkrumah and The Struggle For Pan-Africanism,
African Women Toward The African Revolution (feat AAWU), and
Revolutionary Grenada and The New Jewel Movement
EVENTS
December 10: “Global Pan African Peoples Intervention on the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit,” a one-day hybrid symposium, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. ET at Howard University, School of Social Work Auditorium, 601 Howard Place, NW, Washington, D.C. Register in advance.
December 10: “Sanctions: A Wrecking Ball in a Global Economy,” a webinar on the latest developments in key regions of the world with several authors of the new anthology, SANCTIONS: A Wrecking Ball in a Global Economy, 1 p.m.-3 p.m. ET. Featuring BAP National Organizer Ajamu Baraka and BAP Solidarity Network member Ann Garrison. Register here.
December 10: “The Poor People's Army International Human Rights Day Panel,” 2 p.m.-4 p.m., ET. Featuring BAP National Organizer Ajamu Baraka. Register.
December 11: “African Peoples’ Forum: A Vision for New U.S.-Africa Relations,” a gathering in Washington, D.C., of Black, African and progressive people for the purpose of raising awareness of the mutually destructive effects of the United States’ Africa policy, 1 p.m.-6 p.m. ET. Register for the exact location.’
December 13: “Africa Anti-Imperialist Summit: Voices from the Ground,” 12 noon-2 p.m. ET, to expose the imperialists’ U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. Location: Institute for Policy Studies, 1301 Connecticut Ave., NW, #600, Washington, DC 20036. For questions, contact BAP Mid-Atlantic Region Co-Coordinator Rafiki Morris at (443) 253-2643.
December 14: BAP member organization PACA’s next Assata Shakur Study Group topic: “To Protect & Serve Settler Colonialism; The Role of Police.” Register here.
TAKE ACTION
December 9: Bay-Area BAP is part of a coalition of grassroots organizations that will be holding the demonstration, “Unite and Fight for Our Rights, Lives, and Planet” to uplift peoples human rights struggles locally and across the world, starting at 5 p.m. PT at the Federal Building, San Francisco. RSVP here.
December 12-16: BAP Mid-Atlantic members based in Washington, D.C., will hold a week of actions: Pickets, a forum, a rally, a banner drop and a press conference to expose the true nature of the imperialists’ U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. Contact BAP Mid-Atlantic Region Co-Coordinator Jacqueline Luqman if you are able to help: jacquiemdc@gmail.com
No Compromise, No Retreat!
Struggle to win,
Ajamu, Dedan, Erica, Jaribu, Margaret, Netfa, Nnamdi, Noah, Paul and Rafiki
Coordinating Committee
P.S. Freedom isn’t free.Consider giving today.