You’d think Telesur or Democracy Now would have let you know.

But I don’t need to tell you we cannot depend on anyone but grassroots folks to tell their stories.

In fact, the Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) was instrumental in getting the word out that thousands of Afro-Colombians and indigenous folks had descended on that country’s largest international port and shut it down two weeks ago.

That kind of groundbreaking information reflects the reach and standing that BAP has already established internationally. Activists from the Global South also see the value of a militant, black anti-imperialist presence in the heart of the empire.

That is why in the five weeks that BAP has existed we have already made an impact:

  1. working with the United National Antiwar Coalition on communicating the issue of Venezuela;

  2. participating in an international meeting of activists from across the African continent;

  3. opposing the Trump administration's saber rattling against North Korea and its proposed $54 billion increase in military spending; and

  4. supporting the Palestinian prisoner hunger strike.

Here's where you come in.

With just a basic website and no staff, we are already making a difference—but we have only scratched the surface of our potential. Activists in the Global South and in the United States understand the importance of a Black anti-war and anti-imperialist formation confronting the aggression of the U.S. state. But we can’t build this opposition without your help.

We are not going to go hat in hand to foundations because we recognize that they are often part of the matrix of power that we are fighting against. We will, however, come to you, asking you to help us remain independent. We don’t want to be accountable to any force other than the people.

With a generous tax-exempt contribution, you can support our efforts to build a powerful, people-centered anti-war alliance that coordinates anti-repression work in the United States.

We need $5,000 by June 5 to support eight Black activists to travel to the United National Antiwar Coalition’s conference in Richmond, Virginia, being held June 16-18.

That will ensure Black interests are considered while folks brainstorm around how to build a new anti-war movement strong enough to counteract the Deep State.

But we also need to secure resources to develop our website, the communication tools and research capacity—and we have to act now to secure funds by Saturday.

As always, I appreciate you taking the time to consider this urgent request. Stand with BAP, stand with the people, and help us to build the movement we need to put an end to the madness of militarism, war and racism.

In solidarity,
Ajamu Baraka
National Organizer
Black Alliance for Peace

P.S. Join us in keeping Black voices at the forefront of the anti-war movement!

 

PHOTO CREDIT: AFP