Racial Justice 911

Format for printing

   
Recognizing that the current foreign policy crisis is, simultaneously, a domestic and international racial justice emergency, Racial Justice 911 (RJ 911) was launched in February 2002 to develop a national network of racial justice organizations dedicated to building broad-based opposition to the U.S.'s dangerous foreign and domestic policies, known as the "War on Terrorism," among communities of color. As we work to establish common language and strategies among organizations representing different regions, racial/ethnic/national communities, approaches to social change work, and organizational cultures, we hope to lay the foundations of a stronger, more united racial justice movement able to take on new tasks long after we defeat Bush's war program.

Why We, as People of Color and Indigenous Peoples, Oppose Bush's "War on Terrorism" and the War on Iraq

  • Bush's war on Iraq is the frontline of a racist war against Third World nations and communities of color at home. The real motive for war is that ultra-right forces in the Bush administration want to get hold of Iraqi oil and forcibly dominate the Middle East. We say, No Blood for Oil.
  • U.S. wars target young people, people of color, and indigenous peoples in the U.S. U.S. military recruitment increasingly targets low-income students of color. The public sector fiscal crisis -- fueled by ballooning military expenditures -- has its greatest impact on the poor and, given their socio-economic profile, cutbacks in social spending on healthcare, childcare, welfare, education, housing, etc. unfairly burdens communities of color.
  • The "War on Terrorism" targets and negatively impacts immigrants of color. New anti-terrorist laws and so-called security measures criminalize immigrants, depriving us of jobs and violating our civil liberties. Bush is mounting the most aggressive assault on the Constitutional, civil, and human rights of people of color in decades, and political activists in general.
  • War increases burdens on poor women and women of color. The military culture of violence, heightened during wartime, especially endangers women of color and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered communities of color, whom are exposed to increased physical and sexual violence.
  • War and racism fuel each other. Bush attempts to win popular support for his wars by portraying himself as the defender of "Western civilization" from violent, woman-hating Arab and Muslim terrorists. This builds on deep-rooted patterns of U.S. governments using racism to build support for colonial wars of conquest and to deprive people of color of their rights, as Native Americans, African Americans, Chicanos, Japanese Americans, and many others can testify.
  • The war on Iraq is the leading edge of the U.S. attempt to forcibly dominate and control the world. The "War on Terrorism" provides cover for Bush's real goal: to expand U.S. control over the resources, markets, and labor of oppressed nations throughout the world.

Working Principles Guiding Our Approach

  1. RJ 911 is organizing a broad, powerful, multi-sector alliance of people of color and indigenous peoples to take coordinated, effective action to stop Bush's "War on Terrorism." We do this by:
    1. Educating: Developing and sharing educational tools that can assist a wide range of groups to integrate anti-war activity into their already existing work. Distributing propaganda materials, including leaflets, posters, stickers, etc.
    2. Coalition organizing: Building broad, local coalitions of people of color groups and individuals connected to a national network. Working with other forces in the peace and justice movement where local conditions and capacity permit.
    3. Mobilizing: Organizing nationally coordinated actions that increase pressure on the government to stop the war.
  2. RJ911 is anchored primarily by base-building racial justice organizations accountable to working class communities of color.
  3. RJ 911 believes that it must build unity among those who share its views on the U.S. war program, as well as build stronger working relationships with those who only partially agree with its analysis.
  4. RJ 911 focuses on connecting Bush's militaristic policies abroad to the daily struggles of our communities at home.
  5. RJ 911 believes in people of color leadership that is collective, not centered around individuals.

Accomplishments to Date

• Built a national network of more than 60 community-based racial justice organizations. Participating organizations work on a wide range of issues, including immigrant rights, economic justice, welfare rights, Indigenous environmental issues, LGBT rights, issues facing young people of color, and domestic and sexual violence. The network and its Steering Committee is multigenerational, regionally diverse, and has attracted groups rooted in African American, Latino, Asian Pacific Islander, Arab, and South Asian communities and indigenous nations.

• Identified critical issues for education and organizing facing these organizations.

• Organized and collaborated with people of color contingents in local and national peace demonstrations, particularly over the last 3 months.

• Sponsored a National Week of Action Against the War the week of September 11. Thousands of people of color in more than 15 cities participated in anti-war actions and teach-ins organized by RJ 9/11 member organizations. Also, a number of unaffiliated groups linked up with the network for the first time.

• Produced and distributed 3,000 striking posters in communities of color. The poster's message is "No War, No Racism: People of Color for Peace and Justice."

• Developed an accessible, engaging leaflet on "Why We, as People of Color and Indigenous Peoples, Oppose Bush's War on Iraq" that speaks to what's at stake in the war on Iraq for communities of color in the U.S.

• Launched a website and rj911 listserve to publicize our work and distribute educational/informational materials. (See http://www.racialjustice911.org)

Steering Committee

Arab American Action Network (Chicago); Audre Lorde Project (NYC); Black Youth Against War (Los Angeles); CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities (NYC); DRUM--Desis Rising Up & Moving (NYC); INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence (National); Labor/Community Strategy Center (Los Angeles); National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights (National); NW LELO--Labor and Employment Law Office (Seattle); Project South (Atlanta); SW Youth Collaborative--Generation Y Project (Chicago); Women of Color Resource Center (Oakland); Young Women United (Albuquerque).