by Abby Scher & Carol Schachet

For those of us who have been organizing for progressive social change for so many years against overwhelming odds, 2006 was a confusing year. Should we now—given last year’s bits of good news—begin to hope for real change? And how might that hope impact our organizing?

From the Republicans’ defeat at the polls in a wave of anti-war anger, to the inspiring uprising of documented and undocumented immigrants who are sick and tired of being sick and tired, and on to Al Gore’s astonishing penetration of both the mainstream media and public imagination with his documentary about global warming, we’ve seen a shift. A political center is at least more visible in this country, and America’s drift to the right interrupted.

At least since the election of Ronald Reagan 27 years ago, many of us have been in a defensive crouch. We have been focused on trying to staunch a bloodletting rather than advance a justice-centered vision. At long last, relentless organizing has helped create a new opportunity. Are we prepared to seize the initiative when newly appointed Congressional committees expose the horrors of Bush’s malfeasance and show we are right—about the war, civil liberties abuses, deceit and torture?

To take advantage of these new political openings, we may need to refresh our vision and consider what it means not only to have evicted the rightwing from power, but also to flex our own muscles. From past experience, we know that the Democratic Party will only do the right thing if pressured by organized, determined activists. And we know that coalitions that meet for a common purpose exert more power than isolated groups working alone.

We have been spared the question of what it means to have true political power throughout our many years of toiling on the political margins. Democratic control of both Houses of Congress does not remove us from the margins or grant us power, but it does issue a challenge.

In the wake of the most dangerous presidency of the past 100 years, should activists build alliances and coalitions with moderates in the Democratic Party in order to forestall the rightward power grab that removed the federal government from any democratic accountability? After all, the Bush Administration demonstrated that our political situation could get worse–that government could inflict previously unimaginable harm on poor countries abroad and ignore outcries for justice and sustainability at home. Does that danger necessitate different political tactics? What is the next step beyond bearing witness? For instance, how do we move beyond the peace zones–in which cities or municipalities divest public pensions from war-related companies (like Halliburton) and ban military recruitment in schools—created in opposition to the Iraq War and truly discredit and stop the entire American military machine?

Whether and how we change our political tactics vis-a-vis electoral politics is a provocative question to pose for local politics as well. Or as Jason Warwin, cofounder of Brotherhood and Sister Soul in Harlem, recently asked: Why, in New York City, where progressive organizations are so strong and rooted in the grassroots, have we not “taken power?”

At least two quandaries emerge from our legacy of relying on visions created in another age when political organizing splintered into environmentalism, workers’ rights, women’s rights, anti-racism. First, our aversion to mainstream politics often leaves us stuck in a tactical repetition because we see few other options: another demonstration, another petition drive, another tiny group of people bearing witness. It is confusing to untangle when we should go door-to-door canvassing for voters, and when we must put our “bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, … to make it stop,” as Mario Savio famously said during the 1964 free speech fight at Berkeley.

Our vision is great, yet standard party politics seem so feeble. We’ve seen, however, that revitalized movements that are transformative often come from where we least expect it—from churches, from a music scene, from disenfranchised immigrants bravely saying no in the face of surging disdain. We have begun to embrace all these spaces, letting the creativity and vitality flow among them unencumbered by sectarian backbiting about which is the righteous path or framework.

Secondly, because we are virtuous in our convictions, we are often uncomfortable facing the areas where movements conflict–yet talking across movements is the very means by which we can refresh our thinking and tactics. The good news is that this cross-movement work is being done–particularly by RESIST’s grantees who are listed in this Newsletter. In Tennessee (Kingsport Citizens for a Cleaner Environment), Oregon (Concerned Citizens for Clean Air) and New Mexico (Embudo Valley Environmental Monitoring Group), communities dependent on polluting industries for work are seeking environmental and not just economic justice. Immigrants call for their enfranchisement in part because they work hard “at jobs other Americans don’t want to do.” Yet this can implicitly criticize the native-born groups crowded into low-wage jobs. American activists open themselves to the challenge of listening to allies abroad whose path to self determination and justice may conflict with our expectations.

Resist grantees, including Mirabal Sisters in Action (New York) and the Providence Youth Student Movement, have worked to bridge the gap between immigrant and economic justice organizing. Similarly, groups like the Center for Justice, Peace and the Environment in Colorado work to find common ground in creating environmental and economic stability for workers.

In 2006, we saw additional shifts. In the US, Hispanic voters left the Republican Party in significant numbers, and for the first time in many years, young voters cast ballots in opposition to the ruling party. More significantly, perhaps, we also saw the rise of local activism—from counter-recruitment efforts to ethnic media to health care activism. Globally, the resurgence of the Left in Latin America continued, even with the contested elections in Mexico. Challenges to the supremacy of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, privatization of water and other natural resources found renewed vigor. And while religious and ethnic wars continue to rage, so, too, do resistance movements.

These initiatives contribute to the hope created by the more visible shifts of 2006. We cannot change anything unless we maintain our optimism that change is possible. Someday all the pieces of our work will fuse together into a new whole. That rests not only on faith, but also on healthy self-criticism and a renewal of our commonly created strategic thinking.

Since 1967, Resist has funded thousands of organizations that create hope precisely because they work for justice and challenge illegitimate authority. In 2006, Resist added 134 more groups to that list (see 2006 Grants for a full list). And given current events, it is not surprising that in 2006 Resist awarded most of its money to groups engaged in peace and anti-militarism, community and youth organizing. Buoyed by grants from Resist, activists filled the streets to protest an immoral war and occupation (Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine), set up shop in Army recruitment areas (Nebraskans for Peace), and challenged the deterioration of civil liberties (Lynne Stewart Defense Committee, New York, NY). As has been the case for the last three years, all of Resist grants are for general support. As such, activists can determine for themselves how to maximize the funds they receive as they work in their communities or regions, nationally or internationally. And as has been the case for four decades, Resist gives money to groups that see their work as part of a larger movement for social change, and that address the underlying causes of injustice. This includes groups that address racist immigration policies (Dream in Action in Boise, ID), corporate exploitation of workers and the earth (Food AND Medicine in Brewer, ME, and the Student/Farmworker Alliance in Immokalee, FL).

Last year, Resist also redoubled its efforts to support activist training and development, awarding eight Technical Assistance grants (more that twice that of the previous year).

Now 40 years old, Resist continues to seek out radical grassroots groups engaged in direct organizing for social, economic and environmental justice. And all groups that receive grants have donors across the country to thank–because Resist relies completely on those folks to provide the funds necessary to keep us going.

As the new grant-making year begins, we have a great many people to thank and celebrate. After serving on Resist’s Board regularly since 1969, Henry Rosemont, Jr. decided to officially resign, although he remains active with the Newsletter and offering general advice. Hank inaugurated what RESIST Board members over the years have commonly referred to as the “Hell, yes!” grants–awarded to those groups whose work is truly inspiring, necessary and worth hollering about. Hank has been a “Hell, yes!” Board member who has enriched Resist and continues to strengthen progressive thinking and action.

Last year, Abby Scher also left the Board of Resist. She, too, remains active helping with the Newsletter (and writing articles like this one!). And after two years volunteering on the Finance Committee, Wenda Tai stepped down to concentrate on her day job and pursue new opportunities.

In 2006, Resist also welcomed several new Board members, each of whom bring unique experience, insight and humor to the discussion. Resist welcomes Catherine Joseph, grant director at the Boston Women’s Fund and a long-time activist; Sophia Kim, formerly a grantee with Coalition for Asian Pacific American Youth (CAPAY) and now a coordinator of the Youth Action Initiative with The Medical Foundation; former Resist staff member, student and activist Amanda Matos-Gonzales; and journalist and long-time Resist pledge contributor Diana Digges.

Additionally, Resist has continued to rely heavily on several generous and patient volunteers who help keep things afloat. Special thanks belong to Damien Keith, Robert Morrison and Steve Wishengrad, who troubleshoot a myriad of technical and computer glitches and help set up new, powerful and useful tools for Resist staff and grantees. Sometimes it takes a village to raise an office–and this village does a great job.

In fact, the village that makes Resist work is as diverse, generous, radical and committed as they come. It is made up of donors big and small, visionaries and worker-bees, activists and philosophers. Together we all face the challenges ahead to grab hold of the opportunities in front of us to make the world more just and peaceful.

Abby Scher is a writer and activist based in New York City. Carol Schachet edits the RESIST Newsletter and helps raise the money RESIST gives away.