Black Lives Matter (BLM), the May 19th Communist Organization (M19CO), Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and the Days of Rage share certain ideological and historical connections, primarily through the individuals involved and their approaches to activism. Here’s how BLM, particularly through its connections to Thousand Currents and Susan Rosenberg, relates to these earlier movements:
Black Lives Matter (BLM)
Overview:
BLM is a contemporary social movement founded in 2013 to address systemic racism, police brutality, and racial inequality.
The movement uses various tactics, including protests, advocacy, and policy reform efforts, to achieve its goals.
Connections to Thousand Currents and Susan Rosenberg
Thousand Currents:
Thousand Currents is a nonprofit organization that provided fiscal sponsorship to the BLM Global Network Foundation. This means they managed the funds and donations for BLM, allowing it to operate more effectively.
Susan Rosenberg:
Susan Rosenberg, a board member of Thousand Currents until 2020, was a former member of the M19CO. She was convicted for her involvement in illegal activities, including a weapons possession charge and connection to armed robberies, and later received a commutation of her sentence by President Bill Clinton.
Historical and Ideological Links
May 19th Communist Organization (M19CO)
Overview: M19CO was a militant far-left group active in the 1970s and 1980s, known for its revolutionary activities, including bombings and armed robberies.
Connection: Susan Rosenberg’s involvement with M19CO ties her directly to BLM through her later role at Thousand Currents.
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and Days of Rage
Overview: SDS was a prominent student activist organization in the 1960s that focused on civil rights, anti-war protests, and social justice. The Days of Rage was a series of protests organized by a militant faction of SDS, the Weather Underground, in 1969.
Connection: SDS and the Weather Underground's tactics and philosophies influenced later movements, including M19CO. The radical elements within SDS and the Weather Underground, particularly their use of direct action and confrontation, set a precedent for later groups like M19CO and, by extension, influenced individuals like Susan Rosenberg.
Antifa, short for "anti-fascist," and the German Communist Party (KPD) share historical and ideological roots, particularly in their opposition to fascism.
Historical Context and Origins
German Communist Party (KPD)
Origins: The KPD was founded in 1918-1919 in Germany, emerging from the Spartacist League. It aimed to establish a communist state in Germany, inspired by the Russian Revolution.
Origins: The term "Antifa" originated from "Antifaschistische Aktion," a militant anti-fascist group founded by the KPD in 1932. This group was established to combat the Nazi Party and other far-right movements in Germany.
Activities: Antifaschistische Aktion engaged in street battles, propaganda, and other direct actions to oppose the Nazis. The group was dissolved after the Nazis came to power in 1933 and banned all communist organizations.
Black Lives Matter (BLM), the May 19th Communist Organization (M19CO), Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and the Days of Rage share certain ideological and historical connections, primarily through the individuals involved and their approaches to activism. Here’s how BLM, particularly through its connections to Thousand Currents and Susan Rosenberg, relates to these earlier movements:
Black Lives Matter (BLM)
Overview:
BLM is a contemporary social movement founded in 2013 to address systemic racism, police brutality, and racial inequality.
The movement uses various tactics, including protests, advocacy, and policy reform efforts, to achieve its goals.
Connections to Thousand Currents and Susan Rosenberg
Thousand Currents:
Thousand Currents is a nonprofit organization that provided fiscal sponsorship to the BLM Global Network Foundation. This means they managed the funds and donations for BLM, allowing it to operate more effectively.
Susan Rosenberg:
Susan Rosenberg, a board member of Thousand Currents until 2020, was a former member of the M19CO. She was convicted for her involvement in illegal activities, including a weapons possession charge and connection to armed robberies, and later received a commutation of her sentence by President Bill Clinton.
Historical and Ideological Links
May 19th Communist Organization (M19CO)
Overview: M19CO was a militant far-left group active in the 1970s and 1980s, known for its revolutionary activities, including bombings and armed robberies.
Connection: Susan Rosenberg’s involvement with M19CO ties her directly to BLM through her later role at Thousand Currents.
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and Days of Rage
Overview: SDS was a prominent student activist organization in the 1960s that focused on civil rights, anti-war protests, and social justice. The Days of Rage was a series of protests organized by a militant faction of SDS, the Weather Underground, in 1969.
Connection: SDS and the Weather Underground's tactics and philosophies influenced later movements, including M19CO. The radical elements within SDS and the Weather Underground, particularly their use of direct action and confrontation, set a precedent for later groups like M19CO and, by extension, influenced individuals like Susan Rosenberg.
Antifa, short for "anti-fascist," and the German Communist Party (KPD) share historical and ideological roots, particularly in their opposition to fascism.
Historical Context and Origins German Communist Party (KPD)
Origins: The KPD was founded in 1918-1919 in Germany, emerging from the Spartacist League. It aimed to establish a communist state in Germany, inspired by the Russian Revolution.
Origins: The term "Antifa" originated from "Antifaschistische Aktion," a militant anti-fascist group founded by the KPD in 1932. This group was established to combat the Nazi Party and other far-right movements in Germany.
Activities: Antifaschistische Aktion engaged in street battles, propaganda, and other direct actions to oppose the Nazis. The group was dissolved after the Nazis came to power in 1933 and banned all communist organizations.