Independence

Would Slavery Have Ended Sooner If British Had Defeated Colonists’ Bid For Independence?

July 4, 2020 Keith Brooks, www.blackagendareport.com Educate! Independence, Slavery

Historians have long grappled with the contradiction of a revolution under the banner of "all men are created equal" being largely led by slave owners. Once free of England, the U.S. grew over the next 89 years to be the largest slave-owning republic in history. But the July 4th 1776 Declaration of Independence (DI) was in itself a revolutionary document. Never before in history had people asserted the right of revolution -- not just to overthrow a specific government that no longer met the needs of the people, but as a general principle for the relationship between the rulers and the ruled: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government..."

The End Of Sanders, And Maybe The Beginning Of A Mass Independent Left

April 18, 2020 Glen Ford, Black Agenda Report. Organize! Bernie Sanders, Corporate duopoly, Electoral Politics, Independence

The COVID-19 epidemic has exposed the privatized US healthcare structure’s woeful incapacity to cope with a general health emergency, as well as the failings of Europe’s austerity-shrunken public health care systems. Although Donald Trump’s actions, inactions and idiotic blatherings have added immeasurably to the death toll, a major medical and economic catastrophe was inevitable once the virus was loosed on a defenseless U.S. public. Trump didn’t create the conditions that made the United States so vulnerable to a killer virus. That’s one of the many crimes of capitalism, which at its late stage is methodically starving what’s left of the public sphere and privatizing every conceivable human enterprise for the ultimate benefit of the Lords of Capital – the ruling oligarchy.

How The World Failed West Papua In Its Campaign For Independence

February 10, 2020 Emma Kluge, Theconversation.com Resist! Independence, Nationalism, West Papua

Activism and protests marked West Papua’s 50th anniversary last year of the so-called Act of Free Choice, which formalised Indonesia’s control over the territory, with the region’s people once again demanding independence from Indonesia. In January 2019, West Papuan activists delivered a petition to the United Nation (UN) demanding a referendum on West Papuan independence.

Tsunami Of Dissent Floods Streets Of Catalonia

October 20, 2019 By Bue Rübner Hansen, ROAR Magazine. Resist! Catalonia, Independence, Justice System

On most days, Barcelona is noisy, its air toxic. But this Friday, most of the city was quiet and breathable, traffic arteries blocked, cruise ships rerouted and flights canceled. Briefly, and partially, Barcelona felt like a climate-compatible city of the future, even if its engines had been shut down for other reasons altogether. The noise and smell, normally everywhere, had been focalized by mass demonstrations, riot police and swerving helicopters, and as night fell, burning barricades. Catalonia has now had four days of multitudinous marches, of rioting and blockades. Hundreds of thousands have marched, and equal numbers have participated in a social general strike blockading highways and thoroughfares, picketing shops and supermarkets. Everybody expected the Catalan uprising.

Catalan Separatist Leaders Get Up To 15 Years In Jail

October 13, 2019 Joan Faus, Reuters. Resist! Catalonia, Criminal Justice, Independence

Madrid - Spain’s Supreme Court plans to convict and sentence Catalan separatist leaders to a maximum of 15 years in prison over a 2017 bid for independence, a judicial source said on Saturday. The most prominent of the 12 Catalan leaders on trial would be found guilty of charges of sedition and misuse of public funds but none would be convicted and sentenced for the more severe charge of rebellion, the source told Reuters. The decision was taken unanimously by the seven members of the top court, the source added. The verdict is expected to be signed by the judges and made public next week, most likely on Monday, the source said. The trial’s top judge, Manuel Marchena, declined to comment on the media leaks. However, he added that “everything is open (because) a ruling will not be completed until it is signed by every single judge.”

End Colonialism, Support Self-Determination, Correct Historical Wrongs

July 29, 2019 Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers, Popular Resistance Newsletter Colonialism, Democracy, Independence, Puerto Rico, Sovereignty

The results of centuries of US empire, which began with Manifest Destiny that crossed the North American continent and grew into a global empire, are coming home to roost in Puerto Rico and Hawaii. Puerto Ricans had an important victory last week with the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló after more than one million people protested to demand his removal. This was a powerful display of people power, but changing the head of state does not confront the real issues for Puerto Rico: ending colonialism and ensuring self-determination. There is confusion after Rosselló's resignation. The next in line has already resigned and Secretary of Justice Wanda Vázquez, who is in line after that, does not want the job.

Puerto Rico Is Not About A Chat Log But Five Centuries Of Imperialism

July 20, 2019 By Miguel A. Cruz-Diaz, Counterpunch Resist! Imperialism, Independence, Puerto Rico

Puerto Ricans have long accepted the imposed opinion, first by the Spaniards and then by the Americans, that they were a peaceful people who abhorred violent confrontation and welcomed authority. It played well during the Cold War, but after Hurricane María Puerto Ricans discovered something about themselves: that they could do anything. Left to rot, they rediscovered community and strength through unity. They realized that, perhaps, the Americans really did not give a damn about them after all. And while they tried to bury that realization behind a comfortable masquerade of normality, it never worked. The spell was broken. The arrests proved that they were indeed living a lie, and the revelations of that Telegram chat proved to be too much. This rage, this new reality, has proven that the Puerto Rican will is strong, fiery, and founded on resistance, and resistance breeds determination. Determination breeds bravery. And when a population that has been crushed for centuries discovers its inner bravery, well, that’s when history is made.

Hong Kong Protesters Say Suspension Of Extradition Bill Not Enough

June 16, 2019 Rachel Withers, Vox. Resist! Extradition, Hong Kong, Independence

Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam will “indefinitely suspend” a contentious extradition bill that would allow Hong Kong citizens to be extradited to mainland China following a series of massive and sometimes violent street protests. The New York Times reports the pro-Beijing Lam has consulted with her superiors in mainland China, and will hold off on attempting to push the bill through again in an attempt to quell public anger and avoid further violence. The government announced its decision ahead of another large protest planned for Sunday. Lam, who is reportedly known for “never backing down in a fight,” had previously vowed to press on with the bill, comparing protesters to “stubborn children,” even after as many as 1 million people took to the streets last Sunday.

Catalan Police Use Force To Separate Independence Protesters From Police Honored For Crack-Down

September 30, 2018 ACN, Catalan News Resist! Catalaonia, Independence

Thousands of pro-independence people took to the streets of Barcelona on Saturday to oppose a march by Spanish police unions that wanted to honor officers that took part in last year's referendum crackdown. According to official figures from Barcelona's local police, 6.000 pro-independence protesters took to the streets of Barcelona, while 3,000 Spanish police officers and supporters participated in their own demonstration.

80 Arrested In Protests For Occupied West Papua Independence

September 6, 2018 Free West Papua. Resist! colonization, Independence, Indonesia, West Papua

West Papua - Arrests took place on September 3 as people around the country gathered to hold peaceful rallies to support the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting, which is currently underway on Nauru. According to the ULMWP, 45 people were arrested in Sentani, West Papua at 08.12am West Papua as they prepared to travel towards a central gathering point. All are currently detained. The arrests were carried out by the joint Indonesian Security Forces, made up of around 100 Indonesian Police Officers, 30 Intelligence Personnel, and seven Detachment 88 – “Anti-Terror Special Forces”...

July 4th: No Time For Celebration For Indigenous Peoples In US

July 4, 2018 Staff, www.telesurtv.net Educate! Independence, Indigenous Peoples, United States, US history

By Staff of Tele Sur - The Anglo-American settlers’ violent break from Britain, from 1775 to 1783, paralleled a decade of their search and destroy annihilation of Delaware, Cherokee, Muskogee, Seneca, Mohawk, Shawnee, Miami and other nations’ villages and fields, slaughtering the residents without distinction of age or gender and overrunning the boundaries of the 13 colonies into unceded Native American territories. July 4 symbolizes the beginning of the “Indian wars” and “westward movement” that continued across the continent for another century of unrelenting U.S. wars of conquest.

Whither Catalonia?

November 18, 2017 Dan La Botz, socialistproject.ca Resist! Catalonia, Independence, Nationalism, Spain

By Dan La Botz for The Bullet - The impact of the independence process on Spain as a whole is complex because, in the short term, the Spanish right uses it to cohere its social base and in the last weeks we are experiencing a shift toward the right in the Spanish political and social life. But at the same time, it is the principal threat to the political regime created in 1978.[1] If Catalonia became independent, it is unlikely that the political regime of 1978 could survive. Such a crisis could open the opportunity for change in the Spanish state as well. The strategic, decisive question is how to link the independence movement – without dissolving its demand, with a perspective of breaking with the 1978 regime within the state as a whole. This requires combining unilateral action from Catalonia with the struggle within the Spanish state as a whole in favor of a new majority politics of the left. But this center-periphery dialectic is complex and neither Catalan independence movement, nor the forces of the Spanish left such as Podemos know how to do it. DL: What is the social base of the independence movement? JMA: The independence movement is principally based in the middle class, public employees, and youth.

Catalonians Celebrate Independence Vote, Spain Dissolves Cabinet

October 28, 2017 Staff, www.catalannews.com Resist! Catalonia, Independence, Nationalism

By Staff of Catalan News - Thousands of independence supporters took to the streets all across Catalonia after Parliament voted to leave Spain on Friday. As the political crisis between governments in Madrid and Barcelona entered unknown territory with the subsequent suspension of the Catalan executive and the dissolution of the Parliament by the Spanish government, many people continued to celebrate the independence declaration. According to Barcelona’s local police, some 6,000 people gathered in front of the Catalan government’s headquarters in Sant Jaume square. On Friday morning, people began gathering in Barcelona’s Ciutadella Park, where the legislative chamber is located, to closely follow the events taking place inside. Amid fears that Spanish police might break into the chamber to stop the vote, citizens encircled the park in a symbolic act of support for Catalan institutions.

Protest In Streets As Spanish PM Moves To Dismiss Catalan Leaders

October 23, 2017 Patrick Grafton-Green, www.standard.co.uk Resist! Catalonia, Independence, Protests, Spain

By Patrick Grafton-Green for Evening Standrad - Thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Barcelona as the Spanish Prime Minister moved to sack Catalan leaders following weeks of heightened tensions in the region. Using previously untapped constitutional powers, PM Mariano Rajoy wants the Spanish government to install its own people in their place and call a new local election. It follows the independence referendum that went ahead despite being banned by Spain's Constitutional Court. Mr Rajoy took the unprecedented move after an extraordinary cabinet meeting on Saturday, saying the central government needs to "restore order" in the face of a secession effort backed by the regional government. He is proposing that the powers of Catalan officials be taken over by central government ministers. Catalan President Carles Puigdemont swiftly dismissed this, describing it as the worst attack on Catalonia's institutions since the Franco dictatorship.

Pro-Independence Grass-Root Leaders Sent To Prison On Sedition Charges

October 17, 2017 ACN, www.catalannews.com Educate! Catalonia, Independence, Nationalism, Spain

By ACN for Catalan News - The leaders of two of the main pro-independence civil society organizations have been sent to prison without bail on sedition charges. A Spanish judge decided to imprison Jordi Sànchez, president of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), and Jordi Cuixart, president of Òmnium Cultural, for their role in the October 1 referendum. Both of them will already sleep in jail tonight. The same judge also decided to release without passport the chief of the Catalan police, Josep-Lluís Trapero, accused of not having done enough to stop voters from participating in the independence referendum. The initial investigation against Trapero, Sánchez and Cuixart focused on demonstrations on September 20 and 21, when fourteen high-ranking officials of the Catalan government were arrested and people protested massively, and peacefully, in the streets. But the case was extended to also include events during the October 1 referendum and the alleged “flagrant inaction” of Catalonia’s police corps, the Mossos d’Esquadra, to stop the vote. Sánchez and Cuixart lead two of the biggest pro-independence organizations in Catalonia, responsible for organizing the massive pro-Yes demonstrations of the last few years. The prosecutor argues that they mobilized people on referendum day, asking citizens to protest in front of polling stations, thus impeding police officers from closing them down.

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