Some
Thoughts on the National Assembly against the Iraq War, Cleveland, Ohio, June
27–29, 2008
by Paul LeBlanc
[These comments were posted to
an Internet discussion group of people involved with preparations for a
conference on the Legacy of Leon Trotsky to be held at
Here are some of my thoughts on the
National Assembly against the
The conference was a genuine
success. The result is—in my opinion—a bit “lumpy” (some amendments that passed
add complications to what the National Assembly is trying to accomplish,
although they are manageable and perhaps can be transformed into additional
strengths). The result is also an entity that is vibrant and has some genuine
potential for accomplishing its goal—a democratic, unified antiwar movement
that is politically independent and that can mobilize millions of people around
the demand that
The conference was an important test for a number of groups and individuals. It was possible to hear them and see them in action, and it is easier to evaluate some of their strengths and weaknesses. Some of us affiliated with UFPJ have a deepened sense, I think, of the need for us to strengthen and better orient our wing of the antiwar movement. The presence of a variety of socialist organizations (much maligned and baited by all-too-many inside and outside the antiwar movement) helped us to determine that there are significant differences among them—some being mired in destructive and sectarian dynamics, some capable of playing an incredibly positive and effective and unifying role. It was also instructive to see what groups and forces were barely present or not present at all—there is more work to be done to draw them in and encourage them to play a role in such efforts.
Passing the test with flying colors, in my opinion, was the leadership of the National Assembly. This was reflected in the functioning of the conference’s presiding committee: Jerry Gordon (a longtime and nationally known progressive labor and peace activist from Cleveland), Jeff Mackler (not only well known for antiwar, civil liberties, and other efforts on the West Coast, but also a leader of Socialist Action), Marilyn Levin (a prominent leader of a very broad antiwar coalition spanning the New England states), Colia Clark (a seasoned veteran of SNCC, who continues to lead antiracism and social justice efforts in Philadelphia), and Greg Coleridge (a thoughtful, highly principled, and capable leader of the American Friends Service Committee in Ohio).
The balance they were able to strike—putting forward procedures that helped the conference avoid chaos and incoherence while scrupulously adhering to democratic functioning—made all the difference in the National Assembly’s being able to realize its goal (a genuinely, broad, wide-ranging, democratic discussion on the war, the antiwar movement, and future perspectives) and to bring into being a national network of activists who can continue to be a force for the unity of antiwar forces around a commitment to mass actions capable of limiting the options of the warmakers and bringing the troops home from Iraq and the Middle East region.
It was also incredibly valuable for
us to be able to hear such stunningly articulate and informative speakers as
Jeremy Scahill (exposing the dark realities
represented by the private military forces of Blackwater)
and
