Events for October 2008

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Wednesday Oct 1, 7:30PM @ 2640 : Ralph Nader at 2640

Folks, Ralph Nader will be speaking tonight in the large auditorium at Saint John's Church/2640 and NOT at Red Emma's. We felt the need to make this clear since the talk has now twice been mistakenly advertised by other parties as taking place at Red Emma's - while we have the utmost respect for the work that Mr. Nader has done in the field of consumer advocacy and electoral reform over the years, as a collective, we neither endorse nor support presidential candidates or electoral politics! The event tonight at 2640 is neither sponsored nor organized by the Red Emma's Collective.

Nonetheless, the talk tonight at 2640, which covers both the current economic situation and the overall state of electoral politics in this country promises to be interesting!

Saturday Oct 4, 7:30PM @ 2640 : Black Butterfly Productions presents: 'The Belly Of A Woman- from the Motherland to Uncle Sam

Written and directed by Margaret Locklear-Peck, 'The Belly Of A Woman-From The Motherland To Uncle Sam' is a story of the African American Diaspora through a Black Woman's eyes as she takes you on her journey through the ravaging of Africa, the nightmare of the Middle Passage, the dispassion of Slavery, the scourge of Jim Crow, the hope of the Great Migration and the glory of the Civil Rights Era. "Belly" depicts the struggles, trias, adversities, and tears of joy when she found the root of her guilt, shame and finally recognizing her worth. With a special screening of "Stop the Madness", a short film on domestic violence by Trakqueen. Proceeds benefit the Spiral Dance Womyn Wellness Center.

Thursday Oct 9, 7PM @ Red Emma's : An evening with Gary Phillips, and contributors from Darker Mask and Politics Noir

Join the Red Emma's crew and our friends and comrades from PM Press for an evening of readings in celebration of the opening night of Bouchercon! Featuring one of our favorite new mystery authors, Gary Phillips, author of the Ivan Monk series and The Jook (forthcoming this fall from PM Press), and some of the amazing contributors to the the two volumes Phillips edited, Politics Noir and Darker Mask. Get ready for an evening full of surprises and political intrigue! Participating authors include Ken Wishnia, Twist Phelan, Christopher Chambers, and Alexandra Sokoloff! It's free!

Monday Oct 13, 7PM @ Red Emma's : Punk-Folk Musicians from the UK w/ Riot-Folk!

PJ & Gaby
Acoustic pop-punky folk duo from London. In the vein of Ghost
Mice/Plan-it-X stuff. "Their unique blend of folk punk and pop has been
thrilling audiences all across europe, where they regularly play all kinds
of venues, from squats to rooftops, open fields to dingy clubs and pubs.
Their debut record (a split album with Neil Sutherland) is a beautifully
crafted masterpiece..."

Neil Sutherland
Folk-punk from Essex, UK (that's right, we're not talking about Essex, MD,
were talking about the original Essex). Sorry East-siders. "Neil
Sutherland's music is eclectic, positive folk punk. Well crafted, original
and uplifting tunes that make you smile. His politics are subtle which
works really well and his optimism is infectious".

Ryan Harvey
Yep. You know. Ryan loves hosting out-of-town activist/punk folk musicians
and political song-writers.

Tuesday Oct 14, 7:30PM @ 2640 : Slingshot Hip-Hop with Discussion

Slingshot Hip Hop braids together the stories of young Palestinians
living in the West Bank, Gaza and inside Israel as they discover Hip
Hop and employ it as a tool to surmount divisions imposed by
occupation and poverty. From internal checkpoints and Separation Walls
to gender norms and generational differences, this is the story of
young people crossing the borders that separate them.

Thursday Oct 16, 7PM @ 2640 : Double Feature: Two Films on Popular Participation in Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution by Oliver Ressler and Dario Azzellini

Join us for a special, one-night-only screening of two of the smartest films about what's going on in Venezuela we've seen so far. Directors Oliver Ressler and Dario Azzellini have the good sense to let the (real) protagonists of the social process in Venezuela speak for themselves: the people organizing in their communities and their workplaces to remake Venezuela. $5 donation suggested, but no one turned away for lack of funds.

About the films:

Venezuela from Below (2004, 67 minutes)

In the film "Venezuela from Below," the true actors in the social process are able to speak: the grassroots. After an introduction by philosopher Carlos Lazo, workers from the oil company PDVSA in Puerto La Cruz report how in 2002/2003 they protected the refinery from breaking down during the oil sabotage, which was pawned off as a strike, and how they were able to reinstate oil production. Several farmers from a newly founded cooperative in Aragua report on their process of self organization, on the literacy campaign, and how things should continue. A women's bank project in Miranda and several loan recipients from Caracas' disadvantaged district, 23 de Enero, present their projects. Indígena community members near the Orinoco river in Bolívar speak about how their demands and struggles are reflected in the constitution and what has changed for them. Workers from the occupied National Valve Company in Los Teques and the paper production company Venepal in Carabobo - which was occupied by 350 workers after the owners drove it to bankruptcy, and which now, after a partial agreement, is running production again - speak about corrupt unions, labor control, and their struggles. Protagonists in the revolutionary movement Tupamaro, the cultural foundation Simón Bolívar, the leftist website www.23.net, and the Bolivarian Circle Abrebrecha from 23 de Enero report on their work and what has changed for them through the social revolutions.

5 Factories–Worker Control in Venezuela (2006, 81 minutes)

In their second film regarding political and social change in Venezuela, after “Venezuela from Below” (67 min., 2004), and Ressler focus on the industrial sector in “5 Factories–Worker Control in Venezuela“. The changes in Venezuela's productive sphere are demonstrated with five large companies in various regions: a textile company, aluminum works, a tomato factory, a cocoa factory, and a paper factory. In all, the workers are struggling for different forms of co- or self-management supported by credits from the government. “The assembly is basically governing the company”, says Rigoberto López from the textile factory “Textileros del Táchira” in front of steaming tubs. And coning machine operator Carmen Ortiz summarizes the experience as follows: “Working collectively is much better than working for another–working for another is like being a slave to that other”. The protagonists portrayed at the five production locations present insights into ways of alternative organizing and models of workers' control.

Friday Oct 17, 6PM @ Red Emma's : Just Like A Girl: A Manifesta!

Come for the reading and discussion of Just Like A Girl: A Manifesta!

GirlChild Press has released its newest title - Just Like A Girl: A Manifesta! Edited by Michelle Sewell, with a foreword by Def Jam Poet Sonya Renee Taylor, this fiery, fierce collection of short stories, essays, and poems is a rough-and-tumble travelogue through the bumpy, powerful, action-packed world of girl. The anthology features writings by an ethnically diverse cross-section of contributors ages 14-60, exploring the themes of love, fear, and forgiveness. Realizing the girl as superhereo!

Saturday Oct 25, 12PM @ 2640 : The IWW presents Wobbly Art: Resistance and Solidarity!

Join us the weekend of October 25th and 26th at 2640 for a weekend of radical art, history, lively conversation, and more!

Examining the early history of the One Big Union, this weekend the IWW is proud to present original posters and prints that mark an era of struggle and victory. Locked within each pring is the Union's belief in justice, diversity, cooperative economics, and workers' rights. While the show focuses on fellow workers from past generations, it also reflects the current need to promote equality and create a world where all workers control the means of production.

Special events during the weekend include:

- the IWW Haiti Delegation Video, presented by the International Soldarity Commission of the IWW

- a panel discussion of the broken solidarity between trade union leaders and their rank and file: where do we go? Speakers include Greg Giordio and Bill Barry, and more TBA

- live radical hiphop and folk performances including Broadcast Live, Son of Non, Ryan Harvey, P2P emcees and poets, and more!

$10 Day Pass includes all Oct 25th events. Schedule of events and more details coming soon... hope to see you there!

800 St. Paul St. * Baltimore, MD 21202 * (410) 230-0450 * info@redemmas.org

Red Emma's is open Monday through Saturday from 10AM-10PM, and Sunday from 10AM-6PM. Our weekly collective meetings are Sunday at 7PM, and are open to anyone interested in the project.