“The history of the 20th century has been that of the struggles of people of color against colonial powers, and although we are in a post-colonial world, racism is still very much an essential ingredient of the capitalist world order. I think that movements for social change in this 21st century will make a decisive mistake if they do not recognize that fact. They will create a middle-class, "white rights" movement that will not elevate the masses of the world's peoples." -- Lorenzo Komboa Ervin

Lorenzo Komboa Ervin in Montreal, Toronto and Quebec City

[schedule below ...]

In the upcoming week, community organizer and activist Lorenzo Komboa Ervin will be traveling to Montreal, Toronto and Quebec City as part of a one-week speaking visit to Canada.

Komboa is a former Black Panther and political prisoner. He has been an organizer in his native Chattanooga, Tennessee where he has been active in opposition to police brutality, and targeted for his outspoken activity. He has also been active in independent media, as a microradio broadcaster, as well as a writer of the “Rest of the News” column that he writes from Kalamazoo, Michigan, his new home. Komboa is a founding member of the Black Autonomy group, as well as the author of “Anarchism and the Black Revolution”.

As part of his short Canadian tour, Komboa will be addressing various audiences on issues related to globalization. His perspective is radical and uncompromising, as indicated in the following excerpt he has written about globalization:

“The history of the 20th century has been that of the struggles of people of color against colonial powers, and although we are in a post-colonial world, racism is still very much an essential ingredient of the capitalist world order. I think that movements for social change in this 21st century will make a decisive mistake if they do not recognize that fact. They will create a middle-class, "white rights" movement that will not elevate the masses of the world's peoples.

I also believe that the issue is not making reforms to the WTO, and other capitalist development and financial institutions is to abolish them entirely. Much of the anti-globalization movement is not yet an anti-capitalist movement. I think we need to restructure the economies of the world, do away with transnational market capitalism, and only then can we begin to deal with all the inequalities of various world societies, and poverty and other scourges of humanity.”

=== Lorenzo Komboa Ervin’s Speaking Itinerary: ===

--> Tuesday, January 23, 7pm
MONTREAL
- CLAC General Assembly
L’X (182, Ste-Catherine East)
Komboa will be addressing the General Assembly of the Anti-Capitalist Convergence (CLAC), a grassroots groups that is involved in mobilizing against this April’s Summit of the Americas. Info: c...@tao.ca

--> Wednesday, January 24, 7pm
MONTREAL
- The Colour of Anarchy
L’X (182, Ste-Catherine East)
Komboa will be speaking on anarchism, organizing, race, racism and representation, along with local activists Nadine Mondestin and David Kavanaght. Info: lomb...@tao.ca

--> Thursday, January 25, 6pm
TORONTO
- From Protest to Resistance: A radical look at the FTAA
Lillian H. Smith Public Library (239 College, east of Spadina)
Komboa will be joined on this panel discussion by various activists from Montreal, Detroit and Toronto, including members of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), Anti-Racist Action (ARA), the Anti-Capitalist Convergence (CLAC), Colours of Resistance and more. Info: a...@web.net

--> Friday, January 26, 7pm
MONTREAL
Hall Building, H-110, Concordia University (1455, de Maisonneuve West)
- TEACH-IN: Globalization in the Americas
Komboa will be joined on the opening panel of this teach-in by Debra Harry of the Indigenous Council on Biocolonialism, and Dolores Chew, a founding member of the South Asian Women’s Center in Montreal. Info: rese...@csu.tao.ca

--> Saturday, January 27, 11am
MONTREAL
Hall Building, H-110, Concordia University (1455, de Maisonneuve West)
- Workshop: Racism, Capitalism and Building a New Movement
This workshop is part of the Colour of Resistance theme at the Globalization in the Americas Teach-in at Concordia University. Info: rese...@tao.ca

--> Sunday, January 28, 7pm
QUEBEC CITY
Tam-Tam Cafe (421 Boulevard Langelier, coin Charest)
- Racism, Capitalism and the New Resistance
A public presentation jointly presented by the Summit of the Americas Welcoming Committee (CASA) and the Anti-Capitalist Convergence (CLAC). Info: la_c...@hotmail.com or c...@tao.ca

Info: 514-526-8946 or lomb...@tao.ca