Bill Ayers

Bernardine and I spent yesterday with our dear friend and brother—and the co-padre of our youngest son, Chesa—David Gilbert. David was a founder and early leader of the SDS chapter at Columbia University, and we talked, naturally, about the 50th anniversary of the historic rebellion there. We shared a zillion stories and memories, celebrated the sweetness and brilliance of our kids, and looked forward to more.

That’s always bittersweet, and often quite difficult, because David is in his 37th year behind bars, serving a 75 years (minimum time inside) to natural life in New York state prison. Thirty seven years in a cage; 37 years with inadequate and spotty health care; 37 years without proper food or exercise or intimate human connections.

David is now 73 years old (2 months older than I am!) and incarcerated—I repeat—for 37 years.

Think about that: 73/37…37/73.

David is healthy and well, as astute an observer of the current scene (white supremacy, Black Lives Matter, Trump and impending fascism, the threat of expanding war, Undocumented and Unafraid, #MeToo, the youth uprising) as anyone we know, and, as always, upbeat, encouraging, and inspirational.

You cannot send books or food or packages, but if you have a moment you might write to David, or even plan a visit—he is 15-20 minutes from the Buffalo airport:

David Gilbert

83A6158

Wende Correctional Facility

3040 Wende Rd

P.O. Box 618

Alden, NY 14004-1187.

You have to use the full address, and the envelope must have a full return address.

https://www.semcoop.com/event/fresh-ayers-pat-thomas-did-it-jerry-rubin

http://neatoday.org/2018/03/16/myths-about-teachers-ayers/?utm_source=nea_today_express&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=180321neatodayexpress&utm_c

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/43906-a-call-to-the-media-let-s-go-beyond-preserving-democracy

I spoke with Crystal Laura at Seminary Co-op Bookstores about our book, “You Can’t Fire the Bad Ones!”, and it’s featured on their podcast: https://goo.gl/BecD3M You can also find the episode by searching “Open Stacks” anywhere you listen to podcasts.

https://www.spreaker.com/user/radiosputnik/education-for-liberation

Remember My Lai—50 years ago today.
And remember, too, that it was not accidental or unusual: war crimes were committed every day by US military as a matter of policy (free fire zones; pacification, body counts, tiger cages) not choice. Invasion and occupation are always murderous. Resist! Build a powerful antiwar movement NOW!

https://www.spreaker.com/user/radiosputnik/betsy-devos-interviews-expose-incompeten

SINGING in DARK TIMES

March 13, 2018/ 6PM/ 57th Street Bookstore

Motto

In the dark times, will there also be singing?

Yes, there will be singing.

About the dark times.

~~Bertolt Brecht

In December, 2017 we  held the inaugural gathering of a discussion group designed to open a public space for serious and challenging conversation in these troubling days: Singing in Dark Times.

Eve Ewing, Rachel DeWoskin, Kevin Coval, and Bill Ayers started us off, and over 40 people joined in to try to make sense and make meaning of our lives and our work—to shine a bright beacon of hope and possibility into the gloom.

It was an electrifying evening for those of us in attendance, but it was only a start.

On January 13, 2018 Singing in Dark Times convened again—this time Bill Ayers welcomed Lisa Lee and David Stovall in an opening dialogue, quickly broadening into a conversation embracing everyone who chose to join in.

It too proved to be a provocative and powerful evening pushing toward a question that drives so many of us: What is to be done?

The next Singing in Dark Times forum will gather on March 13, 2018, and will include Bill Ayers in conversation with the brilliant artist/activist/movement-makers Monica Trinidad and Ethan Viets-VanLear.

Please join this emerging public space, this intentional community-in-the-making.

As the public is being steadily eroded and eclipsed, and as neoliberalism persists and fascism lurks close by, the goal of those of us who believe in freedom is to take full responsibility to reimagine, revitalize, and create anew a public square, a public presence, and a wide range of participatory public spaces.

An impressive array of wildly diverse artists and grass-roots activists are  on the move and on the rise—resistance is breaking out all over, and a revitalized public square is in-the-making. In Chicago, a cinema guild is running a series of films on authoritarianism followed by wide ranging teach-ins on the political environment we find ourselves in; the Co-op hosted a series of conversation led by U Chicago professors investigating contemporary issues under the banner “Free University of Chicago;” and Women and Children First’s “The Conversation” brings writers, artists, and politicians together to talk about an issue of political, social, or cultural importance. Elsewhere, a chain of restaurants in Detroit calling themselves “Sanctuary Cafes” is offering weekly facilitated  conversations (as well as bail to neighbors caught up in the system); a collection of renowned playwrights has joined forces to dramatize the Bill of Rights; block clubs around the country are hosting monthly pot-luck dinners to allow folks to face one another authentically and figure out what is to be done. 

The legendary Seminary Co-op/57th St. Bookstores in Hyde Park, Chicago, has always been a destination bookstore and a vital public space. Please join us as we reimagine the public square—the essential conversation continues.