Solidarity destroys fascism: LB activists unite to ignore racists

Joseph Gusman posted an e-mail from the conservative student at CSULB announcing the "lecture" (Minuteman Founder To Lecture on La Raza and Racism at Long Beach State, November 17, 2008). grrl talk commented, "completely storming the place could be an effective tactic. completely ignoring it could be, too. It could send a powerful message if coordinated to send it." The racist buffoon known as "Border Raven" commented that he went, but "nobody came" because "the event was canceled."

Of course it was canceled. The conservative student wasn't trying to host a "lecture on La Raza and racism." He was trying to get campus activists to divert their attention from the work they were doing for immigration awareness week. A series of consciousness-raising events, including a screening and discussion of the documentary film Maquilopolis, were the real events of the week at CSULB. These events were intended to reach out to freshmen, especially those those forming their opinions about the immigration debate in this country, and were largely successful in doing so. The organizers were not about to allow the conservative student to ruin it with his hate-speaking friends.

La Raza Student Union, endorsed by the WSSA, put out a call to ignore the three haters. Last time the conservative student hosted an event, it was a "sermon" preached by a highly-offensive "campus minister." He promised to bring hundreds of people to hear him speak in favor of the homophobic prop 8. Hundreds of people, including WSSA, FORCE, and independent activists, protested the hate speech. (CSULB No on 8 Rally Oct 29, 2008) "Brother Jed" had about four supporters. In an interview with the Daily 49er, the conservative student's true objective became clear: "it is a successful rally. It shows how low class CSULB opponents to Prop 8 are." ("Debate on 8 erupts," October 30, 2008)

He creates these non-events to attract protesters and media attention. So of course Long Beach activists were not going to believe him this time around. So they united behind LRSU's proposal and acted in concert to ignore him. And it worked. No protest was organized, so the conservative student had no reason to invite Gilchrist and Hayes. And the only person who showed up was "Border Raven," the idiotic immigrant-hater who was too much of a lowlife even for the racist SOS, who has displayed his pedophilic tendencies all over YouTube.

Long Beach activists are wise beyond their years. Their actions are effective regardless of the tactics they choose because of the solidarity between campus activist groups. This solidarity and spirit of cooperation will ultimately be responsible for marginalizing the minutemen, the homophobes, their hate speech, and the fascist movement the haters are attempting to build will whither and die in the disgrace it deserves.