Students for a Democratic Society (2006 organization)

Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), or New Students for a Democratic Society (New SDS) is a

SDS is a broadly progressive, multi-issue student and youth-led activist organization, which aims to rebuild the student movement through direct action campaigns on college, university, and high school campuses across the United States. While united by a commitment to direct action rather than any particular political ideology, SDS does release statements and resolutions standing against US wars and intervention, racist discrimination, police brutality, homophobic and transphobic attacks, attacks on women, attacks on reproductive rights, and other US and campus-based issues as they emerge.[1]

Re-formation

Beginning January 2006, a movement to revive the

The new SDS has organized and participated in numerous actions against the Iraq War and made clear its opposition to any possible military action against Iran by the US. The Pace University chapter of SDS protested against a speech by Bill Clinton held at the University's New York City campus, prompting the university to hand over two students, Lauren Giaccone and Brian Kelly, to the United States Secret Service. After the threatened expulsion of the two protesters, Pace SDS began a campaign that helped pressure the President of Pace to resign.^[7]

Beginning in March and continuing into April and May 2006, SDS chapters across the country participated in a series of

The newly formed SDS held its first national convention from August 4 to August 7, 2006 at the University of Chicago.^[8]

On March 17, 2007, SDS groups from across the country met and participated in the

On March 20, 2007, 83 SDS chapters from around the country held coordinated actions against the Iraq war.^[9] One such action in the

The second SDS National Convention took place July 27–30, 2007 at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Approximately 200 members of SDS attended what was a constitutional convention. The primary focus of the convention was to democratically create a national structure and vision for the organization. These goals were achieved, though all decisions made at the convention will be sent back to the SDS chapters for a process of ratification which is currently under way.

The first national SDS Action Camps^[11] took place from August 13–16 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The camp was hosted by the Lancaster chapter of SDS. It included anti-oppression/collective liberation trainings, and workshops about a variety of things – including media skills, meeting facilitation, and direct action. The camp was held in order to provide students with skills needed to become better organizers, and deepen the sophistication of their vision and strategy.

On September 15, 2007, SDS chapters from several colleges across the country (including Ohio, Indiana, Washington D.C., Harrisburg, PA and New York) gathered and marched in the ANSWER coalition march from the White House steps, to the Capitol building. The protest was estimated to include up 80,000 people. At least 150 were arrested, and there was at least one incident where police pepper-sprayed protesters.^[12]

In early November 2007, SDS members were again present at a similar blockade at the Port of Olympia, Washington. The blockade was broken only after 67 arrests, as well as use of pepper spray, rubber bullets, and other crowd-control weapons. A similar confrontation had occurred in May 2006 at the Port of Olympia.

Members and Chapters around the US and Canada participated in a large series of semi-coordinated events and demonstrations between March 17 and March 21 to bring awareness to the 5th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.^[13]

The 2008 National Convention was held in College Park, Maryland. Members at the meeting decided on a national structure: the National Work Committee and a national campaign: Student Power for Accessible Education.

In September, SDS chapters from around the country converged on St. Paul, Minnesota to participate in the four days of protests against the Republican National Convention.^[14][15][16]

Members of Providence SDS took over a board meeting of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority RIPTA to protest proposed route cuts. The group also argues that the RIPTA board is detached from its riders and doesn’t represent them.^[17]

The

SDS at the University of Houston also participated in the March 4 National Day of Action to Defend Education,[20] along with SDS chapters nationwide,^[21][22] as well as national anti-war,^[23] anti-occupation and Israeli apartheid Week campaigns.

In March 2010, members of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee's chapter of SDS staged a protest outside the Chancellor's building. The event, designed to protest rising tuition costs, was met with a police presence. Police began using pepper spray, and arrested sixteen members of the protest, including both SDS members and allied organizations on campus through the Education Rights Campaign.^[24]

See also

• Global justice movement
• List of anti-war organizations
• Peace movement

References

Further reading

• Carriere, Michael. "The Kids Will Have Their Say: The Rebirth of Students for a Democratic Society." Punk Planet, Punk Planet Cover Story (May/June, 2007).
• Phelps, Christopher. "The New SDS," The Nation (16 April 2007).
• Russell, Joshua Kahn. "Not Your Grandfather's SDS." Yes! Magazine, Yes! Magazine (Fall, 2007).
• Knight, Alexander. "The Rebirth of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)." Monthly Review, MRZine (August 9, 2006).
• SDS March 20 National Day of Action: Thousands of students walk out, take to streets Article on March 20 day of action from Fight Back News.
• Lemisch, Jesse. "Sectarian Rage in the New SDS" History News Network (September 18, 2006).
• Viehmeyer, Doug. "Steppin' In Up: The New SDS." Left Turn, Left Turn Magazine, Apr/May, 2007).
• The Students Are Stirring: A Campus Antiwar Movement Begins to Make Its Mark MRzine interview on SDS's March 20 Day of Student Action Against the War with UNC-Asheville SDS member, Kati Ketz.

External links

• Official website
• National Days of Student Action to Protest the Iraq War - All out for March 20, 2008!