[News] Monday! The History, Politics, & Lessons of the Weather Underground

[News at freedomarchives.org]

Monday, May 30th - 7 PM
THE WAY THE WIND BLEW & OUTLAWS OF AMERICA
AN EVENING LOOKING AT THE HISTORY, POLITICS, & LESSONS OF THE WEATHER 
UNDERGROUND
Featuring Authors and Historians: Ron Jacobs & Dan Berger
Plus Special Appearances by Ex-Weather Underground Members

At the AK Press Warehouse.

Co-sponsored by AK Press, the Catalyst Project, and the Freedom Archives

This historic evening features both participants and historians looking at 
the history of the group, which at the height of 60s radicalism, initiated 
a bombing campaign to fight racism, war, imperialism, and capitalism. For 
the first time we will be given an in depth look into the organization's 
politics, history, and an open, honest critical look at lessons which can 
be drawn from its experiences.

RON JACOBS is an author and library worker at the Bailey-Howe Library at 
the University of Vermont in Burlington. He writes for the alternative 
monthly Works in Progress, and CounterPunch. His book, The Way the Wind 
Blew: A History of the Weather Underground is a gripping account of these 
1960s radicals who took up arms against the state. The first comprehensive 
history of the Weathermen, Jacobs narrates the origins, development and 
ultimate demise of the organization: its emergence from the Students for a 
Democratic Society; its role in the famous Days of Rage in Chicago during 
October 1969; its decision to go underground; the various actions it staged 
- and in some cases bungled -- during the 1970s; its role as goad to other 
left organizations to sustain the struggle against racism and imperialism; 
and finally its disintegration, as various members were either captured or 
surrendered. Jacobs weaves a gripping tale, by turns inspiring and 
hair-raising - a fitting testimony to the serried adventures of Weatherman 
itself. The Way the Wind Blew fuses the excitement of a thriller with an 
objective assessment of US 1960s radicalism. It is an indispensable 
resource for comprehending the recent history of the US left.

DAN BERGER is a writer, long-time anti-racism activist, and Ph.D. candidate 
at the University of Pennsylvania. His book, Outlaws of America: The 
Weather Underground & the Politics of Solidarity (AK Press, forthcoming 
winter 2005), brings to life the motivations and actions of America's most 
famous renegades, who bombed their way into history. Through detailed and 
original research, Berger offers a nuanced and compelling portrait of the 
group that risked everything in opposition to war and racism. Culled from 
dozens of in-depth interviews with former Weather Underground members, as 
well as with civil rights activists, Black Panthers, Young Lords, and 
others - many of whom speak about their experiences publicly here for the 
first time. This explosive, engaging, and timely book uncovers the untold 
story of the Weather Underground, from its incendiary beginning to its 
tumultuous ending-never sparing a critical analysis of the group. Berger, a 
young activist organizer himself, draws rich, vital, and critical lessons 
for today's generation of radicals.
Ex-Weather Underground Organization members to be announced...

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AT THE AK PRESS WAREHOUSE
AK Press 674-A 23rd. St Oakland, CA
b/t MLK and San Pablo - near 19th St. BART and West Grand Exit of 80/980
For more info contact:
AK Press at 510.208.1700, akpress at akpress.org or visit www.akpress.org
All events at AK Press are wheelchair accessible.
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The Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 863-9977
www.freedomarchives.org 
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