Status Updates From Set the Night on Fire: L.A....

On a Black Student Union action at Valley State in 1968:

"They presented a list of twelve [demands]...After four hours, the president announced he had agreed to all twelve...The students declared victory and released their hostages, and everybody went home."

"But the next day the president announced that...agreements made under duress were void, and called for the arrest of the students."

Reminded over and over again, by these accounts of struggles and discourse from 60 years ago, of the need for a "socialist Renaissance" drawing lessons from our past.

'Violence vs. Nonviolence', 'Spontaneity vs. Organization', 'Reform vs. Revolution'...these debates are not new. Really encourage a baseline of historical awareness for anyone engaging in them in this moment of perpetual crisis.

[During the 1960 Democratic National Convention at the new LA Memorial Sports Arena]:

"After the speeches and lofty promises, 5,000 people marched down Figueroa to the Sports Arena, where Democratic Party chairman Paul Butler declared, 'We dedicate ourselves to the elimination of all discriminatory practices at the earliest possible moment without violence.' Black voices chanted, 'No! No! Now---not later!'"