By Greater Chicago WSA
The Workers Solidarity Alliance, a national organization of anarchist-syndicalists, will hold its National Congress on the weekend of Nov 22.
The organization was founded 40 years ago, and this Congress will also be a celebration. WSA is currently working on a ‘40th anniversary of WSA’ issue of its publication, Ideas & Action # 18.
This will be the WSA’s first congress to be held online.
“We are presented with some creative challenges,” said member Hanna Waldman. “We have a lot of democratic procedure to move through, so how to pull this all off with a Zoom conference, is new territory for us.”
Since just before the pandemic, WSA committees such as its Labor Committee and International Committee, began to hold meetings by Zoom as a way of increasing participation.
Member Danielle K added “A whole Congress online will be very different than just a committee— it’s all the committees and the coordinating committee and two local Branches. How to we make this lively and dynamic? How do we make this ‘embodied,’ not just boxes on a screen? But it’s a challenge we’re ready for!”
In addition to the reports, proposals, and voting, the Congress will include two public events as part of its celebration. On Thursday night, Nov 21, Suzy Subways, a well-known Philadelphia organizer, will be the guest speaker. Suzy will talk on “Group Democracy, Journalism and Anarcha-Feminism.”
Saturday, Nov 23, the organization will offer a history workshop with one of its founders, long-time organizer and writer Steve Rabinowitz, who is currently serving as a delegate on the Coordinating Committee. Steve will present on “WSA, Past and Future.”
For updated information on the public talk and history workshop, please contact WSA’s Philadelphia area Branch:
philly-metro-wsa@proton.me
Philly Metro Area WSA 