PSL and ANSWER are notorious for co-opting organically created mass struggles; they routinely insert themselves into events related to the fights of oppressed peoples, and make their brand excessively visible so that they can gain in fundraising and recruitment. This is an observation I’ve heard from former PSL members who’ve become disillusioned with the org’s lack of willingness to do anything more than what’s necessary for maintaining its own business model; as has become the default for mainstream leftist orgs in the USA, PSL and its leader Brian Becker seek to organize for its own sake. Which amounts to a practice of opportunism.
Black is Back Open Letter
https://blackisbackcoalition.org/open-letter-to-brian-becker-of-the-answer-coalition-and-party-for-socialism-and-liberation/
PSL/ANSWER Response to Open Letter
https://blackisbackcoalition.org/the-black-is-back-coalition-responds-to-answer-psl-your-actions-speak-so-loudly-we-cant-hear-a-word-you-say/#answer
Black is Back Response to PSL/ANSWER Response
https://blackisbackcoalition.org/the-black-is-back-coalition-responds-to-answer-psl-your-actions-speak-so-loudly-we-cant-hear-a-word-you-say/
In the open letter, PSL/ANSWER is accused of scheduling a rally at the same date, time, and place as a rally planned by Black is Back and doing so as a form of opportunism and cooptation.
In the response, PSL/ANSWER says they didn't set the date, the coalition running the rally did.
The Black is Back response is to say that PSL has never participated in their rally for the past 15 years, that they expected PSL to tell them about the Palestine rally directly instead of finding out about it via social, and that PSL told the Palestine coalition that PSL couldn't do earlier than Nov 4 because of other things on the calendar (which they construe as insisting on Nov 4). They further state that Becker said PSL is under white leadership, but link to him saying "there is white leadership", and then he says "most of our leadership is young Black and Latino and young Asian American".
Read through it all. Take notes. Dig into the sources cited. Recognize hearsay.
I don't know why Black is Back is doing what they're doing here. I think it's worth examining. I don't trust the Becker brothers fully, and I'm more inclined to trust marginalized groups than old white guys, so I'm willing to maintain an open mind that PSL is led by bad actors and is part of controlled opposition. That said, the accusations against PSL are not convincing me at this time.
Thanks for summing it up! I think this more or less closes the case.
That said, the accusations against PSL are not convincing me at this time.
Same here. Though i did not like the rude, accusatory tone of PSL's response...
They further state that Becker said PSL is under white leadership,
This frustrated me. When you go listen to the actual interview this is not what he said at all.
However if such conflicts and accusations persist in the future i think Becker should step down and allow some of that younger leadership he was talking about to take over.
There have been other flare ups in the past. The Beckers have been active for a very long time, there's bound to be some accusations and some actual missteps.
I think critical support is the order of the day - both for PSL and for APSP. They could both be in the wrong here, in different ways.
I think critical support is the order of the day - both for PSL and for APSP.
Completely agree.
They could both be in the wrong here, in different ways.
That's what it looks like to me. I cannot in good conscience say that either of them has acted perfectly. But i have long been of the opinion that expecting perfection from revolutionary, anti-imperialist and anti-colonial resistance movements is wrecker behavior.
OK, so here's some details:
Black is Back Open Letter
https://blackisbackcoalition.org/open-letter-to-brian-becker-of-the-answer-coalition-and-party-for-socialism-and-liberation/
PSL/ANSWER Response to Open Letter
https://blackisbackcoalition.org/the-black-is-back-coalition-responds-to-answer-psl-your-actions-speak-so-loudly-we-cant-hear-a-word-you-say/#answer
Black is Back Response to PSL/ANSWER Response
https://blackisbackcoalition.org/the-black-is-back-coalition-responds-to-answer-psl-your-actions-speak-so-loudly-we-cant-hear-a-word-you-say/
In the open letter, PSL/ANSWER is accused of scheduling a rally at the same date, time, and place as a rally planned by Black is Back and doing so as a form of opportunism and cooptation.
In the response, PSL/ANSWER says they didn't set the date, the coalition running the rally did.
The Black is Back response is to say that PSL has never participated in their rally for the past 15 years, that they expected PSL to tell them about the Palestine rally directly instead of finding out about it via social, and that PSL told the Palestine coalition that PSL couldn't do earlier than Nov 4 because of other things on the calendar (which they construe as insisting on Nov 4). They further state that Becker said PSL is under white leadership, but link to him saying "there is white leadership", and then he says "most of our leadership is young Black and Latino and young Asian American".
Read through it all. Take notes. Dig into the sources cited. Recognize hearsay.
I don't know why Black is Back is doing what they're doing here. I think it's worth examining. I don't trust the Becker brothers fully, and I'm more inclined to trust marginalized groups than old white guys, so I'm willing to maintain an open mind that PSL is led by bad actors and is part of controlled opposition. That said, the accusations against PSL are not convincing me at this time.
Thanks for summing it up! I think this more or less closes the case.
Same here. Though i did not like the rude, accusatory tone of PSL's response...
This frustrated me. When you go listen to the actual interview this is not what he said at all.
However if such conflicts and accusations persist in the future i think Becker should step down and allow some of that younger leadership he was talking about to take over.
There have been other flare ups in the past. The Beckers have been active for a very long time, there's bound to be some accusations and some actual missteps.
I think critical support is the order of the day - both for PSL and for APSP. They could both be in the wrong here, in different ways.
Completely agree.
That's what it looks like to me. I cannot in good conscience say that either of them has acted perfectly. But i have long been of the opinion that expecting perfection from revolutionary, anti-imperialist and anti-colonial resistance movements is wrecker behavior.