Montreal/ Canada: ANTI-RACIST ACTION NETWORK CONFERENCE 19-21.10. 2001

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YOUTH AGAINST HATE: THE 8TH ANNUAL ANTI-RACIST ACTION NETWORK CONFERENCE
Montréal, Québec, Canada
Friday, October 19-Sunday, October 21, 2001

From October 19-21, 2001, Montréal will host YOUTH AGAINST HATE - the 8th
annual Anti-Racist Action (ARA) Network Conference. The conference will
attract over 250 youth from all across Canada, the United States and Europe.

The focus of the gathering is to strengthen ARA's work in exposing,
opposing and confronting the organized racist right, in the context of
discussing the real, day-to-day issues and experiences of racism, sexism,
homophobia and other forms of bigotry encountered and combated by youths
themselves.

This will be the largest anti-racist youth conference held in North America
and will provide a crucial opportunity for youth from different communities
to come together to discuss bigotry and discrimination as it relates to
their lives and effective ways to counter hatred.

Every component of the conference, from what workshops will be offered to
the decision-making structure of the plenaries to the entertainment and food
provided to conference attendees, will be decided upon by the youth involved
in the conference.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: PIERRE GEORGE

Pierre George is a First Nations activist and one of the defenders of
Aazhoodena Territory (also known as Stoney Point, Ontario) who stood with
other unarmed defenders against the Ontario Provincial Police Tactical Squad
on the night of September 5, 2001. His brother Dudley was assassinated that
night by OPP Sergeant Kenneth Deane, who shot Dudley. Since then, Pierre
has worked tirelessly to hold those responsible for his brother’s murder
accountable and to continue to defend Aazhoodena Territory.

WHAT IS THE ANTI-RACIST ACTION NETWORK?

In 1987, a group of young people in Minneapolis experiencing problems with
racism formed the first chapter of Anti-Racist Action (ARA). They began a
militant and highly successful campaign of direct action against white
supremacist recruitment and activities in the Twin Cities. Their model of
action soon caught on in other cities, where like-minded youth began forming
other ARA chapters.

In 1994, a network of anti-racist organizations, including several ARA
chapters, formed the Midwest Anti-Fascist Network (MAFNET) at a conference
in Columbus, Ohio The following year, MAFNET changed its name and
structure to become the Anti-Racist Action Network. Six years later, the
ARA Network has established and maintained chapters in over 200 communities
in the United States, Canada and South America. Member chapters of the ARA
Network are entirely autonomous and decide for themselves what activities
and issues they will take on in their communities. All ARA Network chapters
subscribe to the Anti-Racist Action Points Of Unity, which are:

1) WE GO WHERE THEY GO: Whenever fascists are organizing or active in
public, we're there. We don't believe in ignoring them or staying away from
them. Never let the nazis have the street!

2) WE DON'T RELY ON THE COPS OR THE COURTS TO DO OUR WORK FOR US: This
doesn't mean we never go to court. But we must rely on ourselves to protect
ourselves and stop the fascists.

3) NON-SECTARIAN DEFENSE OF OTHER ANTI-FASCISTS: In ARA, we have lots of
different groups and individuals. We don't agree about everything and we
have a right to differ openly. But in this movement an attack on one is an
attack on us all. We stand behind each other.

4) We support abortion rights and reproductive freedom. ARA intends to do
the hard work necessary to build a broad, strong movement against racism,
sexism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, discrimination against the disabled, the
oldest, the youngest and the most oppressed people. WE INTEND TO WIN!

From its ouset, membership in ARA has been mainly people between the ages of
15-25. ARA is unique among anti-racist organizations in that it has been
almost entirely organized, funded and directed by people in this age range.

For more information on ARA, please see: www.antiracistaction.ca.

IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE OR WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION

Additional information regarding YOUTH AGAINST HATE - The 8th Annual
Anti-Racist Action Network Conference, as well as an on-line registration
form, can be found at:

www.antiracistaction.ca/conference

We encourage anyone interested in this important social issue to consider
attending the conference.

For more information, please contact:

McGill University Anti-Racist Action
Box B-09, William Shatner Bldg., 3480 Mactavish
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 1X9
email:  ara_mcgill@hotmail.com

Action Anti-Raciste/Anti-Racist Action Montréal
#8, 414 Mont Royal Est
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
H2J 1W1
ph: (514) 573-STOP (514.573.7867)
e-mail:  aramontreal@hotmail.com
website:  http://www.antiracistaction.ca/montreal
ara canada website:  http://www.antiracistaction.ca
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