Many are local, but yes, they connect with networks across the country. Many have jobs - frequently (but not always) union jobs. I just listened to an organizing call for May Day protests that included speakers from SEIU, two different teachers unions, the flight attendant union (her husband is a lawyer for the Government Employees Union) - they were told to use their sick days to show up, sign up for specific roles, and to continue to train to be ready for any “spark” to move the cause forward.
When I was on the Left in the oughts there was nothing like this (but also the Left was nothing like it is now: anti-free speech, anti-civil rights, indifferent if not hostile to the working class, etc). The Left was desultory & uncoordinated & generally ignored by the Media except for times the Media wanted to point out some radical wingnuts. Now they are the Media. The Left shouted, unheeded, into the Void 20 years ago; now they are the Void
When these people come to a town, where do they stay? Don't they work? Who pays their expenses?
I would love to know more about their operations.
Many are local, but yes, they connect with networks across the country. Many have jobs - frequently (but not always) union jobs. I just listened to an organizing call for May Day protests that included speakers from SEIU, two different teachers unions, the flight attendant union (her husband is a lawyer for the Government Employees Union) - they were told to use their sick days to show up, sign up for specific roles, and to continue to train to be ready for any “spark” to move the cause forward.
May Day. So they’re not even hiding their radical genealogy, but embracing it.
Absolutely
When I was on the Left in the oughts there was nothing like this (but also the Left was nothing like it is now: anti-free speech, anti-civil rights, indifferent if not hostile to the working class, etc). The Left was desultory & uncoordinated & generally ignored by the Media except for times the Media wanted to point out some radical wingnuts. Now they are the Media. The Left shouted, unheeded, into the Void 20 years ago; now they are the Void
Excellent thought piece Julio. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽