“We are not here to make a case for the South. We are the South” – Paulina Helm-Hernandez

On April 26th – 28th 2013, SONG rolled South to Jacksonville FL, where we joined forces with over 40 other Southern racial and economic justice organizations. This process is a continuation of the 1st Southern Movement Assembly held Sept 2012 in Lowndes County, AL. 30 SONG members, member leaders and staff joined 150 other movement leaders from around the region.

CHECK OUT THE GREAT COVERAGE OF OUR ACTION AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE APRIL 28th HERE

“The Southern Freedom Movement Began when the First Enslaved Person decided to resist”– Trap Bonner, Crescent City Media

For many years our organizations and movements have talked about how we BELONG together + we must work across our different issues – worker rights, immigration, anti-hunger, anti-poverty, but now with the Southern Movement Assembly we are creating a process, collectively to develop strategy and take action together.

Regional Synthesis Statement and Priorities for this Summer:

• We recognize the Southern Freedom Movement is growing power.
• We recognize that a rising 21st century Confederacy is attacking our families at every level of existence.
• We need decolonization strategies to free our minds, free our bodies, and free our people.
• As a 21st Century Southern Freedom Movement, we recognize that our oppression is connected to the global South and our liberation is imperative to the global South.

This summer, we commit to build Southern Force through five action strategies:

1)   Building our Base > We commit to building our numbers through organizing.

2)   Education for Liberation > We commit to sharpening our understanding and politics through all forms of education.

3)   Building our relationships for greater political alignment > We commit to build relationships through the Southern Workers’ Assembly, Caravans, Tours, Delegations, Exchanges, & strategic communications with each other.

4)   Facilitating Community Forums & Assemblies > We commit to facilitating forums & assemblies to practice participatory research and community governance.

5)   Creating new communications & media > We commit to telling our own stories through innovative communications and media strategies.

 

For more information about the Southern Movement Assembly and to get involved visit: southtosouth.org or email kindred@southernersonnewground.org

More pictures can be found on our FLICKR page www.flickr.com/ignitekindred – Thanks Jazz and Beck and all the amazing folks who documented the weekend!