UER at the Boston Social Forum, July 23-25, 2004

Over the weekend of July 23-25,2004, RCers from Boston, Massachusetts, USA took turns staffing a United to End Racism table and presenting two workshops at the Boston Social Forum. RCers listened to and talked with large numbers of people from all backgrounds about issues related to race, and about the work of UER. We collected names and contact information from about 100 people at the Forum.

Social Forums are a grassroots, international process designed to bring progressive groups together to share, network, and build alliances. The Boston Social Forum, under its slogan "Another World is Possible," was attended by over 5,000 people, sponsored over 600 workshops and cultural events, and provided space for 125 organizational display tables, including UER. Because it took place near to and just before the Democratic National Convention (and was organized in part as an alternative to it), there were many out-of-town participants and press. However, many people came from far away simply for the event itself.

UER had a visible and eye-catching table, with a large banner and UER posters high on the wall behind us. We proposed and led two successful workshops: "For Activists of Color: Combatting Burnout and Healing from the Damage Caused by Racism," and "The Role of White People in Ending Racism."