Editorial Board Minutes 11-14-23

Call to Order

An Editorial meeting of the Board of Unity–Struggle–Unity was held at 11-14-23 on Discord. It began at 3:00 PM EST and was presided over by J. Kats with the same as secretary.

Attendees

Voting members in attendance: Serj, J. Kats, Pariah (3:03)

Non-Voting Members in attendance: None
Guests in attendance: None

Members not in attendance: None

Proposed Agenda

NEW BUSINESS
- Communication from the Masses/collaboration – J. Kats
- Webinar
  - Attendance
  - recording
- The question of Rabbit revisited – J. Kats
- The question of Vinz revisited – J. Kats
- Request for DC group to use USU as affiliated org – J. Kats
- Editorial Direction – Roundtable
  - Serj: Artsakh = Palestine
  - Serj: Point of Education Under Capitalism
  - Rabbit: Defeat of Colonizer Statue
  - Pariah: Depressed Westerners
  - Pariah: Alberta’s Premier
  - Republishing essays

Running minutes

Reviewed agenda
NEW BUSINESS:
- Communication from the Masses
  - Editor of the Masses joined the discord to be in the training on Wednesday
  - They are a Maoist newspaper that appears to be entirely online (www.the-masses.org)
  - J. Kats reached out to the Masses by email earlier this month and the editor said that they would like to work with us
  - Ways in which we might work together would depend on a lot of different factors
  - Have a conversation with the editor of the Masses after the Wednesday training
  - Serj: hesitant about dissolving because our mission is so unique – would want to confirm that the Masses are also as dedicated to that path
- Webinar issues
  - We should send out another email for people to join the discord for the webinar
  - Should post one last round of social media posts to get last-minute joiners for tomorrow
  - J. Kats thinks that we should try to record the webinar and post it on youtube
  - J. Kats will send out email
  - Pariah to send out social media posts
- Motion to suspend Rabbit’s good standing passes
- Motion to remove Vinz as a supporter passes
- Request for DC group to use USU as affiliate
  - Read into record:
    - Hey Katsfoter, a group in DC that’s organizing around Palestinian liberation has asked me to reach out to y’all on their behalf. From my understanding they want to post their flyers/events on official message boards of the larger palestinian activists groups, but in order to do so they need backing of an “official” organization. I told them ab y’all and the possibility of coordinating with yall to use USU’s name and logo in their actions. I’m not directly involved with the organizing but I can testify to their revolutionary commitment. If this is something that is of interest I can send you their message they’ve been sending out to groups and get y’all in contact
    - Good afternoon,
    - A group of independent organizers based in D.C., are looking for sponsorship for a canvasing event along at Bryant St. on Thursday 16th of November at 5:30 pm, as well as sponsorship for future action items.
    - We know that the Shut It Down for Palestine marches are essential to the disruption of daily life as a way to keep the public’s concern on the genocide in Palestine. As individuals who all exist within marginalized communities, we know the importance of diverse action. One thing that our group has noticed is a lack of action items in heavily gentrified neighborhoods, there for the residents in those neighborhoods lack an opportunity to become knowledgeable on the movement for Palestinian liberations as well as an opportunity to join to the movement. Our future action items will not only focus on promoting the larger action items, but ensuring educational action is taken in these areas too.
    - Besides our item on the 16th, we also have some teach-ins that we will be supporting/help organizing over the next couple of weeks. Any support or resources that your organization may be able to extend to us would be greatly appreciated.
    - Sincerely,
    - Comrade K. Blount, Y. Awad, S. Abdelghani
  - Board thinks we should go forward with affiliation and carrying the paper
  - Maybe reach out to the PFLP on telegram?
- Editorial Direction
  - Serj new outline – this is for anyone to write
  - How is the education piece coming?
    - It’s not!
    - Serj will sit in writing room and write
    - Submit something date: this Sunday
  - J. Kats will take Serj’s outline
  - Pariah: Premier piece is very close to being done – few more hours of baby duty, and then the most recent round of edits will be completed
  - Depressed Westerners: didn’t look at Serj’s outline, but the vibes are similar
  - Pariah will post depressed westerners draft so we can compare w/ Serj’s outline
  - Canada piece until sunday when something must be turned in
  - Can Soff look through the PD Goselin blog and also the piece that Serj saw
  - Maybe rotating role on a weekly basis for republication (Soff, Pariah, Serj, Kats) – that works
  - Pariah: MUG thing was pretty cool – impressed by the level of Marxist development, which was higher than certainly any Canadian Communist sect or party;
Pariah cannot get into channel (3:03 PM EST) – attempting to fix permissions

Main motions

WHEREFORE Cde. Rabbit has failed to uphold the labor commitments as required by Art. I, Sections 3 and 7 of the Bylaws and failed to “maintain regular communication” as required by that same section, LET IT BE RESOLVED that Cde. Rabbit shall forfeit his good standing.
WHEREFORE Cde. Vinz will have failed to pay dues under Art. IV, Section 2 of the Bylaws on 11/16, LET IT BE RESOLVED that, at that, time he shall be removed as a supporter of the Press.

Action Items

J. Kats to send email for webinar
Pariah to do social posts for webinar
Serj to post on instagram for webinar
J. Kats to tell DC group through contact how to affiliate

Announcements

Oct-Nov. Papers received; need payment from CCAP

Adjournment

Serj moved that the meeting be adjourned, and this was agreed upon at 3:24 PM EST.