CR 10 writer pact

I'm just home from Critical Resistance 10.  I made a pact with several other writers to blog about our experiences without processing too much.  To do something that felt live from the conference. I am keeping that pact. I will write more about the conference later as well.

Two words: Andrea Smith

The opening plenary sparkled like dancing lights when Andrea spoke. My body reacted with hoots and hollers and holy smokes.  The truth distilled feels so refreshing, it was like a meteor shower and a rain shower.  I'll search out those transcripts to be able to post stuff I hope.  She roared like a streamline railway train and her thoughts were connected, interconnected, sewn to the body of the room.  Yes. yes. 

The opening plenary was like an adrenal shot to my tired system. From the RNC to the ICE raids to everything everything everything. My reset button hit hard. 

I heard Angela Davis speak in LA a while back and at that time I realized that our fragmented leftist movements intersect in prison work.  Liberty and Justice for All --- when, how?

CR 10 did not disappoint.  Here the left stands united in our struggles. My experience of the people present made me feel like if we could have taken over that college space for three weeks...Lodged there and lived it...If we could have put up a giant dry erase board across the stage at the Scottish Rite building where the plenary was held...If we could have had those compassionate hearts and illuminated minds in that space calling out connections and intersections we could have come away with a focused game plan of action...A way to work in solidarity in every direction simultaneously. And I know that is what the Right Wing does, they have the time to form connections and alliances and info swap.  With us it is like a bunch of people who do 800 things and have 1o minutes to talk. I wish there was more time.  There were so many incredible panels offered that it was hard to choose. There were so many inspiring and 

amazing people present it was hard to choose.  

I have not yet reflected or processed to honor that pact.  I will write more.  There is so much to say. 

When we sat in the California Caucus and went through the propositions on the ballots -- I could not believe the level of hatefulness that is at stake in this state.  

I went to CR10 wondering if I would justify my paranoia and I did.  I will write more on reality and history's repetitions.  I will write more about the brilliant panel speakers.  About an accidental Oakland walking tour.  About the magic and fire of the people.