The Evergreen State College chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) was suspended in the wake of a rebellion at a Dead Prez show, in which a police car was vandalized and students rose up against the police. Evergreen SDS organizers Filemón Bohmer-Tapia and Courtney Franz do a pretty solid interview on matters. A snippet:

Filemón Bohmer-Tapia: Whether or not people agree with the destruction of the police car, it is important to realize the context in which it happened. There was an unjust and what many would call a racist arrest, and police violence against a peaceful crowd before any there was any property damage. That night, the Olympia community stood in solidarity against the abuse of power that is synonymous with police behavior.

Courtney Franz: In contrast to the aggressive tack the College and Police have taken against students both during and after the Dead Prez concert, the administration has not acknowledged the racism of the concert arrest or the sexism of a recent campus rape-at-gunpoint. It has been five months since the rape, and the campus police have not been anywhere near as ardent in pursuing any rapists on campus as in pursuing its own students at a post-concert protest. The oppressive nature of these events is inherently political and affects the basic safety of everyone on campus, especially womyn and people of color.

Interview conducted by longtime activist Ron Jacobs. Piece includes contact info on how to speak up for the SDS activists.

Via Dissident Voice

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