An evening with George Sossenko, a veteran of the Spanish Civil War

When: Saturday, April 26, 2008
Where: 4701 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201 (in the neighborhood of Lawrenceville)

4:00pm: Potluck reception with food and drinks
5:00pm: Movie depicting the Spanish Civil War
7:00pm: George Sossenko will talk about his life, the fight for Spain, and the enduring appeal of the anarchist ideal, followed by socializing

In July 1936, the Spanish army attempted to overthrow the country’s popularly elected left wing government. In response, the Spanish people rose up to fight fascism. A long-awaited anarchist social revolution was unleashed with the creation of non-hierarchical militias fighting at the front, the collectivization of land by rural peasants, and the establishment of worker self-management of industrial Spain.

Within a month, 16-year-old George Sossenko headed for Spain; he left his parents a note stating that he was leaving his loved ones in Paris behind to join the struggle…that history was decided in the fight for Spain and he could not forgive himself if he failed to take part. Like thousands of other internationals from 54 countries, George gave up the comforts of home, determined to halt the spread of fascism creeping through Europe, to fight for his anarchist ideals. George fought in the Aragon front, with the Sebastian Faure unit of the International Brigades in the anarchist Durruti Column. Following the fall of Spain he continued to resist fighting the Nazis in north Africa, Italy, and his native France alongside units of the “Free French” resistance until Germany’s defeat.

In the decades since, George has continued the struggle, no longer with arms, but with the desire to aid the anarchist cause. Please join us at this special event, as we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and one who fought and lived that he might share his journey with new generations.

A former senior field engineer with Michelin, he is currently a member of the Capital Terminus anarchist collective in Atlanta, and author of the recent Spanish Language book “Aventurero Idealist,” soon to be published in English.

This event is part of the Anarchist Education and Speaker Series, an initiative of Pittsburgh Organizing Group.

Via Infoshop

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