By Abner Bruno
On the eve of one of the nation’s most important presidential elections, the chairman of the African People’s Socialist Party and founder of the International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement, spoke to students on another position to consider while making the decision to vote.
Omali Yeshitela’s main goal is to defend the democratic rights of the African community and other oppressed people.
His speech entitled “Why Vote” attracted approximately 50 University students, mostly African-American, in the Plaza Room.
“We as black people need to gain a common understanding of what is happening” Yeshitela said. “You’re here because of incredible struggles.”
Yeshitela urged fellow blacks to become critical about why they join different organizations.
“Often we join an organization because it’s something to do,” he said. “It’s an important decision to make beyond just joining an organization because it is cool. It is a critical time in life and development.”
This introduced his stance on the upcoming election, which he referred to as “nonviolent struggles between different sectors to control the state.”
“Bush is not any different from any of the previous presidents,” Yeshitela said. “None of them care about the rights of black people.”
Yeshitela bolstered this argument by turning the focus on John Kerry and George W. Bush.
“There’s not much difference between Kerry and Bush,” he said. “We’ve created this illusion that George Bush is the problem.”
Yeshitela referenced the presidential election of 2000 saying Al Gore would have rather not been president, than bring up the Voting Rights Act and stand up for the rights of black people.
He believes African-Americans, as well as Latinos, Asians and all other oppressed groups around the world need to educate themselves, instead of taking everything at face value.
“The ruling class and the media are doing anything they can to create drama,” Yeshitela said.
He said the education the public receives encompasses what those in power want them to know. This education only provides an ideological basis for reciprocating what is taught.
“Education will not teach us how to be free,” he said. “It’s our responsibility to fight for our rights and the rights of our children.”
9/11 was another importent topic in Yeshitela’s speech.
“You’d think that it would open their consciousness and give them the ability to hear what people have to say,” Yeshitela said, referring to the American government.
“That’s what makes this election significant,” he said. “They are faced with the uprising of oppressed people around the world and they are looking for their own solutions.”
“We’re not going to win freedom on a ballot,” Yeshitela argued. “We did not vote ourselves into this and we can’t vote our way out of it.”