National Conference to Defeat Austerity

The photographs shown here were taken at the National Conference to Defeat Austerity on March 24 at the St. Matthews-St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in the North End district of Detroit. The event brought together hundreds of delegates from around the United States. Special guest Ricardo Santos Ramos, the former president of the Electrical Industry and Irrigation Workers Union of Puerto Rico, delivered a major address on the economic crisis in this U.S.-controlled colony.

Other speakers from Detroit, New York City, Baltimore, Boston, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Durham, N.C., and other cities discussed situations in their areas while hammering out solutions to the problems involving education, housing, water services, neocolonialism, food justice, imperialist war, labor organizing, cultural work and environmental justice. Solidarity statements were delivered on the common struggles in Palestine, Lebanon, the Philippines, Spain, Colombia, Italy and Cuba.

WW photos: Joseph Piette