HAPPY JULY 4th! HAPPY ANTI-JULY 4th!!   Mark your Calendars: HELP SPREAD THE WORD!   Resistance in Brooklyn’s Annual Anti-July 4th BBQ in conjunction with A New by FlashMall" href="#91616528"> Black Arts Movement   CELEBRATES SEKOU ODINGA and the Sekou Odinga Defense Committee SUNDAY, JULY 26th, 2015   724 EMPIRE BOULEVARD, BROOKLYN (Between Albany and Troy Avenues; 2 or 5 by FlashMall" href="#30865788"> Trains to Sterling Street OR 3, 4, or 5 by FlashMall" href="#93518291"> Trains to Utica Avenue)   4 pm – 8 pm   $12-20 suggested contribution – more if you can, less if you can’t; No one turned away for lack of cash BUT THIS IS A FUNDRAISER FOR SEKOU AND THE SODC so bring your check-books and big bills!!   by FlashMall" href="#56477139"> FREETHE LAND! FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!! FREE OURSELVES!!!  RnB has been holding anti-July 4th BBQs to raise funds for various people and causes, for over 20 years. Here's what we have to say in 2015: The “USA” Empire is in a state of dire distress. At a time of escalating racist violence (by both cops and right-wing terrorists), and increasing economic crisis, we need to not celebrate white supremacist settler colonialism, but rather the struggles of people of African descent, Native peoples, Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, and others -- upon whom US citizenship of a second-class nature was bestowed often against the will of the those involved. The fact that “Black lives” have mainly “mattered” as a source of cheap/free labor and cannon fodder, as Frederick Douglass poignantly pointed out in his iconic “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?,” is indeed nothing to celebrate.Resistance to imperialism and the building of liberation movements is what we must celebrate, and we can think of no better symbol of such resistance this past year than the steadfast and strong Sekou Odinga. After an outrageous 34 years in prison, subjected to torturous conditions and a disproportional sentence based purely on his political work as a Black Panther and liberation activist, Sekou came back to this side of the wall with a bright smile and continued devotion to the people. His example of lifelong commitment and continuity must be an inspiration for all to follow and support, so we are deeply honored to spotlight and celebrate Sekou Odinga & the Sekou Odinga Defense Committee. It is no coincidence that the SODC, a vibrant group in itself, has been led by the also-amazing dequi kioni-sadiki (Sekou’s beloved as well as chair of the Malcolm X Commemoration Committee), who we also join in honoring. Mark your Calendars: HELP SPREAD THE WORD!