Over 200 people recently gathered at the Gateway Classic Foundation for the 32nd Anniversary Celebration of the Organization for Black Struggle (OBS).  It was the traditional gathering of celebrants who stood with OBS in our fight for “Black working class empowerment, economic justice and cultural dignity” in 2011. They came out to reunite and to reaffirm their support to “Black People on the Move” and to hear OBS’ vision for struggle in 2012.

That vision was embodied in the theme “Beyond Occupy! Black Liberation: Why the System Must Change.” The keynote speaker was Robbie Clark, housing organizer with Just Cause: Causa Justa in Oakland and an Oakland Occupy organizer. Robbie’s presentation brought the theme to life.

Said Robbie:  “The Occupy movement has provided a wonderful and incredible moment in our struggle for liberation and (in the) fight for justice. Occupy brought class war to the forefront, on CNN and Fox news. It challenged middle class people’s thinking. It gave the 99% a common goal and enemy. Occupy movement gives us an opportunity to build a revolutionary movement in the United States. Our role as revolutionaries is to transform spontaneous movements into conscious movements. It is conscious organizing that anchors spontaneous movement. Black people must take the lead of the Occupy movement. Black people have an extremely clear understanding of how society works. You can’t fight against economic inequality and not have Black folk leading.”

Robbie talked about the need to build a united front of the working class of all nations within the U.S. to build the movement for revolutionary change.

The program included a Rites of Passage Ceremony for two female members of the Youth Council for Positive Development – the youth component of OBS. The 2011 recipient of the Jamala Rogers Scholar Award, Jonathan Long was recognized along with his mother. The Youth Cultural Theatre performed their hip-hop version of the poem “Occupy” by Chicano poet Joe Navarro.

OBS chair Montague Simmons closed out the program with the annual “State of the Organization Report”. He talked about the need to give critical support to Obama’s re-election. During this election year, politicians will make their usual promises but only you can save yourself by organizing and participating in the struggle for real change for the people. He talked about the need for a coordinated plan of struggle. Conscious people need to be in an organization that’s fighting for change! He urged everyone to understand that their work coming out of the anniversary was to continue to build the fight against injustices in St.Louis.