The United States Social Forum kicked off today in Detroit, Michigan.
The theme of the forum is "Another world is possible, another US is necessary, and another Detroit is underway." Tens of thousands of participants arrived from all over the world to take part in the largest convergence of social movements in recent US history.
Residents from Portland, Eugene, Olympia, and Seattle rode across the country on a big blue school bus to get to Detroit. The Cascadia Freedom Caravan aims to connect local campaigns and struggles in the Northwest to an emerging global movement against economic and ecological crisis.
Dozens of Cascadians participated in today's Poverty Summit including members of Sisters of the Road, Right 2 Survive, and Reclaim PDX.
After the Summit, Portlanders took to the street in solidarity with local organizers protesting utility shut offs.
Anne Grimmett of the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization talks about the campaign against the Detroit Energy company, DTE.
The protest in front of DTE was one of many convergence points that brought people from around the US and around the globe to Detroit this week.
The march returned to Cobo Hall for the Social Forum's Opening Ceremonies. On the bill tonight are Detroit activists and hip hop artists, as well as communiques from Mumia Abu Jamal and Leonard Peltier.
KBOO reporters are on the ground in Detroit, and will continue to bring you updates from the US Social forum throughout the week.
More information about the bus trip from Portland to Detroit:
- KBOO