New Book by STPEC’s Shemon Salam Examines the Uprising Following the Killing of George Floyd

Image

Shemon Salam, lecturer in the social thought and political economy (STPEC) program, has co-authored a timely new book, “The Revolutionary Meaning of the George Floyd Uprising,” which was published shortly before the current trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing Floyd in May 2020. The death of Floyd, of course, sparked protests large and small, peaceful and sometimes violent, across America.

“The Black proletariat led the charge,” reads the description of the book, published by Daraja Press, “but white, Latinx, Asian and Indigenous proletarians also joined the fight, demonstrating new possibilities for building alliances. While anti-police rebellions continued throughout the summer and fall, the uprising receded with the start of the winter. But this conflict is far from over.”

In an attempt to think through the experience of the uprising – and prepare for the great struggles that are coming – Shemon and co-author Arturo Castillon provide an in-depth analysis of what exactly happened during the 2020 uprising, its potentials, internal limits and strategic implications.

An activist since 2001, Shemon has organized against the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and has been involved in anti-racist struggles around U.S. bases in South Korea, Islamophobia and police brutality. He was also involved in the Occupy Wall Street movement and in organizing fast food workers in New York City.

“The Revolutionary Meaning of the George Floyd Uprising” is available for purchase in print or as a PDF directly from Daraja Press.