The Organization for Black Struggle (OBS) was founded in 1980. A group of veteran activists, students, union organizers and community members in St. Louis were seeking to address the needs and issues of the Black working-class. There was a vacuum of Black radical leadership that could boldly speak and act, unencumbered by government or corporate structures. In retrospect, this was a challenging period.
The FBI’s CounterIntelligence Program, known as COINTELPRO, wreaked havoc on the leaders and organizations of the Black Liberation Movement. By 1980 the right was beginning to consolidate its power politically, with a conservative in the White House for the next 12 years. The country was struggling to get out of the economic recession. It was out of this abyss that OBS was born.
Join us for an important conversation examining the ongoing fight for community control and police accountability. Beginning with the police killing of Marilyn Banks, this panel will trace the organizing strategies led by the Coalition Against Police Crimes & Repression (CACPR) to advance local control and establish an independent civilian oversight board.
The Board of Police Commissioners is demanding $250-350 million of OUR tax dollars to fund police. St. Louisans are coming together to stop this attack and demand that St. Louis City’s budget go towards services and resources that actually help our communities–things like mental health service expansion, Right to Counsel, and funding for a just recovery in North City.
Friday, Feb 27 from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm CST Celebrate the grand opening of the Northside Movement Center, the new shared home for Action St. Louis & ArchCity Defenders!
We are outraged over the treatment of youth last weekend by the Mayor of St. Louis and SLMPD. After incidents were reported in North City, South City, and Downtown on 314 Day Weekend, the Mayor put a 10pm curfew in place for Downtown the following weekend. As a result, 23 youth from ages 11 to 17 were threatened, harassed, zip-tied, thrown into SLMPD vehicles, and taken to a non-disclosed location.
St. Louis – The 46th anniversary celebration of the Organization for Black Struggle was rescheduled due to the January snowstorm. This year’s event marked a significant departure from previous celebrations: the dinner portion was eliminated, and for the first time, the event included a partnership with the Museum Department of the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL).
To the members of the OBS—both past and present, as well as those who have made their transition—we stand on their shoulders. In the spirit of Imani, we value their contributions to the freedom struggles.
Organization for Black Struggle
P.O. Box 5277
St. Louis, MO 63115
contactus@obs-stl.org
