Monday, June 2 @ 8PM ET
TOPIC: History of U.S. Imperialism with special guest: Claudia De la Cruz
Session Description:
We begin by tracing the roots of U.S. imperialism, revealing how military dominance and colonial expansion laid the groundwork for modern forms of fascism and racialized violence. Understanding this history is key to resisting its ongoing impacts.
This session features special guest Claudia De la Cruz, an educator, community organizer, and theologian with over 20 years of experience building movements across the U.S. and internationally. A co-founder of The People’s Forum (2018), Claudia has dedicated her life to organizing at the intersections of labor, education, and liberation, rooting her work in the long history of U.S. imperialism and anti-colonial resistance.
From Indigenous displacement and the war with Mexico to occupations in Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Hawai‘i. We’ll explore key moments like the Spanish-American War, Cold War interventions, and post-9/11 wars, while connecting overseas empire-building to domestic policies like policing and racism. We’ll also highlight resistance—from global movements to U.S. voices like W.E.B. Du Bois, the Black Panthers, and anti-war veterans.