Sandy Rosen, presente

Still not an obituary. A comment. And an appeal.

My mother, Sandy Rosen, died two weeks ago. It’s my mom – the photos I have been sharing have felt both ‘family’ and personal. The travel stuff is a celebration. The post-stroke photos are a refusal to surrender, tributes to spirit. I have shared warmth, strength, and joy.

But conviction? My mother was political. Was an activist. You got a hint at my mentions of union activity. But she did so much more. And so much of how she defined herself was around politics. Created herself. These were not traditions (including unionism) that she adopted from her family and friends.

My mother demonstrated against the Viet Nam war. She got involved supporting Black Panthers, and later members of the Black Liberation Army when they were being targeted by the government. She supported Puerto Rican Liberation.

There are good union stories – I don’t mean to erase those. And I will tell them another time. But she fought to do what was right, both to build unions, and within her unions and their struggles.

So the fight against racism, and for Black Liberation, they were huge for Sandy. Standing up for, organizing defense for those targeted by the United States government for their political activism.

And Palestine. The fight for Palestinian liberation was central to who my mother was. Palestinian husband. Deeply anti-Zionist. Especially towards the end of her life, the struggle for Palestine became her #1 cause.

These issues? She chose to be involved. She chose to define herself through these issues more than any others. Her choice, Her right. And I honor her, and her choices.

Cut to the chase. Some folks have asked where to send donations. I’m looking at her will. I’m looking at the fundraising appeals she sent me while she was alive.

1. Refusers Solidarity Network. Support those who refuse to serve in the IOF. That was their old name – they are officially the Resistance Solidarity Network. Go read about them. And then, if you want to honor my mother’s memory with a gift, donate. She would approve.
2. Rosenberg Fund for Children. Support the children of activists who have been targeted by the US Government. Summer camp. Special classes. Therapy. What the kids need. Founded by the son of Communist Party members who were murdered by the United States government. So that the kids could have support. Go read about the RFC. And if you want to honor my mother’s memory with a gift, donate to the Rosenberg Fund for Children.

I’ll be blunt: my mom was blunt. These are good causes. And they make people uncomfortable. So be it.

I will find more “activism” photos. When you are focused like that, though, and when no one has cell phones yet, not even flip phones, these are not the moments that people are most likely to pause and pose.