Coffee Party comes to campus!

Eric Byler, Coffee Party USA

Tonight, equipped with coffee cake from Chinatown, pastries from Au Bon Pain, and a wide assortment of drinks (yes, coffee), AAA collaborated with the Harvard College Democrats to host an event with Coffee Party USA. Eric Byler, award winning filmmaker and one of the founders of the Coffee Party, joined students, alums, and community members for a fruitful discussion in Harvard Hall.

Coffee Party USA was born a few months ago in response to the antagonism and intolerance of the Tea Party. It's all about facilitating discussion among people who want to see cooperation in government, and don't share the radical positions of the "Tea Party" protesters that fill up our news.

By the time the Coffee Party was born, Eric had gained netroots organizing experience from his work on 9500 Liberty, a documentary/political movement resisting the anti-immigration policies of his county in Virginia. The law that was passed (then repealed, thank goodness) legitimized and encouraged racial profiling is just like the new law threatening immigrants in Arizona. 9500 Liberty is showing this Sunday at the Boston Independent Film Festival.

What came out of tonight was a productive discussion about the ways that students can have a voice in the national political discussion. Sure, many of us don't identify with the radicalism that we see on TV, but what do we do about it? How are we using social media effectively to make our voice heard? What we hope to do next is to stay connected with the Coffee Party and continue to engage students on campus politically.

-- Jenny

Educational/Political Co-chair

what's coming up next: PREFROSH WEEKEND. WE'RE SO EXCITED FOR THE CLASS OF 2014!!!