The US Social Forum: Building from the Bottom Up

Abstract

One of the salient characteristics of the United States Social Forum (USSF) was its diversity. The driving force behind the organizing of the USSF was a sector of grassroots organizations largely overlooked in national politics. This grassroots movement represents the potential for new political direction and hope for fundamental change in the US. The World Social Forum is a global phenomenon that was conceived through important historical precedents. Global Justice Alliance (GGJ) was created to provide capacity for the grassroots sector to be proactive in its participation internationally and to strengthen national grassroots movement building in the United States. The USSF was testimony to the resiliency of the people who make up the grassroots Global Justice Movement (GJM) in the United States - the poor, the marginalized, the unrepresented. Keywords: Global Justice Alliance (GGJ); Global Justice Movement (GJM); grassroots movement; United States Social Forum (USSF)