Chomsky - [On] The IWW and Anarcho-Syndicalism

This is some email communication I had with Mr. Chomsky. I'm putting it up here because it ought to be up here. I sent this while I was reading the Industrial Worker, and also wondering about the Cornell ISSE and if it could play any role is actually contributing to any change in workers' rights in Ithaca NY, or just be another college reading circle. Chomsky's response follows.

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Ian Schlom ...	Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 5:23 PM
To: Chomsky...
Dear Professor Chomsky, I've heard rumor (Wikipedia) that you are a member of the IWW. Do you think that the IWW is a viable means for bringing worker justice or even anarcho-syndicalism? If it's not too much, I'd also love to hear your position on strategies that are openly socialist, like Socialist parties or organisations, if those tactics are "too early" and put off people. Thank you, Ian Schlom

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Noam Chomsky	Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 5:51 PM
Reply-To: chomsky... To: Ian Schlom ...
Yes, I’m a member. The IWW was quite significant a century ago, before it was wiped out by Woodrow Wilson. It’s be slightly resuscitated in recent years, and is doing some good things, but it’s a collection of very small groups. The problem with Socialist organizations right now is not choice of strategies, but bringing them into existence. Right now most of the battles are defensive: trying to preserve what was once achieved. If that doesn’t change soon, it will be too late. NC

Walk-Out and March in Ithaca NY

students from the Lehman Alternative Community School walked out at 2p.m. in solidarity with Wisconsinites and democracy, and in unison with students in Portland. During lunch the protesting students made signs for which to carry while marching. At 2p.m., teachers gathered to see off the high school students, and after hearing a speech by the principal Joe Greenberg, telling them that those who signed out to protest would be getting community service credit, the students left.
They marched down State st. to the Commons to gather, in which two students spoke on why they were there. They decided to march the entire commons chanting their chants: "We love our teachers, and their union too!", spelling UNION, "Ithaca Fights for Union Rights", "Ithaca Fights for Teachers' Rights". After, they chanted at the Ithaca Journal, trying to get media exposure. Then, went to New Roots charter school to get anyone who would come out, marching then down to Ithaca High School (IHS), chanting all the way (although the back of the long line was less intense in chanting). When they got to IHS, chanting on campus while the school was in session made officials come out telling the protesters to come back after school was over, at 3:32.
The protesters retreated to the bridge. Three IHS students joined them on the bridge. In total, according to a count by a member of the protesters, there were roughly 95 students there. At 3:32, the protesters came to the bus lot, and chanted on their lawn, in accordance with ICSD officials. As it was disbanding, students with signs met with IHS students and asked them if they would like to know why they were protesting.