Founded in the Bay Area in 1997, the Institute for MultiRacial Justice is a resource center that aims to help build alliances among people of color against White Supremacy and for social justice. Never has this seemed more urgent than now, under an openly reactionary regime.

Today, as rightwing forces move to turn back the clock on progressive victories of the past, we see a resurgence of racism along with sexism, homophobia, and increasing class inequality. At the same time, the rapid population growth by people of color is viewed as a threat to Anglo domination. This has led to more racism and use of that old tactic 'Divide and Conquer.' Different peoples of color sometimes let themselves be divided. Sometimes we have real class differences. Sometimes we are just ignorant about each other's cultures, language, and history. Sometimes we start applying to other people of color the dominant society's racist stereotypes and scapegoating. Too often we just don't bother to think about how we can and must be allies in solving common problems. In all these and other ways we are hurting ourselves and our children.

For those reasons, the Institute for MultiRacial Justice seeks to be a permanent institution for building solidarity instead of divisions, replacing ignorance with knowledge, and helping progressive-minded people of color build a united front with longrange alliances against racist policies and actions. Our programs include: forums about common problems, setting up task forces to address conflicts among ourselves and form bonds of trust, educational events and materials such as videos, films and exhibits.

Our publication, Shades of Power, reports on efforts to build unity among peoples of color in the past and present. We also emphasize working with women's groups because women have often taken the lead in alliance-building. So often in the late 1990s, progressive activists have been on the defensive, trying to halt an unending assault of rightwing initiatives. We must go on the offensive. The Institute for MultiRacial Justice is an effort in that direction. It needs your voice, your ideas, your help.Join us in building this new project to move history forward!

Thank you.