Principles of Unity

What are the shared principles that guide us?
The principles of unity that connect the members of the Southern Movement Assembly reflect many years of organizational partnerships and a synthesis of ideas based in collective practice and historical examples. The principles serve to name who we are, what we believe, and our purpose for working together to advance the Southern Freedom Movement in the 21st Century. These principles reaffirm the foundational belief that we are stronger together, accountable to groups/organizations, and that we work together as a formation because we know our struggles are connected and that our liberation is tied to one another. These principles will be evaluated and evolved periodically.

What is Our Accountability Process to Our Principles of Unity?
Southern Movement Assembly member organizations are committed to staying in right relation with each other, our shared practices and principles, and our movement legacies of collective work. We commit to accountability practices that uphold our shared commitments, and are not rooted in punishment or state intervention. We practice grace with consequences and commit to assessment and acknowledgment so that we move forward as a stronger collective. The SMA creates and implements De-escalation Processes with the Governance and Work Teams rooted in intention and reciprocal relationships. IF SMA PRINCIPLES ARE VIOLATED by individuals or organizations, they will be asked to engage in a principled dialogue to resolve and reconcile relationships. Organizational leadership with Governance Team members will be engaged directly to co-create a transformative and rigorous process that fits the situation.
If all else fails, individuals or organizations will be asked to remove themselves from the formation. 

Conflict Resolution process will include: Direct communication
Collective process (we will not move unilaterally to solve problem) Organizations will be engaged based on representation.
We will practice care and intention to support resolutions

Rooted in History

Community Governance

Organizational Autonomy

Defend Our Ground

Multiple Strategies

Local Leadership

Principle Dialogue

Collective Accountability

Resist and Build Framework

What is Southern Movement Assembly?

The Southern Movement Assembly (SMA) is a formation of organizations and groups that have come together to build movement, infrastructure, and power. 

Initiated in 2012, the SMA organizes Peoples Movement  Assemblies to gather our people based on geography or frontline to analyze the situation, create a vision, and commit to a plan of action. 

We believe that we are stronger together, and that we cannot fundamentally transform systems of oppression as individuals or singular organizations.

Together, we will grow Southern people power!

BECOME A MEMBER
“The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands.”

Southern Movement Assembly Statement of Purpose

In view of an ongoing capitalist collapse, intensified by white supremacy, climate crisis, and rising fascism, the function of the SMA is to converge Southern frontline assemblies to collectively develop SHARED ACTION PLANS rooted in political alignment.  The role of LEADERSHIP is to practice bottom-up, grassroots governance to build the infrastructure to carry out the plan.

The Southern Movement Assembly consists of member organizations across the South who have made a commitment to building power to transform economic, social, and ecological systems. We are committed to developing movement governance from the bottom up.  Our political alignment  includes accountability to Southern frontlines and local leadership, legacies of U.S. South and Global South movements, a shared commitment to the Principles of Unity,  and a shared political vision of collective liberation for all people. 

SMA members represent groups and assemblies who are doing base building work and share a commitment to political education and organizing from the bottom up. To be in right relation with the membership requirements of the Southern Movement Assembly: members participate on SMA Work Teams; commit to preparation through orientation, engage in political education, training and monthly landscape assessment opportunities; practice accountability to a group/assembly/organization/formation; and commit to communicate back with our organizations and frontlines.

How Do We Intend To Achieve Our Mission?



Our strategies are straightforward. Through our local-based leadership, we are a community of change-makers working together to:
• Build shared power
• Expand democracy and community control
• Defend our communities from violence

Together, we are called to take action against all forms of injustice and increase resources that our communities control. Throughout history, grassroots organizers have been at the forefront of social change. SMA builds on that legacy by organizing our communities to build infrastructure for long-term liberation.

Mission in Depth

Build New Social Economies

Practice People's Democracy

Protect and Defend Communities

Participating Organizations

Participating Organizations align with the Principles of Unity, participate in Southern Movement Assemblies, the annual Organizing Intensive, and participate in Work Teams that facilitate Community and Frontline Assemblies and support the overall organizing efforts. Over 100 organizations have participated in SMAs and have signed on to Southern Peoples Initiative since 2012.

Anchor Organizations have worked with the SMA for at least a year, align with the Principles of Unity, meet weekly and provide strategic direction, accumulate political analysis, initiate rapid response when needed, and coordinate the annual SMA, Organizing Intensive, and Work Teams.

List of Anchor Organizations

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