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Networking for justice

By Edward A. Brown

 

Propelled by steady online snowballing, progressive networking group “Socializing for Justice” marked its spectacular ascent into Boston’s consciousness last night with its largest event yet.

About 150 self-described feminists, anti-racists, queer pioneers, gender-benders, environmental agitators, lefty artists, class activists and other justice-seekers stopped by Foggy Goggle’s on Boylston Street for fishbowls and lager, and left a couple hours later with new connections, friendships and a pleasant evening buzz.

“We feel that we’ve reached the tipping point,” said Hilary Allen, SoJust’s assistant organizer. “It’s not about us inviting our friends anymore. The word is out there.”

While the word originally emanated from a MeetUp.com site, where organizer Robbie Samuels continues to host the group, it has since found its way onto countless email lists, event-based websites and discussion chains. Five guests selected at random said they had each heard of the event from a different online source.

“Six weeks after we started there were 50 people here at Foggy Goggle and 150 signed up on the [MeetUp.com] list,” said Samuels. “Now, just shy of six months, there are almost 400 people signed up and every event gets bigger. More people know about it from all kinds of spaces and places.”

Mentions in the Globe’s Sidekick, The Phoenix and the Metro confirm those spaces and places have moved beyond the internet, and Samuels is expecting continued growth.

“We are making an effort to put the word out beyond progressive liberal spaces,” he said. “We [also] want people who don’t necessarily know or identify with the groups who are already here because there is a space for them here. They don’t have to already be involved.” 

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