Party for Socialism and Liberation
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| Party for Socialism and Liberation | |
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| Party Chairman | |
| Senate Leader | |
| House Leader | |
| Founded | 2004 [1] |
| Headquarters | |
| Political ideology | Communism, Marxism-Leninism |
| Political position | Fiscal: Socialist economics Social: Revolutionary socialism |
| International affiliation | none |
| Color(s) | |
| Website | PSLweb.org |
The Party for Socialism and Liberation is a Marxist party in the United States founded to promote revolutionary change.[2] It was originally created as the result of a split within the ranks of the Workers World Party. The San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle and Washington, D.C. branches of WWP left almost in their entirety to form the PSL. The PSL has since established branches in several additional urban centers across the United States.
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[edit] Publications
The main publications of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, reflecting its political perspective, are the biweekly newspaper, Liberation, and the quarterly magazine, Socialism and Liberation. PSL outlines its political perspective, including its assessment of the current international and domestic situation in the pamphlet "Who We Are, What We Stand For." The PSL advocates building a revolutionary workers’ party in the United States.
[edit] International Views
The PSL supports the government of Cuba, and while a critic of the current Chinese government, it views the Chinese Revolution favorably. The PSL and WWP also supported the Chinese government's crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. The PSL also supports the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela – a frequent topic in its magazine. It has endorsed activities that call for the release of the Cuban Five – deemed political prisoners by supporters – and called for the extradition of Luis Posada Carriles from the US.[3]
The PSL supports the rights of nations to self determination. It has been among the most outspoken organization in condemning the state of Israel and its role in the Middle East. The PSL also led demonstrations against the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in July 2006. The PSL supports the right of return for Palestinian people.
[edit] Participation in the Anti-War Movement
The PSL is very active in the antiwar movement. It is a member of the steering committee of the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), which has taken a lead organizing role in mass antiwar demonstrations since 2001. Unlike the Workers World Party, which never maintained a formal position in the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition despite its clear influence, the PSL’s role within A.N.S.W.E.R. is overt. As one of the most active members of the coalition. PSL has gained notice for successfully forging ties with Arab and Muslim American groups such as the Muslim American Society, Al-Awda and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. This cooperation with these groups has been characterized by conservatives as dangerous collaboration with "Islamists".[4]
The National Offices of the Party for Socialism and Liberation are based in San Francisco, California and Washington, District of Columbia. The PSL also maintains branches and centers in Baltimore, MD; Chicago; Los Angeles, CA; New Haven, CT; New Paltz and New York City, NY; San Jose, CA; Seattle, WA; Sioux Falls, SD; and Miami, FL. The PSL's New York City branch is based in Harlem.
[edit] PSL electoral participation
For the 2008 U.S. elections, PSL is fielding candidates Gloria La Riva for President and Eugene Puryear for Vice President. In 1994 and 1998, La Riva was the Peace & Freedom Party candidate for governor of California, and was an independent candidate for U.S. vice president from 1984 to 2000. Michael Prysner, an anti-war Iraq war veteran, is also running for Congress in Florida's 22nd congressional district. The party is also running nine other candidates in three states and DC.[5]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Socialism and Liberation magazine is changing at pslweb.org, accessed 7 June 2008
- ^ About the Party for Socialism and Liberation at pslweb.org, accessed 4 June 2007.
- ^ Cuba Solidarity Campaign at pslweb.org, accessed 4 June 2007.
- ^ Ben Johnson, "Communists Against the Military, FrontPageMag.com, 14 July 2005 (accessed 4 June 2007).
- ^ "Meet the PSL candidates across the country!", VotePSL.org, accessed 5 June 2008.
[edit] Sources
- "Who We Are" from the website of the Party for Socialism and Liberation
- Communists Against the Military an article by Ben Johnson for FrontPageMagazine which discusses PSL's participation in ANSWER noting the unusual alliance of communist and "Islamist" organizations
- World Net Daily article on "Muslim-Marxist Coalition," including PSL, demonstrating in Washington D.C.
- Article from Workers World newspaper calling the Tiananmen Square crackdown an "incipient counter-revolution"
[edit] External links
- Party web site, released July 2006.
- Socialism and Liberation Magazine
- AnswerCoalition.org official site
- VotePSL.org PSL 2008 electoral candidates' website
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