Minneapolis, MN – The Freedom Road Socialist Organization Fund Drive has now surpassed $70,000 and more money is coming in every day.

FRSO Organizational Secretary Tom Burke states, “The FRSO online fundraiser was a grand success. Now we need a push to achieve our final goal. The money we spend will make us bigger, badder and bolder in advancing the cause of the American working class.”

Burke also urged local FRSO groups to follow up on folks who have made pledges.

To contribute to the fundraising drive, go to FRSO.org and hit the donate button. You can also donate by mailing a check made out to “Lucy Parsons Institute” to 2942 Oakland Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55407.

#MinneapolisMN #PeoplesStruggles #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

The Spanish translation of the political program of Freedom Road Socialist Organization is now available as a paperback book. We hope that this new translation will help to bring revolutionary ideas to a wider audience, including the Chicano liberation and immigrant rights movement.

FRSO is an organization that recognizes the existence of the Chicano nation of Aztlán and sees its struggle for liberation as an important part of our strategy for revolution in the United States. The introduction to our program states,

“In 1846, the U.S. launched a war that resulted in the theft of northern Mexico and the extension of slavery into Texas. A result was the development of the Chicano nation. Located in what is now the U.S. Southwest, the Chicano people were robbed of their land, denied equal rights, including the right to equality of languages, and faced brutal national oppression. The Chicano nation has always resisted. This powerful record of struggle is a bright point in U.S. history.”

Many immigrants to the U.S. face super-exploitation and have a proud history of fighting back against oppression. It was through the massive marches to defend the rights of immigrant workers in 2006 that the labor movement again embraced International Workers Day in the United States. FRSO members are active across the country in building the immigrant rights movement

People's struggle and organization

The program deals in a forthright manner with the enemy we are up against, the conditions we face, and most importantly what is to be done to move forward. FRSO is an organization that gets things done. We work hard to build the people’s struggle. Our experience leading struggle in workplaces and the communities, as well major mass mobilizations – including many of the mass protests during the George Floyd Rebellion – have given us a keen appreciation of the need for a crisp and clear statement of our views.

We are about building the people’s struggle. But we are also about building the kind of rganization that can overthrow capitalism.

The section of the program dealing with our strategy for revolution makes these points,

“For revolutionary change to take place in the United States, three conditions need to be in place. First, the broad masses of people – workers, the oppressed nationalities, and others who are held down by the monopoly capitalists – need to arrive at the conclusion that they are unable to live in the old way and need to be willing to fight to bring the old order to an end. Second, the ruling class needs to be in real crisis, where it is divided against itself and unable to continue with business as usual. And, finally, there needs to be a strong revolutionary organization, a communist party that is capable of navigating complex political situations and that can lead the fight to establish working class political power.”

Our strategy

The long-term plan for change in the U.S. is summarized in the program like this,

“Our basic strategy for revolution and socialism is building a united front against the monopoly capitalist class, under the leadership of the working class and its political party, with a strategic alliance between the multinational working class and the oppressed nationalities at the core of this united front.

“Identifying our real friends and our real enemies is a first step towards building a united front against monopoly capitalism. To carry out this analysis we need to understand the different classes, nationalities, and social groups in U.S. society, identify those forces whose interests are in the main opposed to the monopoly capitalists, and take a look at the specific features of our society.

“Of paramount importance is grasping the fact that the United States is a country where entire nationalities—African Americans, Chicanos and Latinos, Asian Americans, Native peoples including native Hawaiians, Arab Americans, and others within U.S borders—are bound by the chains of national oppression. Real and full equality, liberation, and self-determination become possible with the destruction of monopoly capitalism.”

The socialist goal

We have goals. We look at capitalism and say we can do better than this. Capitalism is a failed system.

The program talks about these goals, stating,

“Socialism is working class political power, and that power is the hammer to remake society from top to bottom. First and foremost, it is needed to break the resistance of the capitalists and their supporters. Over the long run, power is needed to guarantee that society continues to advance and develop, and that the working class can meet those who might challenge it—at home or abroad. We will continue the class struggle until there are no more classes.”

Let’s spread the word

The rapid growth of FRSO confirms the fact that we are in a period where many are looking for a serious revolutionary organization. We are exactly that. When we talk about revolution, we mean it. We are talking about our class overthrowing the exploiters and oppressors.

Our program is worth considering and we should get it into the hands of those who are fighting alongside us. Working and oppressed people have a bright future. This new Spanish translation of the FRSO political program is an important step in building a revolutionary movement in this country.

To get the program go to https://tinyurl.com/programaoscl

#UnitedStates #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

Minneapolis, MN – A major online fundraising event featuring Frank Chapman – of the FRSO Central Committee and Executive Director of National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression – will take place on the evening of May 25. The event, which will also feature Labor Commission Chair Cherrene Horazuk and Standing Committee member Fern Figueroa is part of the $130,000 fund drive that will help FRSO expand its national office and put more full-time organizers in the field.

The event is set for Thursday May 25, 5 p.m. Pacific, 6 p.m. Mountain, 7 p.m. Central and 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Register for Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/frsofund2023

#MinneapolisMN #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

Minneapolis, MN – The Freedom Road Socialist Organization Spring Fund Drive hit the $35,000 mark May 11, with more money coming in daily. The fund drive aims at raising $130,000, allowing for an expansion of our national office, more publications and putting more full-time organizers in the field.

The fund drive comes at time when FRSO is experiencing a period of rapid expansion, which includes establishing many new local organizations.

Mick Kelly, the political secretary of FRSO states, “We are building a large, nationwide organization that is capable of building large-scale struggles. We are building a revolutionary movement and our aim is socialism. The success of the Spring Fund Drive is decisive for our future.”

A major online fundraising event has been set for May 25.

#MinneapolisMN #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

Minneapolis, MN – In less than a week, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization’s (FRSO) Spring Fundraising Drive has netted more than $17,000. FRSO aims to raise over $130,000 to hire more full-time organizers to work in our national office, grow our fund to purchase a building, and publish more revolutionary literature.

Anti-war activist Sarah Martin states, “Now is the time to dig deep and contribute to FRSO so we can continue to grow and expand our work as we build towards a new world. The future is bright!”

Local FRSO groups will be going out to members and supporters to make the Spring Fundraising Drive a success.

To contribute to the fundraising drive, go to FRSO.org and hit the donate button.

#MinneapolisMN #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

Times have changed and change is coming. Capitalism is a failed system. It needs to go, the sooner the better. A revolutionary solution is needed, and for that we need organization. Revolutionary organization – the kind of organization that Freedom Road Socialist Organization is all about building. To do this, we need you to step up and contribute. We have set of goal of raising $130,000 this year. Together we can make this happen.

Freedom Road Socialist Organization has grown rapidly over the past year. And the rate of growth is picking up. Every six to eight weeks, we are developing work in a new city. Our organizers have been traveling to cities across the county. We are becoming stronger with every passing day. We want to accelerate the process of building revolutionary organization and that cannot happen without additional resources. That’s where you come in.

Last year’s successful funding drive allowed us to open a national office and hire full time staff. As a result, our ability to do things in the real world has increased in a big way. Last year many supporters contributed $1000 or more. We need the same thing to happen this year. It is like Mao Zedong said, “We must crave greatness and success.”

When the attack on Roe v. Wade came down from the reactionary Supreme Court, FRSO mobilized tens of thousands of people in opposition. We had a real and meaningful role in the uprising after the murder of George Floyd, and we are fighting hard for community control of police. And we are proud of our work in building the labor movement. We successfully resisted a multiyear FBI campaign that aimed to destroy our organization. We are activists and fighters, and we will do whatever it takes to bring this system down. Your contributions will allow us to achieve so much more.

So, do what needs to be done. Dig deep and make a serious contribution to the FRSO Spring Fundraising Drive. Our future is bright!

Contribute today by going to FRSO.org and hitting donate.

#UnitedStates #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

Seattle, WA – On January 20 and 21, over 30 people turned out to Freedom Road Socialist Organization’s events to promote the recently released print edition of FRSO’s political program. These events were held at the Khalsa Gurmat Center in Federal Way and the University of Washington-Seattle’s campus.

The room was full of vigor and excitement in light of the ongoing struggle within the Pacific Northwest and the country as a whole. “We have to have a clear eyed view of our enemy, monopoly capitalism. This system exploits and kills workers here and is part of global empire that exploits and kills around the world. It must be brought to an end!” said Zane Smith while speaking on the capitalism section of the program.

Presenting on the program were leading organizers involved with the labor, anti-police crimes, student, and other movements. Their talks connected the FRSO program to their respective struggles and the need for revolutionary organization. The presentations were followed by a brief question-and-answer section.

#SeattleWA #PeoplesStruggles #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

In the 18 months since Chicago reached a turning point with the passage of the Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) ordinance, the coalition that won the ordinance has fought against the obstruction of the mayor and pro-police members of the city council to implement it. The current stage in the fight against police tyranny is the elections for the local office of police district council coming up on February 28.

Freedom Road Socialist Organization calls on all progressives to be a part of the next step forward in the history of liberation struggles for Black people and other oppressed nationalities by getting out the vote for pro accountability candidates.

ECPS was won by a broad coalition of progressive organizations representing diverse sectors of the working-class and oppressed communities. The ordinance established a citywide Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) with the power to set Chicago Police Department (CPD) policy, give input into the budget and the hiring and firing of CPD leadership.

The current CCPSA is an interim Commission nominated by the city council and selected by the mayor. Future Commissions will be nominated by the district councils, who will also have the task of gathering the ideas and experiences of the people in their districts regarding the police. Throughout 2022, the ECPS coalition searched for district council candidates interested in holding the police accountable. Over 100 candidates, mostly Black, brown and working class, stepped forward to run. The coalition helped them gather petition signatures to get on the ballot, and now over 60 pro-accountability candidates are on the ballot for February.

Candidates who are running to expand democracy and hold police accountable are up against those backed by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), who want to protect the status quo of police killing and torturing oppressed people with impunity. Fortunately, the FOP-backed candidates are vastly outnumbered by pro-accountability candidates. However, the FOP represents the white supremacist ruling class, which has far more money to put into elections than progressive organizations do. In order for our advantage in numbers to overcome the FOP’s war chest, we need the active participation of as many people as possible in the upcoming elections.

The passage of ECPS was a massive step towards Black and indigenous people, Chicanos, immigrants and other oppressed people being able to democratically govern their own communities. We encourage all people who want an end to police tyranny to get involved in this fight.

We call on the people not only to vote for pro-accountability candidates on February 28, but also to help mobilize voters whether or not they themselves are eligible to vote. We all have a part to play in determining who polices our communities and how our communities are policed. We have a world to win and nothing to lose but our chains.

Go to http://chicagoecps.com to find out who's running in your district.

Go to https://www.caarpr.org/volunteer to get involved in mobilizing people to vote.

#Chicago #PoliceBrutality #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #CommunityControlOfThePolice

As the curtain comes down on 2022, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) wishes you a Happy New Year! We look forward to a new year of struggle, and victories, that raise us to new heights. Conditions show we are in an exciting period for revolutionaries who are connecting with workers and the oppressed – making practical plans with a long-term vision. 2023 promises many opportunities to organize, build the united front against imperialism, and advance towards an American revolution. Freedom Road Socialist Organization is determined to play a part in that process. You should consider joining us today!

The United States is an empire in decline, struggling to maintain its dominance of other countries and their markets. The Biden White House is desperate, ramping up wars, threatening other countries, and makes enemies of people around the world from Palestine to the Philippines, China and Venezuela. Billions upon billions of dollars are being spent on the military while housing, healthcare and education face cutbacks.

Here at home this crisis of U.S. imperialism is deepening divisions everywhere, from political rallies to family holiday dinners. Bigots are louder than ever and free to express it on television and in social media. People don’t just feel threatened, they are being shot and killed by racist reactionaries in grocery stores and churches, on the street and at work, and in schools and night clubs. The crisis is here, and it is ugly, but it also means people are more and more ready to act, and to be bold. People are in motion, and they want solutions. Conditions for revolutionaries to organize and fight back are good.

2022 was a year of continuing the George Floyd rebellion. Remember, more than 27 million people took part in the 2020 uprising against police murders. People across the country in cities like Dallas, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Jacksonville continue organizing and building the Black Liberation movement. The National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (NAARPR) continues to protest police killings and abuses in more than two dozen cities and the list is growing.

Local chapters of NAARPR lead campaigns that put police on trial, convict them and sentence them to prison. This is a first for many cities. It is a result of the rebellion, but also due to the campaign work by groups of determined activists. NAARPR will host a conference in 2023 that promises to be a big event.

Chicago stands out because the demand for community control of the police is advancing and about to be implemented. This reform originates with Fred Hampton of the Black Panther Party. The campaign for community control attracts the families of loved ones murdered or mistreated by police, as well as droves of new activists. This is getting real as Chicago activists canvass for district council elections taking place in February. These councils can implement new reforms that take control over local police policies and spending.

As we all know, 2022 wasn’t all bread and roses. After the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned abortion rights, the FRSO put a lot of time and energy into fightbacks across the country to restore abortion and demand reproductive justice for all. We helped build the movement for reproductive rights in many states during the November elections, and now there is momentum towards International Women’s Day. FRSO will lead and participate in protests and events around March 8, 2023. Even if your state won, the fight is not over. You should consider joining or starting an International Women’s Day event.

Then on May 1 we commemorate International Workers Day, remembering the great sacrifice of the Haymarket Martyrs of Chicago, and the struggle for the eight-hour day and unions. Where the FRSO is organized, we will participate in mass marches and rallies, as well as FRSO-hosted forums to advance the revolutionary demands of the workers of the world.

This year promises to be historic for unions and the working class. The new leadership of the Teamsters Union, O’Brien and Zuckerman, promise a showdown with the shipping giant UPS. Rank-and-file workers’ organization and militancy on the shop floor in the UPS can build power, raise standards across the shipping industry, and fire up the entire working class. It will require a Teamster strike and a victory against UPS. With this, we will see a surge in union organizing drives, like the ones at Amazon, Starbucks, restaurant chains, and even banks.

The FRSO is already calling for the March on the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 15, 2024. It is only 2023 now, but we are preparing a broad united front for a national march and protest in the streets that goes right up to the front doors of the RNC. We will let the Republicans know exactly why we oppose them with our every breath. Keep a lookout for an organizing conference.

FRSO is working to build a new revolutionary communist party. We are building a party capable of uniting all who can be united to wage a decisive struggle against monopoly capitalism, and to build socialism. That is why It is important to join the FRSO now!

A new year is upon us! Our future is bright!

#UnitedStates #Editorials #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO

Minneapolis, MN – About 70 activists packed Mayday Bookstore, November 20, for the release of the print edition of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization’s (FRSO) political program.

FRSO Political Secretary Mick Kelly told the excited crowd, “Our program amounts to a declaration war against the existing order things. It is a clear statement that analyzes the conditions we face, lays bare the laws of capitalism, the need for revolution and socialism – and defines a clear strategy getting from here to there.”

The room was filled with many of the movers and shakers in the Twin Cites people’s struggles. Kelly hailed their presence stating, “It is an honor to be among so many outstanding fighters in the Twin Cities people’s movements. You have led large demonstrations and strikes. Those of us here in this room have organized many large, and at times extremely militant, battles. And it is this activity that gives meaning to this program. Its power can be measured by the degree that people take up the ideas, demands and goals contained within – making it a material force in our struggle and in society.”

Leaders from the labor, anti-police crimes, student, immigrant rights, anti-war, climate justice and other movements spoke about the relevance of the FRSO Program to their struggles.

The event was concluded with a champagne toast.

#MinneapolisMN #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

To obtain a copy of the new FRSO Program book, reach out to your local FRSO organizers. If you are not in an area where FRSO has an organized district, you can order a copy at tinyurl.com/buyfrsoprogram

Comrades and friends,

The political program of Freedom Road Socialist Organization is being printed in book form. It is something that all revolutionaries will want to read and consider. It deals in a forthright manner with the enemy we are up against, the conditions we face, and most importantly what is to be done to move forward.

Members and supporters of FRSO should do everything possible and practical to promote it among the advanced activists we work side by side with, in the many movements we are working to build. We welcome feedback from anyone who is serious about change in this country.

Large sections of the program were adopted at the 9th Congress of FRSO which was held several months ago – including an up-to-date analysis of declining monopoly capitalism and our socialist future. Other portions of the program we adopted some time ago, and it can be added that we are still developing additional portions of program that deal with immediate demands of the people. As more of the program is completed, new editions will be published.

FRSO is an organization that gets things done. We work hard to build the people’s struggle. Our experience leading struggle in workplaces and the communities, as well major mass mobilizations – including many of the mass protests during the George Floyd Rebellion – have given us a keen appreciation of the need for a crisp and clear statement of our views.

This experience of collectively applying the science of Marxism-Leninism in the context of a real sharpening of the basic contradictions in U.S. informed the writing of the program. As we note in the program’s introduction, “The political program of Freedom Road Socialist Organization has grown out of a long process of waging struggle against the class enemy, building the people’s movements, and conducting study and analysis of the conditions we live under. The point of knowing the world is to change the world, and this program is a declaration of what this country’s working and oppressed peoples want and need, along with what it will take to get there.”

The tasks of revolutionaries

The program also addresses the relationship between reform and revolution, stating,

“This system of exploitation and injustice cannot be reformed out of existence. We want better lives – so we fight for exactly that. Every step of the way we try to win everything that can be won, raise the level of struggle, and organize our collective movement. But we are also doing something else: we are building an organization of revolutionaries to bring this monster down. The capitalists give with an eye dropper and take with an earth mover. We cannot reform our way to a better way of life. We need to take the sledgehammer of revolution to the chains of oppression.”

We are about building the people’s struggle. But we are also about building the kind of organization that can overthrow capitalism.

The section of the program dealing with our strategy for revolution makes these points,

“For revolutionary change to take place in the United States, three conditions need to be in place. First, the broad masses of people – workers, the oppressed nationalities, and others who are held down by the monopoly capitalists – need to arrive at the conclusion that they are unable to live in the old way and need to be willing to fight to bring the old order to an end. Second, the ruling class needs to be in real crisis, where it is divided against itself and unable to continue with business as usual. And, finally, there needs to be a strong revolutionary organization, a communist party that is capable of navigating complex political situations and that can lead the fight to establish working class political power.”

Our strategy

The long term plan for change in the U.S. is summarized in the program like this,

“Our basic strategy for revolution and socialism is building a united front against the monopoly capitalist class, under the leadership of the working class and its political party, with a strategic alliance between the multinational working class and the oppressed nationalities at the core of this united front.

“Identifying our real friends and our real enemies is a first step towards building a united front against monopoly capitalism. To carry out this analysis we need to understand the different classes, nationalities, and social groups in U.S. society, identify those forces whose interests are in the main opposed to the monopoly capitalists, and take a look at the specific features of our society.

“Of paramount importance is grasping the fact that the United States is a country where entire nationalities—African Americans, Chicanos and Latinos, Asian Americans, Native peoples including native Hawaiians, Arab Americans, and others within U.S borders—are bound by the chains of national oppression. Real and full equality, liberation, and self-determination become possible with the destruction of monopoly capitalism.”

The socialist goal

We have goals. We look at capitalism and say we can do better than this. Capitalism is a failed system.

The program talks about these goals, stating, “Socialism is working class political power, and that power is the hammer to remake society from top to bottom. First and foremost, it is needed to break the resistance of the capitalists and their supporters. Over the long run, power is needed to guarantee that society continues to advance and develop, and that the working class can meet those who might challenge it—at home or abroad. We will continue the class struggle until there are no more classes.”

Let’s spread the word

The rapid growth of FRSO confirms the fact that we are in a period where many are looking for a serious revolutionary organization. We are exactly that. When we talk about revolution, we mean it. We are talking about our class overthrowing the exploiters and oppressors.

Our program is worth considering and we should get into the hands of those we are fighting alongside of. Working and oppressed people have a bright future. The political program of FRSO helps to illuminate the path to arrive there. Let’s promote it!

#UnitedStates #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #Socialism

The past has shown that the stance we take on elections can either prepare us for future struggles or leave us on the sidelines of history. There are four major questions we can ask about elections. Is there a special danger present? Is the election a referendum of sort on a key issue – such as a war or economic crisis? Is the election important to the oppressed nationality movements and the struggle against national oppression? Is there a significant political option besides the two parties of the ruling class, the Republicans or Democrats?

Different forces may have different answers to those questions. Freedom Road Socialist Organization believes that this November, it is important to defeat the most reactionary and backwards candidates whether they are running for the House or Senate, for governor or for local office.

There are several criteria we can use during the upcoming elections to determine who the most backwards candidates are. Politicians running for office have different stances on democratic struggles like reproductive rights, voting rights, the police and the crimes they commit in oppressed communities, policies on immigration and other important issues.

We must defeat any politicians running for office this November who hold a favorable view of Trump. It is likely that the Republican candidate for president in 2024 will be someone like or very similar to Trump and his terrible politics. Defeating reactionary politicians at the ballot box is also important because we want to see the most favorable conditions for organizing in the streets and in our workplaces after the elections.

We want the people’s movements to focus on winning demands and advancing struggles to new heights. We want to avoid a situation where people are led astray into thinking that the solution to our problems is replacing one ruling class politician for another. We can promote a real people’s agenda as we prepare to protest the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in the summer of 2024. We will also demonstrate at the Democrat National Convention.

Our approach regarding the elections will take different forms in different places. Often, this will mean that those who are working in swing states must work to defeat Republican candidates. In places where the Republicans are very unlikely to win, organizers should vote against right-wing or centrist Democrats in favor of candidates with more progressive stances. Elections do matter and it would be a mistake to ignore them, even when both of the major parties represent the interests of the ruling class. Ultimately, Freedom Road Socialist Organization believes that our hope belongs with the people’s struggles and real change will be won on the streets.

The United States has seen a high level of political struggle this past decade. Many have been drawn into the streets for the first time, and that is wonderful. It is our duty to continue fighting for peace, justice and equality. In the final analysis, both the Republican and Democrat parties serve the 1%. Neither of those parties represent the interests of working and oppressed people. This November, let’s defeat the worst enemies on the ballot and continue our work among the people.

Struggles and organizations are blossoming, and we have a world to win. We are building revolutionary organization and understand that only a revolution and socialism can bring about a new world.

#UnitedStates #Elections #Editorials #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #DonaldTrump #midtermElections2022