Editing Freedom Road Socialist Organization

{{Infobox political party|name=Freedom Road Socialist Organization|logo=FRSO logo.png|founded=1985|newspaper=''[[Fight Back! News]]''|website=https://frso.org/|political_orientation=[[Marxism–Leninism]]<br>[[Anti-imperialism]]<br>[[Mao Zedong Thought]]<ref name=":0">{{Web citation|newspaper=Freedom Road Socialist Organization|title=FRSO Strategy|url=https://frso.org/congress/frso-strategy/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004025356/https://frso.org/congress/frso-strategy/|archive-date=2022-08-03|retrieved=2023-02-18|date=1997-11-01}}</ref><br>[[Proletarian feminism]]<ref name=":0" />}}

The '''Freedom Road Socialist Organization''' ('''FRSO''') is a [[Marxism–Leninism|Marxist–Leninist]] organization in the [[United States of America|United States]] consisting of revolutionaries across the country. The organization seeks to build a united front against [[Imperialism|monopoly capitalism]] and a new communist party.<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=Freedom Road Socialist Organization|title=What is the Freedom Road Socialist Organization?|url=https://frso.org/about/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204092253/https://frso.org/about/|archive-date=2022-12-04|retrieved=2023-01-11}}</ref> It held its 9th congress in the spring of 2022 and released a written program shortly after.<ref name=":2">{{Web citation|newspaper=Freedom Road Socialist Organization|title=Unity Statement of Freedom Road Socialist Organization|date=2001-05-06|url=https://frso.org/congress/unity-statement/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208131441/https://frso.org/congress/unity-statement/|archive-date=2022-12-08|retrieved=2023-02-18}}</ref>

==History==

===Foundation===
The FRSO was founded in 1985 when the older [[Proletarian Unity League]] and the [[Revolutionary Workers Headquarters]] merged to form a new organization.<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=Freedom Road Socialist Organization|title=Freedom Road Socialist Organization: 20 Years of Struggle|date=2005-12-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171126085630/http://www.frso.org:80/about/statements/frso20.htm|archive-date=2017-11-26|retrieved=2023-01-12|quote=}}</ref> More groups from the New Communist Movement joined as the 80s and 90s went on, these included the Organization for Revolutionary Unity, Amilcar-Robeson Collective, and the Socialist Organizing Network. The FRSO held its first congress in 1994.<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=Freedom Road Socialist Organization|title=Congress|url=https://frso.org/congress/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208122646/https://frso.org/congress/|archive-date=2022-12-08|retrieved=2023-02-18}}</ref>

===Second Congress===
At its second congress in 1997, the FRSO adopted its strategy for revolution, emphasizing a strategic alliance between the multinational working class the oppressed nations of the Black Belt, Aztlan and Hawaii.<ref name=":0" />

=== Split ===
A group of [[Social democracy|social democrats]] calling themselves "Left Refoundationists" split from the party in 1999.<ref name=":2" /> Despite struggles within the organization and in the whole new communist movement, the FRSO continues to grow and make progress. In a 1999 statement, the organization said they will strive to keep a "commitment to building a revolutionary movement in this country."<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=Freedom Road Socialist Organization|title=Public Statement on the Future of FRSO|date=1999-06-03|url=https://frso.org/statements/public-statement-on-the-future-of-frso/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112220956/https://frso.org/statements/public-statement-on-the-future-of-frso/|archive-date=2022-08-03|retrieved=2023-01-12}}</ref> The FRSO adopted a statement of unity at its third congress in 2001.<ref name=":2" />

=== FBI repression ===
In 2010, the [[FBI]] launched a campaign against more than a dozens of anti-war activists, including members of FRSO. Many of these activists were simultaneously raided, supposedly to find evidence of providing material aid to terrorists. This was largely in relation of their solidarity work with activists in Columbia and Palestine. In the end the mass resistance to these subpoenas, including the refusal to cooperate with the Chicago based grand jury, was able to successfully keep the anti-war 23 out of prison. <ref>{{Web citation|author=Maureen Murphy|newspaper=Fight Back! News|title=New York meeting builds movement against Grand Jury, FBI repression of anti-war activists|date=2010-11-10|url=https://www.fightbacknews.org/2010/11/10/new-york-meeting-builds-movement-against-grand-jury-fbi-repression-anti-war-activists|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112221928/https://www.fightbacknews.org/2010/11/10/new-york-meeting-builds-movement-against-grand-jury-fbi-repression-anti-war-activists|archive-date=2021-12-05|retrieved=2023-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Web citation|author=Committee to Stop FBI Repression|newspaper=Committee to Stop FBI Repression|title=Timeline of events|date=2017-09-20|url=https://stopfbi.org/news/timeline-of-events/}}</ref>

==Program==
The FRSO's current program was adopted at its 9th congress held in 2022.<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=Freedom Road Socialist Organization|title=Introduction to the Program of Freedom Road Socialist Organization|date=2022-06-09|url=https://frso.org/main-documents/introduction-to-the-program-of-freedom-road-socialist-organization/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204092226/https://frso.org/main-documents/introduction-to-the-program-of-freedom-road-socialist-organization/|archive-date=2022-12-04|retrieved=2023-01-12}}</ref>

The program starts by outlining its own history, giving a history of [[class struggle]] within the [[United States of America|United States]], describing [[Imperialism|monopoly capitalism]] as the enemy and socialist revolution as the solution, ending with some immediate demands.

=== Immediate demands of labor===
This section of the program demands fair and respectable conditions and wages for the working class and the unemployed.<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=Freedom Road Socialist Organization|title=Immediate Demands of Labor|date=2022-07-12|url=https://frso.org/main-documents/immediate-demands-of-labor/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204092225/https://frso.org/main-documents/immediate-demands-of-labor/|archive-date=2022-12-04|retrieved=2023-01-12}}</ref>

The FRSO demands an survivable and enjoyable life from one job. Unions must be expanded and any and all anti-labor legislation like the [[Taft-Hartley Act]] must be removed. Improved conditions for the working class such as affordable housing, free education, free healthcare & childcare, parental leave, etc. are also demanded.

The FRSO demands an end to discrimination against oppressed nationalities during the hiring practice and on the job, as well as a strong implementation of affirmative action and an end to document checks.

The FRSO demands an end to discrimination against women in the workforce, in hiring practices, promotions. It also demands an end to sexual harassment in the workplace.

The FRSO demands immediate income or a job for all unemployed workers.

===Immediate demands of U.S. colonies, indigenous peoples, and oppressed nationalities===
This section of the program recognizes the struggles of colonized, indigenous, and oppressed peoples.

====U.S. island colonies====
The FRSO demands immediate independence for the U.S. [[Colonialism|colonies]] of [[Guam]], [[Commonwealth of Puerto Rico|Puerto Rico]], the [[Virgin Islands of the United States|Virgin Islands]], [[Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands|Northern Mariana Islands]], and [[American Samoa]] as well as the [[Neocolonialism|neocolonies]] of the [[Republic of the Marshall Islands|Marshall Islands]] and [[Republic of Palau|Palau]]. It demands removal of U.S. military bases from these areas and a nuclear-free zone in the Pacific. The United States should continue to provide economic aid and social security and allow unrestricted immigration.<ref name=":1">{{News citation|newspaper=Freedom Road Socialist Organization|title=Immediate Demands for U.S. Colonies, Indigenous Peoples, and Oppressed Nationalities|date=2007-08-03|url=https://frso.org/main-documents/immediate-demands-for-u-s-colonies-indigenous-peoples-and-oppressed-nationalities/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524141611/https://frso.org/main-documents/immediate-demands-for-u-s-colonies-indigenous-peoples-and-oppressed-nationalities/|archive-date=2022-05-24|retrieved=2022-07-31}}</ref>

====Indigenous peoples====
The FRSO supports full sovereignty and national development for American indigenous peoples: the Alaskan Natives, the Native Americans, and the Native Hawaiians. It advocates abolishing the [[Bureau of Indian Affairs]], protecting indigenous cultures and languages, as well as upholding past treaties.<ref name=":1" />

====Other oppressed nations====
The FRSO demands self-determination and full equality for the [[African diaspora in the United States|African diaspora]], Chicanos, and Native Hawaiians, including the right to secession.<ref name=":1" />

The FRSO also demands the empowerment of the working masses of the oppressed nations and nationalities.

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Statesian communist parties]]