Toggle menu
Toggle personal menu
Not logged in
Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits.

Freedom Road Socialist Organization: Difference between revisions

From ProleWiki, the proletarian encyclopedia
More languages
(Removed GDR uniform incident because the sources showed a Nazi salute and the person said they were wearing a Nazi uniform)
Tags: Reverted Visual edit
(Undo revision 46643 by Ledlecreeper27 (talk). Discuss.)
Tag: Undo
Line 50: Line 50:


===Opportunism===
===Opportunism===
On November 10, 2022, FRSO supported black students accusing a person of being a Nazi because of a person's worn uniform. The person was wearing a [[German Democratic Republic (1949–1990)|German Democratic Republic]] military uniform and performing a salute.<ref>{{Web citation|url=https://nitter.poast.org/tmg__alex/status/1588354114416947202|title=alex (@tmg__alex)  i dont use twitter often but i’d like to use this thread to bring to light a situation that occurred at Jones College Prep in chicago this past week, where a student wore a nazi outfit to school:|quote=I dont use twitter often but i’d like to use this thread to bring to light a situation that occurred at Jones College Prep in chicago this past week, where a student wore a nazi outfit to school:}}</ref><ref>{{Web citation|url=https://www.fightbacknews.org/2022/11/10/black-students-lead-fight-against-racism-cps|title=Black students lead the fight against racism in CPS|author=Angel Naranjo}}</ref>
On April 6, 2023, FRSO endorsed [[Brandon Johnson]],<ref>{{Web citation|url=http://m.fightbacknews.org/2023/4/6/brandon-johnson-elected-mayor-chicago|date=2023-04-06|title=Brandon Johnson elected mayor of Chicago}}</ref> a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] who conflated [[anti-Zionism]] with [[antisemitism]] and supported [[Israel]] while denouncing [[Palestine]].<ref>{{Web citation|url=https://jewishinsider.com/2023/03/orthodox-jewish-community-chicago-mayoral-race-paul-vallas-brandon-johnson/|title=Chicago’s Jewish community could swing mayoral race|quote=Any speech or any effort to delegitimize Israel and its right to exist, that’s how I view antisemitism}}</ref>
On April 6, 2023, FRSO endorsed [[Brandon Johnson]],<ref>{{Web citation|url=http://m.fightbacknews.org/2023/4/6/brandon-johnson-elected-mayor-chicago|date=2023-04-06|title=Brandon Johnson elected mayor of Chicago}}</ref> a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] who conflated [[anti-Zionism]] with [[antisemitism]] and supported [[Israel]] while denouncing [[Palestine]].<ref>{{Web citation|url=https://jewishinsider.com/2023/03/orthodox-jewish-community-chicago-mayoral-race-paul-vallas-brandon-johnson/|title=Chicago’s Jewish community could swing mayoral race|quote=Any speech or any effort to delegitimize Israel and its right to exist, that’s how I view antisemitism}}</ref>



Revision as of 19:57, 16 April 2023

This article is currently undergoing an ideological dispute over its content; be critical of the information presented, and make sure to establish a consensus with comrades before making edits.
Freedom Road Socialist Organization

Founded1985
NewspaperFight Back! News
Political orientationMarxism–Leninism (claimed)
Anti-imperialism (claimed)
Mao Zedong Thought[1] (claimed)
Proletarian feminism[1] (claimed)
Revisionism (alleged)
Opportunism (alleged)
Website
https://frso.org/


The Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) is a revisionist organization in the United States that claims to be Marxist–Leninist consisting of revolutionaries across the country. The organization seeks to build a united front against monopoly capitalism and a new communist party.[2] It held its 9th congress in the spring of 2022 and released a written program shortly after.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5]

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.[1]

Split

A group of social democrats calling themselves "Left Refoundationists" split from the party in 1999.[3] 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."[6] The FRSO adopted a statement of unity at its third congress in 2001.[3]

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. [7][8]

Program

The FRSO's current program was adopted at its 9th congress held in 2022.[9]

The program starts by outlining its own history, giving a history of class struggle within the United States, describing 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.[10]

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. colonies of Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa as well as the neocolonies of the Marshall Islands and 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.[11]

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, and upholding past treaties.[11]

Other oppressed nations

The FRSO demands self-determination and full equality for the African diaspora, Chicanos, and Native Hawaiians, including the right to secession.[11]

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

Controversies

Opportunism

On November 10, 2022, FRSO supported black students accusing a person of being a Nazi because of a person's worn uniform. The person was wearing a German Democratic Republic military uniform and performing a salute.[12][13]

On April 6, 2023, FRSO endorsed Brandon Johnson,[14] a Democrat who conflated anti-Zionism with antisemitism and supported Israel while denouncing Palestine.[15]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "FRSO Strategy" (1997-11-01). Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Archived from the original on 2022-08-03. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  2. "What is the Freedom Road Socialist Organization?". Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Archived from the original on 2022-12-04. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Unity Statement of Freedom Road Socialist Organization" (2001-05-06). Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Archived from the original on 2022-12-08. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  4. Freedom Road Socialist Organization: 20 Years of Struggle (2005-12-19). Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Archived from the original on 2017-11-26. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  5. "Congress". Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Archived from the original on 2022-12-08. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  6. "Public Statement on the Future of FRSO" (1999-06-03). Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Archived from the original on 2022-08-03. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  7. Maureen Murphy (2010-11-10). "New York meeting builds movement against Grand Jury, FBI repression of anti-war activists" Fight Back! News. Archived from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  8. Committee to Stop FBI Repression (2017-09-20). "Timeline of events" Committee to Stop FBI Repression.
  9. "Introduction to the Program of Freedom Road Socialist Organization" (2022-06-09). Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Archived from the original on 2022-12-04. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  10. "Immediate Demands of Labor" (2022-07-12). Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Archived from the original on 2022-12-04. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Immediate Demands for U.S. Colonies, Indigenous Peoples, and Oppressed Nationalities" (2007-08-03). Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Archived from the original on 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
  12. “I dont use twitter often but i’d like to use this thread to bring to light a situation that occurred at Jones College Prep in chicago this past week, where a student wore a nazi outfit to school:”

    "alex (@tmg__alex) i dont use twitter often but i’d like to use this thread to bring to light a situation that occurred at Jones College Prep in chicago this past week, where a student wore a nazi outfit to school:".
  13. Angel Naranjo. "Black students lead the fight against racism in CPS"
  14. "Brandon Johnson elected mayor of Chicago" (2023-04-06).
  15. “Any speech or any effort to delegitimize Israel and its right to exist, that’s how I view antisemitism”

    "Chicago’s Jewish community could swing mayoral race".