the SocialistMagazine of the Socialist Party USA - 2012 Issue 3- $2.00 movement began, we were not starting from scratch. Instead, we Editorial were able to draw from a large pool of people with whom we had worked with in the past. This allowed us to take part in this new and Organizing for the Long Term exciting movement in a meaningful way. We have been able to offer September 17, 2011 marked the beginning of the Occupy movement. resources to the movement through our experience and knowledge. As a result, protest is back in circulation as a topic of discussion We have been able to work with other organizations and individuals in households, schools and workplaces across the US. It’s mass with whom we cultivated relationships over time and we were able marches, targeted acts of non-violent civil disobedience and numer- to support each other when we took part in civil disobedience and ous arrests has made Occupy difficult to ignore. And, since the were arrested. beginning, Socialists have not only been involved in the action that The relationships that we develop through being a part makes it into newspapers, we have also been involved in the day to of an organization allow us to give the maximum as individuals day work, planning, organizing, doing outreach that keeps the move- to whatever social movement we find ourselves involved in. Our ment running. Occupy has certainly become a major focus of not relationships also serve to give a sense of community to our work. only the SPUSA, but of the entire socialist left. As we become more Internally, when we eat meals together, attend birthday parties or and more embedded into this exciting movement, it is important to other social events together, we strengthen the our organization. Be- keep in mind the benefits of belonging to an established Socialist or- ing a member of the SPUSA gives you an opportunity to get to know ganization - we have a history to draw from, a future to look forward people who otherwise you might not have had the opportunity to to, and we create community in the present. meet, to develop relationships that have positive effects on both our When you make the decision to join the SPUSA you are ability to organize and to grow as individuals. entering an organization with over one hundred years of history. By taking a historical perspective and developing strong Our organization has been active in organizing against war since networks both in our locals and nationally, we are able to take a long World War I. We were there during the height of the labor move- term view of our work. We recognize, the belonging to an organi- ment and we organized for civil rights in the 1950’s and 60’s. zation means that we are in the struggle for the long term. While We saw Palmer Raids and HUAC trials. We’ve marched, sat-in, Occupy is exciting and offers a lot of hope for the future, we know spoken-out and gone on strike. Having this kind of long and storied that we will still be here, organizing, no matter what happens in the past allows new and younger members to become a part of a new movement. We know that there is a long road ahead of us and that generation of organizers. In some cases, this past is literally alive in our organization has a role to play on it. As we draw on the lessons the stories and lessons of our older members. Having a history is we are learning through the occupy movement, and as we incorpo- important because it allows us to draw inspiration and to learn from rate them into our organization, we see ourselves as one part of this those who came before us. great experiment in creating a more democratic and participatory There is a sense of historical continuity and perpetuity that society. We know that as the struggle continues, we will have many allows us the perspective and experience to recognize that there is a more battles to fight and that the world that we are fighting for may rhythm to making change. That organizing is not always fast paced be a long way off. and exciting, that in between the monumental movements, there is Despite this, we can draw from the long term vision of a still a lot of work to do, and the work that we do during the down Democratic Socialist future and know that our work in the present times, when we continue to speak out against injustice, educate the will have serious consequences on the future. Whether we are in a people in our workplaces and communities, and prepare for what is moment like now where big things are happening, or in a moment to come. It is during these times that having a history helps us to when sometimes we feel like the lone voice, we know that what we maintain focus and to see the importance of our work even when are working towards is worth it. We draw from our past, build our we are not working in a major movement that is making the nightly networks in the present, and look forward to a day when our project news. It is our history that allows us to stay present and to work to is complete and society runs on the values of solidarity, compassion create the networks in the present that prepare us for the organizing and justice. Being a member of the SPUSA allows us to keep this to come. vision in our sight and to continue to fight. In the present, being part of the SPUSA allows us to create networks of people who we know well and who we trust. This has functioned well in our work in the Occupy movement. When the Statement of Principles THE SOCIALIST PARTY strives to establish a radical democracy that places people’s lives under their own control - a non-racist, classless, feminist socialist society... where working people own and control the means of production and dis- tribution through democratically-controlled public agencies; where full employment is realized for everyone who wants to work; where workers have the right to form unions freely, and to strike and engage in other forms of job actions; and where the production of society is used for the benefit of all humanity, not for the private profit of a few. We believe socialism and democracy are one and indivisible. The working class is in a key and central position to fight back against the ruling capitalist class and its power. The working class is the major force worldwide that can lead the way to a socialist future - to a real radi- cal democracy from below. The Socialist Party fights for progressive changes compatible with a socialist future. We support militant working class struggles and electoral action, independent of the capitalist controlled two-party system, to present socialist alternatives. We strive for democratic revolutions - radical and fundamental changes in the structure and quality of economic, political, and personal relations - to abolish the power now exercised by the few who control great wealth and the government. The Socialist Party is a democratic, multi-tendency organization, with structure and practices visible and acces- sible to all members. 2 Lessons I Learned When I was Young Contents 2 Editorial by David McReynolds 3 Lessons I Learned David McReynolds Some things about organizing are common 4 Interpretation of Occupy sense. If radical politics are entirely about Keon Skelton reading political books and discussing “correct 5 Organizing the Left positions,” only the loneliest people will stick Stephon Boatwright around. The New York Local is a good example 6 Occupy Work of doing some of the things that give life to so- Dan LaBotz cialist politics—the monthly pot luck dinners, 7 Remembering Quinn Brisbane going out for beer after the monthly member- David McReynolds ship meeting. 8 Revitalizing the LA Local When I was young, I learned some Lynn Lomibao and Mimi Soltisyk lessons about organizing. In 1948, when I was 10 IWD in Monglia still young and neither cell phones nor color Michelle Borok TV existed, I was just getting involved with 11 Organizing May Day the pacifist movement. Although technology Jim Marra has changed how we organize today, it is worth 12 May Day Statement remembering how the Los Angeles Youth Fel- National Action Committee lowship of Reconciliation, a group of religious 13 Drive for Five pacifists, got started. Editor The Field Secretary of the FOR persuaded a group of liberal young Christians Kristin Schall to take part in a several-day march, from the Editorial Board outskirts of Los Angeles into the city against a Billy Wharton proposal for compulsory military training for Mary-Alice Herbert all youth. What happened was that because James Marra - convener this group of young people was together for Steve Rossingol more than a few hours (they were together for a Angela Sarlay week), they formed a special bond. In the years David Keil that followed, most of the kids who were on Lay-Out that walk eventually got married to each other. When I got involved in this group a year or two Kristin Schall later, I made sure that in addition to meetings Copy Editing and discussions, we would demonstrate against Bryan Finlayson things such as the Armed Forces Day Parade, Rate 1 Year Subscription which came once a year. Those were the years Individual $10 - institution $25 of a very conformist society with none of the Bulk Rate ($25 per issue) $45 turbulence we see today with Occupy.