Colorado Springs Socialists

Last updated
Colorado Springs Socialists
Founded2016
Dissolved2020
Merged into Democratic Socialists of America
HeadquartersColorado Springs, Co
NewspaperRocky Mountain Revolution
Ideology Marxism
Socialism
Non-Tendency
Political position Far-left
Website
cssocialists.com

Colorado Springs Socialists was a small organization located in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Contents

History

The CSS was initially founded as a Marxist reading group in the Autumn of 2016, before developing into a formal political organization in 2017. By late 2018, the group exceeded 100 members,[ citation needed ] operating on two university campuses and in the city of Pueblo, Colorado. [1] In January 2020 the group announced on their Facebook page that they would be dissolving and merging into the DSA Communist Caucus. [2]

Ideology

The CSS was an organization that holds the position that capitalism must be abolished and replaced with a socialist based political and economic structure. The organization took a non-tendency position on Marxism and Socialism, accepting Democratic Socialists, Anarchists, Libertarian socialists, Left Communists, Maoists and Trotskyists. [1] The CSS was involved in a project called the Marxist Center, an attempt to unite other non-tendency revolutionary socialist organizations across the United States into "the first nation-wide, non-tendency Marxist organization." [3]

Police infiltration and arrests

In March 2017, four members of the CSS were arrested during "March Against Imperialism" protest in downtown Colorado Springs, on charges of obstructing traffic ways, a misdemeanor crime in Colorado. [4] [5] The CSS referred to these arrests as the "Trial of the Socialist Six", alleging The Colorado Springs Police Department took part in outrageous conduct, endangering of protesters, [6] and frequently participating in arbitrary arrests. [7] On August 2, 2017 Colorado Springs Independent writer Nat Stein uncovered body-camera footage of Colorado Springs officers discussing the infiltration of the organization. [8] The Colorado Springs Police Force placed two undercover officers, under the aliases of "Mark" and "Amy", into the CSS as part of a surveillance of the organization. [9]

References

  1. 1 2 "About - Colorado Springs Socialists". cssocialists.com. Archived from the original on 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  2. ↑ "Colorado Springs Socialists". facebook.com.
  3. ↑ "About | Colorado Springs Socialists". cssocialists.com. Archived from the original on 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  4. ↑ Benzel, Lance (24 May 2018). "4 members of socialist group dodge jail time after arrests at Colorado Springs protest march". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  5. ↑ Benzel, Lance (30 March 2018). "Jury: Colorado Springs protesters infiltrated by undercover officers guilty of blocking traffic". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  6. ↑ Stein, Nat. "Socialists get arrested for marching in the streets". Colorado Springs Independent.
  7. ↑ "Trial of the Socialist Six - Rocky Mountain Revolution". cssocialists.com. Archived from the original on 2018-11-30. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
  8. ↑ Stein, Nat. "Jaywalking case exposes law enforcement embedded in far-left group". Colorado Springs Independent.
  9. ↑ Stein, Nat. "Undercover officers take the stand to explain infiltration of local Socialists". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
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