Freedom Socialist Party

Freedom Socialist Party
Logo of the Freedom Socialist Party
Founded	1966;59 years ago (1966)
Split from	Socialist Workers Party
Headquarters	Seattle, Washington
Newspaper	The Freedom Socialist
Ideology	Trotskyism [1] Revolutionary socialism Socialist feminism
Political position	Far-left
International affiliation	Committee for Revolutionary International Regroupment (CRIR)
Members in elected offices	0
Website
www.socialism.com
Politics of United States Political parties Elections

The Freedom Socialist Party (FSP) is a Trotskyist and socialist feminist political party in the United States. FSP formed in 1966, when its members split from the Socialist Workers Party. FSP views the struggles of women, people of color and sexual minorities as intrinsic to the struggle of the working class. Notable FSP members include Megan Cornish, Heidi Durham, Richard S. Fraser, and Clara Fraser.

Membership

FSP has branches in the United States, as well as Australia, England, Germany and New Zealand. ^[2] FSP is affiliated with Radical Women, a socialist feminist organization.

History

Former FSP logo

FSP was headquartered in Freeway Hall in Northlake, Seattle

FSP is headquartered in New Freeway Hall in Columbia City, Seattle

Background

The immediate forerunner of FSP was the Kirk-Kaye tendency within the Socialist Workers Party (SWP), led by Richard S. Fraser (Kirk) and Clara Fraser (Kaye) who were then married. ^[3]

The Kirk-Kaye tendency primarily disagreed with SWP leadership on three points: The Kirk-Kaye tendency supported revolutionary integrationism, in contrast to the SWP's support for Black nationalism and the Nation of Islam. The Kirk-Kaye tendency argued that socialist feminism must be a top priority for socialist organizations. And the Kirk-Kaye tendency claimed that the SWP was undemocratic. ^{[4] : 936}

Founding

FSP formed in 1966, when its members split from the Socialist Workers Party. The party's Seattle branch, with support from individuals in other cities, split off from the SWP over what it described as the SWP's entrenched opportunism and undemocratic methods. ^{[4] : 937–938}

FSP advocated for class solidarity of Black and white workers, called for a greatly expanded understanding of and attention to women's emancipation, and urged the anti-war movement to support the socialist, anti-colonial aims of the Vietnamese Revolution.

FSP became a pole of attraction for Seattle leftists opposed to the SWP's internal politics and established a home at Freeway Hall. ^{[5] [6] [7]} The party formed Radical Women with the dual goal of building a revolutionary socialist feminist organization and teaching women the organizational and leadership skills that were often denied to them in male-dominated organizations. ^[8]

Subsequent history

In 1978, FSP joined the Committee for a Revolutionary Socialist Party (CRSP), an attempted united front of Trotskyist parties. In 1980, CRSP collapsed. ^{[9] [4] : 936–938}

In 1989, FSP founded the United Front Against Fascism (UFAF), an anti-fascist organization that included a broad coalition of the Left, the LGBT community, labor unionists, feminists, people of color, Jews, and civil libertarians. UFAF took the lead in mobilizing against neo-Nazis in the Pacific Northwest in the 1980s and 1990s. ^{[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]}

In 1991, the Seattle FSP ran two members for Seattle City Council, Heidi Durham and Yolanda Alaniz, who campaigned on guaranteed income for families living in poverty, community control of the police, and domestic partnership rights for same-sex couples. ^[9]

In 2003, Lyndon LaRouche filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission that FSP's Red Letter Press and its managing editor, Helen Gilbert, had violated campaign finance laws. Gilbert had issued a pamphlet critical of LaRouche's ideology and political history. ^[16] The FEC found LaRouche's complaint to be without merit and dismissed it. ^[17]

Ideology

FSP is a Trotskyist revolutionary socialist organization. ^{[1] [18]} FSP leaders Clara Fraser and Gloria Martin hoped to build a Leninist party that is "socialist-feminist" in ideology and practice. ^{[19] [20]}

Election results

FSP has fielded electoral candidates in the United States for local, state, and federal offices. FSP candidates usually run as official FSP candidates.

No FSP candidate has yet won an election.

Presidential elections

Year	Presidential candidate	Vice presidential candidate	Popular votes	%	Electoral votes	Result	Ballot access	Notes	Ref
2012	Stephen Durham	Christina López	117	0.00%	0	Lost	164 / 538	write-in campaign	[21] [22] [23] [24] [25]

In 2016, FSP critically endorsed Jeff Mackler of Socialist Action for president. ^[26]

In 2020, FSP again critically endorsed Jeff Mackler of Socialist Action for president. ^[27]

In 2024, FSP declined to make a presidential endorsement and instead suggested voters spoil their ballots by writing-in "free Palestine." ^[28]

Congressional elections

Year	Candidate	Chamber	State	District	Votes	%	Result	Notes	Ref
2018	Steve Hoffman	Senate	Washington	Class 1	7,390	0.43%	Lost	all-party blanket primary, did not advance to general	[29] [30]

State legislature elections

Year	Candidate	Office	Area	District	Votes	%	Result	Notes	Ref
2004	Jordana Sardo	State Representative	Oregon	45	2,297	8.74%	Lost	ran as Freedom Socialist Party candidate	[31] [32] [33]
1998	Marian Sunde	State Senate	California	22	7,665	10.53%	Lost	ran as Peace and Freedom Party candidate	[34] [35]
1998	Adrienne Weller	State Representative	Oregon	18	496	3.99%	Lost	ran as independent candidate	[34] [36]
1998	Guerry Hoddersen	State Representative	Washington	37	1,439	4.56%	Lost	ran as Freedom Socialist Party candidate	[34] [37]
1998	Stephen Durham	State Assemblymember	New York	71	366	1.80%	Lost	ran as Freedom Socialist Party candidate	[34] [38]

Local elections

Year	Candidate	Office	Area	District	Votes	%	Result	Notes	Ref
2005	Linda Averill	City Council	Seattle	4	16,584	15.79%	Lost	all-party blanket primary, did not advance to general	[39] [40] [41]
1991	Heidi Durham	City Council	Seattle				Lost	all-party blanket primary, did not advance to general	[9] [42]
1991	Yolanda Alaniz	City Council	Seattle	1	27,991	17.5%	Lost	general election	[9] [43]

See also

• Socialism portal

• American Left
• Socialist Alternative (United States)
• Democratic Socialists of America
• Green Party of the United States
• History of left-wing politics in the United States

References

1. "Red groups in the United States" (PDF). web.cortland.edu. Cortland.
2. "Where We Are". Freedom Socialist Party. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
3. Sheppard, Barry (2005). The Party: The Socialist Workers Party, 1960-1988, Volume 1. Resistance Books. p. 104.
4. Alexander, Robert J. (1991). International Trotskyism, 1929–1985: A Documented Analysis of the Movement. Duke University Press. pp. 761–951. ISBN   978-0-8223-0975-8.
5. Crowley, Walt (2010). Rites of Passage: A Memoir of the Sixties in Seattle. University of Washington Press. pp. 21–22.
6. Winslow, Barbara (2007). "Primary and Secondary Contradictions in Seattle: 1967-1969". In Rachel Blau DuPlessis; Ann Barr Snitow (eds.). The Feminist Memoir Project: Voices from Women's Liberation. pp. 227, 230–231, 235–236.
7. McKay, Ian (2005). Rebels, Reds, Radicals: Rethinking Canada's Left History. Between the Lines. p. 242.
8. James, Edward T., Janet Wilson James, Paul S. Boyer. Notable American Women: A Biographical Dictionary, Volume 5. Harvard University Press. p. 414.
9. "Clara Fraser papers - Archives West". archiveswest.orbiscascade.org. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
10. Kubelbeck, Amy (Aug 4, 1990). "Groups Of Gays Protest Picnic". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
11. Lacitis, Erik (1991-07-16). "An Ax To Grind -- When It Comes To Skinheads And Nazis, Loggers, Gays Unite". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
12. Angelos, Constantine (1990-05-19). "Rice, Citizens Groups Join To Declare Seattle Won't Tolerate Hate Crimes". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
13. Gough, William (Dec 8, 1991). "A Gathering Of Neo-Nazis -- Encampment Draws Protest". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
14. Reang, Putsata (Oct 2, 1996). "Supremacist Guilty In Klan Scuffle -- Federal Way Man Broke Free- Lancer's Camera". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
15. Wilcox, Laird (2002). "Who Watches the Watchmen?". In Jeffrey S. Kaplan, Heléne Lööw (ed.). The Cultic Milieu. Rowman Altamira. pp. 334–335.
16. Helen Gilbert, "Lyndon Larouche: Fascism Restyled for the New Millennium", Redletterpress.org
17. "COMPLIANCE CASE MADE PUBLIC". Federal Election Commission . November 4, 2004. Archived from the original on August 31, 2009. Retrieved August 24, 2009.
18. Baxandall, Rosalyn (2001). "Re-Visioning the Women's Liberation Movement's Narrative: Early Second Wave African American Feminists". Feminist Studies . 27 (1): 225–245. doi:10.2307/3178460. hdl: 2027/spo.0499697.0027.116 . ISSN   0046-3663. JSTOR   3178460.
19. Love, Barbara J. (2006). Feminists Who Changed America, 1963-1975 . University of Illinois Press. p.  158. ISBN   9780252031892.
20. Ware, Susan; Stacy Braukman (2005). "Martin, Gloria". Notable American Women: A Biographical Dictionary, Volume 5: Completing the Twentieth Century. Harvard University Press. pp. 414–415.
21. "Federal Elections 2012" (PDF). Federal Election Commission. July 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 2, 2019.
22. Durham/Lopez campaign website, Votesocialism.com
23. Ballot Access News, January 29, 2012, "Freedom Socialist Party Nominates its First National Ticket".
24. The Green Papers "Votes for Stephen Gaylord Durham".
25. Ballot Access News "New York State Posts Final 2012 Election Returns Tally; Presidential Vote Increases by 400,332 Votes".
26. "This Year of the Detestable Election, exercise your democratic rights with a protest vote!". Socialism.com. October 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
27. "FSP endorses Socialist Action candidate Jeff Mackler for president". Socialism.com. October 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
28. "2024 Alternative Candidates in Review". Socialism.com. September 24, 2024.
29. "Union stalwart and socialist feminist Steve Hoffman runs for U.S. Senate". Freedom Socialist Party. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
30. "United States Senate primary election in Washington, 2018". Office of the Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
31. "OR State House 45 Race - Nov 02, 2004". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2016-01-29.
32. Martínez Zapata, Eduardo (October 2004). "FSP candidate Jordana Sardo challenges the corporate-welfare tax system in Oregon". Freedom Socialist Party. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020.
33. "2004 General". Oregon Secretary of State.
34. Averill, Linda (October 1998). "Enthusiastic support puts radicals on the ballot in four states". Freedom Socialist Party. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020.
35. "General Election - Statement of Vote, November 3, 1998". California Secretary of State. December 12, 1998. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 11, 2017.
36. "1998 General Election Official Results ED/19/58867". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on October 21, 2019.
37. "Elections Search Results November 1998 General". Washington Secretary of State. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
38. "1998 Election Results". December 15, 1998. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 18, 2020.
39. Murphy, R.V. (October 2005). "FSP candidate Averill offers "ideas that make sense"". Freedom Socialist.
40. Brunner, Jim (July 14, 2005). "Mayoral hopeful seeks to conceal donors". The Seattle Times . Freedom Socialist Party.
41. "Past elections". King County, California.
42. Bauer, Andrea (December 2015). "Farewell to Heidi Durham: Revolutionary feminist and fighter for the oppressed". Freedom Socialist Party. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023.
43. "General and Special Elections - CityArchives". seattle.gov. 1963-10-25. Retrieved 2022-08-21.

Further reading

Archives

• Freedom Socialist Party Seattle Branch Records, 1984–1992. 3.14 cubic feet. At the Labor Archives of Washington, University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
• Freedom Socialist Party National Office (Seattle) Records, 1976–1998. 3.09 cubic feet. At the Labor Archives of Washington, University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
• Radical Women Seattle Office Records, 1991–1997. 0.37 cubic feet. At the Labor Archives of Washington, University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
• Radical Women National Office (Seattle) Records, 1976–1998. 1.28 cubic feet. At the Labor Archives of Washington, University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
• Melba Windoffer Papers, 1910–1993. 7.42 cubic feet. At the Labor Archives of Washington, University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
• Megan Cornish Papers, 1970–2003. 10.26 cubic feet. At the Labor Archives of Washington, University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
• Clara Fraser Papers, 1905–1998, 36.70 cubic feet. At the Labor Archives of Washington, University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
• Heidi Durham Papers and Oral History Interviews, 1937–2017, 1.57 cubic feet. At the Labor Archives of Washington, University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

Articles and interviews

• Megan Cornish, Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project, 2005.
• Megan Cornish Interview with Nicole Grant and Alex Morrow, October 20, 2005, YouTube, uploaded by Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project, September 9, 2016, Megan Cornish - YouTube
• Megan Cornish, Conor Casey, and Ellie Belew Interview with Mike Dumovich, "We Do the Work," KSVR, February 22, 2019.
• Nicole Grant, Challenging Sexism at City Light: The Electrical Trades Trainee Program, Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project, 2006.
• Ellie Belew Interview with Mimi Rosenberg, YouTube, uploaded by Radical Women - U.S., uploaded March 28. 2019, HIGH VOLTAGE WOMEN: Interview & slideshow

Books

• Ellie Belew, High Voltage Women: Breaking Barriers at Seattle City Light, Red Letter Press, 2019.