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Socialists are involved in a wide variety of activities to promote Socialism and further the cause of empowering the oppressed. All of these activities require organizing. SP members with no local in their area are encouraged to form one. Some of the activities listed below will be helpful in forming a local; others will be possible only once a local has been formed. Recruiting. Locating people who share a socialist outlook is possible only by creating some SP presence in your area, and becoming known, at least among the left, as an SP member. This can be as simple as wearing a button or writing a letter to the editor stating the SP perspective on some issue. It might also mean carrying a Party banner or sign in a demonstration, making a donation to a strike fund or a solidarity benefit in the Party’s name, arranging a literature table on a college campus or at a local forum, getting a bookstore to carry SP publications, organizing and postering for an SP-sponsored meeting or series of meetings on a specific topic or a general SP orientation, co-sponsoring a speech or other event, leafleting an event with appropriate Party literature (be sure to include a local address and phone number), or taking on a particular issue that needs to be addressed locally as a Party project. You can probably think of other ideas. Once a presence is established, you need to be ready for responses. In some areas the question, “Which socialist party?” will need to be answered, and the reputation of some left groups for sectarianism of opportunism will need to be overcome. You also need to be ready with some suggestions or ideas about what people can do in a new local or pre-local. Giving new members something to do will also give them more of a commitment to the organization. A local should also consciously plan outreach to specific groups. If our goal is a multi-racial organization, the only way to achieve that is by making specific overtures to minority group members. Electoral Activity. The Socialist Party has consistently used electoral activity as a vehicle for educating about socialism. We believe this is best done outside the framework of the two-party system, since both the Democratic and Republican parties are firmly committed to capitalism. This often involves defending the democratic rights of smaller parties as well as promoting and putting into practices the ingredients of a new society. Direct Action. As Socialists, we believe that democracy means more than elections. Power can only rest in the hands of the people when they are free to debate, protest, boycott, and even participate in civil disobedience. The SP is committed to participating in both electoral and direct action. Participation in labor struggles is an essential aspect of direct action. Every Party member eligible for membership in a labor union is encouraged to join and be active. In unorganized workplaces, Party members should be involved in organizing. Party members are also encouraged to participate in rank and file caucuses to democratize their union. As Party members and as locals, we can be active in strike and boycott support work. Often, fundraising is needed to supplement strike pay, or volunteer picketers are welcome. The Texas Labor Fund was set up by the SP of Texas to aid needy unions. Another SP local has monitored strike coverage by the media to check for bias and errors. Local can also engage in labor and labor history. Publications that are available from the SP National Office which may be useful in your organizing include our current Platform, the Constitution of the SP, a reading list, a list of commissions in the Party, and a publication and publisher’s list. The National Office also maintains a computerized mailing list, which can be used in some circumstances to help with your organizing. Anytime you make contact with someone interested in the Party, you should send the name and address to the National Office . - |