RED SCARE 2.0
Refuse to name names
I was a defendant and an attorney in a 1980s lawsuit against the Freedom Socialist Party that was mentioned in Nic Preston’s article “MAGA officials go after immigrant defenders.” [Vol. 46, No. 4]. I’m writing to offer a little more information for those who might find it helpful.
The Freeway Hall Case — officially Snedigar v. Hoddersen, 114 Wn.2d 153 (1990) — was a vindictive lawsuit by an ex-member, Richard Snedigar, over a donation made to an FSP eviction fund. His case had no merit, so as an intimidation tactic he demanded that the party hand over membership and contributor lists, meeting minutes, and financial documents for public disclosure.
When we refused, he asked the courts to compel disclosure, and they did.
We appealed and won a reprieve based on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in NAACP v. Alabama, 357 U.S. 449 (1958): “To require disclosure of an association’s membership lists, a state must have a compelling justification for this infringement on the right of free association.”
We fought for several grueling years to protect our private records and ultimately won a decisive ruling in our favor from the Washington Supreme Court, creating state precedent and providing legal arguments for activists then and now.
Val Carlson, Los Angeles, California
Editor’s note: For more information, readers can order the booklet They Refused to Name Names: The Freeway Hall Case Victory at redletterpress.org.
SOCIALIST DEMANDS
And internationalism
I’ve always been impressed by the unrestrained socialist demands of FSP’s combined internationalist, feminist, labor perspective.
I’m also always learning of new information I haven’t seen elsewhere. Here are some recent examples [August-September, Vol. 46, No. 4]:
There exists a Ukraine Solidarity Network (U.S.).
The Mexican teachers union has exposed, disappointingly, President Sheinbaum’s progressive facade.
“The bimbos behind the throne” in Trumpworld are identified and explained.
Congress will be voting on a “No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act.” My own city, Rochester, New York, just voted itself a Sanctuary City.
Immigrant communities have mobilized in unprecedented opposition to militarized ICE raids. For the first time, local undocumented farmworkers bravely marched in Rochester’s Labor Day Parade.
Keep up your important work.
Doug Noble, Rochester, New York
BEHIND BARS
Things are fragile here
Please, if at all possible, extend my subscription. The reality here is a leaking roof, broken out windows, broken dishwasher, and poorly trained officers who lack the understanding that control is not security.
So, the environment is fragile all the time.
But, anyway, keep writing good articles and keeping the flow of information worth knowing coming. I’ll close for now and will remain in touch and in solidarity.
W. Milton by email
Editor’s note: Thanks to donations from supporters, the FS is able to provide prisoners gift subscriptions. They can be purchased at: socialism.com/subscribe.
The FS welcomes your feedback and opinions. Letters may be edited for length. Please write to 5018 Rainier Avenue S., Seattle, WA 98118, or email FSnews@socialism.com.
