Whether you are holding a newsprint copy or reading the Freedom Socialist (FS) on a screen, you’ve probably thought about how different this newspaper is from mainstream ones.
Built on a foundation of ideas which have the potential to change the world, the FS bolsters the efforts of working people to organize and fight for their collective interests. It promotes a working-class, revolutionary perspective and agenda.
One example was the 2023 Writers Guild of America work stoppage. Commented Elias Holtz, who recently organized a TV Writers union with his co-workers, “The printed Freedom Socialist was a way to reach the writers and actors on picket lines from New York to Hollywood. It highlighted the diverse rank-and-file backbone of those strikes, which was essential to their militancy and strength. The FS celebrated and encouraged that often overlooked leadership.”
The FS is more than a vehicle with which to inform and educate its readers. By reporting on rebel activity from all over the globe, it connects diverse experiences and raises class consciousness to a revolutionary conclusion.
In the struggles that the Freedom Socialist Party has participated in, and provided leadership for, the FS has been there as an organizing tool.
To name just two, the United Front Against Fascism formed a diverse coalition which faced off with neo-Nazis many times throughout the Pacific Northwest. Its victories appeared in the pages of the FS and encouraged other communities to stand up against would-be Hitlerites. The Campaign for an Elected Civilian Review Board, based in New York City, brought people together in the fight for police accountability. Articles covering the treachery of Democratic City Council members provided understanding as to the roadblocks faced by the grassroots effort.
In each case, the Freedom Socialist was there to keep people up to date and make connections between local, national and international actions.
For those in locations removed from major centers of activism, the FS can provide a lifeline. States Sue Mi Ko, “Being in Vermont, I look to the paper for political orientation. It’s a tangible way to connect with my community and an entry into organizing.”
As we live with the results of the Nov. 5 elections, community fightback — far and wide — is more important than ever. The Freedom Socialist is a tool for building grassroots resistance. Wherever you are, keep your subscription current and share the paper with disgruntled cohorts, co-workers, and neighbors.
