Eugene V. Debs, born on this day in 1855, was an American socialist, trade unionist, a founding member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), and a five time presidential candidate of the Socialist Party of America. Through his presidential candidacies as well as his work with labor movements, Debs eventually became one of the best-known socialists living in the United States.

While in prison for leading the Pullman Strike, Debs read various works of socialist theory and emerged six months later as a committed adherent of the international socialist movement. Debs was a founding member of the Social Democracy of America (1897), the Social Democratic Party of America (1898) and the Socialist Party of America (1901). Debs ran as a Socialist candidate for President of the United States five times, including 1900 (earning 0.6% of the popular vote), 1904 (3.0%), 1908 (2.8%), 1912 (6.0%) and 1920 (3.4%), the last time from a prison cell. He was also a candidate for United States Congress from his native state Indiana in 1916.

Debs was noted for his oratory, and his speech denouncing American participation in World War I led to his second arrest in 1918. He was convicted under the Sedition Act of 1918 and sentenced to a term of 10 years. In his speech to the court, he provided one of his most well-known quotes:

"Your Honor, years ago I recognized my kinship with all living beings, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on earth. I said then, and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element, I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free."

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  • hauntologist [comrade/them,he/him]
    ·
    3 years ago

    Sorry, I have no answer to your question, but do mind if I ask what you think of it so far? I was about to order it to read for myself but also to give to a lib I know as a means of attempting to radicalize her. I was just asking about it in the megathread last night, and was getting the impression it may not be the best book for that purpose.

    (Unfortunately, the conversation kinda died out and I never got the recommendations Nagarjuna was offering.)