I want to vote for them, but I spent at least an hour looking of proof that they've done anything other than paint all their stuff red and couldn't. All I could find is people complaining that they tanked other local socialist chances in local California races (no idea how valid) and my friend in Oakland saying in the George Floyd protests they were out signing people up, but not looking to really help out in any way.
Like they post articles and books which is cool, but I see people online making it seem like you're a fool for not immediately voting for them. Have they changed people's breaklights, handed out food, or help tennants/workplaces organize? Cus if not they've done less than the libs at DSA.
Sorry for the long-winded rant. I just don't see what they've done other than have socialist in the name and get on the ballot so I'm genuinely curious.
PSL is the most active radical group in my city.
That is really good to hear.
Yeah they do all of that lol, they just don't typically nationally broadcast their regional/local work with other movements of the people.
There are several reasons for this. It protects the individual actions from the currently somewhat harmful public association with revolutionary parties, which most people participating in the actions aren't quite ready to embrace. It also makes it harder for the State to track the PSL's movements/actions, and allows them a little more flexibility in where they throw their energy. Finally, it is not the Party that commands/leads the people in these actions, the party is merely a voice that is to make coherent and vocalize the people's needs. They can't do that if they're out there taking credit for the real progress that the people themselves have made in building mutual aid.
Also: the fact that the State hunted down 4 cadre and threw trumped-up kidnapping charges at them for protest organizing and left them without bail hearing for a week should tell you all there is to say about the fact that they’re doing something.
Not asking them to display a giant poster of an empty thermometer that said "praxises"over it that they fill in with red sharpie every time they do something.
Just legitimately asking for firsthand experience with them because I haven't had any and couldn't find anything online.
Yeah that's totally fair, didn't mean to seem combative. Another reason you're not gonna find the kind of examples you're looking for is because that's all handled at the regional/local branch level, and the national structure has its own purposes.
I know the branch around me does a lot of work with the tenants unions, BLM protest organizing, worker organizing, and various housing activities. But to get more detail you'd probably get a better answer contacting the PSL via email/web submission or finding cadre locally that can discuss what they do and what you as a member would be involved in.
No worries. Call me a simp, but all the responses here seem to be that people see them doing grassroots organizing which is enough for me.
Not a problem, good to see people evaluating organizations with a little more care these days :fidel-salute:
yeah i bring this up a lot here in CO, that wasn't far away from us in the mountains. it makes me nervous organizing and that chilling effect is a good reason why PSL isn't super loud about what they're doing. look at Black Lives Matter, the "Marxist organization", I'd be interested in seeing how recent attacks from the media and the Feds has effected BLM support. i hope that it really doesn't chill people as on fire as PSL and other comrades.
My experience with the PSL has been good. The local chapter here is pretty aggressive when it comes to trying to get people to join, whihc turns a lot of people off of joining I feel, but they are a really great resource when it comes to "joining" the left. They do not do as much mutual aide as some other chapters, but they do enough. Some other chapters are full on Tankie Death Cults, so ymmv.
Ultimately I think the DSA currently has more momentum as an organization, but the PSL is doing some great work.
They seem to be involved in organising BLM rallys (at least enough that the police felt they had to arrest 4 of them in Denver and throw the book at them). That said I have trouble bringing to mind anything else they've done except show up to stuff but I haven't been following their party organ (Liberation News) very closely. Maybe look there to see! People tend to bad-mouth orgs here very loosely so it can be hard to get a critical view of them (I've been guilty of this as well).
Just for anyone reading this: talk to the party cadre themselves (if you know any) if you want an idea of what kind of local mutual aid is typically done by the PSL.
I actually heard that they pissed off some BLM organizers by basically co-opting an event. This is kinda something you don't do, even when it's run by libs. This was a while back and on twitter so I can't find find it.
That's pretty much exactly what the PSL are trying to avoid doing from what I've seen. I mean its kinda why OP asked his question, since they try not to claim the local orgs/movements they work within as their own. They aren't really looking to co-opt/takeover peoples movements; only to add their strength to them, educate, and organize. I'd be interested in seeing that link if you find it!
I had a long comment typed up on my phone about the nuances of PSL but it got deleted before I could post it so I won't go into too much sectarianism lol. All I will say is that PSL is overall a pretty good org, though their focus nationwide is on protesting and they aren't the best org. So if you can vote for La Riva I'd recommend you vote for her as an explicitly socialist protest vote
They were involved in this:
https://www.liberationnews.org/collective-protects-venezuelan-embassy-in-washington-d-c/
And this:
https://www.liberationnews.org/ppe-for-the-people-campaign-to-produce-and-distribute-masks-in-boston/
PSL organizers were most of the leadership of my cities protests.
They don't even have control of the US senate, what do you want?
You to read the dang post.
Have they changed people’s breaklights, handed out food, or help tennants/workplaces organize?
Holy fuck people, stop twisting yourselves into knots figuring out who you should cast your individual vote for. It doesn't fucking matter. You casting a vote by yourself for PSL, Greens, writing in "Pig Poop Balls", or even capitulation and voting Biden will have ZERO meaningful impact on anything whatsoever. Nor is your vote some expression of your personal virtue or political convictions based on how you cast it. That's lib shit.
If you don't want to vote, okay, who cares. If you want to vote, okay, who cares. Voting doesn't advance the movement in any meaningful sense whatsoever. It does not constitute "political participation" in any meaningful sense. So stop flagellating yourselves agonizing over how to vote next month, and stop haranging others about it too.
Hey bud maybe don't view !electoralism@hexbear.net if you don't want to see people talk about voting.
