The Militant (logo) 
   Vol.65/No.43            November 12, 2001 
 
 
Vote Socialist Workers
(editorial)
 
Socialist Workers candidates in the 2001 elections have set an exemplary record of presenting a fighting, working-class alternative to the bosses and their two parties, the Democrats and Republicans.

The socialist campaigns have joined working-class struggles, protests against police brutality, and actions to defend immigrant rights. They explained that the only road out of the growing disaster of the economic crisis of capitalism, unemployment, racism, attacks on workers' rights, and imperialist war is for workers and farmers to join in a revolutionary struggle to overturn the capitalist government and replace it with one of their own.

Most recently they have uncompromisingly answered Washington's cynical use of the September 11 attacks to accelerate erosion of workers' rights and to launch a brutal war against the people of Afghanistan under the guise of fighting "terrorism."

We urge workers, farmers, and youth fighting the assaults by the wealthy ruling class to cast their ballots for the SWP candidates listed below.

The Socialist Workers candidates and their supporters have spoken out against the accelerated bipartisan assault on working people at home and abroad during this campaign period. This includes the deepening attacks on Social Security and unemployment compensation to moves to extend their "right" to indefinitely jail people, hold secret trials, threaten and use torture on detainees, break into people's homes, and other such moves. The jailings of more the 1,000 people, mainly immigrants from the Middle East and Asia, are in the forefront of this assault.

Socialist candidates around the country report a serious response by working people to their proposals and political stands. In candidate debates, news programs, on street corners, and on the job, they have used their campaigns to set an example of independent working-class political action and the possibilities of building a revolutionary proletarian party in the United States. They have found genuine interest in Pathfinder books, New International, and the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial, demonstrating the thirst of many working people for a working-class world outlook and course of action.

Several campaigns covered by the Militant in recent months have already been completed, including in Boston, Des Moines, Detroit, and Seattle. Candidates running in elections in November are:

Cleveland, Ohio: Eva Braiman, meat packer, for mayor, Anthony Prince,* garment worker and member of UNITE, for city council, Ward 18.

Houston, Texas: Anthony Dutrow,* meat packer, for mayor.

Miami, Florida: Michael Italie,* garment worker, for mayor.

New York City: Martín Koppel, editor of the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial, for mayor; Douglas Nelson, for city council; William Estrada, meat packer and member of the UFCW, for city council; Olympia Newton, for city council.

Newark, New Jersey: Kari Sachs,* meat packer and member of the UFCW, for governor of New Jersey.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John Staggs, a meat packer and member of the UFCW, for district attorney of Philadelphia.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Frank Forrestal,* coal miner and member of the UMWA, for mayor.

*Denotes on the ballot
 
 
Related articles:
Socialist in Miami wins support in fight against political firing
Fight political firing in Miami
'This is an attack on all workers,' socialist candidate for mayor of Miami tells press
 
 
 
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