April 19, 2019 Featured From the ISO Taking our final steps Members of the International Socialist Organization write to report that the process of disbanding the group has been finalized. Crisis of the ISO From SW The ISO’s vote to dissolve and what comes next Members and recent ex-members voted in favor of dissolving the ISO while continuing the process of reflection and discussion. ISO Steering Committee Letter to the ISO membership The Steering Committee of the ISO writes to members about a deep crisis in the organization and the steps being taken to address it. Elizabeth Wrigley-Field What socialists can learn from #MeToo The coming out of sexual assault survivors has profoundly shaped the response of ISO members to the revelations of gross misconduct six years ago. Tess Carter Open letter to some ex-leaders of the ISO One lesson of our organizational reckoning should be that socialists must abandon the notion that “personal issues” are not political. Maryam A and Nikki W Nothing can be changed until it is faced A statement from the Interim Coordinating Committee of the Survivors’ Caucus of the International Socialist Organization. Maryam A A story about our house burning down As the International Socialist Organization goes through a period of crisis, a member provides a parable to describe the experience. Don Lash We can believe survivors and presume innocence The disastrous handling of a sexual assault complaint shouldn’t lead us to believe that two important principles are irreconcilable. From SW A message to our readers In the coming days, we hope to serve the wider left by devoting ourselves to reckoning with the crisis that has gripped our organization. Challenging oppression ISO Steering Committee Apology to people of color in the ISO We must acknowledge problems in the organization’s internal culture in order to lay the basis for building a stronger anti-racist left. Pranav Jani Towards a critical defense of “identity politics” With both class struggle and racism on the rise, we need to reduce the barriers between people of color and socialist organizations. Also featured What’s to come Haley Pessin We must continue to fight for socialism from below The lessons we will draw from the crisis in the ISO need to be used to further the project that the organization aimed to advance. Helen Scott Separating what’s good from what’s rotten A longtime socialist urges her comrades to go forward with care and compassion for each other and for the larger project of socialism. David Camfield, Todd Gordon, Brian McDougall and Sandra Sarner A letter from Canadian comrades Four socialists offer solidarity during the ISO’s crisis and argue for rethinking organizational models to maintain the core politics. Socialists and organization Paul Le Blanc Reflections on coherence and comradeship We on the left need to move beyond the shambles in which we find ourselves to do what needs to be done. What lessons will help? David McNally The period, the party and the next left A socialist author examines the organizational model that shaped the practice of the ISO — and looks at what the alternatives might be. brian bean Critical thoughts about Draper’s “micro-sect” Hal Draper’s contribution to the debate about the problem of the “micro-party” has important insights, but also some shortcomings. Steve Leigh What models of organization can guide us now? Justified outrage at a top-down and unaccountable version of Leninism doesn’t mean that Leninism should be rejected altogether. Del Obrero Socialista Obrero Socialista El voto de la ISO para disolverse y lo que viene después Miembros y recientes ex-miembros votaron a favor de disolver la ISO mientras embarcan en un proceso de reflexión y discusión. Obrero Socialista Carta a las bases de la ISO El Comité Directivo de la ISO escribe sobre una profunda crisis en la organización y los pasos que se están dando para enfrentarla. War on immigrants Elizabeth Maskasky Living at the mercy of “La Lista” In Tijuana and other border entry points, migrants and refugees have been subjected for months to a malicious bureaucratic hell. Justin Akers Chacón The case against “The case against open borders” Angela Nagle’s attention-getting article claiming that migration hurts the working class relies on arguments as old as they are deceptive. Danny Katch The new abolitionism The sudden embrace of calls to “Abolish ICE!” by immigrant justice organizations is a dramatic and welcome left turn for the movement. Danny Katch AOC’s vote against ICE: A view from Queens There are lessons to be learned from how activists contributed to a high-profile stand in Congress against funding “border security.” Lucy Herschel The dead end of “comprehensive immigration reform” The Democrats’ promotion of a bipartisan compromise has been a disaster for immigrants, refugees and the entire U.S. working class. Bridget Broderick and Orlando Sepúlveda When immigrants marched out of the shadows Ten years ago, immigrants took to the streets in massive numbers across the country to protest a Republican plan to criminalize the undocumented. The Trump administration Dorian B. Trump and the crisis that caused him A must-read book of essays, featuring many SW contributors, makes the case that Trump can only be explained by the conditions that preceded him. Lance Selfa Will 2019 be the year Trump goes down? The second anniversary of Trump’s inauguration arrives in a few weeks — with the growing prospect that he won’t make it to a third. Danny Katch and Alan Maass The arrogance of the completely corrupt The bumbling of the White House during the Comey firing would be laughable if not for the frightening picture it reveals of how the administration operates. Ashley Smith The wrong kind of unity against Trump The generals, the media, Republicans, Democrats — all are aligned against Trump’s Syria withdrawal. What’s binding them together? David Wood and Alan Maass Portrait of an unfit system Fire and Fury's stunning revelations have rocked the White House, but there's more to say about the whole undemocratic system. Editorial Fight the system that caused the Trump nightmare We have more evidence that Trump is an emotionally and morally vacant buffoon. But the question is: What are we going to do about it? Teachers’ struggles Ashley Theissen Teacher actions return to Kentucky The key issue for Bluegrass State educators is the ongoing attempts by the Republican-dominated statehouse to gut the pension plan. Jenna Woloshyn Why I held the line for my kids in Oakland An Oakland parent of three students talks about the high stakes in the teachers’ strike that brought her back to the picket lines each day. Ann Coleman Oakland schools are on the line Teachers in Oakland are on the picket line in a fight over school closures, funding and privatization — and the community has their back. Carlos Valdez Armed with tamales in the battle for Denver schools The labor movement can learn something about solidarity from the immigrant women who made tamales for striking teachers. Aaron Verbrigghe The charter bosses lose again at CICS Educators at four charter schools in Chicago are celebrating a huge victory against a staunchly anti-union administration that caved. Interview: Nicole McCormick They want to punish us for winning in West Virginia A West Virginia teacher explains what Republicans are up to with their new attack — and how educators are organizing the fightback.
From the ISO Taking our final steps Members of the International Socialist Organization write to report that the process of disbanding the group has been finalized.
From SW The ISO’s vote to dissolve and what comes next Members and recent ex-members voted in favor of dissolving the ISO while continuing the process of reflection and discussion.
ISO Steering Committee Letter to the ISO membership The Steering Committee of the ISO writes to members about a deep crisis in the organization and the steps being taken to address it.
Elizabeth Wrigley-Field What socialists can learn from #MeToo The coming out of sexual assault survivors has profoundly shaped the response of ISO members to the revelations of gross misconduct six years ago.
Tess Carter Open letter to some ex-leaders of the ISO One lesson of our organizational reckoning should be that socialists must abandon the notion that “personal issues” are not political.
Maryam A and Nikki W Nothing can be changed until it is faced A statement from the Interim Coordinating Committee of the Survivors’ Caucus of the International Socialist Organization.
Maryam A A story about our house burning down As the International Socialist Organization goes through a period of crisis, a member provides a parable to describe the experience.
Don Lash We can believe survivors and presume innocence The disastrous handling of a sexual assault complaint shouldn’t lead us to believe that two important principles are irreconcilable.
From SW A message to our readers In the coming days, we hope to serve the wider left by devoting ourselves to reckoning with the crisis that has gripped our organization.
ISO Steering Committee Apology to people of color in the ISO We must acknowledge problems in the organization’s internal culture in order to lay the basis for building a stronger anti-racist left.
Pranav Jani Towards a critical defense of “identity politics” With both class struggle and racism on the rise, we need to reduce the barriers between people of color and socialist organizations.
Haley Pessin We must continue to fight for socialism from below The lessons we will draw from the crisis in the ISO need to be used to further the project that the organization aimed to advance.
Helen Scott Separating what’s good from what’s rotten A longtime socialist urges her comrades to go forward with care and compassion for each other and for the larger project of socialism.
David Camfield, Todd Gordon, Brian McDougall and Sandra Sarner A letter from Canadian comrades Four socialists offer solidarity during the ISO’s crisis and argue for rethinking organizational models to maintain the core politics.
Paul Le Blanc Reflections on coherence and comradeship We on the left need to move beyond the shambles in which we find ourselves to do what needs to be done. What lessons will help?
David McNally The period, the party and the next left A socialist author examines the organizational model that shaped the practice of the ISO — and looks at what the alternatives might be.
brian bean Critical thoughts about Draper’s “micro-sect” Hal Draper’s contribution to the debate about the problem of the “micro-party” has important insights, but also some shortcomings.
Steve Leigh What models of organization can guide us now? Justified outrage at a top-down and unaccountable version of Leninism doesn’t mean that Leninism should be rejected altogether.
Obrero Socialista El voto de la ISO para disolverse y lo que viene después Miembros y recientes ex-miembros votaron a favor de disolver la ISO mientras embarcan en un proceso de reflexión y discusión.
Obrero Socialista Carta a las bases de la ISO El Comité Directivo de la ISO escribe sobre una profunda crisis en la organización y los pasos que se están dando para enfrentarla.
Elizabeth Maskasky Living at the mercy of “La Lista” In Tijuana and other border entry points, migrants and refugees have been subjected for months to a malicious bureaucratic hell.
Justin Akers Chacón The case against “The case against open borders” Angela Nagle’s attention-getting article claiming that migration hurts the working class relies on arguments as old as they are deceptive.
Danny Katch The new abolitionism The sudden embrace of calls to “Abolish ICE!” by immigrant justice organizations is a dramatic and welcome left turn for the movement.
Danny Katch AOC’s vote against ICE: A view from Queens There are lessons to be learned from how activists contributed to a high-profile stand in Congress against funding “border security.”
Lucy Herschel The dead end of “comprehensive immigration reform” The Democrats’ promotion of a bipartisan compromise has been a disaster for immigrants, refugees and the entire U.S. working class.
Bridget Broderick and Orlando Sepúlveda When immigrants marched out of the shadows Ten years ago, immigrants took to the streets in massive numbers across the country to protest a Republican plan to criminalize the undocumented.
Dorian B. Trump and the crisis that caused him A must-read book of essays, featuring many SW contributors, makes the case that Trump can only be explained by the conditions that preceded him.
Lance Selfa Will 2019 be the year Trump goes down? The second anniversary of Trump’s inauguration arrives in a few weeks — with the growing prospect that he won’t make it to a third.
Danny Katch and Alan Maass The arrogance of the completely corrupt The bumbling of the White House during the Comey firing would be laughable if not for the frightening picture it reveals of how the administration operates.
Ashley Smith The wrong kind of unity against Trump The generals, the media, Republicans, Democrats — all are aligned against Trump’s Syria withdrawal. What’s binding them together?
David Wood and Alan Maass Portrait of an unfit system Fire and Fury's stunning revelations have rocked the White House, but there's more to say about the whole undemocratic system.
Editorial Fight the system that caused the Trump nightmare We have more evidence that Trump is an emotionally and morally vacant buffoon. But the question is: What are we going to do about it?
Ashley Theissen Teacher actions return to Kentucky The key issue for Bluegrass State educators is the ongoing attempts by the Republican-dominated statehouse to gut the pension plan.
Jenna Woloshyn Why I held the line for my kids in Oakland An Oakland parent of three students talks about the high stakes in the teachers’ strike that brought her back to the picket lines each day.
Ann Coleman Oakland schools are on the line Teachers in Oakland are on the picket line in a fight over school closures, funding and privatization — and the community has their back.
Carlos Valdez Armed with tamales in the battle for Denver schools The labor movement can learn something about solidarity from the immigrant women who made tamales for striking teachers.
Aaron Verbrigghe The charter bosses lose again at CICS Educators at four charter schools in Chicago are celebrating a huge victory against a staunchly anti-union administration that caved.
Interview: Nicole McCormick They want to punish us for winning in West Virginia A West Virginia teacher explains what Republicans are up to with their new attack — and how educators are organizing the fightback.
