Socialist Party USA

Socialist Party May Day Statement
Socialism – An Idea Whose Time Has Come!
“Ideas,” someone once wrote, “move rapidly when their time comes.” As we gather to celebrate May Day, the continuing capitalist crisis makes socialism an idea ready to move rapidly. While the banks have received trillion dollar bailouts, working people still face mass unemployment, state and local budget cuts and deepening personal debt. Capitalist crisis has made the socialist vision of a world where human needs are put ahead of individual profits even more relevant. Our task on May Day is to convert socialism from a good idea into a movement to transform our society.

Capitalism Exposed
The recent economic crisis was more than a banking crisis or a housing price bubble. It was a demonstration that there is a fundamental problem at the center of capitalism. That problem lies in the nature of corporations themselves. Noam Chomsky once described corporations as “unaccountable private tyrannies.” There is no democracy inside of a corporation and, as a result, there is no democracy on our worksites. Corporations are undemocratic entities created only to make profits from exploiting the labor of workers.
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The undemocratic corporate model now also dominates American politics. A corrupting system of campaign donations and lobbying ensures that both Democrats and Republicans serve the interests of corporate America. When corporate profits declined, politicians began handing out trillions of dollars in public money to them. When these same corporations fired millions of workers, neither Democrat nor Republican attempted to stop them.

Socialist Solutions
Socialism offers an alternative to undemocratic profit-mad capitalism. By ensuring that people’s needs for housing, healthcare, education and employment are guaranteed, a socialist society will offer equality of opportunity. By bringing democracy to the economy through worker’s control of production, we will make sure that the place where most people spend their adult lives operates democratically. By organizing participatory budgeting, we will put people at the center of the system – fully empowered to make decisions concerning the future of the society they live in.
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The powerful necessity of socialist ideas can be seen most clearly with the issue of immigration. The capitalist state presents restrictions and police actions as the proper way to keep immigrants in line. Conversely, socialists support the rights of all workers regardless of their status. We support the creation of an unconditional amnesty program and seek to build solidarity amongst workers throughout the world. Where capitalism offers ICE raids and the Border police, we support human freedom and social solidarity

May Day- Our Day
May Day is our day. A day when trade unionists, anarchists and socialists gather to state clearly that another world is possible. This other world is a democratic participatory one, where resources are shared for the betterment of humanity. However, democratic socialism will not come about spontaneously – we must get organized. So, today we invoke the names of Eugene Debs, of Caesar Chavez, of Dr. Martin Luther King to call on all working people to join the struggle for socialism. Move rapidly, act boldly, we have a world to win!

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MAY DAY 2010 LOCAL EVENTS
Events organized, supported or endorsed by Socialist Party USA local or state organizations or members at-large

All Events on May 1st unless noted

Ann Arbor,MI: Protest Barack Obama in Ann Arbor, - 9am -11am, at the corner of Main St. and Stadium Blvd. just outside of the Michigan Football Stadium where Obama will be delivering the 2010 University of Michigan commencement address. Say No to Escalation of U.S. Imperialist Aggression, Military Spending, and War, Demand Immediate Withdrawal of U.S. Forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, End U.S. Aggression in Pakistan & U.S. Financing for Israeli Aggression in Palestine! Demonstration Called by Ann Arbor Coalition Against the War.

Boston, MA: Join the Socialist Party for International Workers' Day- 12:00pm Rally and march at Boston Common to celebrate International Workers Day! From the struggle for an 8 hour day in 1886 to the immigrant rights actions of 2006, the struggle continues to this day! Capitalism is failing to provide good jobs or protect our environment. On this day, let's unite to call for an alternative. Info: peopleunite@verizon.net or (617) 633-1857

Chicago, IL- Celebrate International Labor Solidarity! Join nearly 70 trade unionists from Zenroren in dedicating a new plaque to the Haymarket Square Monument. Corner of DesPlaines and Randolph, Chicago Sponsored by the Illinois Labor History Society and the Chicago Federation of Labor. Endorsed by Chicago Socialist Party Info: akazar@netzero.com

Detroit, MI: Fifth Grand Peaceful March for Immigration Reform, 10 AM - meet at Patton Park (W. Vernor Hwy. & Woodmere St., southwest Detroit, MI). March to Clark Park (W. Vernor Hwy and Clark St.) for 12pm rally. Demand: End to Raids & Deportations, Immediate Legalization for All, Close Inhumane Immigrant Detention Centers, Approve the Dream Act, End Home Foreclosures, Evictions, & Utility Shutoffs; Pass Michigan Senate Bill No. 29 (Two Year Home Foreclosure Moratorium)!

Detroit, MI: May Day Celebration at Martin Luther King Jr. Park (Fuller Ave. & Franklin St., Grand Rapids, MI). 10 am - 8 pm- Community potluck, performances all day from 9+ hip hop artists & bands, open skill share, speakers, and kids activities (face-painting, coloring & games). Sponsored by: Grand Rapids Hip Hop Coalition, the Bloom Collective, Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy, League of Revolutionaries for a New America, Workers Solidarity Alliance, Lansing Workers Center, Black Autonomy Network Community Organization, Grand Rapids IWW, US Social Forum, Stop Targeting Our Kids, Our Kitchen Table, and the Socialist Party of Michigan.

Detroit, MI: Detroit Socialist Party Benefit Show (6 hours of live musical performances - mostly punk bands) - 6:00 pm to 12 am @ the Painted Lady Lounge, 2930 Jacob St. Hamtramck, MI 48212. $5 cover (cover fee goes to support the DSP). (18+ age-limit due to bar location).

Madison, WI: Join the Socialist Party of South Central Wisconsin at the March for Immigration Reform- 12 Noon @ Brittingham Park May Day March for Immigration Reform in Celebration of International Workers Day! We will march for FAIR Immigration Reform and improving working and living conditions for worker's families.
More info: fenian_608@yahoo.com

Memphis, TN: Join the Memphis Socialist Party at the Rally for Rights/ Manifestación para los Derechos Civiles - 12:00pm - 2:30pm @ the National Civil Rights Museum 450 Mulberry St. Memphis, TN and for a May Day BBQ afterward. For more info contact: memphissocialist@yahoo.com

Miami, FL: May Day Miami! 1:00 pm eayy at the IBEW Hall 1657 NW 17th Ave. Miami, FL Partial list of sponsors (in formation) - Miami May Day Coalition; South Florida AFL-CIO; Haiti Solidarity Committee; Take Back the Land; Miami Workers Center; Workers World; Iraq Veterans Against the War - Miami; South Florida Jobs with Justice; Socialist Party USA; International Socialist Organization; Raging Grannies; Veterans for Peace, Chapter 032; Progressive Democrats of America; Bolivarian Circle of Miami; Broward AntiWar Coalition

New York, NY: Socialist Party of NYC Liberation Film Series - "Harlan County" 7:30 pm at 339 Lafayette St, (buzzer #11) Manhattan, NYC Info: click here
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New York, NY: Join the Socialist Party of NYC: Join the New York City Local at 11:30 am at the SPUSA National Office before we go to the May Day Rally in Union Sq. Info: socialistpartynyc(at)gmail.com or (718) 869-2279

New Haven, CT: May Day New Haven- 11:00am-7:00pm. Join the Socialist Party of Connecticut at the New Haven May Day Festival. The Party will have a table and be present all day, stop in to say hello, get a free copy of The Socialist magazine and more! Info: http://www.maydaynewhaven.org At 5:30 pm Todd Vachon (aka Mista Mayday) will be performing with “The Hired Gun” and “West Road” Info: www.mistamayday.com

Richmond, VA: Richmond May Day Parade- 4:00 rally at Abner Clay Park (between W. Leigh St and W. Clay Street) Richmond Va, 23220 Info at http://sites.google.com/site/spcentralva/ and www.maydayrva.org/

Richmond, VA: May Day Workshop- "Roads to Democratic Socialism" with Socialist Party of Central Virginia- 12:00 pm room 2 at Gallery Five- 200 W. Marshall St. (as part of Richmond May Day workshops begin at 9:00 am) Info: http://sites.google.com/site/spcentralva/ and www.maydayrva.org

Trenton, NJ: Take Back Trenton May Day March/Rally- join the Socialist Party of New Jersey at 12:30 pm @ the NJ State House 125 West State St. Trenton, NJ. March/Rally starts at 1:00 pm and ends at 5:00 pm. Endorsed by the Socialist Party of New Jersey as part of the Take Back Trenton Coalition.
Info: call Greg at (201) 803-7574
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(May 2nd) Socialist Party of NYC Radical Walking Tour of the Village - meet at 339 Lafayette St, (buzzer #11) Manhattan, NYC. Info: click here

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Socialist Party USA 339 Lafayette St. #303 New York, NY 10012