BY TONY DUTROW

PITTSBURGH - The Socialist Workers Party here won a victory for democratic rights when the American Civil Liberties Union announced October 22 that an agreement had been reached with the Allegheny County Department of Elections, entitling the party to its own line on the ballot in the 22nd legislative district.

In the original ballot placement, Edwin Fruit, the Socialist Workers candidate, was put on the same line as the Socialist Equality Party. This organization was set up by the Workers League, an antilabor outfit, for the 1996 election campaign. The election board claimed that there were only nine lines on the ballot for parties which were placed alphabetically in order, and since the Socialist Workers Party fell at the end of the listings it was not entitled to its own line.

In a meeting with the Election Board and representatives of the Socialist Workers Party, Vic Walczak, the Pittsburgh ACLU's executive director, argued that Allegheny County's failure to give the Socialist Workers Party its own row and party lever on the ballot constitutes discrimination. Since every other party was given this status, Walczak said Allegheny County was in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause, and violated the First Amendment's freedom of association guarantees. The election board reached the agreement instead of pressing for a court battle.

In response to the ballot victory, SWP candidate Fruit stated, "As a unionist working for USAir, many supported my outspoken opposition to the government cover-up of cutbacks in safety by the airlines industry. Others were with me as I opposed the dismantlement of the court-ordered busing of school children for the purpose of desegregating the Pittsburgh school system. Still more thought my active participation in the fight to jail the killer cops responsible for the murder of Jonny Gammage was yet another reason to support my party." The ruling means "all who which to do so may vote for Edwin Fruit and the Socialist Workers Party," he added.

Tony Dutrow is a member of the United Steelworkers of America and coordinates the Western Pennsylvania Socialist Workers Campaign.  
 
 
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