The socialists have also nominated Chauncey Robinson, chair of the Young Socialists chapter in Los Angeles, for California Secretary of State; and three candidates for U.S. Congress: Gerardo Sanchez, a meat packer in San Francisco, in District 8; Naomi Craine, a sewing machine operator and member of UNITE HERE, in District 34; and Young Socialist member Michael Ortega in District 35. SWP leader Joel Britton is the party’s candidate for the San Francisco Board of Education.

“We are presenting a working-class alternative to the Democrats, Republicans, and other capitalist candidates at a time when massive working-class political actions have taken place to demand the legalization of all immigrants,” said Harris. “This is not just an ‘immigrant’ issue—this struggle has given a powerful boost to the entire working class to stand up to the assaults by the employers and their government.”

“Our campaign is an active part of this movement,” continued Harris. “We are urging all our campaign supporters, co-workers, and others to help involve the broadest forces possible to build important immigrant rights actions called for the Labor Day weekend.”

In Los Angeles, the March 25 Coalition has called a march on September 2 to demand legalization and an end to immigration police raids and deportations. Other actions are being planned in the Bay Area and elsewhere.

The SWP campaign platform includes the demand to “defend and extend affirmative action in employment, education, and housing” to combat the continued racist discrimination that is endemic to capitalist society. The Socialist Workers candidates in California are also demanding, “End the denial of diplomas to tens of thousands of high school students. Repeal the exit exam legislation.”

This year, for the first time, youth who meet all other requirements to graduate from high school are being denied a diploma if they do not pass a state “exit exam.” This law disproportionately hits young people of oppressed nationalities. In 2002 the passing rate on this exam was 28 percent for students who are Black and 30 percent for Latinos, compared to 65 percent for students classified as “white” and 70 percent for Asian youth.

Congressional candidate Sánchez pointed out that many jobs require a high school diploma. “The ruling class wants to keep these youth in a lower status so they can be superexploited,” he said. “It’s like what Malcolm X said, what we get is not education, it’s miseducation.”

In addition to campaigning in California, the socialists are planning deeper involvement with other workers, from the coalfields of Utah to the Navajo Nation in Arizona and New Mexico, who are fighting to build or strengthen unions and defend their health and livelihoods,.

Campaigners will be collecting the signatures and filing fee needed to place Britton on the ballot for San Francisco Board of Education. Due to restrictive ballot access laws, they will petition for the other SWP nominees to obtain official status as write-in candidates.
 
 
Related articles:
Socialist Workers candidates in Iowa: ‘Israeli troops out of Lebanon and Gaza now!’
Socialists in Pennsylvania file for ballot status
Affirm victory against state ‘loyalty oath’
A victory for political rights  
 
 
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