MINNEAPOLIS — The Socialist Workers Party here publicly launched the 2026 campaign of Kevin Dwire for U.S. Senate from Minnesota March 1. Mary Martin, who chaired the meeting, welcomed the 23 people in attendance and reported on the campaign to protest Florida prison authorities’ latest ban of the Militant for its coverage of the fight against government attacks on immigrant rights in Minneapolis. She urged those in the audience to join in gathering letters asking Florida authorities to overturn the ban, and handed out copies of a letter sent by the Florida Press Association along these lines.
Chris Pennock, vice president of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 9 in Minneapolis, reported on the union’s fight for a new contract with the U.S. Postal Service. Protests were held here and across the country Feb. 22.
Pennock said an anti-union federal law bars postal workers from striking, something he and his co-workers are beginning to discuss more. He thanked the SWP for its support and said he would inform everyone of future actions.
Farhio Khalif of Somali Youth Link and Neighbors United, an organization of Somali small-business owners at the Karmel Mall and community center, also spoke. Khalif explained that Neighbors United is demanding the state of Minnesota provide monetary relief for the losses their businesses have suffered during the government’s anti-immigrant assaults, which scared shoppers to stay away from the mall. She thanked the SWP for its support.
The Socialist Workers Party is “the peace party” in the upcoming elections, Dwire said in his opening remarks. He then read from the SWP National Committee’s statement “US Out of the Middle East” issued by SWP National Secretary Jack Barnes. It says Washington’s war moves there are an assault on the “national sovereignty of Iran and the many peoples who make up its population.”
“We call for all U.S. forces out of the Middle East,” he said.
At the same time, “Israel has a right to exist as a refuge for Jews and a right to defend itself against Tehran’s call for its destruction,” Dwire said.
The SWP candidate reported there have been several actions in Minneapolis opposing Washington’s threats against Cuba and the bipartisan economic blockade the U.S. rulers have imposed on the Cuban Revolution. More actions are planned. He encouraged campaign supporters to attend the Cuban Film Festival, an opportunity to discuss defending Cuba against U.S. attacks.
Dwire said working people and the unions need to discuss and learn the lessons from the recent immigration fight. “The disciplined, union-led mass actions here on Dec. 4, Dec. 20 and Jan. 23, were a key factor in the government’s decision to pull back Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
“The call for amnesty for all undocumented workers in the U.S. is a realistic and essential proposal to protect immigrant workers from the constant threat of arrests and deportations, and to unite the working class,” he explained.
”Working people in the U.S. don’t want another war. We need a party that represents the working class as opposed to the two parties that represent the ruling class,” Dwire said.
“It is important we win working people to support this fight by small-business people, as Khalif explained earlier,” he said. “Many of them work day jobs and try to sell their goods at night at the mall. We want to win these people and millions like them to see their only future in a socialist revolution here in the U.S.” The meeting was a big step forward in advancing the campaign.