Chicago Socialist Party

Chicago Socialist Party
Chairman	Art Kazar
Senate leader	None
House leader	None
Founded	1973 (1973)
Headquarters	Chicago IL
Ideology	Democratic socialism
National affiliation	Socialist Party USA
Official colors	Red
Website
Homepage
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The Chicago Socialist Party (CSP) is the local chapter of the Socialist Party USA in Chicago, Illinois. It is a democratic socialist organization that supports numerous progressive, radical causes in an effort to help build a broad-based, multi-tendency progressive movement.

In addition, there is an unaffiliated group of the same name, formed in 2005 by former Socialist Party members. That year, due to conflicts with others in the SP and what many CSP members saw as decreasing democracy and decentralism in the SP, many CSP members quit the SP or let their memberships lapse. The CSP's charter was suspended, and was later reinstated once a functioning Local Executive Committee was elected.^[1]

Both groups' long-term objective is to establish a radical democracy, a non-racist, classless, feminist, socialist society in which people cooperate at work, at home, and in the community and in which working people have control over their own lives. Both work cooperatively with numerous progressive and radical organizations and independent activists.

While the Socialist Party regularly runs candidates for elected office, restrictive ballot access laws in Illinois result in few Socialist candidates running in that state, mainly as write-in candidates. Both CSPs function primarily as activist organizations, working in support of the labor movement, anti-war campaigns, prison outreach, and policy advocacy. Members have also been involved in educational efforts such as establishing radical resource centers and organizing forums, speakers, classes, film screenings, and book discussions on progressive and radical issues.

References

1. ^ Socialist Party National Committee Minutes, March 2008 (accessed 14 May 2008).

External links

• Chicago Socialist Party local
• Unaffiliated Chicago Socialist Party