Socialist Party of Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
The Socialist Party of Massachusetts (SPMA) is the state chapter of the Socialist Party USA
(SPUSA) in the U.S. state
of Massachusetts
.
It was reorganized in the 1970s after the formation of the SPUSA by activists who had been members of the Socialist Party of America
. In 1993 SPMA activists were able to establish "Socialist" as an official political designation in Massachusetts, the culmination of a campaign started in 1986.
The Socialist Party of Massachusetts engages in both electoral politics and non-electoral activism. Recent electoral activities include Eric Chester
's campaign for the United States House of Representatives
and support for ballot questions on instant runoff voting, proportional representation
, and public finance of elections. Non-electoral activism includes support for unions and unionization (often in cooperation with the Industrial Workers of the World
), anti-war and anti-imperialist agitation (including annual public Anti-Imperialist Fourth of July Picnics), and support for feminism
and women's rights (including annual demonstrations to mark Rosie Jimenez day, 3 October).
Presently, the Socialist Party of Massachusetts has one chartered local, in the Boston area.
Socialist Party USA
The Socialist Party USA is a multi-tendency democratic-socialist party in the United States. The party states that it is the rightful continuation and successor to the tradition of the Socialist Party of America, which had lasted from 1901 to 1972.The party is officially committed to left-wing...
(SPUSA) in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
It was reorganized in the 1970s after the formation of the SPUSA by activists who had been members of the Socialist Party of America
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
. In 1993 SPMA activists were able to establish "Socialist" as an official political designation in Massachusetts, the culmination of a campaign started in 1986.
The Socialist Party of Massachusetts engages in both electoral politics and non-electoral activism. Recent electoral activities include Eric Chester
Eric Chester
Eric Thomas Chester is an American author, socialist political activist, and former economics professor.Born in New York City, he is the son of Harry and Alice Chester...
's campaign for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and support for ballot questions on instant runoff voting, proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
, and public finance of elections. Non-electoral activism includes support for unions and unionization (often in cooperation with the Industrial Workers of the World
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...
), anti-war and anti-imperialist agitation (including annual public Anti-Imperialist Fourth of July Picnics), and support for feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
and women's rights (including annual demonstrations to mark Rosie Jimenez day, 3 October).
Presently, the Socialist Party of Massachusetts has one chartered local, in the Boston area.