Each candidate for President is entitled to submit a statement of up to 250 words to the Secretary of State, who publishes them on her website. This is Stephen Durham’s statement (click here for the original).
I am running to offer solutions to the hardships working people face in this economic crisis—solutions that neither Democrats nor Republicans will provide because of their allegiance to the banks and corporations.
My Freedom Socialist Party (FSP) running mate for vice president is Christina López, a leader in fighting Washington state budget cuts. We stand for disarming the war machine and creating full employment with a publicly funded jobs program at union wages; taxing corporate profits to restore desperately needed social services and providing free, multicultural public education for all ages; and establishing elected, authoritative civilian review boards over the police.
We will work for universal, free healthcare, including reproductive services and abortion; nationalizing the banks and energy industry under workers’ control; ending the racist war on drugs; equal rights regardless of race, gender, age, nationality, sexual orientation, immigration status, or physical ability; protecting the environment; and eliminating election laws that discriminate against minor parties. We furthermore see this socialist feminist campaign as a way to help advance a working-class movement for fundamental, lasting change.
My experience through four decades as a radical organizer includes leading FSP branches in Los Angeles and New York City; union activism with co-workers in the restaurant industry; and building ties with socialists in Latin America as an FSP representative.
Endorsers include James Lafferty, Executive Director, Los Angeles National Lawyers Guild; Richard Brown, former Black Panther and victor in the San Francisco 8 case; and Tanya Smith, former president of UPTE-CWA 9119 Local 1.