Union Allows Socialist Rally for Bernie Sanders at Their Manhattan HQ
Source: Observer
By Will Bredderman
As Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders—the second place candidate for the Democratic nomination for president—prepares for a “major speech” to explain his self-professed democratic socialism, healthcare workers’ union 1199 SEIU hosted a meeting of democratic socialists last night overjoyed to have one of their own in contention for the highest office in the land.
Speakers at the Democratic Socialists of America event—keynoted by former Texas agricultural commissioner and progressive activist Jim Hightower—stressed that the location did not constitute an official 1199 SEIU endorsement of Mr. Sanders, though they repeatedly thanked union president George Gresham for reserving his Midtown headquarters’ auditorium for their use. Besides Mr. Hightower, longtime 1199 SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Edward Kay and Communication Workers of America organizer Jerome Thompson—one of the 22 workers laid off in the bitter but successful drive to unionize Cablevision’s Brooklyn shop—addressed the audience about the significance of Mr. Sanders’ campaign, as did leading members of the DSA. (Mr. Thompson also appeared at a Manhattan fundraiser for Mr. Sanders in September.)
“The fact that democratic socialism is dinner table and breakroom conversation across this country in a positive way, more than it has been in a hundred years, to me is a game-changer,” national director Maria Svart said. “Bernie is dangerous because he’s not afraid of being called a socialist.”
Mr. Sanders has indicated his speech on the subject will assert that governmental institutions ranging from police departments to public colleges to Social Security are essentially social democratic programs.
FULL story at link.
Jim Hightower addresses the Democratic Socialists of America at 1199 SEIU headquarters (Photo: Will Bredderman for Observer).
Read more: http://observer.com/2015/10/union-lends-socialists-rally-for-bernie-sanders-at-their-manhattan-headquarters/
