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Freedom Road Socialist Organization

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Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), also sometimes referred to as Freedom Road Socialist Organization/Fightback!, is a self-described nationwide socialist and communist organization. The organization claims that it is building a new communist party based on Marxism-Leninism.

While the organization encouraged voters in swing districts to support Democratic Party candidates in the 2022 midterm elections, the organization generally rejects using the ballot box as a means of political change. Instead, the organization calls for direct action and a struggle in the streets as a means of acquiring power. 1

In the spring of 2022, the organization passed a resolution opposing U.S. intervention in the Russo-Ukrainian War. The organization asserted that the United States and NATO had provoked the war in Ukraine. In addition, it accused the U.S. and NATO of sponsoring aggression against Russia and interfering in Ukraine. Finally, it called for the defeat of NATO and its “de facto leader” the U.S. in Ukraine, as the group believes that the U.S.’s “meddling” in the affairs of Ukraine was the cause of the conflict. 2

Overview

Freedom Road Socialist Organization is a self-described socialist and communist organization with a nationwide membership and chapters. The organization has no national headquarters. The organization’s goal is to build a new communist party that is based on Marxism-Leninism. 3

Structure

The organization claims to operate through the Leninist idea of “democratic centralism” and makes many of its decisions in party congresses. The most recent congress was held in 2022. 4

The party is administered by a central committee. In 2022, Mick Kelly was elected the party’s political secretary. 5

The organization also publishes a newspaper, Fight Back! News. 6 Back when it and another splinter organization both used the Freedom Road Socialist Organization name, some commentators differentiated between the organizations by using FRSO/Fightback! to describe the organization. 7

Issues

The organization participated in the demonstrations that occurred after the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. It applauded the destruction of police property and the confrontation of the police. 8

In spring 2022, the organization passed a resolution opposing U.S. and NATO involvement in the Russo-Ukrainian War. It laid the blame for the war entirely at the hands of U.S. and NATO. Furthermore, it called for the defeat of the U.S. and NATO in Ukraine. It also accused the U.S. and NATO of meddling in Ukraine’s internal affairs and encouraging Ukraine to confront Russia. 9

In spring 2022, the organization passed a resolution supporting the Palestinian cause against Israel. In addition, it called for the destruction of Israel by the “liberation of every inch” of Palestine and “right of return” for all Palestinians. 10

In June 2022, it called for mass action in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and in support of abortion. 11

Limited Endorsement of Democrats in 2022 Midterms

In September 2022, the organization gave a limited endorsement of Democrats in swing districts. It declared that its major goal in the 2022 midterms was the defeat of Republicans, especially Republicans who were supporters of former President Donald Trump. 12

In addition to urging the defeat of Republicans, it urged the defeat of centrist Democrats at the hands of further-left candidates. 13

It also stated that neither Democrats nor Republicans represented the interests of working-class people and that liberation would not come from the ballot box. Instead, it would be won with direct action in the streets. 14

History

The organization was founded in 1985 by the merger of the Proletarian Unity League and the Revolutionary Workers Headquarters. Both organizations had been created by the collapse of the New Communist Movement. In 1986, the Organization for Revolutionary Unity merged with the FRSO. In 1989, the Amilcar Cabral/Paul Robeson Collective, a group of Black Marxist-Leninists, joined the FRSO. In 1995, the Socialist Organizing Network joined FRSO. 15

In the 1980s, the organization supported Jesse Jackson and his National Rainbow Coalition. The organization fought for a radical agenda independent of the Democratic Party. 16

In 1999, the organization split. One faction of the party, the Left Refoundationists, wanted to abandon the building of a Marxist-Leninist party and become a left-wing of the more mainstream left. That faction eventually left the party and kept using the Freedom Road Socialist Organization name until 2019 when it became Liberation Road. The FRSO would remain a traditional Marxist-Leninist party. 17

References

  1. “A Revolutionary View Of The 2022 Midterm Elections”. . Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Sept. 9, 2022 https://frso.org/statements/a-revolutionary-view-of-the-2022-midterm-elections/.
  2. “Resolution Against The U.S./NATO-Provoked War In Ukraine”. . Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Jun. 8, 2022 https://frso.org/congress/resolution-against-the-us-nato-provoked-war-in-ukraine/.
  3. “What Is The Freedom Road Socialist Organization?”.  Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Accessed October 3, 2022. https://frso.org/about/.
  4. “9Th Congress Of Freedom Road Socialist Organization: Seize The Time, The Future Is Bright!”.  Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Jun. 3, 2022 https://frso.org/congress/9th-congress-of-freedom-road-socialist-organization-seize-the-time-the-future-is-bright/.
  5. “9Th Congress Of Freedom Road Socialist Organization: Seize The Time, The Future Is Bright!”.  Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Jun. 3, 2022 https://frso.org/congress/9th-congress-of-freedom-road-socialist-organization-seize-the-time-the-future-is-bright/.
  6. Fight Back!”.  Fight Back! News. Accessed October 3, 2022. http://www.fightbacknews.org/.
  7. “The Two Frsos And The Mass Line”.  Massline. Accessed October 3, 2022. http://www.massline.info/frso/.
  8. “Police Murder Of George Floyd, ‘The Spark That Lit A Prairie Fire’”. Freedom Road Socialist Organization. May 26, 2021 https://frso.org/statements/police-murder-of-george-floyd-the-spark-that-lit-a-prairie-fire/.
  9. [1]”Resolution Against The U.S./NATO-Provoked War In Ukraine”. . Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Jun. 8, 2022 https://frso.org/congress/resolution-against-the-us-nato-provoked-war-in-ukraine/.
  10. “Resolution In Support Of The Palestinian Struggle For Self-Determination, Liberation, And Return”.  Freedom Road Socialist Organization. July 6, 2022 https://frso.org/statements/resolution-in-support-of-the-palestinian-struggle-for-self-determination-liberation-and-return/.
  11.  [1]”Prepare For Mass Action To Keep Abortion Legal! Defend Women’s And Reproductive Rights! All Out When The Supreme Court Issues Ruling!”.  Freedom Road Socialist Organization. June 11, 2022 https://frso.org/statements/prepare-for-mass-action-to-keep-abortion-legal-defend-womens-and-reproductive-rights-all-out-when-the-supreme-court-issues-ruling/.
  12. A Revolutionary View Of The 2022 Midterm Elections”. . Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Sept. 9, 2022 https://frso.org/statements/a-revolutionary-view-of-the-2022-midterm-elections/.
  13. [1]”A Revolutionary View Of The 2022 Midterm Elections”. . Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Sept. 9, 2022 https://frso.org/statements/a-revolutionary-view-of-the-2022-midterm-elections/.
  14. “A Revolutionary View Of The 2022 Midterm Elections”. . Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Sept. 9, 2022 https://frso.org/statements/a-revolutionary-view-of-the-2022-midterm-elections/.
  15. [1]”Our History”.  Liberation Road. Accessed October 3, 2022. https://roadtoliberation.org/about-us/our-history/.
  16. [1]”Our History”.  Liberation Road. Accessed October 3, 2022. https://roadtoliberation.org/about-us/our-history/.
  17. “Public Statement On The Future Of FRSO”. . Marxists. June 1999 https://www.marxists.org/history/erol/ncm-7/other-side-split.htm.
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