Not to be confused with the Polish anticommunist trade union of the same name.

Solidarity is a socialist organization that advocates for far-left policies within the United States and worldwide. ^{1 2}

It is a fiscally sponsored project of the Center for Changes, a charitable advocacy group based in Detroit, Michigan. ³

Background

Solidarity is a socialist organization that advocates for far-left policies within the United States and worldwide. ^{4 5}

The group was founded in 1986 by socialist activists claiming that the Marxist movement in the United States needed a new direction to “avoid sectarian maneuvering, lack of internal democracy, hostility to outside ideas, and unrealistic expectations of social upheaval in the short term.” Its founders created a series of principles arguing that the Soviet state was not ideal, that the socialist left needed more diversity, and said principles would be used rather than established concrete policy demands. These principles were elaborated in Solidarity’s “Founding Statement.”  ⁶

Activities

Solidarity links to Against the Current, a self-described “socialist journal,” as one of its publications. ^{7 8} In September 2024, Against the Current’s editors released an article claiming their “grade” of President Joe Biden as a “below F-minus: G for Genocide” on account of his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. The article claims that President Biden’s decision to step down from reelection showed that “the movement for Palestine has moved the needle of public opinion and shown that the catastrophe in Gaza can’t be shoved back into the twilight.” It also warned that a second presidential term for former President Donald Trump would lead to “the actual destruction of even the flawed democratic structures that have evolved under the ambiguous rubric of the U.S. Constitution. ⁹

As of 2024, Solidarity co-signed on to NOlympics LA’s efforts to oppose the hosting of the 2028 Olympic Games in the city of Los Angeles, California. ¹⁰

Funding

Solidarity solicits one-time and recurring donations from its supporters through its website. It notes that all donations go through the Center for Changes, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Detroit, Michigan. ¹¹ According to its tax returns, the Center for Changes does business as Against the Current, which is the name of the publication that Solidarity links to on its website. ¹²

Solidarity’s donation portal is powered by CiviCRM, a management software application designed for nonprofit organizations and activist groups. ^{13 14}

Financials

In 2023, Solidarity’s parent group, the Center for Changes, reported revenue of $67,764, total expenses of $80,840, and net assets of $138,095. ¹⁵ Its principal officer was listed as David M. Finkel and the official location of the organization was listed as Detroit, Michigan. ¹⁶

1. The Editors. “Slouching Toward November.” Against the Current, September-October 2024. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://againstthecurrent.org/atc232/a-letter-from-the-editors-slouching-toward-november/.
2. “What is Solidarity?” Solidarity. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://solidarity-us.org/what-is-solidarity/.
3. “Donate.” Solidarity. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://solidarity-us.org/donate/.
4. The Editors. “Slouching Toward November.” Against the Current, September-October 2024. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://againstthecurrent.org/atc232/a-letter-from-the-editors-slouching-toward-november/.
5. “What is Solidarity?” Solidarity. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://solidarity-us.org/what-is-solidarity/.
6. “Solidarity’s History.” Solidarity. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://solidarity-us.org/history/.
7. “Home.” Solidarity. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://solidarity-us.org/.
8. “Home.” Against the Current. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://againstthecurrent.org/.
9. The Editors. “Slouching Toward November.” Against the Current, September-October 2024. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://againstthecurrent.org/atc232/a-letter-from-the-editors-slouching-toward-november/.
10. “Partners.” NOlympics LA. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://nolympicsla.com/partners/.
11.  “Donate.” Solidarity. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://solidarity-us.org/donate/.
12. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Center for Changes. 2023. Box C.
13. Donate.” Solidarity. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://solidarity-us.org/donate/.
14. “Explore CiviCRM.” CiviCRM. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://civicrm.org/explore-civicrm.
15.  Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Center for Changes. 2023. Part I, lines 12, 18, and 22.
16. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Center for Changes. 2023. Boxes C and F.