[M]ilitant[M]inded: @Decolonized_

I recently posted this same message on Facebook:

A few days ago I saw a woman I consider a friend post something important and then delete it. 

I am going to speak that same truth but let it remain out in the open. I’m not afraid of being demonized because that process is already in action. 

As some of you know, I resigned from the PSL [Party for Socialism and Liberation] this weekend. The rampant racism, sexism and favoritism in the party was unbearable and a constant hindrance to political growth and action.

A revolutionary organization can not and will not grow a solid efficient base when it dismisses issues. In the past year, I have seen male “comrades” extract resources from women, white or white passing high ranking [national level] “comrades” use stereotypes to assassinate the character of lower ranking members to dismiss issues raised by those lower ranking members, and watch women and men of color be pigeon holed into speaking roles on certain issues simply because they “look the part”. 

The most damning thing I witnessed, was the dismissal and coddling of a violent misogynist, rapist and anti-Semite, Jesse Thompson-Burns, who as given pass after pass simply because he had “founded the Sacramento branch”.

The way the PSL has handled, and continues to handle issues of sexism, racism, and other internalized bigotry is not only reactionary it is causing the party to become cult-like.

I dropped out of school for this organization, I never asked for recognition for the mass of work I did within WORD or PSL as I thought that work was my duty to our class. I am beyond disappointed by the reactionary and false stories being “shared” as to why I resigned, and how I am now being called the ring leader of a “coup” …that was really women from different branches simply discussing how to resolve the issues I previously detailed when leadership kept ignoring them. I led NOTHING. 

I am not divisive, I am not a gossip as I have been branded by the party’s national leadership [Gloria La Riva].. I am staunchly against ignoring problems, I am for discussing them to build solutions…and apparently PSL does not like that modus operandi and prefers to follow liberal precedence of resolving issues by ‘ignoring them’ or victim blaming.

A party cannot combat systemic racism, sexism and other forms of bigotry if it cannot correct it in it’s own members and leadership. 

I don’t wish the party harm, I just hope the lower ranking members can see these issues and find a way to resolve them to fix these things for the sake of our class.

Pa'lante!

Additional Noting: The party’s handling of my resignation as well as other female bodied people’s resignations has been very reactionary. They have resorted to cult-like damage control tactics instead of addressing the message in a public-internal fashion, let alone a public fashion. They have not tried to develop a class or essay on how to combat bigotry within the party, and instead have victim blamed the multiple women who have left. Thus making any future reports of abuse from victims in the party highly unlikely at best. They have set a precedence that says victims will be shamed and bullied into leaving if they speak up about a “comrade” who has abused them or discriminated against them.

That is liberalism in action. The PSL’s Central Committee members claim that we all are all workers as a way to dismiss reports and issues around sexism and racism,  while “we are all workers” is true, we are all also part of different classes with fault lines constantly opposing each other, such as men & women, and white workers and people of color workers. To ignore those issues for the sake of “party retention” and “reputation” is to allow liberalism to hinder revolutionary action and steps into the right direction..of resolving those fault lines.

“Liberalism manifests itself in various ways. 
To let things slide for the sake of peace and friendship when a person has clearly gone wrong, and refrain from principled argument because he is an old acquaintance, a fellow townsman, a schoolmate, a close friend, a loved one, an old colleague or old subordinate. Or to touch on the matter lightly instead of going into it thoroughly, so as to keep on good terms. The result is that both the organization and the individual are harmed. This is one type of liberalism”
Mao Tse-tung (Zedong), Combat Liberalism

-Autumn