On August 24th, Socialist Party of New Jersey members convened in New Brunswick for our biannual State Convention. Howie Hawkins, a longtime Socialist Party member from Syracuse, NY, spoke at the convention’s opening session.
Howie Hawkins is a three time candidate for Governor of New York with the Green Party, the most recent of which was 2018. During his 2018 campaign, which was endorsed by the Socialist Party, he engaged with the Socialist Party locals in New York State and participated in a panel series co-sponsored by our New York City Local. Hawkins is currently seeking the Green Party’s 2020 presidential nomination on an ecoscoialist platform.
At our State Convention, Hawkins spoke of the need for the independent Left to work together and offer a clear alternative to Donald Trump and the paper-thin Democratic Party opposition. He correctly stated that, while other Left organizations are either openly supporting Democrats or reconsidering their independent position, the Socialist Party has been resolute in its independence from and opposition to the twin parties of capitalism.
Howie Hawkin’s full address to the Socialist Party of New Jersey’s State Convention can be found via New Jersey Revolution Radio here.
After listening to Hawkin’s address and participating in a Q&A session, members present voted unanimously for a resolution to “encourage Howie Hawkins, who is a candidate for the 2020 Green Party nomination for President and longtime Socialist Party member, to declare his candidacy for the 2020 Socialist Party nomination in addition to the Green nomination.”
We believe that Howie Hawkins’ call for socialist collaboration and uncompromising independence from the Democratic Party is one that would resonate with the larger Socialist Party membership. Additionally, his focus on ecosocialism and ending capitalism is imperative for any socialist campaign as the planet faces climate extinction. Regardless of who receives the Socialist nomination, we would be well served by a presidential nominee with such a message.
The Socialist Party of New Jersey wants to be clear that this does not constitute an endorsement of the Hawkins campaign, nor is it a directive to our 2019 National Convention delegation. There should be a robust debate on what sort of campaign we field in the 2020 election and we stand ready to support the presidential ticket that our National Convention elects. It is our hope and desire that Howie Hawkins is part of that debate as a candidate for the Socialist Party presidential nomination.
Central New Jersey Socialist Party 