Yari Osorio, the vice presidential candidate of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), has made a campaign stop in New Haven, Conn. He spoke at the main public library on Sept. 25 in downtown New Haven, after doing a few hours of street outreach for the campaign.
Osorio, a native of Colombia, spoke to a diverse group of people about the contradictions of capitalism and the effects it has on the working class in this country and around the world. After an introduction about the history of the PSL and a speech from a candidate about reasons to join the party, Osorio introduced himself as an immigrant, and the party as standing in solidarity with the struggles of the entire international working class reminding the audience: “La lucha obrera no tiene fronteras — the workers’ struggle has no borders.” This, he said, is a defining point that separates the PSL from all other parties currently on the ballot in the elections, because as internationalists, we recognize the indivisibility of our class across borders.
There was also much discussion on what socialism would look like here in the United States. In response to a question from the audience about the role of landlords under socialism, Osorio said: “No one would be allowed to make a profit from being a landlord — homelessness would be immediately eliminated, as there are currently 18.5 million empty homes and 3 million homeless people.” His reports were well received. Discussion then moved to the drug war, at which point Osorio exposed the vicious cycle of money between banks and cartels, and explained that only under socialism could drug users get adequate treatment instead of incarceration, and the government would have no incentive to have a relationship with drug lords.
Much excitement was also generated about the coming visit of PSL presidential candidate Peta Lindsay to Connecticut on Oct. 8 and 9.
