The administrator of this blog site, I am a lifelong socialist and a retired carpenter and the former recording secretary and an expelled member of Carpenters Local 713. I was expelled for my leading role in the 1999 SF Bay Area carpenters wildcat strike as well as for his opposition to the union bureaucracy in general. I was one of the founding members of a small group called Labor Militant, which was the forerunner to Socialist Alternative. Along with a small group of others, I was expelled when that group started to adapt to the union bureaucracy. I have also visited the workers' movement internationally, including in Pakistan, Egypt (during the Arab Spring), Britain, Mexico and Chile (during the uprising there in 2020). Unless otherwise specified, I am the author of the articles that appear here. Although I am the main author, Oaklandsocialist welcomes articles on any issue that relates to the working class. Contact us at Oaklandsocialist@gmail.com.
Is Donald Trump a fascist? That’s what’s being said, even in an article in Newsweek back in July. And there are the numerous stories of his having opponents roughed up at his […]
When the capitalist class in a country sends that country into war, they always whip up a war fever, jingoist hysteria, mass hatred and blood thirsty attitudes. That blood lust only dies down […]
The poisonous water crisis in Flint continues. Nothing has been resolved. It is the result of starving the government of funds needed for social services as well as the even more direct […]
by Noor Nieftagodien in South Africa Martin Legassick (20 December 1940 – 1 March 2016) Comrade Martin Legassick passed away this morning, 1 March 2016, after a protracted and brave fight against cancer. Despite ill […]
Here is Cetima talking about her experiences living in Oakland.
After Hillary Clinton’s victory in S. Carolina with about 77% of the vote, Bloomberg.com ran the following commentary: “Clinton might actually owe Sanders a debt of gratitude. Her New Hampshire loss and narrow […]
Chaos and candidates shout over each other, calling each other names while the moderator is completely sidelined and reduced to begging the contestants “gentleman, please”. If Hollywood had produced a film about […]
January 20, 2017. Dozens of people were injured and over 100 arrested as protesters clashed with Trump supporters and police at the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who becomes the 45 president. […]
Feb. 25, 2016 Returning to the site of the so-called Orangeburg Massacre of 1968 in which three students were killed and 27 wounded by police at the historically black South Carolina State […]
When I go to bed at night, I like to relax for a few minutes by reading some enjoyable novel. But I think I’m going to switch to reading the opinion pages […]
