News & Opinion

Ben Becker, editor of the book Imperialism in the 21st Century and a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation in New York City, reviews the increasing likelihood of a policy shift among Western powers allowing for a ceasefire between the Syrian government and insurgent forces following talks in Vienna. While the shoot down of a Russian jet by Turkey, a country dependent on the United States and NATO, complicates this process, the possibility of new alliances also exist, including a significant army of insurgent forces in Syria ready to fight against ISIS.

Eyewitness: North Korea Listen now: Gloria La Riva, the PSL’s 2016 presidential candidate, speaks about her experience in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (also known as North Korea) during the 70th anniversary of the Worker’s Party of Korea earlier this month. She describes her impressions of changes in the DPRK since her last trip in 1989, including the impact of U.S. sanctions on the North Korean economy, and discusses the need for people in the United States to continue to oppose imperialist aggression towards North Korea. rsz_palestinian Palestine: A Third Intifada? Listen now: Richard Becker, West Coast Coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition, provides an analysis of what many are calling a Third Intifada, or uprising, of the Palestinian people in response to continued Israeli repression and the desecration of non-Jewish religious sites in an attempt to declare Zionist colonial victory over Palestine.

North Korea: Myths, facts and where relations are heading PLUS: In one of the richest countries in the world – zero maternity leave Listen now: Brian Becker, National Coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition, speaks to Don Debar, host of the morning show on CPRmetro.org, regarding myths and facts about the Democratic People's Republic of Korea – North Korea. He reviews the most recent attacks by the United States and South Korean intelligence services at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and what they mean for U.S.-North Korea relations. Listen now: Nathalie Hrizi, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation in San Francisco who is currently on paid maternity leave – a benefit won by her union, discusses the overwhelming absence of such paid leave in the United States. Countries around the world offer between 12 and 50 weeks of paid parental leave, with the United States and just three other countries standing alone without any support for new parents. This indicting feature of U.S. capitalism can only be changed through mass struggle.

PSL delegation reports on #BlackLivesMatter conference Eugene Puryear, a leading member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, reports on behalf of the PSL delegation that attended the recent #BlackLivesMatter conference in Cleveland, OH. He discusses the conference and the steps the movement must take to continue and ultimately win the struggle against police terror Karina Garcia of the Party for Socialism and Liberation in New York City speaks on the example of the workers at Pure Food and Wine who, when their boss closed up shop and skipped town with their wages, began to organize food sales themselves – showing the possibility of workers' control and fightback in the face of profit-hungry business practices. On July 30th, the workers unanimously voted to unionize.

The struggle in Turkey: Interview with the Communist Party, Turkey Listen now: Ali Somel of the Communist Party, Turkey (TKP) reviews the current political and economic situation in Turkey, including the brutal suppression of the recent May Day events and arrest of 240 people – a number of them members of the TKP. The TKP is also running candidates in the bourgeois elections in Turkey, and Ali speaks on that intervention and other struggles to provide a glimpse into the history of the TKP and movement for socialism in Turkey.

Listen now: IV Sta of the Party for Socialism and Liberation gives an eyewitness account of their experience at the May 9 celebration in Russia, commemorating the tremendous Soviet victory and the sacrifices that ultimately led to the defeat of fascist Germany in World War II.

Cops and media lie about the murder of Walter Scott | PLUS: The increasing U.S. role in the Saudi bombing of Yemen Cops and media lie about the murder of Walter Scott Listen now: Sean Blackmon of the Party for Socialism and Liberation in Washington, D.C., and an organizer with D.C. Ferguson, speaks on the concerted lies of the cops and the media as well as the resulting protests in South Carolina following the police murder of Walter Scott. Blackmon analyzes the movement’s next steps in taking back the power from the racist police and the system that needs them. yemen-bombing_3251011b The increasing U.S. role in the Saudi bombing of Yemen Listen now: Jane Cutter, an editor of Liberation News and a leading member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, discusses the increased U.S. involvement in the Saudi bombing of Yemen, which began on March 25. She addresses the humanitarian costs of the bombing and the situation on the ground in the country. rsz_img_20150404_134333937 The Red Nation calls historic march against racist violence in Gallup, N.M. Listen now: The Red Nation stood up against the extreme atmosphere of racist violence in Gallup, N.M., in a historic march earlier this month. Hear the strong and courageous voices of the march organizers and participants who are fighting against racism and the continued legacy of colonialism.

Liberation Radio: Civil war unfolds in Yemen with U.S. go-ahead Congo resistance leader on the liberation of the Congo and Africa Listen now: Ben Kabamba, one of many activists affected in the continued crackdown against revolutionary student activists in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, speaks on the resistance movement against neo-colonialism in the country. The Congo, the largest resource-rich country in Africa, has long been deemed key to the liberation of Africa. For more information, visit friendsofthecongo.org. rsz_imageadapt480lowyemen_turmoil_2015 Civil war unfolds in Yemen with U.S. go-ahead Listen now: Jane Cutter, an editor of Liberation News and a leading member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, details the forces behind the civil war unfolding in Yemen. Yemen is currently under bombing attacks by neighboring Saudi Arabia with the blessing of the U.S. imperialists. Ground troops from Saudi Arabia and Egypt may follow in a proxy war resulting from U.S. war and occupation in the region.

Imperialism in the 21st Century: an in-depth interview with the editor of the PSL’s new book Listen now: Ben Becker, the editor of Imperialism in the 21st Century: Updating Lenin’s Theory a Century Later by PSL Publications, reviews the rationale to revisit Lenin’s work on imperialism in the wake of WWI and the validity of Lenin’s thesis 100 years later. Features of modern imperialism have some unique characteristics, but the war drive behind monopoly capitalism has remained essentially the same – and socialism is the only way to rid the world of imperialist war

Updates on developments in the Ukraine Listen now: Brian Becker, National Coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition, provides an update on the situation in the Ukraine, where the government had renewed its military offensive against resistance forces. This interview was recorded prior to the recent ceasefire, and Liberation Radio will continue to cover the story as it develops

Greece’s demand for reparations from Germany | PLUS: Update on developments in the Ukraine Listen now: Radhika Miller, a progressive activist and lawyer from Washington, D.C., explains the new Greek government’s demand of the German government for reparations for crimes committed in World War II. Miller also discusses the role of SYRIZA in Greece today.

Black Liberation, Socialism and the Struggle Today — Part II Listen now: This is Part II of a special edition of Liberation Radio featuring the second 30 minutes of a one-hour interview with PSL leaders Brian Becker and Eugene Puryear. The interview was conducted by Dr. Jared Ball, of iMiXWHATiLiKE! and WPFW 89.3FM Pacifica Radio in D.C. The interview covers a range of topics on socialism and communism, the centrality of the national question and the fight for Black liberation in the PSL’s strategic orientation on the U.S. class struggle, the role played by Marxism in the anti-colonial and national liberation movements, as well as promoting the idea of socialism through electoral politics. We thank Jared Ball for the right to re-air the interview. To see more of Jared Ball’s work go to imixwhatilike.org.

Liberation Radio Greek election showdown and its impact on Europe’s class struggle | Cops turn on NY Mayor as act of war January 5, 2015 Greek election showdown and its impact on Europe’s class struggle | Cops turn on NY Mayor as act of war on the people Listen now: Walter Smolarek, a regular contributor to Liberation News, discusses the upcoming Greek elections and the significance for the movement with a the possibility of the SYRIZA (the Coalition of the Radical Left) gaining power. NY Mayor De Blasio Heckled At Police Graduation Cops turn on NYC Mayor as act of war on the people Listen now: Karla Reyes, an organizer with the ANSWER Coalition and a member of the PSL in New York City, analyzes the meaning of the NYPD’s protest against Mayor DeBlasio. Reyes points out the role of the cops under capitalism, and how this action can be read as a declaration of war on the people and movement countering police terror. obamaspeaking Obama’s end of the year report Listen now: Eugene Puryear, a leader of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, analyzes President Obama’s end-of-year report and what workers can really look forward to in 2015.

Huge demonstrations push forward movement against police terror | PLUS: Report details massive U.S. torture program Huge demonstrations push forward movement against police terror Listen: Kerbie Joseph from the Party for Socialism and Liberation in New York City reports on the outpouring of protesters in recent marches across the country against police terror. She discusses the steadfast movement that continues to grow. detainee at us torture camp Report details massive U.S. torture program Listen: Eugene Puryear, a leader of the PSL in Washington, D.C., discusses the worldwide outcry upon the release of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence report on torture. He looks at the context of the report and how we should respond. cuban 5 are free The Cuban Five are finally free! Listen: Gloria La Riva, National Coordinator of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five, discusses the 16-year struggle to free the Cuban Five, how the Five exposed the CIA’s counterrevolutionary activities, and the shift in U.S.-Cuba relations.

Liberatio Radio: Struggle for justice for the 43 in Ayotzinapa grips Mexico Listen now: Frank Lara, an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation in San Francisco, discusses the outpouring against the state-sponsored disappearance of the 43 students in Ayotzinapa, Mexico, and how it relates to police terror in the U.S. psl-sign-stop-racist-police-brutality “I can’t breathe” echoes across the U.S. Listen now: Karla Reyes, an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation in New York, reports on the mass reaction to the non-indictment of Daniel Pantaleo for the killing of Eric Garner in the wake of the Darren Wilson decision.

From mass outrage to mass movement: the struggle against police terror Listen now: Eugene Puryear, a leader of the Party of Socialism and Liberation, discusses the growing movement against police terror, analyzing how the oppression of Black people and the movement will breed greater resistance. Marissa Alexander’s recent plea bargain & freedom in 2015 Listen now: Radhika Miller, D.C.-based attorney, speaks on the movement to free Marissa Alexander and the recent plea bargain that will see her free this January.

The Russian Revolution and the struggle to end exploitation of people by people rsz_russian-revolution-poster Listen now: Brian Becker, a founding member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, explains the Marxist perspective on the Russian Revolution, the Soviet Union, and the gains, challenges and contradictions facing the first socialist government in a world dominated by imperialism. This interview is one part of a larger PSL educational series.

Beneath the surface: An analysis of the real meaning of the midterm elections Listen now: Eugene Puryear, candidate for D.C. Council At-Large on the D.C. Statehood Green Party ticket, discusses the meaning of low voter turnout in the mid-term elections and the interest of voters in progressive issues like increasing the minimum wage.

Widespread opposition to continued war amongst troops PLUS: Court rules to free revolutionary Sundiata Acoli Listen now: Mike Prysner of March Forward! discusses the widespread opposition amongst rank-and-file soldiers to Obama's latest moves to send more ground troops into combat in Iraq and Syria amid growing turmoil. Listen now: Gloria La Riva of the Party for Socialism and Liberation talks about the appeals court ruling to free Black Panther Party revolutionary Sundiata Acoli. Acoli and Assata Shakur were both convicted for the 1973 shooting of a New Jersey State Trooper.

Listen now: Brian Becker, National Coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition, dissects and analyzes the far-reaching policy implications of President Obama's address at the annual United Nations General Assembly. Listen now: Liberation Radio reporters bring you the voices of participants in the September 21 People's Climate march in New York City that drew hundreds of thousands of people. People around the world came out in thousands of actions across the globe.