There Are Now Six Socialists in Albany Fighting for New Yorkers
Jabari Brisport is one of six socialists now in the New York State Legislature, the most in a century. We spoke to him about how he came to democratic socialism, how elected officials can help build working-class power, and why his top policy priority is to tax the rich.
DSA member Jabari Brisport was elected to the New York State Senate on January 6.
On January 6, Jabari Brisport, a public school teacher and member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), assumed office as New York State Senator in District 25, which covers several neighborhoods of Brooklyn. He joined incumbent state senator Julia Salazar, along with four new state assembly members, to form the first socialist caucus in Albany in a century.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Brisport has been an activist at his school, in the Black Lives Matter movement, in the gay rights movement, and is now playing a leading role in DSA’s statewide campaign to tax the rich.
He spoke to Jacobin’s Hadas Thier about how he came to democratic socialism, the priorities of the new socialist caucus, and the power of an inside-outside strategy to make fundamental change for working people.
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