“I Want Other Christians to Explore What Socialism Is”
Joel Richards is a teacher, union activist, and socialist running for Boston City Council. In an interview, Richards discusses his plans to fight for Boston’s working class, why the city needs its own Green New Deal, and how Christianity shapes his socialism.
Socialist Joel Richards is running for Boston’s District 4 city council seat.
Joel Richards is a longtime public school teacher running for Boston’s District 4 city council seat on November 2, 2021. A first-generation American and union member, he’s running on a platform that speaks directly to the needs of Boston’s working class: equity in education, housing for all, and a local Green New Deal.
A member of Boston Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Richards’s campaign has been endorsed by the Boston Teachers Union, Sunrise Boston, the Greater Boston Labor Council, and the DSA.
In this interview, Richards discusses the structural problems facing his district, how he wants to transform Boston’s public schools, and the role of Christianity and faith in his vision of socialism. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
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