Teacher and Pennsylvania State Senate Candidate Paul Prescod: “The Rich Need to Start Paying”
Paul Prescod is a socialist, teacher, and longtime Jacobin contributor who is running for Pennsylvania state senate. In an interview, Prescod discusses his roots in labor, an agenda for Pennsylvania left elected officials, and why he plans to be an “organizer-in-chief.”
(Courtesy of Paul Prescod for Pennsylvania Senate District 8)
Paul Prescod should be a familiar name to Jacobin readers. He’s the cohost of our YouTube show and a regular contributor to the magazine. As a rank-and-file teacher, Prescod has been an activist in the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT). And he’s running for Pennsylvania State Senate in its 8th district, pledging to make organizing around working-class issues and legislating universal programs his top priorities.
Prescod’s campaign is in its early stages, but he has already earned endorsements from Teamsters Local 623, Teamsters Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees, AFT Local 2026, Temple Association of University Professionals, and the Philadelphia Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
Peter Lucas spoke with him about his roots as the son of immigrant and labor activists, his experience with organized labor in Philadelphia, and what left elected officials can do to organize while in office.
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