The Legacy of a Torturer
Former Chicago police officer Jon Burge tortured black men and got away with it for almost two decades. But his atrocities also spurred a movement — one that scored a major victory against the racist criminal justice system.
19523 Articles by: Benjamin Case
Benjamin Case is a researcher, educator, and organizer living in Pittsburgh.
Ignoring Afrin
Turkey’s assault on Afrin crushed a beacon of democracy in Syria. But even when Western media did mention what was happening, it presented the victims as “terrorists.”
The Lessons of Ocean Hill-Brownsville
The 1968 Ocean Hill-Brownsville teachers strikes pitted teachers and parents against each other. But they didn’t have to. Teachers and parents today can avoid those past mistakes and create coalitions against racism and austerity.
Independent of What?
Chicago mayoral candidate Toni Preckwinkle has long been known as an “independent.” But that independence is more of a mindset than a substantive political ideology.
“Cynthia Moved the Debate”
Cynthia Nixon did not defeat Andrew Cuomo. But her policy director argues in an interview that her campaign opened up new spaces for progressives and the Left in New York politics.
The Labour Party’s Inclusive Ownership Fund Is a Good Idea
The Labour Party’s Inclusive Ownership Fund proposal would bring a large chunk of capital under collective control — and out of the hands of bosses.
Boss Fight
Leslie Smith is one of the top mixed martial arts fighters in the world. Now, as she explains in an interview with Jacobin, she is working with other fighters to bring the fight to her UFC boss.
Segregation Is Back — And It’s Profitable
Capitalism has ushered in a new era of racial segregation in the Bay Area. To change course, we need to fight the economic exploitation that’s driving it.
Here’s What We Could Have If We Slashed the Military Budget
The US military budget sucks up an enormous amount of resources without making the world more peaceful or democratic. Here are a few ways we could better spend that $717 billion.
The Left Should Welcome Mélenchon
Liberals want to smear Jean-Luc Mélenchon as a xenophobe. In fact, they fear his potential to unite the oppressed.
Teaching the Rank and File
Once ubiquitous in working-class communities, labor schools have succumbed to decline. Their history holds lessons for any future revival of working-class activism.
Accountable Capitalism or Democratic Socialism?
We need to challenge the logic of capital. Elizabeth Warren’s Accountable Capitalism Act only further entrenches it.
“I Am a Socialist, I Defend Universal Values”
Turkish police are still holding one of our contributors, Max Zirngast, on completely bogus charges. We demand his immediate release.
How New York Politics Has Changed
Andrew Cuomo took his victory lap in last week’s New York election. But the incumbent class below him has been shattered, and his base is hungry for radical change.
Britain’s Housing Casino
International speculators are playing games with our housing market — and we’re the ones losing.
Why Socialists Should Care About Felon Voting Laws
Universal suffrage has been a central objective for socialists from the start. We still have plenty of work left to do.
Death of a Torturer
Jon Burge, the Chicago police commander who tortured over one hundred black men, died yesterday. He acted with complete impunity over almost two decades before reporters, activists, and human rights attorneys stopped him.
Obstructing Justice
Recently released FBI documents detailing the bureau’s actions against George Crockett Jr show how the bureau acts as the nation’s political police, relentlessly hounding radicals.
#MeToo and McDonald’s
It’s been a long time since a strike in the US directly targeted sexual harassment. But on Tuesday, women workers took direct action against their bosses and brought the #MeToo movement to McDonald’s.
Paying For Socialism
Concern trolls often ask how we can “afford” socialist policies. Once we’re in power, we’ll have options. For now, just ignore them.