“From the River to the Sea” Is a Call for Democracy and Equality
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” is not a hateful slogan or a call for violence — it’s a call for democracy and equal rights for all.
19274 Articles by: Opal Lee
Opal Lee is a writer.
Israel Is Cracking Down on Internal Dissent
As its indiscriminate assault on Gaza continues, Israel is ramping up repression of its own citizens for speaking out against the brutal war. The clampdown demonstrates the fragility of a “democracy” premised on occupation and apartheid.
After Weeks of Israeli War Crimes, Rashida Tlaib Is the One Getting Censured
In an outrageous act, the US House has censured Rashida Tlaib for her criticism of Israel’s war on Gaza. All she’s done is call for peace for everyone in historic Palestine — at the same time Israel bombs hospitals and US politicians dehumanize Palestinians.
NYC Cab Drivers Just Sued Uber and Lyft for Hundreds of Millions in Unpaid Wages
Uber and Lyft have made profits by exploiting their ambiguous legal status to avoid paying workers billions in wages, but taxi unions recently sued the corporations for millions. Their victory is part of a broader wave of worker attacks on the gig economy.
Joe Biden Could Stop Israel’s War on the People of Gaza If He Really Wanted To
As Israel’s war on Gaza’s civilian population becomes ever more brazen, the Biden administration has been trying to wash its hands of responsibility. In reality, Joe Biden simply doesn’t want to use his leverage over Benjamin Netanyahu to impose a cease-fire.
Priscilla Is Yet Another Sad Princess Tale From Sofia Coppola
Sofia Coppola’s new film, Priscilla, finds Elvis’s young bride bored and lonely in her life of luxury. But like Coppola’s other films in this subgenre, it’s all about the costumes and accoutrements.
Germany Is Weaponizing Its Historical Guilt to Demonize Israel’s Critics
Germany’s leaders have given unconditional support for Israel’s war in Gaza — but also demanded that immigrants do the same. The rhetoric of German atonement for the past is being used to silence left-wing Jews and blame antisemitism on immigrants.
Real Freedom in America Can Only Be Won Through Class Struggle
A long tradition in US thought has emphasized the importance of economic security for ensuring individual liberty. But to truly realize equal freedom for all, we need a socialist politics fighting for democratic control over the economy.
The UAW Has Modeled Rank-and-File Democracy. The Canadian Auto Union Should Match It.
In recent autoworker bargaining, the UAW and the Canadian union, Unifor, won groundbreaking deals. But Unifor should seek to match the UAW’s level of rank-and-file engagement going forward.
Colombia’s Sinú River Tells the Story of Profit-Driven Violence and Environmental Destruction
The Sinú River in Colombia has provided food, water, and transportation to local people for thousands of years. In recent decades, wealthy landowners used violent force to push through construction of a dam that has caused disastrous flooding in the region.
Alexander Bogdanov Was One of Russia’s Great Revolutionary Thinkers and a Sci-Fi Pioneer
Alexander Bogdanov played a key role in Russia’s socialist movement in the years leading up to the 1917 revolution. He was also a remarkably creative thinker who wrote a sci-fi novel about a socialist civilization on Mars.
Private Banks Are Trapping Their Customers, and They Want to Keep It That Way
A new federal rule would make it easier for consumers to shop around at different banks to look for better interest rates. Financial institutions are fighting the agency behind it tooth and nail.
A Lack of Money Means a Lack of Freedom
Capitalism’s defenders often claim that it protects “negative freedom” — an individual’s freedom from others interfering with their choices. But Marxist philosopher G. A. Cohen showed that capitalism systematically denies people just this kind of freedom.
I Live in Gaza. Israel’s Horrific Bombing Campaign Is Like Nothing I’ve Ever Seen Before.
In a harrowing dispatch from Gaza, Palestinian human rights activist and Gaza City resident Raji Sourani gives an account of daily life amid Israeli air strikes that are killing entire families. Despite it all, Palestinians in Gaza are clinging to hope.
Simone de Beauvoir’s Work Shows How We Can Bring Marxism and Feminism Together
Simone de Beauvoir’s reputation as a feminist pioneer is well-established, but the influence of Marxism on her thinking is too often overlooked. She wanted to build a socialist movement that would fight class and gender oppression at the same time.
Andrew Tate’s “Manosphere” Is Built on a Shallow Idea of Human Freedom
Andrew Tate offers his fans a sense of purpose by telling them to unleash man’s “primal” drives. Built on dubious evolutionary psychology, Tate’s “manosphere” doesn’t reflect an age-old human nature but rather an empty, neoliberal view of freedom.
“Bidenomics” Won’t Reverse Working-Class Decline
The Biden administration has made some prolabor gestures and moves toward more state direction of investment. But the policies, emphasizing subsidies to business, will do little to reverse working-class disorganization or meaningfully address climate change.
Democratic Socialists of America Is a Key Player in the Fight Against Israel’s Assault on Gaza
Across the country, DSA has faced attacks and slander for opposing Israel’s human rights atrocities in Gaza. It’s a testament to how effective socialist antiwar organizing, in coalition with other progressive groups, has been.
Israel’s War on Gaza Is Also a Lethal War on Palestinian Journalists
Israel has killed at least 36 journalists during its bombing campaign in Gaza, at times even slaying reporters’ families. The media establishment, which a short time ago was rightly decrying the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, hasn’t said a thing.
South Africa’s Transition to Democracy Left Neoliberalism in Place
The negotiations to dismantle apartheid in South Africa in the early 1990s failed to challenge the neoliberal economy created by the ruling National Party. The water shortages and blackouts sweeping the country today are a direct result of that failure.