Albuquerque to host socialism event
Albuquerque will host the inaugural Southwest Regional Socialism Conference this weekend, presented by The Party for Socialism and Liberation.
The free all-day event will run from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday at NMPower, located at 136 Washington St. SE.
Chris Banks, a member of the PSL Southwest chapter, said this is the first time a conference will be held in the region.
After four years of being involved in the social justice movement in Albuquerque, were taking this very ambitious step to try to organize a socialist conference in the Southwest, Banks said.
Gloria La Riva, convention speaker and Albuquerque native, was involved in the original founding of the PSL in June 2004, and ran for U.S. president in 2008 as a socialist candidate.
As an organization, the PSL believes in and works to create a system and society where the wealth that workers and farmers create can benefit all people, she said.
To defeat capitalism and build a society of true peace and social justice, organization is needed, a party that embodies all the ideals of that new system and society, of socialism, La Riva said. And many people are wanting to know, just what is socialism? We think the conference will be an educational and inspiring event.
The PSL is heavily involved in anti-war and anti-police brutality movements along with opposing racism and attacks on womens rights, and supporting LGBTQ rights, La Riva said.
Banks stressed that the conference is not solely for activists or people who identify as socialists, but is open to anyone who wants to learn more about the ideology and the progressive movement in America and around the world.
Its a conference for every person who is opposed to endless war, racism, poverty, the destruction of the environment and all injustices, Banks said. All are welcome and there is no level of experience required, just a desire to create a better world one based on cooperation, instead of the one we live in which is based on life-and-death competition.
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Albuquerque to host socialism event