Socialist Alternative (United States)
Socialist Alternative (sometimes shortened to SA or SAlt, and founded as Labor Militant) is a Trotskyist political party in the United States. It describes itself as a Marxist organization,[2] and a revolutionary party fighting for a democratic socialist economy. Unlike reformist progressive groups, it argues that capitalism is fundamentally incapable of serving the interests of the majority of people.
Socialist Alternative
National Committee
(no single chairperson)
April 1986
(as Labor Militant)
New York City, New York
Socialist Alternative
Socialist Students
≈1,000 (2020)[1]
"Struggle, Solidarity, Socialism"
Socialist Alternative's highest-profile public representative is Seattle City Councillor Kshama Sawant, who was elected in November 2013.[3] It is active in over 50 cities in the United States,[4] and campaigns for socialist issues. In September 2013, it began publishing a monthly newspaper, Socialist Alternative,[5] along with various local newsletters and media outlets, including a radio show in the Boston area. It is a member of International Socialist Alternative, an international organization of Trotskyist parties.
Members[edit]
In 2013, the Socialist Alternative party garnered attention when it elected a member (Kshama Sawant) to the Seattle City Council.[26] Sawant is one of few elected socialists in the United States. In January 2023, Sawant announced that she would not seek re-election, and would instead promote the Socialist Alternative campaign Workers Strike Back to unionize workers.[27]
In February 2017, Socialist Alternative reported that party membership had grown by more than 30% since the presidential election of Donald Trump.[28] In February 2020, SAlt stated it had "just under 1,000" members.[1]