Fabricio Rodriguez
Template:TOCnestleft Fabricio Rodriguez is a Philadelphia activist. Executive Director of Philadelphia Jobs with Justice.
Communist Party member
Rodrigueze made headlines in 2000 when he refused to sign a loyalty oath, which had been a requirement at Mesa Community College, Arizona, since the early '60s for student government officeholders to receive their minimum-wage salaries. The 26-year-old economics major, who is an organizer for the Democratic Socialists of America and was a founder of MCC's Progressive Student Union, wasn't then a member of the Communist Party USA. But being told he couldn't become one didn't sit right with him.
"When I read it," he says, "I immediately ran out and joined the Communist Party USA. Well, first I told them I wouldn't sign, told them I was in the party, then I went and joined -- 'cause I thought the law was at issue, not so much who I was directly affiliated with."
The Arizona ACLU got involved, and in September, the Maricopa Community College District decided to drop the oath's pledge not to affiliate with the Communist Party.[1]
2001 DSA leadership
Nineteen people ran for the sixteen National Political Committee positions elected at the 2001 Democratic Socialists of America Convention. The winners were:
- Theresa Alt, Ithaca
- Susan Chacin, Berkeley
- Eric Ebel, Ann Arbor
- Virginia Franco, San Diego
- David Green, Detroit
- Gabe Kramer, Columbus
- Selina Musuta, Ithaca
- Gina Neff, New York City
- Angel Picon, Stockton
- Maria Pineda, Davis
- Kathy Quinn, Philadelphia
- Jason Schulman, New York City
- Joseph Schwartz, Ithaca
- Timothy Sears, Oakland
- Jessica Shearer, New York City
- Herb Shore, San Diego
The Young Democratic Socialists representatives to the NPC (sharing the one Youth Section vote) were Joan Axthelm (Chicago) and Fabricio Rodriguez (Arizona).[2]
ASU YDS
In 2001 Fabricio Rodriguez, headed the Arizona State University Young Democratic Socialists chapter with Matthew May, which they founded that year .[3]
2002 activity
In 2002, according to Fabricio Rodriguez, Phoenix/Tempe Democratic Socialists of America will hold a socialist theory discussion group headed by Justin Wilford. The local is also working with the UFW on the Pictsweet campaign.[4]
YDS
In 2003, Fabricio Rodriguez, a former miner, was the national co-chair of the Young Democratic Socialists. Rodriguez was also the Executive Director of Philadelphia Jobs with Justice.[5]
Jobs with Justice
In 2009 Fabricio Rodriguez was Philadelphia contact for Jobs with Justice.[6]
2011 YDS Winter Conference
On the weekend of March 18th-20th, 2011, the Young Democratic Socialists held their annual Winter outreach conference "Their Crisis, Our Pain: The Democratic Socialist Response to the Great Recession". Cornel West "will be the featured speaker on Saturday the 19th, and we will also host John Nichols, Bertha Lewis, Mark Engler, and Dan Cantor from the Working Families Party.
Other listed speakers included Komozi Woodard, Corey Walker, Fabricio Rodriguez, Christian Parenti, Stephanie Fairyington, Christine Kelly, Sheila Collins, Billy Wharton, Liz Shuler, Martin Weinstein, Michelle O'Brien, Skip Roberts, Joseph Schwartz.
Panels on race, the environment, organizing, and other topics will allow participants to learn from and communicate with fellow activists on some of the most important domestic and international issues. The event is perfect for both newcomers to Democratic Socialism/YDS, as well as activist veterans.
Add your name to the list here and you'll be notified when online registration goes live. Invite all your friends!
Location, Bayard Rustin High School 351 W 18th St New York, NY 10011.[7]
References
- ↑ Phoenix New Times, Party All the Time Fabricio Rodriguez, student body vice president at Mesa Community College, refused to pledge an oath that he wasn't a Communist -- because he is, By M.V. Moorhead Thursday, Nov 16 2000]
- ↑ [1] Democratic Left, Winter 2002, page 5
- ↑ Dem. Left Summer, 2001
- ↑ http://www.dsausa.org/dl/Summer_2002.pdf Democratic Left • Summer 2002]
- ↑ Dem. Left Fall 2003
- ↑ Jobs with Justice website: Local Coalitions (accesesed on Oct. 11, 2009)
- ↑ YDS website, Spring Conference, Their Crisis, Our Pain: The Democratic Socialist Response to the Great Recession, accessed Feb. 23, 2011