Richard Healey

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Richard Healey

Richard Healey is a prominent U.S. socialist and the son of late Communist Party USA leader Dorothy Healey. He was married to Debbie Goldman, now married to Sandra Hinson. Father of Josh Healey.

Leaving DSA

November 9, 2023 Twenty-four longtime members of the Democratic Socialists of America published an open letter in The New Republic to explain why they’re leaving the organization.

Our hopes for a better world—more egalitarian, more just, more humane—once found expression in the Democratic Socialists of America.

Many of us have been members of DSA since its founding in 1982—some of us in leadership positions—as well as activists in the organizations and movements from which DSA emerged...

We were elated by the explosive growth of DSA that began in 2016, followed by the election of more than 100 DSA members to elective office. In such figures as Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, Summer Lee, and Greg Casar, we cheered a new generation of progressive political leadership in the United States. It seemed that we could finally join other nations in having a meaningful democratic socialist presence in our political mainstream.

In recent years, however, we have been deeply troubled by the emergence of isolating, purist, and self-destructive tendencies inside DSA that have undermined its promise. The very strength of the regenerated DSA is in its electoral work and its high-profile, politically astute elected officials, and yet they came under attack from within. Ocasio-Cortez was condemned for stating that Israel had a right to exist, and Bowman was subjected to a vicious campaign for his expulsion from DSA because of his refusal to endorse the boycott, divestment, and sanctions, or BDS, movement, as well as for his connections with Jewish peace organizations in the U.S. and Israel.

The campaigns against DSA members of Congress garnered high-profile, public attention, but they were only the tip of the iceberg. There were several attacks on DSA-member and DSA-endorsed state and local officials. Purist litmus tests were increasingly imposed on candidates for elected office as the price of DSA endorsements.

In our judgment, a moment of truth has arrived. The events of the last weeks in Israel and Palestine, and the responses of national DSA and many of its local chapters, bring us to the painful conclusion that today’s DSA has driven itself beyond redemption....

We are beginning discussions amongst ourselves, to which we will invite other signatories to this letter, on how to keep the true vision of democratic socialism alive and how we can work together to develop an organizational framework that supports our educational and political work.[1]

Leo Casey, Harold Meyerson, Richard Healey, Peter Dreier, Ruth Jordan, Mark Levinson, Nathan Newman, Maurice Isserman, Ingrid Goldstrom, Larry Mishel, David Kusnet, Aaron Greenberg, Randall Brink, Janette Brink, Jules Bernstein, Jeff Isaac, Tom Canel, James Berger, Robert Feldman, Jennifer Klein, Ed Collins, Raymond Barglow, John Zuraw, Bill Mosley.

Grassroots Power Project history

Grassroots Power Project has supported state-level and national social justice infrastructure for more than 20 years. In 1993, Grassroots Policy Project started out as a small group of organizers with academic and policy experience who were determined to bridge the divide between progressive think tanks, and policy shops, on the one hand, and grassroots organizers and leaders, on the other.

As we formed relationships with staff and leaders in statewide, regional and national organizing groups, we evolved into an unusual intermediary. We walk side-by-side with organizers and leaders as they struggle to make shifts in their organizing models, developing deep relationships.

In 2019, after several decades under the leadership of Richard Healey and Sandra Hinson, Maria Poblet assumed the Executive Director role and GPP transferred our leadership, frameworks, resources and relationships to a new and growing team that is younger, more diverse and women-led. GPP’s new leadership is scaling up our efforts so we can be equal to the work ahead.[2]

New American Movement

Attendees at the Expanded National Interim Committee of the New American Movement January 2-4, 1976 in Pittsburgh, PA included;

Roberta Lynch, Anne Farrar, Judy MacLean, Alan Charney, Steve Carlip, Holly Graff, Richard Healey, Mark Mericle, Carollee Sandberg, John Ehrenreich, Bill Leumer, Elayne Rapping.[3]

In 1979 Richard Healey was Chairman of the New American Movement.[4]

In 1980 Richard Healey, Somerville,was a delegate to the December 12-14 Chicago, National Council meeting of the New American Movement[5].

Between 1980 and 1981 Richard Healey, Massachusetts was the chair of the Political Education Commission of the New American Movement.[6]

New American Movement 10th convention

In 1981 Richard Healey and Dean Pappas, Co-Chairs of the Commission led a meeting entitled Political Education Commission at the 10th Convention of the New American Movement. The convention was held in a union headquarters in Chicago and ran from July 29 - August 2, 1981.

Healey spoke alongside Barbara Ehrenreich, Long Island NAM; Michael Lerner, NAM Assoc, founder, Institute for Labor and Mental Health and Peg Strobel, Co-Chair, Campus Commission at a public plenary entitled Visions of Socialism.

Healey also spoke alongside Elaine Smith, Chair, Pitt NAM and Robert Shaffer, NIC in a workshop entitled NAM/DSOC Informational Session and Preliminary Debate.[7]

Tribute to Ben Dobbs

On Sunday, June 7, 1981, the Los Angeles Chapter of the New American Movement sponsored a Tribute to Ben Dobbs for "His lifelong commitment to socialism". The event was held at the Miramar-Sheraton Hotel, Santa Monica, California. Sponsors of the event included Richard Healey.[8]

Merger negotiating committee

After intensive debate, the 1980 New American Movement Convention passed a resolution (by a 2-1. margin) calling for negotiations with Democratic Socialists Organizing Committee, the election of a Negotiating Committee, and the development of a Negotiating Document. Frank Ackerman, Joanne Barkan, David Dollar, Richard Healey, Anne Hill, Katherine Kennedy, Roberta Lynch, and Liz Weston were elected to the Negotiating Committee. Holly Graff was added as the ex officio Political Committee member, and John Beverly became the first alternate. In the fall of 1980 this Committee developed a Negotiating Document which was reviewed by chapters and then amended and approved (by a ninety per cent margin) at the December National Council meeting.[9]

Democratic Socialists of America founding conference

Richard Healey (NAM) was a moderator of the day one "Unity Session" of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee/New American Movement Unity Conference in Detroit March 21/22 1982, that resulted in the formation of Democratic Socialists of America[10].

DSA Conference delegate

In 1983 Richard Healey was a District of Columbia, Maryland delegate to the Democratic Socialists of America conference in New York City, October 14-16, 1983[11]

Institute for Policy Studies

In 1993 Richard Healey was listed among "former fellows, project co-ordinators and staff" of the Institute for Policy Studies, Washington DC.[12]

DSA’s Cuba Letter

Richard Healey signed an April 2003 Statement on Cuba, initiated and circulated[13] by prominent Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member Leo Casey, calling for the lifting of trade sanctions against Cuba.

“a statement circulating among democratic left/socialist folks, largely by members of Democratic Socialists of America, condemning the recent trials and convictions of non-violent dissenters in Cuba”.

The petition criticized Cuba's poor human rights record, but shared the blame for Cuba's problems with reactionary elements of the U.S. administration...

The democratic left worldwide has opposed the U.S. embargo on Cuba as counterproductive, more harmful to the interests of the Cuban people than helpful to political democratization. The Cuban state's current repression of political dissidents amounts to collaboration with the most reactionary elements of the U.S. administration in their efforts to maintain sanctions and to institute even more punitive measures against Cuba.

Many of the petition's 120 odd signatories were known members of DSA.

Rosenberg Fund for Children

In 2003 Richard Healey was on the Advisory Board of the Rosenberg Fund for Children[14].

Richard Healey serves[15]on the Advisory Board of the Rosenberg Fund for Children.

Board of Directors of the Commonwealth Foundation

As of 2011, the following served on the board of the Commonwealth Foundation;[16]

Meeting on Community Organizing

A "Meeting on Community Organizing, Civic Participation & Racial Justice" - organized by the Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity December 2011, Washington, DC.

Attendees

Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity Advisory Board/2015

Ear to the Ground Project

Ear to the Ground Project;

We would like to express our deep respect and appreciation for everyone who took the time to talk with us, and the organizations that generously hosted us during our travels. Interviews were confidential, but the following people have agreed to have their names listed for this publication:

Most of those listed were connected to Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Richard Healey was among those on the list. [19]

No longer DSA

By 2013 Richard Healey was no longer a member of Democratic Socialists of America.

Now What? Defying Trump and the Left's Way Forward

Trumpolicious.PNG

Now What? Defying Trump and the Left's Way Forward was a phone in webinar organized by Freedom Road Socialist Organization in the wake of the 2016 election.

Now what? We’re all asking ourselves that question in the wake of Trump’s victory. We’ve got urgent strategizing and work to do, together. Join Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson of the Movement for Black Lives and Freedom Road, Calvin Cheung-Miaw, Jodeen Olguin-Taylor of Mijente and WFP, Joe Schwartz of the Democratic Socialists of America, and Sendolo Diaminah of Freedom Road for a discussion of what happened, and what we should be doing to build mass defiance. And above all, how do we build the Left in this, which we know is the only solution to the crises we face?

This event will take place Tuesday November 15, 2016 at 9pm Eastern/8pm Central/6pm Pacific.

Those invited, on Facebook included Richard Healey .[20]

Movement Voter Project Advisory Board

Movement Voter Project Advisory Board members, as of January 24, 2018 included Richard Healey.[21]

Beyond the Choir Board of Directors

Beyond the Choir Board of Directors November 2018:[22]

Stand with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

We Stand with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was a 2018 letter signed by several Democratic Socialists of America members mainly from the DSA North Star in response to attacks on Ocasio-Cortez over remarks she made on Palestine.

A recent petition circulated by some DSA members criticizes Ocasio-Cortez for supporting a two state solution to the Palestine-Israel question and not aligning with a long list of demands regarding Palestine and Israel. Should Ocasio-Cortez fail to agree with this list of demands, the petitioners are calling for DSA to revoke her endorsement. These attacks on Ocasio-Cortez have come despite the fact that she has staked out positions which will make her one of the strongest advocates of Palestinian rights and self-determination in Congress.
We stand with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The position she has taken on Israel and Palestine are principled stances, worthy of a democratic socialist, in its recognition of both Palestinian humanity and rights and Israeli humanity and rights. On this issue, as many, she will be a voice for the voiceless in Congress.

Signatures included Richard Healey.[23]

DSA North Star

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In 2018 Richard Healey was an original signatory of the DSA North Star founding principles statement.

References

  1. ↑ [1]
  2. ↑ [2]
  3. ↑ Minutes of the Meeting of the Expanded National Interim Committee, January 2-4, 1976 Pittsburgh, PA
  4. ↑ Information Digest August 24, 1979 p261
  5. ↑ NAM National Council meeting notice Dec 12 1980
  6. ↑ NAM Commission Chairs list, 1980 - 1981
  7. ↑ NAM 10th Convention Agenda, July 29, 1981
  8. ↑ Tribute to Ben Dobbs program, June 7, 1981
  9. ↑ NAM Discussion Bulletin No 5, Spring 81, page 1
  10. ↑ Conference program brochure
  11. ↑ DSA Conference delegate list Oct. 12 1983 update
  12. ↑ Institute for Policy Studies 30th Anniversary brochure
  13. ↑ http://www.nathannewman.org/log/archives/000912.shtml
  14. ↑ Rosenberg Fund for Children Letterhead June 19 2003
  15. ↑ http://www.rfc.org/staffandboards
  16. ↑ Commonwealth Institute, accessed Jan 4, 2012
  17. ↑ Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity
  18. ↑ PRE Advisory Board 2015
  19. ↑ Ear to the Ground, About, accessed Nov. 12, 2015
  20. ↑ [3]
  21. ↑ [4]
  22. ↑ [5]
  23. ↑ [6]
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