New municipal party plans to ‘evict the establishment from City Hall’
May 2, 2022
*For immediate release*
VOTE Socialist launches on May Day in East Vancouver (PHOTO gallery included)
New municipal party plans to ‘evict the establishment from City Hall’
Vancouver, B.C., unceded Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh territories - “The time for change is now.” With these words, launch rally co-chairs kicked off the first public event of Vancouver’s newest municipal elector organization: VOTE Socialist.
The launch took place Sunday, May 1 at Grandview Park on Commercial Drive in East Vancouver - as part of May Day festivities.
Rally speakers called for transformative policies at City Hall, including: real rent control (vacancy control); a focus on public and coop housing; expanded, accessible and fare-free public transit; taxes on the rich; a shift of the police’s bloated budget to public services and community-led safety initiatives; safe supply and an end to the ‘war on drugs’; as well as action to give land back to Indigenous nations - among other demands.
VOTE Socialist was initiated after democratic discussions among political groups, including the Democratic Socialists of Vancouver and Socialist Action, as well as dialogue with some grassroots organizers. The new party will be democratic and membership based, and will hold an open nomination process. The founding nomination meeting is scheduled for June 26, 2022.
“Enough is enough. It’s time to evict the landlords and developers from City Hall. VOTE Socialist plans to elect a Mayor, City Councillors, School Trustees and Park Commissioners who will act with the urgency required and who will use their positions in office to amplify and strengthen social movements in the City,” explained a VS Member.
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Media Contacts:
media@votesocialist.ca
See below for a gallery of photos of Sunday’s VOTE Socialist rally. (Photo credit: Michael Tseng)
