This July is the 250th anniversary of the writing of the Declaration of Independence and its proclamation that all men are created equal; that they have unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and that they have the right to establish governments to secure these rights. Trump and the Republicans are wrapping themselves in the flag and claiming they are upholding these principles. The Democrats are also wrapping themselves in the flag and claiming only they can defend us against Trump and restore the rights we have lost. If socialists do not intervene in conversations around democracy, rights, and the Constitution, the bourgeoisie will control the narrative.

In the spirit of political interventions, MUG is hosting a talk with Aziz Rana. Aziz is the author of two books—The Two Faces of American Freedom and The Constitutional Bind: How Americans Came to Idolize a Document That Fails Them—and several articles, including “Democracy Was a Decolonial Project,” and “The American Revolution in Global Retreat.” Aziz has presented at the annual Socialism conference in Chicago and has been a guest on DSA’s National Political Education Committee (NPEC) podcast, Class. Recently, he took part in a conversation about fighting the billionaire class and building a democratic society with DSA-endorsed congressional candidate Oliver Larkin and St. Petersburg City Council member Richie Floyd.

The conversation will cover what socialists should keep in mind when considering the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States; how social movements in the United States and abroad have related to the Declaration, especially the idea of universal and equal rights; and where DSA’s call for a democratic constitution stands within the long history of American socialism.

A Zoom link will be send to all registrants prior to the event. The conversation will be followed by a Q and A period.