Democratic Socialists of America activists signed pledge to support, defend 'Chinese socialism'

Multiple self-identified Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-linked individuals signed onto a statement extolling "Chinese socialism.""We, Friends of Socialist China, aim to support the People’s Republic of China and to promote understanding of Chinese socialism," the statement declares, in part."The global advance to socialism is indispensable if humanity is to survive and to flourish; humanity needs socialism in order to prevent climate breakdown, end poverty, establish global peace and work towards dismantling structural discrimination and oppression," the statement says, characterizing the "record of the socialist countries" as "overwhelmingly positive."CHINA, RUSSIA, IRAN AND NORTH KOREA FORM 'AXIS OF AGGRESSORS' THAT COULD OVERWHELM US, BOOK WARNSThe text asserts that "the continued survival of Chinese socialism is a crucial matter not only for the Chinese people but for all humanity" and declares that "we resolve to support, defend and build understanding of Chinese socialism."Some of the people listed as signatories include Mirah Wood, who is described as the "Co-Chair Middle East & Africa Subcommittee, DSA International Committee" in the United States, and John McGrath, who is identified as being part of the "DSA International Committee (anti-war)" in the United Kingdom.Both Wood and McGrath appear on the list as far back as 2022 in archived web pages.Some of the other names on the list include indication of DSA membership.DSA CO-CHAIR EMBRACES ABOLISHING SENATE, ICE, BORDERS AS DEMOCRATIC INFIGHTING ESCALATESThe statement describes the view that socialism leads to oppression as "propaganda" that should be challenged.It says that "owing largely to the reach and power of capitalist cultural hegemony, socialism is widely considered (particularly in the imperialist heartlands) to be a brutal, authoritarian system that suppresses human creativity and impedes progress. Socialist states — past and present — are portrayed as miserable backwaters, characterized by overzealous secret services, prison camps, thought control, stale uniformity, dictatorship, famines, social conservatism, corruption and poverty.