Howie Hawkins - Independent Politics

Independent Politics

In the 1980s, Hawkins decided to prioritize his political activity on building an independent progressive political party. He believed that progressive issue campaigns would be more effective if there was an independent "people’s party."

Hawkins has been active in many non-sectarian efforts to build independent politics. These include local independent parties where he lived:

• Peace and Freedom Party of California, 1968–1971;
• Liberty Union Party of Vermont, 1972–1978;
• Granite State Alliance of New Hampshire, 1974–1978

He was also involved in national independent parties:

• People's Party, 1971–1976;
• Socialist Party, 1973–present;
• Citizens Party, 1979–1984;
• Green Party, 1984–present;
• Labor Party, 1996–present;

Furthermore, he was active in a series of national coalitions committed to independent politics:

• People’s Coalition for Peace and Justice, 1971–1974;
• Mass Party Organizing Committee, 1974–1978;
• Peoples Alliance, 1978–1981;
• National Committee for Independent Political Action, 1981–1995;
• Independent Progressive Politics Network, 1995–present.