Eric Lee
Eric Lee is an American labour activist.
Background
Lee was born in New York City in 1955. Following early involvement in the anti-Vietnam war movement, he joined the Young People's Socialist League (YPSL), the youth section of the Socialist Party USA in 1971.[1]
He worked for the United Federation of Teachers' Youth Vote Project in 1972 and as an intern with the Textile Workers Union of America in 1974.
In the early 1970s, the Socialist Party USA split over the Vietnam War, with the Social Democrats USA supporting the more pro-war AFL-CIO position, and the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC) taking a more antiwar stance.[2]
In 1975, Lee worked first for the YPSL, by then the Youth Section of Social Democrats USA, before joining the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC). He became a member of the Committee's national staff a year later.[3]
He spent most of 1976 working on a Kibbutz in Israel. In 1977, he founded the New International Review, which continued publishing until 1989.[4]
Lee was a founder member of Human Rights Watch in New York in 1980, when it was known as Helsinki Watch.[5]
As a member of DSOC's board in 1980, he organised opposition to the merger with the New American Movement which led to the formation of Democratic Socialists of America.[6]
In 1980, he spent six weeks in Toronto working on the successful election campaign of New Democrat Neil Young.[7]
In 1981 he moved to Israel where he would write for newspapers including Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post. In 1987 he began writing for Al Hamishmar on foreign Affairs. In 1991, he was elected to the Central Committee of the Mapam party.[8]
In 1998, he began working in London as ICT Co-ordinator for Labour and Society International. He founded the LabourStart website that year.[9]
According to Alan Johnson, Lee was one of a number of people who took part in discussions that led to the publication of the Euston Manifesto in 2006.[10]
In July 2009, Lee was interviewed by the Jerusalem Post as a representative of Trade Unions Linking Israel and Palestine, an organisation set up to oppose boycotts of Israel in April that year.[11]
Amnesty International campaign
In February 2010, Lee announced he was standing for election to the Amnesty International UK Section Board.[12]
His Manifesto said:
- "I believe that Amnesty has lost its way when it comes to Israel and Palestine. Instead of being seen as an unbiased source, Amnesty is increasingly viewed by many as being anti-Israel.
- "Amnesty's uncritical support for the controversial Goldstone Report, the excessive coverage of Israel in its magazine (far more than coverage of, for example, Iran), the partnerships with anti-Israel NGOs like War on Want which label Israel as an "apartheid" society, all contribute to this perception.[13]
Affiliations
- Democratiya - Contributor
- Trade Unions Linking Israel and Palestine
Articles
- Max Shachtman and his legacy, Eric Lee, 13 November 2012.
Contact
- Blog EricLee.info
- BibiWatch - Israeli politics blog 1996-98
- Amnesty has lost its way - Amnesty board campaign website
Notes
- ↑ About Eric Lee, Eric Lee.Info, accessed 27 February 2010.
- ↑ Ralph Seliger, Muravchik, 90, Socialist and Jewish Labor Committee Leader, Forward, 12 January 2007.
- ↑ About Eric Lee, Eric Lee.Info, accessed 27 February 2010.
- ↑ About Eric Lee, Eric Lee.Info, accessed 27 February 2010.
- ↑ Amnesty critic stands for role on charity's board, Jewish Chronicle, 25 February 2010.
- ↑ About Eric Lee, Eric Lee.Info, accessed 27 February 2010.
- ↑ Amnesty critic stands for role on charity's board, Jewish Chronicle, 25 February 2010.
- ↑ About Eric Lee, Eric Lee.Info, accessed 27 February 2010.
- ↑ About Eric Lee, Eric Lee.Info, accessed 27 February 2010.
- ↑ Alan Johnson, No One Left Behind: Euston and the renewal of Social Democracy, normblog, 1 June 2006.
- ↑ Jonny Paul, Unions set up Google ad campaign to counter Israel boycott calls, 17 July 2009.
- ↑ Amnesty critic stands for role on charity's board, Jewish Chronicle,25 February 2010.
- ↑ Amnesty critic stands for role on charity's board, Jewish Chronicle,25 February 2010.
