FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
During our August 27th, 2023, General Meeting, the membership of CT DSA voted unanimously to endorse Abdul Osmanu and Laurie Sweet in the upcoming Democratic primary for the Legislative Council of Hamden. Both incumbents in their offices and DSA members, councilpersons Osmanu and Sweet, have spent the last two years fighting for racial, social, and economic justice for tenants and working people in Hamden and across Connecticut, and we look forward to sending them back for another term in office.
CT DSA endorsed Abdul Osmanu in 2021 as a part of our first Hamden slate of Justin Farmer and himself for Council alongside Mariam Khan for Board of Education (JAM Slate). Since winning the election as the youngest councilman in town history, Abdul has worked to make the Hamden Police accountable to the people and stood alongside tenants and labor unions fighting for fair contracts.
Laurie Sweet supported our JAM Slate in 2021 while running for the Legislative Council herself. Although not a DSA member nor endorsed for her election, she has worked closely with us and Hamden Tenant Union, an affiliate of Connecticut Tenants Union (CTTU), in the fight to protect and expand tenants’ rights and has since become a DSA member. Laurie traveled to Hartford on several occasions to speak on behalf of her tenant constituents in public comments before legislative committees and has worked closely with Abdul and Justin to push for a town government that is accountable to and empowers the working and renting class.
We are sad to see our long-running elected comrade Justin Farmer retire from the Council this year after four years in office, but we have immense trust in his fellow DSA members in Hamden to carry his mission forward. We congratulate Justin on his long and successful tenure in office and for all his efforts to build the socialist movement in Connecticut. Board of Education member Mariam Khan will not be up for reelection until the next cycle.
We encourage our members, supporters, and allies to get involved in Abdul and Laurie’s campaigns and to vote for them in the September 12th, 2023, Democratic primary.
Solidarity forever,
Jacey L, co-chair
Jason R, co-chair
CT DSA Steering Committee