Claudia de la Cruz
Born1980/1981 (age 42–43)
New York City
NationalityAmerican
Alma materJohn Jay College of Criminal Justice
Columbia University
Union Theological Seminary

Claudia de la Cruz (born 1980/1981)[1] is an American community organizer and activist. She is the 2024 U.S. presidential candidate for the Party for Socialism and Liberation.[2]

Early life and education

De la Cruz was born in the South Bronx to immigrants from the Dominican Republic.[1][2][3] She attended Theodore Roosevelt High School, graduating in 1997.[1] A visit to Cuba at the age of 17 inspired her opposition to imperialism.[4]

The John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where de la Cruz earned a bachelor's degree in forensic psychology

In 2001, de la Cruz earned a bachelor's degree in forensic psychology from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.[1] In 2007, she earned a master's degree in social work from Columbia University, and a master's degree in divinity from Union Theological Seminary.[1]

Career and activism

At the City University of New York, de la Cruz coordinated a teen group to study resistance movements and march against the 2003 Iraq War.[1][4] In 2004, she founded Da Urban Butterflies (DUB), a Washington Heights-based leadership group for teens and young women of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent. The "Butterflies" name honored the three Dominican Mirabal sisters who were killed in November 1960 for opposing the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo.[1]

De la Cruz attended and later served as pastor of Santo Romero de Las Américans church, a UCC congregation in New York City.[1][5] She saw that church as important to her "social and political formation"; she "wanted to do community organizing from a faith-based perspective".[1]

Between 2007 and 2012, de la Cruz was an adjunct lecturer at the City University of New York, where she taught on "The History of Latinos/as in the United States" and "Race and Ethnicity."[6]

De la Cruz co-edited Viviremos: Venezuela vs. Hybrid War with Manolo De Los Santos and Vijay Prashad in 2020, a collection of essays on sanctions imposed on Venezuela by the United States.[7]

As of December 2023, de la Cruz serves as co-executive director of The People's Forum, an activist organization in New York City which she co-founded.[3][4][8][9] With the People's Forum, she has participated in numerous pro-Palestinian protests, including a "Shut Down Wall Street" event during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[2][8][10][11]

Red Block Letter logo that says Claudia 24 Karina
Logo for the 2024 presidential campaign for the Party for Socialism and Liberation

2024 presidential campaign

De la Cruz announced her presidential campaign on September 7, 2023. She and running mate Karina Garcia are candidates for the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL).[2][4] Their socialist policy program includes a pledge to support reparations for Black Americans, fully recognize Native American sovereignty and honor treaty rights, cut the U.S. Military budget, and expand public transportation.[12][13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Richardson, Clem (December 8, 2011). "Claudia de La Cruz's outreach work helps teens and young women soar like 'Urban Butterflies'". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gabbatt, Adam (January 7, 2024). "'We are working-class women of color': the long-shot socialist run for the White House". The Guardian. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Sáenz, Lissette Lanuza (November 16, 2023). "Did You Know There's a Latina Running for President?". Remezcla. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Kennedy, Kaitlyn (December 3, 2023). "Claudia De la Cruz 2024: Her story, experiences, and policies". TAG24. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Statement for Mumia Abu-Jamal from San Romero de Las Américas Church". Indybay. November 9, 2008. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Claudia de la Cruz LinkedIn". LinkedIn. 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2024-01-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ↑ "Viviremos: Venezuela vs. Hybrid War". International Publishers. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  8. 1 2 Greene, David; Goldmansour, Luca; Moloney, Síle (October 26, 2023). "UPDATE Around 150 Pro-Palestinian Demonstrators Protest Torres' Support of Israel as Separate Pro-Israeli Rally Held in Riverdale". Norwood News. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  9. ↑ Munoz, Anabel (June 10, 2022). "People's Summit spotlights voices, social justice issues excluded from Summit of the Americas". KABC-TV. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  10. ↑ Das Mahapatra, Tuhin (November 24, 2023). "Many Americans are boycotting Black Friday even after Israel-Hamas ceasefire, here's why". Hindustan Times. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  11. ↑ Roberts-Grmela, Julian; Fahy, Claire (December 8, 2023). "Pro-Palestinian Protesters Targeting Wall St. Denounce U.S. Veto of U.N. Cease-Fire Resolution". The New York Times. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  12. ↑ Kennedy, Kaitlyn (September 28, 2023). "Presidential candidate Claudia De la Cruz on reparations and her fight for a socialist third option". TAG24. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Our Program". Claudia & Karina 2024. 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2024-01-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.