Michael Prysner

Michael Prysner is an American political activist, journalist, and United States Army veteran known for his anti-war and socialist advocacy. He gained prominence for his testimony about war crimes in Iraq and co-founding the investigative news program Empire Files. Prysner is a leading organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation and has run for political office on its ticket, articulating a platform critical of American imperialism, capitalism, and systemic racism.

Early life and military service

Michael Prysner was born on October 9, 1983, in Boca Raton, Florida. He enlisted in the United States Army in 2001, motivated by a sense of duty following the September 11 attacks. Trained as an intelligence analyst, he was deployed to Iraq in 2003 with the 173rd Airborne Brigade during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. His service in areas like Kirkuk and Tikrit involved gathering intelligence and interacting with the local population, experiences that profoundly shaped his political outlook. Witnessing the realities of the occupation of Iraq, including the treatment of Iraqi civilians and the broader objectives of the war, led to a radical transformation in his views. He was honorably discharged in 2005, returning to the United States as a vocal critic of U.S. foreign policy.

Political activism and journalism

Upon returning from Iraq, Prysner became deeply involved in the anti-war movement, sharing his experiences through public speaking. He delivered a powerful speech at the 2008 Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan investigation organized by Iraq Veterans Against the War, detailing alleged abuses and the dehumanizing nature of the occupation. This activism evolved into journalism; in 2015, he co-founded Empire Files with journalist Abby Martin, whom he later married. The program, produced in partnership with The Real News Network and later TeleSUR, conducts investigative reports and interviews focusing on American imperialism, class conflict, and movements like Black Lives Matter. His reporting has covered events from the Dakota Access Pipeline protests at Standing Rock to U.S. interventions in Latin America.

Role in political organizations

Prysner is a central figure within the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), a Marxist-Leninist organization in the United States. He serves on the party's Central Committee and is a frequent spokesperson at its rallies and events. His work involves organizing around issues such as Palestinian liberation, opposition to U.S. sanctions against countries like Venezuela and Cuba, and support for labor struggles. He has been a key organizer for the party's mass organizations, including the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), helping to mobilize demonstrations against military actions in Syria and Iran. Through the PSL, he advocates for a revolutionary socialist perspective against the Democratic Party and Republican Party.

Electoral campaigns

Prysner has carried his activism into electoral politics as a candidate for the Party for Socialism and Liberation. In 2018, he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida's 21st congressional district, challenging incumbent Lois Frankel. His campaign platform called for the abolition of ICE, Medicare for All, and a Green New Deal, while condemning U.S. support for Israel and Saudi Arabia. In 2020, he was the PSL's candidate for Vice President of the United States, running alongside Gloria La Riva for president. The ticket was on the ballot in several states, including Colorado and New Jersey, using the campaign to promote socialist ideas and critique the administrations of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

Public reception and impact

Prysner's work has generated a mix of significant support within leftist circles and strong criticism from political opponents. Fellow activists and organizations like Code Pink and Veterans For Peace laud his firsthand accounts from Iraq and his consistent anti-imperialist analysis. His journalism with Empire Files has been recognized with awards from the Project Censored Awards. Conversely, conservative media outlets and commentators often label him as a radical or propagandist for adversarial states due to his association with TeleSUR and support for governments in Cuba and Venezuela. Despite this, his evolution from a U.S. Army intelligence analyst to a prominent socialist organizer remains a influential narrative in modern anti-war and socialist movements in America.

Category:American anti–Iraq War activists Category:American Marxists Category:American military personnel of the Iraq War Category:Party for Socialism and Liberation politicians