Enjoy your July National Political Committee (NPC) newsletter! Our NPC is an elected 18-person body (including two YDSA members who share a vote) which functions as the board of directors of DSA. This month, catch up with the Green New Deal Campaign Commission, register for a Summer Organizing Workshop, and more. Read on to get involved. 

And to make sure you get our newsletters in your inbox, sign up here! Each one features action alerts, upcoming events, political education, and more.

• From Our Co-Chairs — Seize This Moment to Build Socialist Power
• Green New Deal Campaign Commission July Huddle on July 31
• Summer Organizing Workshops
• International Committee Chapter Liaison Update
• Queer Socialist Working Group Updates
• Call for Pitches for the Next Issue of Socialist Forum
• DSA at Socialism Conference 2024
• Join DSA to Protest the DNC in Chicago!

From Our Co-Chairs — Seize This Moment to Build Socialist Power

As socialists, we do politics year-round, but we have officially entered into Election Season, and it looks like it’s going to be a series of weeks where decades happen, right on through until November. 

• Joe Biden dropped out of the race as the foundations of his candidacy were shaken by demands to end the genocide. DSA helped lead these demands at many levels. Just one example — Alex Birnel, a member of San Antonio DSA, set off a chain of dominos that led to Reps in Congress finally calling on Biden to drop out!
• VP Kamala Harris is the presumptive nominee, but we’re not letting Dems off the hook for the ongoing atrocities, and we are working to demand better by protesting the DNC. It’s time for an immediate arms embargo against Israel — Sign on to demand VP Harris commit to Not Another Bomb! And come Crash the Party with us!
• Hundreds of members of Congress sat in the House Chamber yesterday, applauding a war criminal and genocidaire, and while many progressive Democrats simply boycotted the speech, DSA member and endorsed elected Rashida Tlaib sat bravely alone, holding up a sign that said “War Criminal” on one side and “Guilty of Genocide” on the other.
• Seven major labor unions—the UAW, AFA, SEIU, NEA, APWU, UE, and IUPAT—have announced they are calling on the Biden Administration to halt all military aid to Israel. Many of them have DSA members in leadership and rank-and-file who helped make this major political intervention possible.
• DSA members and allies from a broad number of Palestinian solidarity organizations and labor unions protested Netanyahu’s visit to DC with a variety of actions and tactics, some of which were invariably met with police violence—a stark reminder of how there’s no way to disentangle abolition and international solidarity.

… and that’s just the past few days. Really. (We counted twice.)

Things are going to keep moving fast, which means we need to double down on our commitment to building our organization, growing the socialist movement, and caring for each other as comrades.

Building our organization into a powerful political instrument, capable of taking on the violent military-industrial corporatocracy and organizing a real alternative to capitalism, is something that we believe must happen from the grassroots; this is how we build the mass that a mass movement needs. This means that a huge amount of DSA’s work is happening in chapters, where workers organize in their workplaces, neighbors take on fights in their communities that help grow the organization from the local level on up, developing organizers, growing our numbers, and building power by using power.

• In St. Petersburg, FL, this looks like Pinellas DSA and DSA-endorsed elected Council Member Richie Floyd standing up against a massive corporate handout for a new sports stadium; funds that could have and should have gone to expanding access to safe, affordable housing, which is desperately needed.
• In Louisville, KY, this looks like Louisville DSA punching hard against underdeveloped transit systems with their priority campaign Get On The Bus, which will expand public transit in the city and make it easier for the city’s working class to get around, while lowering overall carbon emissions.
• In Nashville, TN, this looks like Middle Tennessee DSA building a program called Q.U.I.L.T. (Queers Uniting in Liberating Tennessee), which just abolished one million dollars of medical debt held by Tennesseans.

There is so much amazing work happening in chapters big and small from coast to coast and imperialist border to imperialist border, not to mention the big and crucial fights we’re taking on at the national level. This movement needs all of us, and we all need this movement. If you’re not yet involved in DSA’s work, we hope you’ll do it today! And if you’re not yet a member, what are you waiting for? We have a world to win, and we’ll see you in the fight.

Green New Deal Campaign Commission July Huddle on July 31

Calling all ecosocialist organizers! Have you ever wondered how to develop attention-grabbing, persuasive messaging for your campaign? Or maybe you’ve wanted to write an op-ed or pitch the media but don’t know where to start? This monthly GNDCC huddle is for you! On July 31, we’ll be chatting interactively about how to run an effective comms shop for your campaign. Join us—even if you’re not on an ecosocialist campaign—and bring a friend!

Summer Organizing Workshops

Summer is a great chance to get out into your community and enjoy the weather, so it’s also a great opportunity for your chapter to meet people & bring them into DSA. Take your chapter outreach, planning, & member development work to the next level this summer by working with our Field Organizers at the DSA Summer Organizing Workshops Series!

At these trainings and workshops, organizers will go through the fundamentals of organization and planning. You’ll also get a chance to discuss your perspectives and organizing challenges with fellow chapter members from around the country. Bring your whole chapter for fun in the (virtual) sun!

International Committee Chapter Liaison Update

The International Committee’s chapter liaison program is growing! Since its launch in January, the International Committee has onboarded chapter liaisons for almost 20 different chapters and has more coming down the pike. Chapter liaisons will work to connect your local chapter’s international work with the International Committee’s subcommittees and campaigns. Interested candidates can read more about the program and its expectations here.

Sign up to be a chapter liaison here.

Queer Socialists Working Group Updates

The Democratic Socialists of America’s Queer Socialist Working Group (QSWG) is working on a campaign to stop the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). This bill would give individual attorneys general the power to decide what is and what is not safe for children to access on the Internet. While this might seem like a good idea, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has stated her intent to use this to protect against “the transgender.” She also would consider topics such as racism, the civil rights movement, and slavery to be dangerous for children. QWSG will be launching a campaign soon as a member of the stopkosa.com coalition, pending NPC approval. While we wait for approval, let your Senator know what you think.

If you want to be a part of the working group, join here.

Call for Pitches for the Next Issue of Socialist Forum

Socialist Forum’s next issue will focus on elections in 2024, not just in the United States but abroad. We are looking for articles covering the recent Mexican and Indian elections, elections in France, the UK, South Africa, and more. Articles may use any methods of analysis – data-driven, historical, on-the-ground perspective, etc – but should feature analysis from the standpoint of a left observer (as opposed to a purely neutral perspective). It is not necessary, but it may be helpful to include analysis of how this election affects the left struggle in the United States. For articles focusing on the United States, it is useful to draw comparisons to elections abroad.

We also welcome pitches on any other topic of potential interest and use to DSA members. Please submit pitches to socialistforum@dsausa.org by August 5th.

DSA at Socialism Conference 2024 

DSA is a sponsor of Socialism Conference 2024, coming up in Chicago this Labor Day Weekend! We will have exclusive time set aside for DSA on the morning and afternoon of Friday, August 30th. Register today, and be sure to click the DSA member button on the registration page so we can send you more information! Student rates are available. Register here!

Join DSA to Protest the DNC in Chicago!

The National Political Committee (NPC) has voted to join the anti-war protests at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), which will be held in Chicago from August 19th-22nd. We must make clear that working-class people do not support the United States’s active complicity in the ongoing genocide in Palestine. DSA will be organizing and mobilizing thousands of people in Chicago and across the country to make this message loud and clear. If you’re interested in attending the DNC protest in Chicago, want to help with the planning, or host a solidarity action in your local chapter, please fill out this form!

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The NLRB cannot get an injunction to immediately have a member of a union organizing committee reinstated.

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Upcoming Events

Wednesday, July 24 (5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): Phonebank for Extreme Dean (In person at 1916 McAllister)

Thursday, July 25 (5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): Phonebank for Extreme Dean (In person at 1916 McAllister)

Thursday, July 25 (6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.): Palestine Solidarity and Anti-Imperialist Working Group (Zoom and in person at 1916 McAllister)

Friday, July 26 (12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.): Office Hours (In person at 1916 McAllister)

Friday, July 26 (7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.): Guillermo Kane Q&A (In person at 1916 McAllister)

Saturday, July 27 (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.): Team Jackie Mobilization w/ Harvey Milk Club (Meet at Holly Park, 625 Holly Park Circle)

Saturday, July 27 (1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.): Homelessness Working Group Platform / Education Meeting (In person at 1916 McAllister)

Sunday, July 28 (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.): Healthcare Workers for Extreme Dean Door Knock Mobilization (Meet at the Panhandle at Fell and Baker)

Sunday, July 28 (1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.): No Appetite for Apartheid Work Session (Zoom and in person at 1916 McAllister)

Monday, July 29 (6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.): Ecosocialist Monthly Meeting (Zoom and in person at 1916 McAllister)

Monday, July 29 (7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): Organizing 101 (In person at 1916 McAllister)

Wednesday, July 31 (5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): Phonebank for Extreme Dean (In person at 1916 McAllister)

Thursday, August 1 (5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): Phonebank for Extreme Dean (In person at 1916 McAllister)

Thursday, August 1 (6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.): Palestine Solidarity and Anti-Imperialist Working Group (Zoom and in person at 1916 McAllister)

Saturday, August 3 (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.): Extreme Dean Door Knock Mobilization (Location TBD)

Check out https://dsasf.org/events for more events and updates.

Events & Actions

Turnout Tuesday for Dean Preston, Every Tuesday!

It’s all hands on deck as we close in on the final months before the election this November! Join the Extreme Dean team every Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at 1916 McAllister to call Dean’s supporters and get folks fired up about weekend mobilizations.

Turnout Tuesday Volunteer Appreciation Tonight!

We’re having a Volunteer Appreciation event for our Turnout Tuesday volunteers TONIGHT (July 23rd)  from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Club Waziema at 543 Divisadero Street! Come celebrate all our volunteers’ hard work so far and learn how to get involved in the campaign!

Join the National Union of Healthcare Workers as they mobilize for Dean Preston this Saturday, July 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.! We’ll be meeting at the Panhandle at Fell and Baker before heading out to talk to Dean voters about electing a candidate who’s for the people, not the powerful.

Sign the BAD! Petition

Bay Area Divest! (BAD!) is a new coalition that believes we must invest our public funds in our communities, NOT in repression, war, or genocide! DSA SF officially endorses BAD!, along with East Bay DSA, AROC, Palestinian Youth Movement, AFSC, Palestinian Feminist Collective, JVP, CodePink, and several other great organizations. Please sign the petition to join BAD! in refusing to allow our public funds to go towards supporting genocide and occupation.

Behind the Scenes

The Chapter Coordination Committee (CCC) regularly rotates duties among chapter members. This allows us to train new members in key duties that help keep the chapter running like organizing chapter meetings, keeping records updated, office cleanup, updating the DSA SF website and newsletter, etc. Members can view current CCC rotations.

To help with the day-to-day tasks that keep the chapter running, fill out the CCC help form.

YDSA stands in solidarity with the student protesters of Bangladesh who are facing brutal repression and terror from their government. Student protests began at the start of July against a quota reserving much of the civil service to descendants of veterans of the Liberation War. This system unfairly benefits supporters of the Awami League, Bangladesh’s authoritarian ruling party, and contributes to systematic governmental corruption. Through strikes and demonstrations, the students brought their schools and universities to a standstill. In response, the government has struck back with horrific violence. More than a dozen people have been murdered by police and armed supporters of the government with hundreds more injured including children. The government calls for calm while it accuses the students of treason and cuts off internet access. Yet the students of Bangladesh have continued their protests in spite of the regime of repression. As internationalists, the YDSA stands with the struggle of the oppressed worldwide. Across the world, the youth are leading struggles against common systems of exploitation. The students of Bangladesh are an inspiration to us in our united struggles

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