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This is a feed aggregator that collects news and updates from DSA chapters, national working groups and committees, and our publications all in one convenient place. Updated every day at 8AM, 12PM, 4PM, and 8AM UTC.
Reinstate Dr. Tom Alter
by Austin DSA
Austin DSA unequivocally condemns the decision of the Texas State University President, Kelly Damphousse, to terminate Dr. Tom Alter from his position at Texas State University.
On Wednesday, 10 September 2025, Dr. Tom Alter, a well-respected educator, published historian, and tenured faculty member at Texas State University, was unceremoniously terminated from his position at Texas State University. This unjust decision came just days after Dr. Alter spoke at the Revolutionary Socialism Conference in his legal and protected capacity as a private individual and not as a representative of the university. Karlyn Borysenko, an online personality with known fascist positions, recorded his talk, livestreamed it online, and immediately began calling for his termination on 8 September 2025. Dr. Alter was summarily fired from his position by university President Kelly Damphousse without notice nor due process. The decision was announced (and communicated to Dr. Alter) via public letter.
Dr. Alter’s firing is the latest in a string of recent firings under similar circumstances: an individual acting in bad faith records the words of professional educators, publishes them online, and conducts a smear campaign against the targeted professor calling for their immediate termination. This is not just an attack on Dr. Alter himself; **it is an attack on the very institution of public education**. Further, it is an attack on the right of all Texans, of all Americans, and of all people around the world, to speak freely without fear of retaliation. It fits the ongoing pattern of right-wing, often openly-fascist, attacks on public and higher education as a means of eroding the trust, legitimacy, and power of the very concept of human knowledge.
From the intense repression of the protests during the Student Intifada last spring, to the direct targeting of immigrant students and educators as with Mahmoud Khalil, Rümeysa Öztürk, and others, to the push for school vouchers from Governor Greg Abbott, the education system is being targeted and dismantled. This sustained campaign against education is being conducted via an inside-outside strategy of institutional repression from university presidents combined with online harassment and smear campaigns by fascist “influencers” on social media platforms. In taking their marching orders from internet micro-celebrities, university administrations show a level of hypocrisy that is unbecoming of those who claim to be educators, circumventing due process and labor rights to enact openly political decisions that go against the right to freedom of speech.
Austin DSA has hosted Dr. Alter for political education events in the past. Many of our members have learned from him and hold him in high esteem. Further, our comrades in Texas State YDSA are directly affected by the decision to fire him without due process and the lack of any guarantee to protection from repression and retaliation for their own free expression. We stand in solidarity with Dr. Tom Alter and call upon Texas State University to:
Reinstate Dr. Alter immediately.
Publicly affirm the constitutional right of all employees to speak as private citizens without retaliation.
Establish clear policies guaranteeing due process before any termination related to off-duty expression.
We ask our comrades to sign this letter from Dr. Alter’s union, the Texas State Employees Union (TSEU-CWA Local 6186), voicing their own support for the above demands.
The post Reinstate Dr. Tom Alter first appeared on Red Fault.
Angola, Apartheid, and “Our Type of National Liberation”
Adventures of a Union Steward
By: Rob Switzer
The following is a post I made on Facebook that was not intended to be published. It was mainly written to vent and just to show friends the kind of things I deal with as union steward at my workplace, which is a Food and Commercial Workers meat market where I have been working for five years as a butcher.
Someone suggested this piece would work as a demonstration of how power functions in the workplace. Note that the stories included are not official union activities and could theoretically be accomplished in any workplace. However, it is worth noting that the union-provided protections we have and my status as a quasi-authority figure very likely embolden my coworkers and me to assert ourselves in ways that we otherwise might not.
A couple of weeks ago, I was informed that a coworker of mine was sent home, suspended, and written up. He had allegedly gone shopping, prepared a lunch, then had his lunch, all on the clock. He was being accused of deliberate and extended time theft, which of course is a fireable offense.
Coworker said this was not true, and I asked him to send me a screenshot of his punches on the time-keeping app we use. He did so. Upon cursory inspection, it was obvious that he had in fact neglected to clock back in from his early break, and was therefore actually off the clock during these events.
We had a meeting with the store manager, and Coworker brought the write-up itself, which included the clearly false accusations, and even had his receipt stapled to it, showing what he bought and when he bought it (while he was off the clock, remember). The store manager saw my point and understood, but told the worker that he had to be more careful about punches; this time it wouldn’t be held against him.
But I wasn’t satisfied — the shift manager who had originally made these accusations was still operating under the belief that my coworker was a time thief. So I informed him the next morning that the worker wasn’t on the clock. “Yes he was!,” he told me. “No he wasn’t!,” I retorted. “Yes he was!” he shouted back. He agreed to let me show him the screenshot. We walked to my locker to see my phone. The shift manager looked at it and I could see his mind spinning. He exclaimed something like, “Well, he probably would have done it anyway!”
About ten minutes later he approached me and apologized, admitting he was wrong and that he should have investigated better. He seemed to hide for the rest of the day; other workers noticed and told me. I made sure everyone was aware that someone had just been written up and suspended for something he demonstrably did not do. Someone chanted, “Steward! Steward! Steward!” which was pretty amusing.
Fast forward to today. We had about six first-shift meat cutters/handlers working. It was getting close to 2:30, our usual out time. But overtime was posted, meaning management can hold us later if they want to.
We had ten cases of bacon that had to be bagged and vacuum-sealed. No one likes doing this; it’s tedious. But it’s part of the job. So when I was done with my other work for the day, I took it upon myself to start.
Right around this time one manager came into the cutting room and said, “We’re getting ready to prep up!” That basically means we’re being cut loose as soon as we clean up. Two of the cutters promptly left, leaving four of us behind. We finished the bacon; we were all getting ready to leave.
Then a different manager came in and said he wanted us to make sure the bacon got vacuum-sealed before we left. Usually what we do is bag it all and let one of the afternoon-shift cutters handle the sealing. There were four of them there today. Why couldn’t one of them do it? We all were ready to leave, and had already been told we could leave.
I told the manager I thought this was bullshit. That’s literally a one-person job. Are you actually asking three of us to stand around and watch someone vacuum-seal 10 cases of bacon? In so many words, he said that yes, yes, he was asking that.
I talked to the other three workers individually. Everyone agreed they were ready to leave. So let’s leave, I told them. I went and talked to the manager, and we had a little argument. “I have other stuff for them to do; I want you to seal the bacon, blah blah blah.” He stormed off and said something like, “Just get it done and you can leave.” I don’t think he understood; I was telling him we had already decided we were leaving.
We rolled the sealer machine into the cutting room, and one of the second-shift cutters started sealing. He was clearly free to do this. I checked in with everyone to make sure we were all walking out in solidarity. And then we did. It will be interesting to see if there are any consequences tomorrow.
Epilogue: There were no consequences, other than a manager mentioning it to me in disapproval. I hope our action stands as a lesson to my coworkers that we have power when we take actions in solidarity.
Adventures of a Union Steward was originally published in The Detroit Socialist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
Response to the mobilization of national guard troops in Memphis
September 17, 2025
The Memphis-Midsouth Democratic Socialists of America stands in opposition to the military occupation of our city. We reject the false claims by the Trump regime and Tennessee officials that deploying troops will do anything to “stop crime” in Memphis.
Genuine public safety requires an economy and city for all people. Memphians deserve institutions we control, the wealth we produce, housing, universal healthcare, mutual aid, and youth services – and we don’t get that from a police state. This government has no real interest in our public safety. Despite reporting that crime is at a historic low in the city, Trump wants to escalate violence and protect the wealth of the billionaires like Elon Musk, who poison and exploit our city for their own gain.
This latest move is yet another attempt by a racist regime to punish a majority Black working-class city. It is an escalation of their targeting of immigrants, unhoused people, queer people, workers standing up for their rights, and many fighting for their community. It is a continuation of their assault on free speech in criminalizing opponents to the genocide in Palestine. Sending federalized troops into Memphis under these pretenses is lawless, unjustifiable, violates our freedoms, and is fundamentally at odds with the US Constitution.
Across this country, we have witnessed ICE (already with support from the Marines and National Guard) terrorize neighborhoods, abduct innocent people, and funnel them into private detention centers. Now, the same plan is being brought into West Tennessee, draining even more of our public dollars into private corporations like the corrupt Core Civic.
The Trump regime would tyrannize our city – we demand freedom for Memphis and its people.
The city we love is facing an armed, illegal occupation. We call upon local officials and candidates for office to take concrete actions for our protection. We must act together: We call upon Memphis to organize in unions, in communities, and at the ballot box for political change. We can protect our neighbors. We are here with organizations that have been doing this work to be on the side of the people, and we will be here with the people of Memphis through whatever comes.
In Solidarity,
Memphis-Midsouth Democratic Socialists of America
The post Response to the mobilization of national guard troops in Memphis first appeared on Memphis-Midsouth DSA.
Weekly Roundup: September 16, 2025
Events & Actions
Tuesday, September 16 (8:00 AM – 4:30 PM): ICE out of SF courts! (In person at 100 Montgomery St)
Tuesday, September 16 (6:00 PM – 7:30 PM): 
What Is DSA? (In person at Ingleside Branch Library, 1298 Ocean Ave)
Tuesday, September 16 (7:30 PM – 8:30 PM): What Is DSA? Social Hour (In person at Beep’s Burgers, 1051 Ocean Ave)
Thursday, September 18 (7:30 PM – 9:30 PM): “Housing the City by the Bay: Tenant Activism, Civil Rights, and Class Politics in San Francisco” – TOWG Reading Group (In person at 1916 McAllister St)
Friday, September 19 (8:00 AM – 4:30 PM): ICE out of SF courts! (In person at 100 Montgomery St)
Friday, September 19 (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM): Maker Friday (In person at 1916 McAllister St)
Saturday, September 20 (10:30 AM – 12:00 PM): DSA SF x EBDSA: No Space for ICE Canvassing (In person at Lincoln Square Park, 261 11th St, Oakland)
Saturday, September 20 (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM): Emergency Tenant Organizing Committee Training: Session 3 (In person at 399 Webster St)
Saturday, September 20 (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM): Homelessness Working Group Food Service (In person at Castro St & Market St)
Sunday, September 21 (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM): Capital Reading Group (Zoom and in person at 1916 McAllister St)
Sunday, September 21 (5:30 PM – 7:15 PM): Homelessness Working Group Reads “Capitalism & Disability…” (Zoom and in person at 1916 McAllister St)
Monday, September 22 (5:00 PM – 6:30 PM): EWOC Fundamentals of Workplace Organizing Training (In person at 1916 McAllister St)
Monday, September 22 (7:00 PM – 8:00 PM): Labor Board x Divestment Priority Meeting (Zoom and in person at 1916 McAllister St)
Tuesday, September 23 (6:00 PM – 7:30 PM): Ecosocialist Bi-Weekly Meeting (Zoom and in person at 1916 McAllister St)
Wednesday, September 24 (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM): DSA SF Tech Reading Group (Zoom and in person at 1916 McAllister St)z
Wednesday, September 24 (6:45 PM – 8:30 PM): Tenant Organizing Working Group Meeting (Zoom and in person at 438 Haight St)
Thursday, September 25 (5:30 PM – 6:30 PM): 
Education Board Open Meeting (Zoom)
Thursday, September 25 (7:00 PM – 8:00 PM): Immigrant Justice Court Action Orientation (In person at 1916 McAllister St)
Friday, September 26 (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM): Kashmir: Partition, Nationalism, and Global Fascism (In person at 1916 McAllister St)
Saturday, September 27 (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM): Physical Education + Self Defense Training (In person at William McKinley Monument)
Saturday, September 27 (1:30 PM – 3:30 PM): Divestment Strategy Session (1916 McAllister St)
Monday, September 29 (6:30 PM – 8:00 PM): Homelessness Working Group Regular Meeting (Zoom and in person at 1916 McAllister St)
Monday, September 29 (7:00 PM – 8:00 PM): Labor Board Meeting (Zoom)
Check out https://dsasf.org/events for more events and updates. Events with a are especially new-member-friendly!
This is the Last Chance to Stop AB 715
AB 715 is an extremely dangerous bill designed to censor any criticism of Israel and education about Palestine in California schools, by framing it as antisemitic.
On Friday, after a long week of mobilization to oppose the bill, it passed both Senate and Assembly chambers and will now head to California Governor Newsom’s desk.
We need to bombard his office with letters and calls of opposition!
- Send a letter today (takes less than 30 seconds): https://win.newmode.net/caircalifornia/newsomveto
- Call Newsom’s office during business hours: (916) 445-2841
You can follow this sample script: “I am calling the Governor to strongly oppose AB 715, a dangerous and discriminatory bill aimed at silencing and censoring any teaching of Palestine and Palestinians under the guise of antisemitism.”
Let’s support Palestinian students and teachers in the classroom from being silenced and censored! Please share with friends, family, neighbors to do the same!
ICE Out of SF Courts!
Join neighbors, activists, grassroots organizations in resisting ICE abductions happening at immigration court hearings! ICE is taking anyone indiscriminately in order to meet their daily quotas. Many of those taken include people with no removal proceedings.
We’ll be meeting every Tuesday and Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at Immigration Court at 100 Montgomery. We need all hands on deck. The 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM window is when we most need to boost turnout, but if you can’t make that please come whenever works for you. 1 or 2 hours or the entire time!
Maker Friday: Zine Edition
Come make with us on Friday, September 19 from 7:00-9:00 PM at 1916 McAllister St! We’ll be making zines about socialism, organizing, and our reflections/hopes/dreams. Masks required and provided. All are welcome, no experience necessary, see you there!
EWOC: Fundamentals of Workplace Organizing
The Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC) is running a Fundamentals of Workplace Organizing course weekly in September (see below for schedule). Just like we did back in May, we’re getting a group to take the course together and benefit from in-person discussions and activities (at 1916 McAllister). If you’re interested, RSVP here! The goal is to have more people learn organizing skills, both for your own projects and for organizing with EWOC. Sessions run every week from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM on:
- Monday, September 22
- Monday, September 29
If you have any questions, reach out to labor@dsasf.org.
DSA SF x EBDSA: No Space for ICE Canvassing in Oakland Chinatown
The DSA SF Immigrant Justice Working Group and East Bay DSA Migrant Defense Working Group are leaving No Space for ICE!
Join us on Saturday, September 20, at 10:30 AM in Oakland’s Lincoln Square Park to provide Know Your Rights materials and educate local businesses and religious institutions on their rights in relation to ICE/DHS. This canvass will be EBDSA Migrant Defense’s first in Oakland Chinatown — and DSA SF’s Immigrant Justice is helping out! Meet at the sign for Lincoln Square Park for a brief training before we canvass in pairs or small groups.
Wear DSA merch if you can, or put a DSA pin on a visible part of your clothing.
RSVP here or, if you’d like more details, Contact an organizer via email at immigrantjustice@dsasf.org.
Emergency Tenant Organizing Committee (ETOC) Training
This month the Tenant Organizing Working Group has been attending the Fall 2025 Emergency Tenant Organizing Committee (ETOC) training, a four-part series, offered by the national DSA Housing Justice Commission! In the first ETOC session, we learned about the four principles of social housing as well as tools and techniques we could employ in the course of our social investigation and class analysis of the tenants and landlords in our area. In session 2, we learned how to approach tenants about forming a union organizing committee, how to identify tenants who are most readily accepting of agitation and to mobilize to convince their neighbors, and generally getting our foot in the door to begin the process of making a tenants association or union.
We hope to see you join us for the upcoming ETOC session 3 on Saturday, September 20 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM either remotely via zoom or at our watch party at 399 Webster St at the Embassy. There will be snacks! All are welcome! Please get in touch with us at tenants@dsasf.org if you’d like to explore the ETOC materials.
DSA SF Homelessness Working Group Reads: Capitalism & Disability: Selected Writings by Marta Russell
DSA SF Homelessness Working Group Reads: Capitalism & Disability: Selected Writings by Marta RussellJoin DSA SF’s Homelessness Working Group as we read through Capitalism & Disability: Selected Writings by Marta Russell. We’ll be meeting every other Sunday evening starting in September for 4 or 5 sessions at 1916 McAllister. The next session is Sunday, September 21. For more info, register here: bit.ly/martacd and check the events calendar for latest details.
Tech Reading Group with Kickstarter Union Founder Clarissa Redwine
Come join DSA SF and Rideshare Drivers United on Wednesday, September 24 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at 1916 McAllister for our monthly tech reading group. We’ll be reading an article by Clarissa Redwine about the Kickstarter Union Campaign that started in 2016. Clarissa will also be making an appearance on Zoom to answer questions about her experience. RSVP here!
Immigrant Justice Court Action Orientation
Come one, come all to 1916 McAllister St for our court watch orientation! You’ll learn how we are resisting ICE , how you can help, and participate in a biweekly art build. Bring questions and anti-ICE slogans! This event will take place every-other week on Thursday’s starting at 7:00 PM and the next one is September 25!
Kashmir: Partition, Nationalism, and Global Fascism
Nationalism is rising all over the world, and violence as always is accompanying it. Nowhere is the genocidal logic of the nation-state more evident than in Israel’s occupation of Palestine, but it is not the only example that we must learn from. The Partition of India in 1947 and subsequent conflicts in South Asia have many similarities, and some important differences. Come join the DSA SF as we investigate the Kashmir Conflict, which flared up violently this spring, and its relationship to Hindu nationalism and the global fascist movement. We’ll be meeting Friday, September 26 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at 1916 McAllister St.
Reportback: No Appetite for Apartheid Canvass 
This last Saturday, Palestine Solidarity and Anti-Imperialism Working Group had 27 people attend a canvass to partner with store owners to de-shelve products profiting off Israeli apartheid! We had so many new faces from many different orgs, even outside our coalition partners (AROC, DSA, JVP, Speak Out Socialist). We covered 8 turfs in Bernal Heights and Outer Mission, 32 stores in total, and also got some consumer pledge signatures. Join #palestine-solidarity on Slack for more information on the next canvass! Free Palestine 
Behind the Scenes
he 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 publishing the weekly newsletter. Members can view current CCC rotations.
Interested in helping with the newsletter or other day-to-day tasks that keep the chapter running? Fill out the CCC help form.
New York State Needs to Organize NOW!
by Hannah W.
At the 2025 DSA National Convention, there were two meetups that discussed a New York State (NYS) body. From those discussions, it’s clear that we can all agree on one thing: we should unite as NYS. However, there are ideological and emotional divides between Upstate and Downstate NY that require consideration. We want to work together, but we’re left with the question of how.
Upstate Sentiments
During the discussions, comrades of upstate chapters expressed wanting to “only have an upstate body” or “worried about NYC taking over” and “what hand they would have in this body.” Additionally, upstate comrades worry about minority voices not being heard. A comrade expressed that NYC-DSA wasn’t a space that allows minority opinions, citing the credentials challenge from the Queens branch of NYC-DSA. [Editor’s Note: The challenge was not upheld by the Credentials Committee, finding “no violation of DSA’s national rules or convention procedures.”] Minority voices should be heard. We are a democratic organization: we should represent different perspectives.
These sentiments are not new. While I can’t say for certain, some of these long-established tensions between upstate and downstate likely stem from the different challenges we face and the lack of consideration we give them.
Challenges
It can be difficult to organize in upstate areas. Upstate is mostly comprised of suburbs and rural areas, with the occasional medium-sized city. Upstate chapters face more hostility organizing in rural red towns compared to majority blue urban cities. Upstate cities also aren’t as dense as NYC, which makes it harder to reach a large number of people. With less people comes less capacity, so smaller chapters may not take on new projects right away and might be more selective about long-term campaigns.
On the other hand, NYC must organize the largest city in the US and requires a wide base of volunteers to reach people. NYC-DSA has over 10,000 members while other NY chapters only have a fraction of that. While not all 10,000 members are active, NYC-DSA membership gives them the ability to run multiple campaigns and working groups. NYC-DSA must also ensure they have literature in multiple languages and interpreters available to better serve their members and their community. While NYC may be less hostile to socialist ideas compared to rural upstate, the more people there are, the more difficult it is to rally everyone under one banner.
All chapters should be represented and all their challenges should be acknowledged and considered in decision-making processes by a future NYS body. However, our differences should not prevent us from uniting. We should strategize together to reach a broader coalition of people and overcome our unique obstacles.
What’s next?
Rochester DSA’s co-chair, Brent, suggests that the NYS body be similar to the regional DSA calls. I think that’s a good place to start. It would allow the chapters to discuss current campaigns and focus on what the future of NYS could look like. Chapter leadership will likely take the lead on this endeavor, but I believe the body should be open to members. Opening up participation could develop diversified leadership within the chapters. Diversified leadership could amplify more voices and members wouldn’t have to rely solely on designated chapter leaders.
It’s clear that NYS comrades want this body to exist in some form. And it should, as we need to be on the same page for statewide efforts to succeed, but we can’t get ahead of ourselves with regard to this body. We can’t assume its structure or the type of power it will have over the chapters. These discussions need to be had beforehand.
But do not wait for a NYS body to organize with each other! Communication between chapters can open up now. Chapters can share information with each other on strategies and campaigns today. The more we discuss with each other, the more connections we build, the more similarities we will find and the more ideas we’ll have to overcome the obstacles our chapters face. Our successes build on each other. A success for ROC DSA lays the groundwork for a successful campaign somewhere else in NYS. A win for one chapter is a win for all chapters.
Currently, NYC and Mid Hudson Valley are making strides in the state-wide Tax the Rich campaign. This campaign offers a common goal: have NY step up where the federal government has failed. It is the perfect opportunity for upstate and downstate chapters to work together. Working on this campaign will also prepare chapters for the 2026 NYS legislative session if Zohran wins the general election. With a strong foundation, we will have the infrastructure in place to run other local and state-wide programs.
So New Yorkers, get organized! Talk to comrades in other chapters and let’s put the upstate versus downstate dispute aside. We are all workers, and together, we can make New York State work for the people and not the capitalist. A better New York and world is possible, and I believe we can make it happen.
In Solidarity,
Hannah W (they/them) – ROC DSA Labor Working Group Chair
Edited by Roman Edits – @roman.editingservices
The post New York State Needs to Organize NOW! first appeared on Rochester Red Star.
Portland DSA Endorses Parks Levy, Calls for More Ambitious Public Investment
The Nov. 4 Parks Levy effort becomes part of the Chapter’s emerging Family Agenda.
On September 14, members of the Portland chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America voted to endorse the upcoming Portland Parks and Recreation Levy 2025 Ballot Initiative as part of its Family Agenda campaign, and is training members to canvass Portland communities in support.
The 2020 voter-approved levy to support parks and recreation operations expires at the end of the fiscal year. If the Nov. 4 levy is not approved, the Parks operating budget would be cut nearly in half, resulting in far fewer programs and services. The Parks Levy ensures Portland can maintain parks and community centers by increasing the property tax rate by 60 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value. That means a median homeowner would pay about $26 per month and the median commercial property owner would pay around $37 per month.
Why it matters
Parks are about more than recreation: they are sites of community, climate resilience, public health, and intergenerational, cross-cultural connection. In a city increasingly shaped by privatization and budget cuts, securing resources for public parks is essential. Local governments around the country have found that investing in parks, and providing equitable access to them, can increase economic vitality and make their cities more attractive for existing and potential new residents.
“The levy is an important piece of our community’s future, particularly for renters who rely on city parks to access the outdoors. With everything costing people more these days, parks are a great example of the community coming together both literally and figuratively, to ensure we have free outdoor spaces for all. My coworkers and I are the first line of defense to make sure these spaces are welcoming and well-maintained. I wish we had a more secure funding model but for now, the levy is essential.”
- Ryan Heidt, horticulturist for the City of Portland and LIUNA 483 member (Parks & Rec workers)
The wealth is here, if we want it
Contrary to the stories that wealthy people like to tell, we know that the rich only get richer by exploiting their workers: as of 2024, the average CEO-to-worker pay ratio for major companies was $285-to-$1. We also know that “tax flight” is a myth cooked up by the city’s elite to get out of paying their fair share. That’s why Portland DSA supported City Councilor Steve Novick’s proposal earlier this year to increase the existing surcharge on corporations that have highly skewed ratios of CEO-to-worker pay, in addition to DSA member and City Councilor Mitch Green’s Healthy Parks, Healthy Climate Plan which would have built on Novick’s proposal. These are examples of the creative policy-making this city desperately needs right now.
At the same time, the 2025 Parks Levy is necessary but insufficient. This is especially true given that the Portland Metro Chamber threatened a campaign of opposition to the levy if the City Council didn’t reduce the amount, thereby protecting the Chamber’s elite base from having to pay a more equitable share. While the levy will provide urgently needed funding, relying on periodic levies to sustain critical infrastructure is an inequitable and unstable approach. Public goods should be guaranteed through progressive, permanent, and reliable funding—paid for by taxing the wealthy and corporations who benefit from our shared resources, not through regressive measures that disproportionately impact the working class. That’s why we need more elected leaders with the guts to push back against the arm-twisting elites at the Portland Metro Chamber and to stand up for working people.
“For years, Portland DSA members have shown up and testified for more sustained funding for the essential services that parks and community centers provide. The 2025 Portland Parks Levy will be no different. We’ll engage our neighbors and push to pass the levy while remaining crystal clear: a longer term funding structure is sorely needed and we’re ready to fight for that too.”
- Olivia Katbi, parent and co-chair of Portland DSA.
We need you. Yes, you!
Portland DSA believes in vibrant public spaces as a collective right. Do you? Then sign up to stay in touch on future events and actions. Over the long term, the City Council must put more resources in public hands, but right now passing this levy is our best shot at retaining what we love about our parks and community centers.
About the Parks Levy
The 2020 Parks Levy was a success for the city, as shown through both an independent audit and reports from the existing Parks Levy Oversight Committee. The 2025 Parks Levy would:
Preserve Program Access
- Continue free and discounted recreation programs for families experiencing poverty
- Provide free lunch & play programs, movies, concerts
- Preserve classes, community center hours, arts and cultural centers, parks, pools
Ensure Neighborhood Parks Maintenance
- Daily restroom cleaning, trash pickup
- Routine maintenance, minor repairs
- Repair or renovate facilities like playgrounds, restrooms, pools
- Park ranger safety patrols, incident responses
Protect Nature in a Changing Climate
- Plant, maintain trees
- Preserve natural areas, trails, water quality, wildlife habitat
- Clear brush, maintain emergency access routes to reduce wildfire risk
About Portland DSA’s Family Agenda
Families, however you define them, are a crucial part of a movement for a better world. Through the Family Agenda campaign, Portland DSA seeks to build a culture of collective care for working people, children and elders in our community, while rejecting the right-wing nationalist definition of family. We will make our voices heard at the city, county, and state to stop the slashing of programs that families rely on, and to demand that our parks, community centers, and after-school care programs are fully funded. We’ll be working to expand public support for public education and fight for full implementation of universal preschool at the county level – a policy that Portland DSA fought for and won in 2020.
Contact: family.agenda@portlanddsa.org
The post Portland DSA Endorses Parks Levy, Calls for More Ambitious Public Investment appeared first on Portland DSA .
The Future Starts Now: An Account of the 2025 DSA National Convention
by Gregory Lebens-Higgins
NOTE: Resolutions referenced below can be found in the Proposal Compendium available here (bit.ly/2025-proposals). A longer account of the proceedings is available here (bit.ly/2025-con).
From August 8 to 10, delegates from across the country gathered for DSA’s National Convention in Chicago to chart the course of the organization for the next two years. Rochester sent seven delegates (and one alternate), including myself.
The convention occurred in the context of Zohran Mamdani’s monumental victory on a platform of affordable housing, free childcare, reimagining public safety, and taxing the rich. Supported by a campaign infrastructure of DSA organizers, Zohran’s connection with working class voters set him on the path to become New York City’s next mayor. His win “represents the culmination of eight years of work,” said DSA Co-Chair Ashik S. (Wilmington) (Groundwork) in his opening remarks to the convention.
Also informing debate in Chicago was the ongoing Palestinian genocide tearing apart international relations and human rights, despite mass protests and global disapproval. Complicity in Israel’s actions and failure to resist Trump has discredited the Democratic Party, while the Republican Party surfs a fascist wave to authoritarian power.
These circumstances present significant challenges, but also opportunity. The working class is seeking an alternative to the status quo. As the largest socialist organization in the country, DSA is stepping into the void to offer meaningful change. With the theme “Rebirth and Beyond,” the convention resolved internal tensions by solidifying democratic practices and refining our vision for the organization, and prepared for the fight ahead alongside labor and international allies.
Centering Democracy
DSA is a member run organization. Ninety-percent of the budget comes from member dues, as the Budget & Finance Committee describes: “Our financial health is directly tied to membership levels, dues sustainability, and retention.” Developing a healthy and sustainable organization means prioritizing democratic processes and accountability among members.
On the matter of accountability, delegates passed a unified grievance policy for chapters and national bodies (CR08), “creating a space that is welcoming and inclusive to members of all genders, races, and classes,” and “ensur[ing] that everyone is able to organize without fear of harassment, abuse, or harm.”
The convention also set minimum requirements for chapters, establishing a “chapter affiliation agreement” (CR01) that requires incorporating the Code of Conduct, holding at minimum one meeting per year with voting rights for all members, and hosting a digital platform to facilitate intra-chapter communication.
The chapter affiliation agreement represents the work of DSA’s Democracy Commission, a body created in 2023 to consider “what are the essential elements of chapter democracy that every member has a right to?” Passing with 82% approval, the Commission’s Constitution and Bylaws amendments (CB01) facilitate political exchange between chapters and National, expand DSA’s National Political Committee (NPC), and set expectations for leadership.
As a member run organization, questions arise over DSA’s relationship to staff. Staff play an important role in the day-to-day functions of the organization, but may lack a clear relationship to our political mission. A proposal from Bread & Roses (R27) encourages staff to become politically engaged in the organization and prioritizes hiring among members. Though Cara T. (At-Large) (Groundwork) expressed concern for retaliation, DSA’s staff union affirmed that “R27 does not … change our longstanding freedom to have political opinions as members of DSA,” and the resolution passed with 58% support. Notably, staff are barred from becoming caucus members. Staffing is also relevant to DSA’s budget—in 2024, a budget crisis was resolved with staff layoffs. A resolution (R44) from Libertarian Socialist Caucus to cap staff expenditures and limit hiring failed by a mere eleven votes.
Leadership decisions are currently left to delegates at convention. One of the most contested proposals, One Member, One Vote (1M1V), proposed by Groundwork, would have expanded these decisions to the entire body. Those in favor argued that a majority of members are disenfranchised, and that the policy would overcome disconnect between members and National. Those opposed stressed the importance of in-person deliberation, and a concern for brigading by nefarious actors: “If they can find a way to ratfuck us, they will,” said Peter T. (East Bay). 1M1V for federal endorsements (R06) was deemed out of order by the Chair over the inclusion of a polling method inconsistent with the bylaws, but a vote upholding this decision demonstrated an overall lack of support for the resolution, since a similar challenge to R33 was overturned. For DSA’s National Leadership elections (CB02), 1M1V was voted down on the merits with only 39.8% support.
DSA is a Party
The United States is a two party system, with entrenched Democratic and Republican parties controlling ballot access and election infrastructure. DSA is often forced to use the Democratic Party line to get DSA candidates on the ballot. A future “dirty break” from the Democrats is core to DSA’s identity—will DSA remain a junior partner to the Democrats, or begin building its own party?
At the convention, DSA began building toward independence. Principles for Party Building (R07), submitted by Marxist Unity Group, commits DSA “to the goal of becoming an independent mass socialist party.” Avoiding the irrelevance of third parties in the United States, the resolution recognizes that “a ballot line is not the primary goal or indication of political independence.” (A separate proposal to run on an independent ballot line [R33-A02] failed.) Instead, DSA must bring “our independent organization and program to races whether on a Democratic, independent, or third-party ballot line.” This strategy centers DSA in fielding and supporting candidates who represent the organization’s principles, rather than merely endorsing the most progressive Democratic candidates. “The only people that can decide what DSA does are DSA members,” argued Connell H. (River Valley). The resolution passed 641 to 551.
DSA’s party formation will be informed by the “Workers Deserve More” program (R34), which was renewed and amended based on commitments made at the convention. Beyond merely identifying DSA’s political priorities, the Bread & Roses proposal provides an “implementation plan” by committing resources to publicize and enact the program. The program passed by a vote of 900 to 291. A competing program from Marxist Unity Group and Reform & Revolution (R34-A01) failed to garner support.
This party structure and program will soon be put to use. Delegates resolved to create a “Congressional Subcommittee” under DSA’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) to identify viable races in the 2026 congressional midterms, and to “identify, recruit, and support a viable democratic socialist candidate for President” in 2028 (R18; see also CR05-A04 and R33). NEC’s consensus resolution (CR05) prioritizes DSA members as candidates, and establishes a Socialists-In-Office network to “support, organize, and collaborate with DSA members who hold elected government office.” Federal candidates will also be subject to a more robust endorsement process, requiring NPC to meet with candidates and consider input from NEC and members (CR05-A03).
Labor Solidarity
Another big question for DSA is our orientation toward labor. Do we focus on bread-and-butter issues, or preparing the working class for revolution? Reform existing unions, or form our own?
The National Labor Commission’s (NLC) consensus resolution (CR10) lays out a labor strategy for the organization. This includes activating union members within DSA, salting workplaces to form new unions, organizing Amazon (see also R40), solidarity with federal workers (CR10-A03), and preparing for the May Day 2028 general strike (see also R30, as amended by R30-A01). It directs material support for the Labor Solidarity Fund and Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC), and commits to “building militant, class-struggle unions” established on democratic principles laid out in the resolution.
How explicit should DSA make socialist politics when organizing workers? An amendment (CR10-A01) sought to organize unions toward a party program: “If we can talk about bread and butter, then we can talk about socialism too,” said Sara M. (Portland) (Reform & Revolution). While this amendment failed, a resolution committing DSA to running “labor candidates” (R20) was clarified with an amendment (R20-A01) that would “center socialism” within these campaigns.
DSA is also organizing labor power toward ending the Palestinian genocide. A resolution from the Carnation Program, Labor for an Arms Embargo (R42), directs the NLC to build political pressure for an arms embargo with union support. An amendment proposed by Springs of Revolution (R42-A01) would prioritize organizing workers toward a strike to achieve this purpose. Sarah A. (East Bay) pointed out that “we saw less than one-fourth of the hands in this room raised when asked if [delegates] were in a union.” Palestinian liberation can’t wait for us to build up union capacity for such a strike. A vote on the amendment failed with 35.4%, while the unamended resolution passed by a show of cards.
International Allies
Ending the genocide was at the top of delegates’ minds. Many of those present wore keffiyehs, and the convention was shadowed with news of further escalation by Israel.
AOC’s recent vote for Iron Dome funding also played behind the scenes. Representative Rashida Tlaib, the keynote speaker, challenged those who declare themselves progressive on other issues or say they support only ‘defensive’ weapons. “A weapon is a weapon,” declared Tlaib. “You either support ending funding for genocide, or you don’t.” The decision of whether to censure AOC will be left to the new NPC.
DSA reaffirmed “our unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people in the struggle against Zionist settler colonization, Israeli apartheid, and US imperialism.” A Unified Democratic Socialist Strategy for Palestinian Solidarity (R36) devotes resources toward the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, state and local pro-Palestine legislation, student activism, and union trainings. For a Fighting Anti-Zionist DSA (R22), also commits DSA to Stop Fueling Genocide, No Appetite for Apartheid, and Mask Off Maersk to accentuate BDS targeting.
More controversial were R22’s standards for DSA members and electeds—affirming material support for Zionism as an expellable offense. Springs of Revolution motivated R22 to “confirm conclusively that Zionism—responsible for wars and genoide—has no place in the socialist movement.” Fifty-seven chapters had already passed similar resolutions.
DSA members from Socialist Majority Caucus and Groundwork argued that R22 is more worried about disciplining members than focusing on the actions we need to win, expressing concern that ambiguity in the resolution will be used for politically motivated expulsions. We need to win politicians and members to an anti-Zionist vision, they argued, not expel them. An amendment to remove the expulsion provisions failed. The resolution passed 675 to 524, to an eruption of “Free, Free Palestine.”
What happens after the genocide ends? Should DSA support a one-state solution? A commitment to a “democratic Palestinian state in the whole of historic Palestine, with explicit and enforced protections for all ethnic and religious minorities” (R01) was introduced by Libertarian Socialist Caucus. Competing visions were also proposed. From Springs of Revolution, “a commitment to al-Thawabit, the red lines of the Palestinian people adopted by the Palestinian National Council in 1977” (R01-A01). Another (R01-A02), would align DSA with the “One Democratic State Campaign.” Ultimately, each failed to win support. These are questions for another day.
More broadly, DSA resolved to “build an internationalist party,” passing the International Committee’s Consensus Resolution (CR02), and committing to organize with Progressive International. On Saturday afternoon, a cross-organizational exchange featured representatives from around the world, answering questions on international solidarity, confronting imperialism, and advice for DSA’s internal democracy and direction. These included Patria Grande (Argentina), the Workers Party of Belgium, Partido Socialismo e Liberdade (Brazil), the Workers Party of Brazil, Democratic Socialists of Canada, La France Insoumise, Social Democratic Party (Japan), Morena (Mexico), and International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines.
The convention closed with messages of solidarity from Cuban Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío Domínguez, and British Member of Parliament Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn is building a new organization on DSA’s model: action based, democratic, and focused on social justice and equality. The inaugural conference will be held later this year, and the organization will be working with DSA and progressive organizations all over the world, creating “a new Atlantic Alliance”—this one based on peace and justice.
Socialism Beats Fascism
Following the convention, criticism was made that not enough time was spent debating Trump. But we already agree that Trump is bad for the working class, and are aware of his encroachments on our civil rights and shared humanity. Several resolutions focused on Trump passed on the Consent Agenda, including From Palestine to Mexico: Fighting Fascist Attacks on Immigrants (R19), and Fight Fascist State Repression & ICE (R26) (by Springs of Revolution). These resolutions recognize the Trump administration as “an increasingly authoritarian and anti-immigrant regime that has promised and delivered increasingly cruel attacks on migrants to uphold white supremacy, capitalism, and imperialism,” and call to abolish ICE and engage in solidarity with immigrants by distributing know your rights materials, expanding sanctuary city legislation, establishing a Collective Defense Fund, and “prepar[ing] the organization for a national uprising against federal agents and police brutality.”
How does DSA confront fascism? By building a democratic structure that promises the working class an alternative to the status quo or reactionary politics. Americans voted for Trump as the result of Democrats’ political nihilism and a desire for change. But now, “we’re the ones who are building an alternative to our current crisis,” said Co-Chair Ashik S. (Wilmington) (Groundwork). “We’re rebuilding a flame that people tried very hard to extinguish.”
Carrying the Fight Forward
DSA is a mass movement focused on programmatic unity rather than ideological dogma. The new NPC, composed (with one exception) of caucused members, demonstrates our diversity. Megan R. (At-Large) (Red Star) and Ashik S. (Wilmington) (Groundwork) were reelected as Co-Chairs. In addition, the NPC includes four of Groundwork’s seven candidates, four of Socialist Majority Caucus’ seven candidates, four of Springs of Revolution’s five candidates, Marxist Unity Group’s slate of three candidates, three of Bread & Roses’ five candidates, two of Red Star’s four candidates, one of Libertarian Socialist Caucus’ three candidates, Reform & Revolution’s candidate, and one candidate from Carnation Program. YDSA Co-Chairs Daniel S-C. (Florida International University) (Reform & Revolution) and Sara A. (Cornell University) (uncaucused), also hold seats.
Despite the obvious disagreements represented by these ideological groupings, delegates from the convention left as allies. “Look around you,” said Co-Chair Megan R. (At-Large) (Red Star), “and recognize how much each person contributes to the cause.” The motivation to achieve victory for the working class burned in every soul present at the convention. “Our job is to carry that flame back to our chapters, workplaces, communities, social spaces—and set the whole world on fire. … The future starts now.”
The convention closed with singing; the lyrics of the Internationale reminding us: “the international working class shall free the human race.” In the words of Tlaib, “Our movement isn’t going anywhere, and we’re just getting started.”
The post The Future Starts Now: An Account of the 2025 DSA National Convention first appeared on Rochester Red Star.
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