Statement on the End of Joe Biden’s Presidential Campaign
Joe Biden has long been a warmonger and a perpetrator of genocide, a shill for corporations, an enemy of immigrants and the environment, and a failure to the working class. He has earned a disgraceful end to his career.
While Biden’s departure from the presidential race today improves the chances that we may avoid a Trump presidency, whoever the Democratic nominee is will undoubtedly fall short of what the working class deserves.
More Americans are becoming painfully aware that the leadership of the Democratic Party is completely unprepared to fight the far right with the ferocity required. Democratic insiders admitted recently that Biden was only anointed in 2020 not because he could beat Trump, but because they wanted to beat the overwhelmingly popular democratic socialist candidate Bernie Sanders.
Since becoming president, Biden has taken every opportunity to ruin his chances of reelection. Most notably, he continues to fund and actively support Israel’s horrific genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, tanking his popularity among young voters. He has offered zero vision for the future other than “Nothing will fundamentally change”—and as social and economic conditions get worse, we see that even that was a lie.
Neither major party has a vision that serves the working class. We need a serious alternative to the Republican Party’s proto-fascism and war on unions, immigrants, women and transgender people, and democracy itself—and an alternative to the Democratic Party’s complicity.
We need a new party that represents a mass movement of everyday people who want to stand up and fight for a world that’s free of war, bigotry, and corporate exploitation. We deserve a party that will champion worker power, fight for liberation and dignity for all people, end the climate crisis, and create universal programs like public housing, free college, and Medicare for All.
Join DSA to build that party with us.
Tune into our public call on Tuesday, July 23rd at 9pm Eastern, 6pm Pacific to learn more about how you can join DSA and build a future that works for the many, not the few. RSVP: dsausa.us/goodbyebiden
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State of Queer Roc
By Travis Covitz
As Rochester enters its second Pride Month, it is an appropriate time to ask: what is the political state of Queer Rochester?
I was one of the individuals interviewed in a recent Guardian article that declared Rochester is a ‘safe haven’ for transgender people. Since then, I have had many conversations with queer and trans leftists in Rochester, who all have different perspectives on the nature and politics of our local queer community. I have shared drinks with liberal gay folks, and gained insight into their moderate lens of the state of Queer Rochester. My value of preserving queer history has also inspired me to seek out the long-term community activists, who have taught me some of the information necessary to understand the current context of queer politics in Rochester. This context is one of many clusters that do not form a larger matrix—Queer Rochester lacks unity as a coherent political class.
Even if it was fair to call New York a ‘safe haven’ in 2023, this year has proven how that status is not a guarantee. In Nassau County, the County Executive attempted to ban transgender students from participating in school sports. The GIRDS Act (“Gender Identity Respect, Dignity, and Safety Act”), which would protect incarcerated transgender New Yorkers, failed to reach the State Senate floor during the most recent legislative session. The New York State Representative for nearby Livingston County, Marjorie Byrne, led a legal challenge to the Equal Rights Amendment (“ERA”) which will be on New York ballots this fall. The ERA would expand anti-discrimination protections to protect women, queer people, disabled people, and those exercising their reproductive rights. Here in Rochester, the Phelps Avenue Shelter—the only homeless shelter in our area for LGBT+ adults—closed, and a frightening homophobic hate crime recently occurred on Monroe Avenue. Of these stories, the hate crime received the most local news coverage. The political assaults have been left relatively invisible by the local Rochester media.
Fortunately, courts have overturned the transphobic decisions from Nassau County’s Executive and State Supreme Court Justice Daniel Doyle, who ruled in favor of Rep. Byrne. But the fact remains that queer Rochesterians cannot allow ourselves to be lulled into a false sense of safety. The referendum was challenged by a legislator in our own backyard. Rhetoric of queer people as ‘groomers’ has reached the Pittsford government as seen in their attacks on drag performance. Parents in local school districts have been fighting against the normalization and acceptance of transgender students. Several Black queer people in Rochester have died in the past year, and the family of Davon Davis—a Black trans man killed in Brighton in 2022—continues to be failed by Monroe County.
Queer Rochester is divided by a legacy of white chauvinism and neoliberal gays abandoning the needs of working-class, homeless, Black, and brown members of the Rochester queer community. Assimilation and mere acceptance of gay existence has muted the ability of the Rochester queer community to see how queer rights are linked to issues of policing, capitalism, and more. Meanwhile, the Rochester Left—including Roc DSA—has seen the power of political education and getting the masses to understand the interconnected nature of social issues in winning multiple local campaigns. The Ceasefire Resolution, the No BID Campaign, the Pause on the Reassessment, and the Housing Vacancy Study had joint press conferences as well as residents at Speak to Council who came with their own cause that then shared support for the other campaigns. This was incredibly successful.
The ERA is, in and of itself, a cause uniting reproductive rights, queer rights, and disability rights—the amendment literally creates anti-discrimination protection at once for those who are pregnant, seek and obtain abortions, are disabled, or are not cisgender, gender conforming, and heterosexual. Informing people about the ERA and the need to flip the ballot come November, so they may vote in the referendum, inherently leads to questions about building solidarity. It is an opportunity to talk about homelessness and incarceration as queer issues, and organize those who care about queer rights into a united front that fights alongside us against crisis pregnancy centers, Zionism, and the capitalist class. There are already several community organizations doing the work to support the disenfranchised—Queer Rochester does not need another new organization. It needs to be actively invited into the existing work.
As DSA members, as leftists, we can take my assessment of the disorganized state of Queer Rochester. We can see who has been allowed to slip through the cracks and what stories get attention. We can learn from the success of uniting campaigns to the City Council. We can look for those who are invested in the ERA, and we can show them all the other ways Rochester’s queer community is being failed—and we can help them fight, and win.
The post State of Queer Roc first appeared on Rochester Red Star.
Activist Updates: 2024 YDSA Convention Day 2
The Activist Editorial Board summarizes the second day of the 2024 YDSA national convention. After being taught how to use OpenSlides and the history of Robert’s Rules of Order on day one, delegates began debating, persuading, and voting on resolutions on day two. 143 delegates gathered on Zoom, participating in three “deliberative blocks,” with votes…
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Debate Highlights: 2024 NCC At-Large Race
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Green New Deal Commission: Allying with Transit Workers in Louisville
The Green New Campaign Commission talked with members of Louisville DSA about their Get on the Bus campaign in this interview, originally published in March on ecosocialists.dsausa.org.
Louisville DSA is Building for Power through its public transit campaign, Get On The Bus. Campaign leaders Michael B. and Allison L. share how the push to fund TARC buses started on a strong relationship with the local Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU).
Why did you decide to work on public transit?
Allison L: Louisville’s public transit system, Transit Authority of River City (TARC), is chronically underfunded. Its funding model is archaic and hasn’t kept up with several factors that have increased the want and need for public transit. Public transit advocacy fits well into the broader DSA agenda of supporting working people and addressing climate change. Personally, I lived without a car in Chicago for 15 years, taking mostly public transit, and I’ve always found it odd and disappointing how difficult it is to use TARC.
Michael B: Our campaign is working to address the funding structure of TARC, specifically around two issues. One, most funding sources are marked for capital expenses, not the expense dollars needed to pay drivers overtime, keep buses on the road, etc. And two, Louisville Metro government doesn’t contribute directly to TARC’s funding.
Tell us about your relationship with the ATU local.
MB: We were actually in a unique position where our local ATU reached out to LDSA wanting to work together on a campaign to address TARC’s funding. LDSA came out in support during ATU’s last contract fight. ATU is in this position where rider’s want buses to run, driver’s show up wanting to drive, and TARC turns then away because TARC can’t or won’t provide overtime. The timing of Louisville’s budget process leads directly into ATU’s next contract negotiation, and increasing public perception and involvement around TARC and ATU should give them additional leverage.
We have a real partnership with ATU on this effort, which I think separates us from other organizations. As an example, I want to touch specifically on the letters being signed by ATU members. We worked with ATU leadership to build short quick-hit letters to tell the TARC Board to demand Mayor Greenberg add TARC as a line item to his budget proposal. We identified 4 key issues ATU workers wanted new funding to support: Pay & Benefits, Safety, Accessibility, and the Mechanic Apprenticeship Program. The first three issues are fairly typical, but the Apprenticeship Program is something unique to TARC that most of the public wouldn’t otherwise be aware of, and only a subset of ATU members would be directly involved with. It’s by working directly with ATU that we not only hear about these specific issues and needs, but that we can work with them to help raise their own voices on the issue.
What steps are you taking to build solidarity between operators, riders, and other groups?
AL: We have developed a letter writing campaign for ATU members to express why increased funding matters to them. We are sending these letters to the TARC board in hopes it will encourage them to advocate more for ATU members. We’ve also developed a rider survey and “tired of being ghosted by the bus?” sticker campaign to build rider solidarity through a heightened awareness of TARC’s citywide issues, and to gather data of rider experience to use later. We’ve written a longer demand letter for other groups (unions, environmental groups, public transit groups, etc.) to send to the mayor. And for the general public, we have a petition to the mayor and are hoping to implement a postcard campaign to send to metro council members.
What local political conditions are you having to overcome?
AL: The funding model for TARC currently does not guarantee that it is included in the city budget every year, which is the only way to ensure consistent funding. Also, though the Mayor has promised to make Louisville green, it doesn’t seem to extend to TARC.
MB: TARC is funded through a trust fund system established in the 70s, which simply hasn’t kept pace with the needs of the city. Not only did the Mayor campaign on green issues, including TARC, but Metro Council has voted on long-term plans that stress the importance of a frequent, reliable, expanded public transit system. Neither Mayor Greenberg or Metro Council have actually acted on either of their plans.
What challenges and opportunities does organizing in the South bring?
AL: The challenge of organizing for public transit in the South is that there is not a deeply embedded tradition and public understanding and respect for public transit, unlike northern cities like New York City. We are largely an unwalkable, car-based society, with ample parking lots and ever-widening highways, and when public transit is unreliable or difficult to use, our natural reaction is to disregard it until it disappears, instead of recognizing the amount of funding it will require. There is no vision for a future that includes public transit as a primary mode of transportation.
MB: Louisville, like many southern cities, continues to suburbanize. Only a select few areas are walkable. Our homes, jobs, grocery stores, and third places grow further and further apart, and we are doing literally nothing to address the issue.
How can people in Louisville get involved?
Sign our petition and tell Mayor Greenberg and Louisville Metro Council to Get on the Bus and Fund TARC! https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-mayor-greenberg-to-get-on-the-bus-and-fund-tarc/
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Co-Chair Candidate Profile: Uma Clemenceau
The Activist interviewed the candidates for national co-chair at the 2024 YDSA national convention. Uma Clemenceau discusses their run for co-chair. YDSA’s National Convention is on the horizon. Though the event will be online this year, the key elements that make the convention important will remain. Hundreds of YDSAers will gather to discuss, debate, and…
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Co-Chair Candidate Profile: Sean Bridge
The Activist interviewed the candidates for national co-chair at the 2024 YDSA national convention. Sean Bridge discusses their run for co-chair. YDSA’s National Convention is on the horizon. Though the event will be online this year, the key elements that make convention important will remain. Hundreds of YDSAers will gather to discuss, debate, and vote…
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Co-Chair Candidate Profile: Nat Leach
The Activist interviewed the candidates for national co-chair at the 2024 YDSA national convention. Nat Leach discusses their run for co-chair. YDSA’s National Convention is on the horizon. Though the event will be online this year, the key elements that makes convention important will remain. Hundreds of YDSAers will gather to discuss, debate, and vote…
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Co-Chair Candidate Profile: Carlos Callejo III
The Activist interviewed the candidates for national co-chair at the 2024 YDSA national convention. Current NCC member at-large Carlos Callejo III discusses their run for co-chair. YDSA’s National Convention is on the horizon. Though the event will be online this year, the key elements that make convention important will remain. Hundreds of YDSAers will gather…
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Co-Chair Candidate Profile: Aron Ali-McClory
The Activist interviewed the candidates for national co-chair at the 2024 YDSA national convention. Current co-chair Aron Ali-McClory discusses their run for a second term. YDSAs National Convention is on the horizon. Though the event will be online this year, the key elements that make convention important will remain. Hundreds of YDSAers will gather to…
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