At our January chapter meeting, DSA SF is proud to have passed, with overwhelming support, a resolution that reinforces DSA SF as an Anti-Zionist organization in principle and in practice.

Since the start of the most recent genocidal assault by Israel on Gaza, DSA SF mobilized to call for a ceasefire, from the streets, to union halls, to San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors. As these mobilizations continued, it became clear that DSA SF had to address the history of DSA with regards to Zionism if we wanted to continue being an effective ally in this struggle.

Following the lead of other chapters, including Houston DSA and Inland Empire DSA, we drafted a resolution to fully commit the chapter to Anti-Zionism and place ourselves on the side of the Palestinian liberation struggle. This resolution commits DSA SF to Anti-Zionism as a part of our socialist understanding of anti-colonialism, anti-imperialism, and anti-racism. 

The adopted resolution explicitly defines Anti-Zionist expectations for our membership and endorsed candidates. We also define the Palestinian cause as an anti-colonial cause, relating it to the landback movement.

As a result of this resolution, Zionism and any Zionist disposition, such as opposition to BDS and the Palestinian right of return, are considered to be in substantial disagreement with DSA SF’s principles and policies. Similarly, endorsed candidates must support BDS, have no affiliations with any Zionist lobby groups (Democrats for Israel, AIPAC, etc), and pledge to politically support the Palestinian cause from their elected positions. 

Before introduction, we worked with chapter leadership and across various groups within the chapter to build consensus and to incorporate feedback they provided with respect to the specific work of the chapter. All in all, our diverse chapter membership was fully behind this resolution. At our chapter meeting, members engaged in a thoughtful discussion and adopted amendments to further clarify and strengthen the resolved commitment to Anti-Zionism.

This resolution will push DSA SF forward and make us a formidable ally in the fight for Palestinian liberation. It will also enable us to work more closely with Palestinian coalition partners, connecting the Palestinian cause with the variety of socialist causes DSA SF focuses on.

We call on all other DSA chapters to pass similar resolutions, and join us in making Palestine central in the ongoing struggle against global capitalism, settler colonialism, and US imperialism.

Across the world, demonstrations have been happening almost daily in protest to the ongoing slaughter of tens of thousands in Gaza, with growing voices now declaring it a genocide being committed by Israel. Here in Maine, we have seen a number of rallies from Bangor to Bath to Portland, all demanding an immediate ceasefire, and on Friday, February 2nd, Portland saw another action in support of peace in Gaza, this time a little bit more disruptive in hopes of getting its organizers’ point across more directly. 

At 1 PM, about two hundred protesters rallied at the intersection of Marginal and Franklin, a popular bottleneck for traffic using the on and off ramps of I-295. The rally was organized by the Maine Coalition for Palestine, an umbrella group that includes organizations like the Maine Democratic Socialists of America, Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights, the Maine Party for Socialism & Liberation, and more. At least four speakers, including family members of holocaust survivors, addressed the ongoing atrocities taking place in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire and loudly denouncing the role the U.S. government has played with its carte blanche military support for Israel. 

Protesters proceeded to block the street for nearly two hours, preventing cars from exiting or getting onto the highway. They held banners and signs declaring, “Palestine will be free” and waved Palestinian flags. Attendees kept up spirits with chants like, “We are all Palestinian! In the thousands, in the millions!” “Biden, Biden, you can’t hide! We charge you with Genocide!” and, “Viva, Viva, Palestina!” 

In short order, the police arrived and warned protesters that anyone blocking the street would be arrested. However, a number of protesters clearly knew that this would be a possibility ahead of time and committed themselves to having their demands be taken seriously, even if it meant being taken into custody. As one protester noted, “it can’t be any worse than being in Gaza right now.” Within twenty to thirty minutes after their warning, the police moved in and arrested eleven people for blocking the roadway. Among those arrested was Lisa Savage, who ran for U.S. Senate as an Independent in 2020.

As local news announced the protest and arrests online, comment sections were quick to fill up with a mixed bag of people either supporting or denigrating the demonstration. While a number of social media comments cheered on the protest with posts like, “Proud of them. Thrilled to see Mainers standing against genocide”, other comments called for violence against the protesters like, “Run them over”, “Time to get the plow truck out”, and “Open fire!!!!” Some of this vitriol could potentially be explained by the rising political polarization in the U.S., and especially the rise in violent rhetoric on the right. But, it’s also true that protesters fighting for peace have long faced threats of violence in America. From women’s suffrage, to the Civil Rights Movement, to the anti-war movement of Vietnam, people have created peaceful acts of disruption and partaken in civil disobedience, all in order to call attention to larger injustices. And, without fail, those acts of peaceful disruption have and will continue to draw hateful, violent vitriol (or worse) from those who favor the status quo of war, injustice, and inequality.

But for all those who are upset at the protesters on February 2nd because you were late for work, or an appointment, or picking up groceries from Whole Foods, we will leave you again with what the protester quoted above said, “it can’t be any worse than being in Gaza right now.”

The post Maine Coalition for Palestine Blocks Traffic, Protests Genocide in Gaza. appeared first on Pine & Roses.

Let’s imagine it’s the year 2032. We’ve landed safely through the storm of the turbulent twenties, survived fifty years of Culture Wars, and even seen the Democratic Party’s resistance to Progressivism give way to acceptance. In this imaginative scenario, the recently elected President along with most of the House and Senate are members of the Democratic-Socialist Party.

There is no bipartisan barrier to doing what needs to be done. Our government focus would be on creating a comprehensive social safety net, addressing the root causes of homelessness, and ensuring that every citizen has access to the resources they need to lead stable and fulfilling lives. Imagine with me as we take a look at what these programs might be. Let’s reflect on how the government would implement the principles of democratic socialism through prioritizing social and economic equity.

A Democratic Socialist World: Eradicating Homelessness

Envision a world where we have accomplished working tirelessly to reshape the nation into one that values social and economic equity above all else. In this visionary world, addressing homelessness is not just a goal but it’s a fundamental commitment. Let’s explore what such a world might look like, and how it would tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time: homelessness.

1. National Affordable Housing Guarantee:

In this democratic socialist world a National Affordable Housing Guarantee program is established. Every citizen has the right to access affordable stable housing. The government invests in constructing high-quality environmentally friendly housing units. These units should prioritize areas with high rates of homelessness, ensuring that no one is left without a roof over their head.

2. Universal Basic Income (UBI):

A Universal Basic Income program must be implemented to provide a safety net and prevent homelessness. Typically, UBI is a regularly issued monetary stipend for all residents regardless of their employment status. This basic income ensures that everyone can afford housing and essential necessities, freeing them from the fear of homelessness.

3. Community Land Trusts:

Democratic socialism champions community ownership. In this world, community land trusts are established in urban areas allowing the collective ownership and management of land alongside housing. This model helps maintain housing affordability while protecting against the relentless tide of gentrification.

4. Medicare For All: 

A comprehensive universal healthcare system covers physical and mental health for all citizens. It’s recognized that good health is a right, not a privilege. This ensures that everyone receives the healthcare services they need. This would be accomplished through Mobile Health Clinics that roam the streets reaching homeless encampments providing healthcare, vaccinations, and mental health support. They would also make referrals to mental health and addiction centers.

5. Mental Health and Addiction Centers:

In our future, comprehensive mental health and addiction treatment centers spring up across every major city. These centers offer easily accessible free services to all, including those experiencing homelessness. Mental health is prioritized as a critical component of overall well-being.

6. Housing for Veterans:

Specific housing programs should be created to fill the needs of a community. In particular, honoring the service of those who have defended the nation will be fulfilled by housing programs catered to homeless veterans. These programs offer not only shelter, but also mental health support, job training, and reintegration assistance.

7. Youth Homelessness Eradication:

Our democratic socialist society also prioritizes specialized programs to target the eradication of youth homelessness. These initiatives include education reform, employment opportunities, mentorship programs, and transitional housing. A society for all uplifts young people to a brighter future.

8. Tiny House Villages:

Tiny house villages bloom across various communities. They finally provide safe dignified living spaces for homeless individuals and families. These villages foster a sense of belonging to a community– which are the key ingredients for stability.

9. Job Guarantee Program:

A federal job guarantee program ensures that anyone who wishes to work can access a well-paying job. This initiative helps homeless individuals transition into stable employment while fostering a sense of purpose and financial security.

10. Green Jobs Initiative:

A Green Jobs Initiative is launched nationally in tandem with the Federal Job Guarantee. These programs emphasize environmental conservation and sustainable practices. Homeless individuals find employment in projects such as urban gardening, renewable energy installations, and local conservation efforts. Prioritizing the unhoused with these programs contributes to both their well-being and the planet’s health.

11. Public Transportation Access:

Public transportation systems are expanded and made accessible to all with free or highly subsidized transit passes for homeless individuals. This move makes it easier for them to access services, job opportunities, and community resources.

12. Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centers:

Rehabilitation, education, and job training centers are established for individuals leaving the criminal justice system. This not only reduces the risk of recidivism, but also prevents them from falling into homelessness upon release.

13. Artist and Writer Residencies:

It is important to recognize the value of the humanities by designing programs to support aspiring artists, writers, musicians, and other creatives. We should prioritize those experiencing homelessness. These residencies provide housing and resources while fostering talents along with offering opportunities for self-sufficiency.

A Democratic Socialist World: The Future 

In this democratic socialist world, these visionary programs are not mere dreams, but they are reality. The focus is on people, their well-being, and on the principles of social and economic equity. Homelessness is not just addressed– it’s eradicated. The world is one where no one is left behind because every citizen has access to housing, healthcare, education, and employment.

In this future the principles of democratic socialism guide policy decisions with equity, compassion, and community. Homelessness is not treated as an isolated issue, but as a symptom of systemic problems. These programs represent a commitment to creating a society where everyone has the resources they need to lead stable and fulfilling lives.

This imaginative scenario reminds us that it’s possible to envision a world where homelessness is not a scourge, but a solvable problem. It reminds us that political will and visionary policies can transform society to uplift the most vulnerable among us. While we may not live in this exact world today, these ideas serve as an inspiration for what we can strive to achieve—a future where homelessness is but a distant memory. A world where social and economic equity reign supreme.

The post What Does a Democratic-Socialist World Look Like? appeared first on Seattle Democratic Socialists of America.

The Democratic Socialists of America International Committee (DSA IC) stands in solidarity with the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau (PAIGC) and calls for the  opening of the National People’s Assembly and for the Party to rightfully assume its democratically-elected position within the government of Guinea-Bissau. Regional and national authorities must ensure that the rule of law and the will of the people are respected. Despite blatant acts of electoral interference and numerous obstacles imposed upon the Party, the PAIGC is constitutionally entitled to its position within the Guinea-Bissau government.

Incumbent president Umaro Sissoco Embaló came to power through a rigged election in December 2019. Since then, he and his cohorts in the Madem-G15 party have proceeded to launch attacks on the PAIGC, including kidnappings, beatings, imprisonment, murders, and violent assaults on radio stations. Madem-G15 have corrupted the nation’s electoral processes, attacked the judiciary, and used illegal, undemocratic means to repress the PAIGC. The illegitimate Embaló regime, supported by the United States, France, and other Western imperialist powers, staged a false coup in February 2022 and called on The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for protection under the direction of then-president of Senegal, Macky Sall. Through these actions, imperialism tightened its grip on Guinea-Bissau’s political and economic institutions.

In the face of this repression, the PAIGC undertook the painstaking task of mass organizing in Guinea-Bissau. By doing so, they have built a mass base and  asserted their power. 

As detailed in a recent statement by the Central Committee of the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party, the Embaló regime has consistently used intimidation, terror, murder, and psychological warfare, with the backing of Western imperialist powers, including the state of Israel, as well as the comprador class represented by ECOWAS.

In an illegal maneuver to prevent the PAIGC from assuming power, President Embaló has dissolved the National People’s Assembly. We stand in solidarity with the PAIGC and echo the people of Guinea-Bissau’s demand that the doors to the National People’s Assembly be opened immediately to allow the democratically-elected representatives to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities. We encourage the ECOWAS Permanent Commission to guarantee that the Guinea-Bissau Constitution is respected and that the will of the people is heard above all else.

The post DSA IC Stands with the PAIGC against Electoral Interference and Political Repression in Guinea-Bissau appeared first on DSA International Committee.

by BOOM TOWN PRESS

The following is a snippet of an article that originally appeared in Boom Town Press on January 31, 2024. Check out the rest of the article here.

On January 31st, 2024, the Monroe County Democratic Committee (MCDC) held its Candidate Designation Meeting for the 17th, 21st, 23rd, and 24th Legislative Districts at James Monroe High School in the Pearl-Meigs-Monroe neighborhood. Joe Morelle – the sole Congressional candidate on the ticket – intended to attend this event.

Plans changed at the last minute. The Candidate Designation Meeting was originally open to registered Democrats, whether party functionaries or ordinary individuals who had ticked a particular voter registration box. Once the higher-ups got word of a planned protest, however, this supposedly democratic event was revealed to be the gathering of party insiders it always has been. Invited guests and lay-Democrats alike were turned away at the door due to “security” concerns.

The concerns? Several dozen protesters who planned to gather, enter the meeting, and demand answers of Joe Morelle. …

To read the rest of the article, head over to Boom Town Press.

The post Joe Morelle Supports Genocide in Palestine, but Won’t Own Up to It first appeared on Rochester Red Star.

by Organizing Committee PAB Workers United

The following essay was originally published in New Worker on January 27, 2024.

In the past few years, the push for civilian oversight of law enforcement has expanded nationwide. Body cam technology and police reform are increasingly being written into law, and social movements like Black Lives Matter have generated incredible energy. Along with it, however, new ways of obstructing the work of holding law enforcement agencies accountable have and continue to emerge.

Rochester is no stranger to police brutality and corruption. The Police Accountability Board was formed in 2019 by referendum after decades of failed attempts and a multi-year organizing campaign. It was intended to have some of the strongest legal powers of any agency of its kind in the country in regards to data access and ability to discipline officers.

We were all hired to various roles in Spring of 2022. The energy at the time was amazing, we thought we were going to change the world. We were all inspired and ready to work hard and hit the ground running. Immediately we started to notice strange goings-on.

Work was being stalled by various players, both internally and from other City government entities. Our Executive Director, who had designed much of our structure, staffing positions, and secured our historic $5m annual budget, was placed on indefinite leave for reasons outside of our knowledge at the time, and we were told by our bosses that we were not allowed to speak with him.

In June of 2022, a group of non-management staff wrote an anonymous letter requesting more clarity and transparency, and expressed concerns about the deteriorating workplace culture compared to where it had started at, and the implications this could have on the agency’s ability to function in general. This was the first act of collective organizing by PAB staff, yet talk of unionization was still months away.

Shortly after the letter went out, a meeting was called to address the concerns we brought up in the letter — or so we thought. Instead, the meeting was used to berate staff for violating confidentiality by sending a letter from a non-city owned email address. A member of staff addressed the supposed confidentiality concerns by downloading the letter and forwarding it to everyone on the call from his email address, and requested the concerns be addressed. Days later, he was fired. We were told it had nothing to do with the meeting, but we were not given the actual reason.

In the months that followed, more changes took place: staff were written up for policies that had not been discussed upon their hire, schedules were arbitrarily changed with little notice, staff were told to avoid “gossip” when meeting together, vacation time requests were denied, supervisors were switched between departments without notifying staff… the list goes on.

Staff were targeted for asking for explanations of general HR policies, questions around pay, and working conditions. When four more staff were fired with no justification given and another was constructively discharged citing an intolerable relationship with their supervisor getting in the way of their ability to do their work, a group of us began holding meetings to discuss what it would take to unionize our workplace with the ultimate goal of protecting those of us who were most motivated to contribute to the work of the agency, and, by extension, the legitimacy of the agency as a whole.

In the following weeks, seven of us spent considerable time and effort mapping out potential levels of support for unionization among our fellow staff members and found it to be high. We began reaching out to various unions, including some that traditionally represented civil service workers and other public sector employees in the City of Rochester and Monroe County. While we often were met with well wishes and statements of support, we were not accepted by any of the unions we reached out to, citing our small unit size, the controversial nature of our work, solidarity with police unions, and the public perception of the agency as being volatile and unstable.

We were then put in contact with Jaz Brisack, an organizer with Workers United Upstate New York who was deeply involved in the Starbucks campaign, through an organizer who had trained our organizing committee but was unable to convince his union’s leadership to agree to represent us. Jaz asked about our job descriptions, our day-to-day tasks, and the working conditions we experienced. They then spoke to Gary Bonadonna, president of the Rochester Regional Joint Board, and we were enthusiastically accepted almost immediately. As a generally young staff with an activist and justice oriented mindset, we were all very excited upon learning about the Starbucks campaign in nearby Buffalo and the values that Workers United represents.

On October 6th, 2022, we announced our intention to form a union with a press conference outside of our office and sent union cards to City Hall. We made Twitter and Facebook pages, and gave media interviews. All of us signed a card except for one union eligible member of staff, who later did sign a card after experiencing retaliation.

Shortly after our announcement, we were told by the Mayor’s office that it was not clear who was responsible to recognize our union. It would come down to either city council or the Mayor. Because we are public sector employees, we operate under the Public Employees Relations Board, or PERB, and the Taylor Law, and instead of winning a vote to become unionized, our employer must recognize our union after a majority of staff signs cards.

A process that we thought would unfold relatively quickly thus began to take several weeks. After the leader of our union campaign was fired and told by management that she had resigned, we decided to take a new approach.

Because the Mayor said he thought it was City Council who needed to recognize us, and the City Council President said he thought it was the Mayor, we decided to publicly ask them both to jointly recognize our union. Keep in mind, at this point there was no legal ambiguity about whether or not we would get a union — every stakeholder admitted that we were basically there, we just needed the recognition piece. We held a press conference and wrote another letter shedding light on what had happened so far, and called on both the Mayor and City Council to recognize our union.

At this point we still believed our superiors were acting in good faith, though of course we had our suspicions. In response to our letter, Mayor Evans requested City Council write legislation allocating $50k to hire a law firm under the pretense that it would examine and resolve the question about who would eventually recognize our union with Workers United.

Almost immediately, our hopes of good faith dealings were dashed. Hancock Estabrook, the law firm that the city hired, took the position that because Workers United currently only represented private sector workers, it was not a legitimate employee organization for us to join. We later found out on their website that Hancock Estabrook specializes in “Union Avoidance.”

We knew the argument that Workers United could not represent city employees was nonsense as there were other examples locally of public/private hybrid unions, but we needed to cover our bases. Graciously, Workers United voted to amend their constitution to accommodate the fewer than twenty of us who would form this union.

Because of the way that NYS PERB works, we also recognized that it was in our best interest to withdraw our petition and refile it under the new Workers United Constitution — PERB would only recognize the conditions of the petition at the time it was filed. This delayed the process by a few months, and allowed the City and its law firm to develop more strategies and muddy the public narrative against us.

At this point, seven more employees were constructively discharged, amounting to over 30% of our potential union. Our allegations of retaliation and hostility were spun into narratives about dysfunction and infighting, and our agency seemed to become the subject of jokes among City Council, the Mayor’s Office, and the Police Department. City Council and the Mayor’s office then began holding public input sessions and conducting non-scientific surveys about the effectiveness of the PAB, and started to throw terms around like “reimagine” or “replace” what we have with “something better”.

Efforts by staff members and community support were thankfully able to counter these tactics quite well, but nonetheless, when the city’s budget came out in June of 2023, our allocation was cut by one third, down from $5m to $3.4m. Surprisingly, this budget change was requested by management of the PAB despite strong opposition from staff and the community.

To account for the changes in the new budget, our organizational structure was shuffled significantly. Staffing was reduced and cuts disproportionately affected union-eligible non management positions, and the ratio of staff to managers decreased. Both our union and the agency suffered from this: for example, all six non-management attorney positions were deleted from our organizational chart.

A few months later and with our union still not recognized, we learned that the local chapter of AFSCME, which had wished us luck a year earlier but expressly disavowed interest in representing us, suddenly wanted to accrete our unit. AFSCME covers other city employees in the city of Rochester, however the contract that we would be working under for the next few years would reduce our annual time off and result in us being paid less.

In the notice that we received from Hancock Estabrook explaining AFSCME’s petition to intervene in our campaign to join Workers United, we were also informed that the Mayor would immediately recognize our union if we agreed to join AFSCME. This signaled to us that he had the power to recognize all along and there was never legal ambiguity, but it was more likely that the administration was worried that the progressive politics of Workers United would infiltrate City government.

In response to this development, staff sent a unanimous letter to AFSCME requesting they withdraw their interest, and after members at Workers United and staff members had conversations with the local AFSCME president, we learned that the decision was made by someone above him and that they would not withdraw interest.

This suggested to us that AFSCME is truly a company union that takes barking orders from the boss, or in this case, most likely the Mayor. The fact that AFSCME would not acknowledge the will of the staff it was trying to represent raised concerns about whether they would protect us as their members if we were accreted into AFSCME.

Shortly afterwards, AFSCME held a meeting with PAB staff and Jaz. It felt like they were trying to gaslight us the entire time. The meeting was incredibly adversarial, and staff made it exceptionally clear to AFSCME leadership that they were going against the will of the workers. Nonetheless, there have been no changes.

This brings us to where we find ourselves today. While making the case to the PERB judge that AFSCME and the City engaged in improper practice by colluding to undermine the will of the unit in question, as well as cutting our budget to weaken the union, we are also working on spreading the narrative among the local labor community that AFSCME is violating the Taylor Law and undermining the will of the workers. Our aim is to be annoying enough so that it becomes more convenient for AFSCME to withdraw their petition to intervene in our process with Workers United.

In a city where AFSCME is a traditional union deeply entrenched in the labor movement, we are facing an uphill battle. We are also constantly engaged in off the clock advocacy for the continued existence of our agency and fighting against procedural and legal loopholes that are constantly being used to limit our jurisdiction and ability to investigate police misconduct. On top of all of this, we continue to show up to work and do our jobs, which can be just as emotionally taxing — speaking to traumatized individuals and their families and reviewing footage of people being injured or killed — as the fight against union busting.

A year and a half after signing union cards, we have continued to do what we can to finally get the recognition we are entitled to. Workers United has been unflinching in their support for us, inviting us to conferences like the Inside Organizer School and continuing to represent us in court. We also continue to agitate: most recently, two of us gathered signatures at a holiday party for city employees, asking AFSCME members to call on their union’s leadership to withdraw their petition. In a poetic coincidence, we talked to a man outside of City Hall before going into the party who was distraught as cops had just shot and killed his pet dog. We confronted the mayor about AFSCMEs involvement and our right to join the union of our choosing, who responded aggressively. When we were given a talking-to by our Executive Director the following week indicating that word had made it back to her and people were talking about us, we knew we were doing the right thing.

Recently, an article was written by Maggie Duffy, a journalist for the New York Focus. This article lays out our fight very well and has generated some chatter among stakeholders. It is probably the first time our union effort was covered in a positive (and accurate) light.

We have also organized a petition on Change.org, which we are pushing to get picked up by influential local politicians, activists, members of the labor movement, and anyone else who supports a worker’s right to representation.

As one of the most powerful civilian run oversight agencies in the country, our survival is critical and can serve as a roadmap for greater accountability of law enforcement across the country. As the first to attempt to form our own union, we are proving that widespread unionization can protect the work and success of oversight agencies across the country.

The post The Rochester Police Accountability Board’s Union Drive so Far: A Masterclass in Union Busting first appeared on Rochester Red Star.