GMDSA Electoral Committee Chair Adam Franz delivered the following speech at our chapter’s summer barbecue on July 22.

It’s great to see so many people here today, and I thank you all for coming to support our chapter’s delegation to Chicago for the national convention.

I am going into my fifth year as a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, and many of the people here have been in the organization longer than I have. In my time in this org, and in all of our lifetimes, “socialism” and the left have been mostly an experience of defeat. The rollback of the New Deal in favor of neoliberalism, the defeat of the labor movement, the rise of the new right, Bernie’s two defeats, and a second Trump administration. Often, socialists have looked to small wins, like mutual aid, or the lack of a defeat, as a victory.

Zohran’s win changes all of that. Since 2020, socialists have been told, and in many cases accepted, a narrative that our beliefs are unpopular, that a majority of the American people are not with us. When the New York assemblymember, a cadre DSA member, announced his campaign last fall, he was a joke. Polling at just 1%, his platform read to the mainstream media like an ultra-left Twitter bio. Free buses? Rent freeze? Publicly owned grocery stores? No, these were not the talking points they had decided the election would be about. A moral panic about crime, a debate between different forms of centrism—that was what the mayoral election would be about. Zohran’s message would not breach the borders of the already existing base of democratic socialism in New York.

New York City DSA did not, however, just play to its base. After Trump’s victory, Zohran took to the street, talking to voters in neighborhoods that swung hard against Harris in November. He found that voters were motivated by a sense that the country was not working for ordinary people, and that even the lives they had been living four years before were no longer affordable to them. Now, price caps on rent and free, universal public services don’t sound so radical. They sound like the kind of materialist demands that the socialist left has that connect with working class voters.

Zohran’s message took off, propelling him into second place against disgraced former governor Andrew Cuomo. And the more voters saw of Zohran, the more they liked him. The socialist assemblymember seemed like the first politician in a long time that genuinely cared about the struggles of the working class, and had solutions for them. Zohran did not just win the primary by 12 percent; he won neighborhoods nobody expected, and even in the neighborhoods where he lost, he far exceeded expectations, like in the more conservative Staten Island, where he landed only 9% below Cuomo. 

If Zohran wins in November, DSA will be in a position to be governing America’s biggest city. Like Bernie 40 years ago in Burlington, we have the opportunity to demonstrate that socialist government is good government. That public ownership is more efficient than private dictatorship. We can realize the slogan that Lenin beautifully gifted us a century ago: “Bolshevism equals soviet power plus electrification.” Socialists recognize that we must radically transform the state to empower ordinary people and deliver a better form of administration of government services that puts to bed the notion that socialism means ineffective government.

The easy thing to do, and you already see this in Democrats’ chosen media outlets like CNN and the New York Crimes, is to say, “This is a New York phenomenon, it can’t be repeated in cities and towns across America. Small-town America doesn’t have the media presence,  the right demographics, whatever, to allow such a victory in Anywhere, USA.” 

The truth is, New York is not an easy place to win elections for the left. It’s a city with a media ecosystem run by billionaires like Rupert Murdoch, where politics is driven by machines hostile to the left, and where the ultra-wealthy have seemingly unlimited resources to defeat insurgents like us. NYC-DSA won not because of these conditions, but in spite of them. It totally transformed the terrain on which the election was fought, because it had built up its own working-class institutions that could compete with the capitalist class on its terms, not those set by the 1%. The chapter has methodically built up its presence around the city. Zohran could capitalize on 50 thousand volunteers, knocking on doors in every borough and neighborhood to spread the message, leading to record-breaking turnout. 

The task for us is to bring the momentum to Vermont. Our chapter clearly is not as big as NYC-DSA, which has over 10,000 members. Yet we have the potential to be just as organized and mobilized. 

Working Vermonters are sick of the Democratic Party. Democrats have no answers for working people to address their concerns of an unaffordable state and out-of-control housing crisis. We do. The question is, will Vermont continue to slide back into the Republican camp, or will Vermont follow the “Zohmentum” and elect socialists in 2026?

Clearly, we have our work cut out for us. The Electoral Committee has set a goal to run four candidates for the legislature next year, in winnable seats where we can build a strong presence under the golden dome, and in hopes of building our presence statewide for future campaigns. We do this because we believe that our politics are popular and we can win. It is also because we believe that running for office is not an opportunity to rabble-rouse and talk down to the masses, but to govern as socialists. 

To do this, we need candidates. If you have ever thought to yourself, “I wish someone would do something about these problems,” that person is you! If you are interested in running for office, for the state house or selectboard or city council, come find me or another organizer today. There is a place for everybody to play.

If we are going to win, we need a chapter with a fighting capacity. We need to rely on an army of volunteers, like Zohran did. If you haven’t yet, join DSA today! While the capitalist class relies on their money, there are more of us than there are of them. Build the movement, build a fighting DSA, because I believe that we will win in 2026. 

And if you want to build on this major win, sign up to get involved with the Electoral Committee.  The next meeting is July 20 at 6.

Every month we meet to discuss books with powerful socialist and progressive messages. After each book we finish, we vote on our next book. To cast your vote or join our upcoming meeting, be sure to check the events calendar and connect with us on Slack. The candidates for our next book include: Upcoming Our [...]

Read More... from DSA Book Club

The post DSA Book Club appeared first on Democratic Socialists of America | San Diego Chapter.

Events & Actions

Tuesday, August 5 (8:00 AM – 4:30 PM) ICE out of SF courts! (In person at 100 Montgomery) 

Tuesday, August 5 (6:30 PM – 7:30 PM) SF Public Bank Reading Group (In person at 1916 McAllister) 

Wednesday, August 6 (6:30 PM – 9:00 PM) New Member Happy Hour (In person at Zeitgeist, 199 Valencia) 

Thursday, August 7 (7:00 PM – 8:00 PM) Immigrant Justice Working Group Meeting (Zoom)

Saturday, August 9 (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM) Battle of Algiers Screening (In person at Carr Auditorium, Building 3, 22nd St.)

Sunday, August 10 (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM) Physical Education and Self Defense Training (In person at William McKinley Monument, Panhandle) 

Monday, August 11 (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM) Tenderloin Healing Circle (In person at Kelly Cullen Community, 220 Golden Gate) 

Monday, August 11 (6:00 PM – 7:00 PM) Socialist In Office (SIO) Subcommittee Regular Meeting (Zoom)

Monday, August 11 (7:00 PM – 8:00 PM) Labor Board x SF EWOC Local Meeting (In person at 1916 McAllister)

Tuesday, August 12 (8:00 AM – 4:30 PM) Ecosocialist Bi-Weekly Meeting (Zoom)

Wednesday, August 13 (6:45 PM – 9:00 PM) August General Meeting (Zoom and in person at Kelly Cullen Community, 220 Golden Gate Ave)

Thursday, August 14 (5:30 PM – 6:30 PM) Education Board Open Meeting (Zoom)

Thursday, August 14 (7:00 PM – 8:00 PM) Immigrant Justice Office Hour (Zoom)

Friday, August 15 (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM) Maker Friday: SF Zine Fest Prep (In person at 1916 McAllister)

Saturday, August 16 (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM): Homelessness Working Group Food Service (In person at Castro & Market)

Check out https://dsasf.org/events for more events and updates. Events with a are especially new-member-friendly!

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 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30  p.m. at Immigration Court at 100 Montgomery. We need all hands on deck, even if you can only participate for 1 or 2 hours.

Public Bank Discussion Group

What is a Public Bank? How can it help solve climate and housing problems? How can we make it happen in SF? Join us from 6:30 PM-7:30 PM TODAY, Tuesday, August 5 at 1916 McAllister. We will be discussing the short article “How Public Banks Can Help Finance a Green and Just Energy Transformation” by Thomas Marois. We recommend the reading, but it’s totally fine to attend if you didn’t get to it! We will then be discussing current public bank efforts in San Francisco, as well as the best way for DSA to get involved. RSVP to let us know you’ll attend below!

Screening of The Battle of Algiers

Join us at the Carr Auditorium in Potrero Hill at 6:00 PM on Saturday, August 9th for a free screening of The Battle of Algiers, the landmark 1966 film that dramatizes the Algerian resistance against French colonial rule in the 1950s and early 1960s. Shot in a neorealist style and banned in France for years, the film remains one of the most influential political films of the 20th century, studied by organizations like the IRA, PLO, and the Black Panthers for their own liberation struggles.

This free screening will take place at the Carr Auditorium in Potrero Hill and is open to all.

Following the film, we’ll host a discussion exploring its parallels between the Algerian liberation struggle and the current plight of Palestinians under occupation. We invite you to stay, share your thoughts, and engage with others in critical dialogue.

Maker Friday: Zine Edition

DSA SF will be tabling at SF Zine Fest at the end of the month! Help us fold and update zines, or bring your own craft and come hang out. Everyone is welcome!

DSA SF Homelessness Working Group Reads: Capitalism & Disability: Selected Writings by Marta Russell

Join DSA SF’s Homelessness Working Group as we read through Capitalism & Disability: Selected Writings by Marta Russell. We’ll be meeting at 1916 McAllister starting September 7th at 5:30pm and running every other week for 4 or 5 sessions. For more info, register here: bit.ly/martacd

Support the Blue Bottle Independent Union

Nestlé is one of the biggest corporations in the world charged with decades of human rights violations in the global south. They’re now in our backyard intimidating baristas with surveillance, firing, and bad-faith bargaining. Recently, baristas in four Bay Area locations of Nestlé-owned Blue Bottle presented management with a super majority of union cards and demanded voluntary recognition. Instead, Blue Bottle fired one of the organizers, B.B. Young. This comes at an especially bad time for B.B. since their husband was also recently laid off.

Blue Bottle workers are asking for our support

• Donate at this GoFundMe page 
• Sign the petition to demand that the company voluntarily recognize the Blue Bottle Independent Union
• Join the Blue Bottle Independent Union email list  or follow on Instagram to stay in touch
• If you are an employee of Blue Bottle, fill out this intake form to get involved with organizing the union at your own store

Behind the Scenes

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

By: Rob Switzer

A few months back, one of the openly Left-wing fitness influencers I follow (of which there are few — more on that later) posted a workout video with a caption reading, “Don’t let the fascists be stronger than you.”

This got me thinking. Fitness has been a huge part of my life for the last five years or so, and the personal benefits it has provided me are legion. At 40 years old, I’m in the best shape of my life. I’m far stronger than I’ve ever been. Work is easier on my body and just easier to do. I walk through the world with more confidence. It has helped me pull myself out of substance abuse issues. I’ve acquired discipline, which has spilled over into my other pursuits, such as my quest to become fluent in Spanish. (I practice about an hour every day.)

There are many ways to approach fitness; all of them are good. You can get into running or other cardio exercises. Yoga is fantastic. But my personal niche is resistance training: lifting weights and doing calisthenics. I do it four days a week with the specific intent of growing muscle. Basically, I train like a bodybuilder (just without steroids).

Again, different approaches all have benefits, but I’m a huge proponent of just getting “jacked,” or at least incorporating a healthy amount of resistance training. And I think this approach in particular can have numerous benefits for activism, believe it or not. So let’s go through some of them!

Don’t let the fascists be stronger than you

There’s a scene from the film “Karate Kid” that I think about often. In case you somehow haven’t seen the 80’s classic, it’s about a high school boy named Daniel who gets bullied and discovers karate as a way to develop his confidence.

In the scene I’m talking about, Mr. Miyagi — Daniel’s sensei — is talking to Daniel on a boat about the purpose of karate. Daniel says, “Karate is fighting; you train to fight.” Mr. Miyagi turns to Daniel with a concerned face and responds, “Is that what you think?” Daniel pauses his practice to ponder for a few moments, and says, “No.” Mr. Miyagi follows up: “Then why train?” Daniel responds, “So I won’t have to fight!”. Mr. Miyagi laughs with joy, saying, “Miyagi have hope for you.”

But for karate to serve that purpose, you have to make people aware of your training. With bodybuilding, you don’t have to. People just see it.

Like Daniel, I was bullied as a kid. Also like Daniel, I found confidence in training: I joined the high school wrestling team, and noticed that people picked on me less once that became a known fact. However, I remained a relatively skinny and weak kid, even though my endurance was top-tier and I knew how to grapple.

As an adult, bullying still occurs, of course, but in different and typically more dangerous contexts. A number of years ago I was assaulted at a bar; I was put in a chokehold from behind and we fell to the ground. I managed to pry the attacker’s arms off of me before I lost consciousness, and he fled as I collected myself. I was OK. But next time someone even thinks about doing something like that, I’d prefer that they see my athletic build and think twice.

I also just move through the world with less fear than I did five years ago. I feel more robust and less vulnerable. If I were, say, at a protest in Clark Park and got advanced upon by a group of Highwaymen (which happened to some of our comrades earlier this year), I wouldn’t be afraid to stand up to them. Not because I necessarily think I could beat them up, but because I know I’m formidable.

And you don’t need to be a 185-pound man like me to feel this confidence boost. The truth is, if you’ve never dedicated yourself to training before, you can become two or three times as strong as you are now. With dedication, that’s actually a realistic goal. And it will make you feel like a new person. Furthermore, transforming your body will make you feel empowered to change other things in your life, ultimately including your community and even society.

Re-claiming and celebrating masculinity in a positive way

There has been much talk about the Left needing its own Joe Rogan, and many say that popular YouTuber Hasan Piker is the closest thing we have. That may or may not be true, but I can say that I am inspired and encouraged by the fact that Piker is avidly into fitness, a sphere largely dominated by the Right. I don’t think I’m alone. We need more role models like this to appeal to more young men, and to encourage those uncomfortable with gym culture to embark on the same journey as me.

I’d never claim that fitness or even bodybuilding is inherently only for men or masculine people; I believe women and other people who identify with femininity can also benefit from it without undermining those traits. But there is an undeniable link between muscularity and masculinity, at least in our society.

And as the media love to tell us, a lot of young men have been drifting to the “Rogansphere,” feeling as if the Left is too “woke” and essentially ignores them. Whether wrong or right, they feel that their masculine essence isn’t favored by our side. I think we should do our part to change this.

As empathetic as I try to be, I am a cisgender man, and I only really know the world through that lens. And one of the undeniable benefits for bodybuilding for me, personally, has been affirming my own masculinity. The more muscular I become, the more I feel like my body reflects the way I feel inside.

And there is nothing wrong with that; masculinity is not inherently toxic. When transgender men, for example, seek to enhance their masculine features, they’re not aiming at becoming aggressive jerks. Rather, I believe they’re aiming to align their aesthetics and their energy to match a style and sensibility that they feel in their soul.

Although we should celebrate body diversity and avoid body-shaming, we should also celebrate genuine efforts by people to embrace their authentic selves. And we should work to re-claim masculinity-laden spaces like the gym, and ultimately masculinity itself.

Longevity/brain health

Last but certainly not least, muscle-building is one of the best things you can do for your longevity, and we as socialists have a long fight ahead of us! To learn all about how muscularity can improve longevity, I would recommend reading the book “Forever Strong,” by Dr. Gabrielle Lyon. In the book, she argues that despite growing evidence, doctors too often ignore the effect a person’s level of muscle tissue can have on their overall health as they age.

The book covers studies that show muscle mass directly affects many health factors, including (but not limited to) your energy level, your immune system, your circulatory system, and the health and function of your joints and connective tissue. And muscle mass helps regulate and burn adipose tissue (fat) in your body and therefore helps fight obesity-related diseases. It even affects your brain health: there have been studies showing a strong link between overall fitness and a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s and dementia.

So the question is: When you’re 90 years old, do you still want to be able to march with your comrades? Do you want to be able to duck an incoming tear gas canister? Do you want to ensure that you’ll still be able to read and debate the meaning of Das Kapital? If so, it’s time to hit the gym. Let’s go. Join the Swoletariat.

Rob Switzer is Co-Editor of “The Detroit Socialist,” DSA member and a butcher and shop steward with the United Food and Commercial Workers.

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Why Socialists Should Get in Shape was originally published in The Detroit Socialist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Workers with higher pay and better benefits, like tech workers, can still benefit from union representation.

The post I’m happy with my pay and benefits. Do I really need a union? appeared first on EWOC.

Viewpoint: Michigan for the Many Campaign — The Path to a Mass Party

By: Francesca S.

The following article represents the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of The Detroit Socialist or Metro Detroit DSA as a whole.

The Michigan for the Many campaign is an exciting opportunity for DSA to fight for our values and build our movement statewide. The proposal is that DSA will join a statewide coalition of activist groups to support two ballot measures. The first is Invest in MI Kids, which would impose a 5% tax on the top 1% earners in Michigan. In other words, taxing the rich. This would provide Michigan schools with urgently needed funds to cover budget deficits resulting from federal cuts to education.

The second ballot measure, Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, would ban government contractors, utility companies, and corporations from donating to political campaigns. If this measure passes it would be a seismic change in the landscape of Michigan politics, shifting power away from corporate interests and making it easier for citizens to make their voices heard.

Our current systems make it easy for capitalists to stymie any reforms that activists gain through grassroots action. A good example of this is the gutting of the minimum wage and paid sick time bills passed by the Democratic supermajority during the lame duck session last year. Activists are now working to pass those measures as a ballot initiative, because we can’t have real democracy in this state when we have corporations controlling our legislature. If we want to be able to make legislative decisions as socialists, we need to make the landscape more friendly to grassroots organizing and this ballot measure will accomplish that.

I understand the hesitation to join a coalition, because it means that we will have to negotiate with other groups on strategy. But for a push this big, a coalition is really the only way to win. Other nonprofits also have access to resources that DSA as a volunteer organization just doesn’t, including lawyers with years of experience in Michigan law who can work full time drafting legislative language. Socialism is about collective organizing, and insisting that DSA take on the enormously complex task of writing bills by ourselves runs counter to our values.

We should have enough confidence in DSA’s ability to lead that joining a coalition is not a negative, but an opportunity to move other activist groups more in line with our politics. Every group involved in Michigan for the Many is doing work to tax the rich and make our government answer to citizens and not moneyed interests, so they already agree with us on core socialist beliefs. I started my activist work in liberal groups and became radicalized through exposure to socialist beliefs in coalitions like Michigan for the Many, I became a DSA member. And I am not the only DSA member with this story. If we want to be a party for the working class, and if we want to grow our ranks, we can’t just stick to organizing our own narrow cadre of people. We have to engage with the broader movement, and this ballot measure is a perfect opportunity to do that.

The capitalist class has much deeper pockets than we do, and they will spend millions of dollars to oppose these measures and preserve the status quo that allows them to keep buying seats in Michigan’s legislature. We saw this happen with Proposal P, a measure to rewrite Detroit’s city charter to include working class priorities like affordable housing and police reform, in 2021. DSA supported and campaigned for this measure. Corporate entities like Blue Cross and DTE spent thousands on opposition messaging in the city, and the measure was defeated. The capitalists were able to control the messaging because grassroots activists weren’t able to build up enough of a support base to counteract that.

The strength of the working class is in our numbers, and to leverage that we are going to need a mass movement. DSA should lead that movement, and in order to lead that movement we first have to join it. I would encourage you to vote yes on the proposal to join the Michigan for the Many campaign. Together we can change the political landscape in Michigan and win material gains for the working class.

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Viewpoint: Michigan for the Many Campaign — The Path to a Mass Party was originally published in The Detroit Socialist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Next week, five members of the Green Mountain Democratic Socialists of America will set out for Chicago, where they'll represent our chapter at the DSA National Convention, the biennial event that determines our organization's nationwide priorities and leadership.

We elected them as our delegates, and now we need to make sure that they can get there and back and still be able to pay rent next month. Here's one last call for our fundraiser – if you're a member of our chapter and haven't already contributed, please consider it. If you're not a member, we recommend joining DSA.

Here at home, we've started planning for Labor Day, joining a coalition that has begun organizing a rally and march for workers in Burlington. You may want to mark your calendar now for 1 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 1 – we'll follow up before then to confirm the details.

Lastly, before we get to our usual list of meetings – have you heard that the nation's most successful third party needs a new executive director? You can learn more about the position on the Vermont Progressive Party's website. To apply, "send a cover letter, resume and 3 references to: Anthony Pollina, Chair, Vermont Progressive Party at apollinavt@gmail.com."

We hope you've enjoyed the summer so far. See you out there!

GMDSA MEETINGS AND EVENTS
🚲 GMDSA's Urbanism Committee will meet on Monday, August 4, at 6 p.m. on Zoom.

🔨 Our Labor Committee will hold its next meeting on Monday, August 11, at 6 p.m. on Zoom.

🧑‍🏭 Talk about your job and learn about shop-floor organizing from peers at Workers' Circle (co-hosted by the Green Mountain IWW) on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, including August 13, at 6 p.m. at Migrant Justice (179 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington).

⬅️ GMDSA's West Branch will meet on Saturday, August 16, at 11 a.m. at Burlington's Fletcher Free Library (235 College St.), with an optional orientation for newcomers at 10 a.m.

➡️ GMDSA's East Branch will meet on Saturday, August 16, at 11 a.m. at Montpelier's Christ Episcopal Church (64 State St.), with an optional orientation for newcomers at 10 a.m.

🗳️ The next meeting of our Electoral Committee will take place on Wednesday, August 20, at 6 p.m. on Zoom.

🎥 Socialist Film Club will organize a screening in Burlington on Friday, August 22. Keep an eye on our calendar for a time and location.

👋 Find out how you can help our Membership Committee improve recruitment and involvement in our chapter on Tuesday, August 26, at 6 p.m. on Zoom.

🤝 GMDSA's East Branch and West Branch will come together for a general meeting on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 11 a.m. at Montpelier's Christ Episcopal Church (64 State St.), with an optional orientation for newcomers at 10 a.m.

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS
📰 Unsheltered homelessness is on the rise in Vermont.

📰 Vermont's largest community mental health center announced that it would eliminate 57 jobs and cut services.

COMMUNITY FLYERS

Monthly Newsletter of the Rochester Chapter of Democratic Socialists of America

Welcome to the August issue of Red Star. You’ll find Upcoming Events, coverage of chapter activities, and articles on AI, Trump’s decorum, food sovereignty, and more. Want to contribute? Submit to bit.ly/SubmitRedStar, or reach out to get involved with our Communications Committee by emailing steering@rocdsa.org.

The post Rochester Red Star | August 2025 | (Issue 16) first appeared on Rochester Red Star.

Viewpoint: Michigan for the Many — Organizing for the Future

By: Aaron B.

The following article represents the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of The Detroit Socialist or Metro Detroit DSA as a whole.

Sewer socialism is perhaps one of the strangest sounding forms of socialism. Is it socialism that comes from the sewers? Sewer socialism originates from Wisconsin, where the Socialist Party of America frequently would brag about the excellent sewer systems they were responsible for building. These socialists advocated for other material changes that improved the lives of the working class — old age pensions, unemployment insurance, social housing, improved working conditions and pay for teachers, penny lunches, and medical exams for children. Sewer Socialists understood the necessity to bring material changes to the working class here and now. As a result of their actions, in 1910 the Socialist Party was able to win the majority of the seats on the Milwaukee City Council, elect the first Socialist Mayor in United States history and the first socialist congressman, and even make a bid for vice president.

The sewer socialists had a distinct understanding of what moved people. It wasn’t necessarily fiery rhetoric, though in the recent primary election of Zohran Mamdani, that certainly didn’t hurt. Like the Sewer Socialists of years past, the Mamdani campaign had that same understanding that brought some of the biggest electoral victories to the socialist movement — fighting for groundbreaking and achievable objectives that deliver real change to the working class. Mamdani campaigned successfully on some of the most urgent needs of New Yorkers, while identifying the real enemy of the working class — the ultra-wealthy who obtained their riches from exploiting said workers.

Zohran understood that it takes bold swings to inspire people, but also had to walk the line of speaking about central issues in people’s lives like high rents and the need for affordable transit. In doing so, Zohran electrified not just New York City but the entire country. Zohran has earned the admiration of people across the United States, as well as the ire and fear of the ruling class. In a stunning victory over Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani doubled the turnout of voters under 35 who had largely been disengaged from politics. Mamdani blazed a path forward for the rest of us just like his Milwaukee predecessors, exceeding them on that front, and showed the rest of us how to contest power within the state.

The task falls to us to take these lessons to heart and bring that same model here to Michigan. Like New York City, Michigan has a large young populace that is largely disengaged with politics. We have a real opportunity to awaken people in Michigan just like Mamdani did for New York. Right now there is a coalition building in Detroit called Michigan For the Many which supports two key ballot measures

1. Invest in MI Kids — Taxing the wealthy in order to fund Michigan schools — something that the state has largely deprioritized and left under-resourced
2. Michiganders for Money Out of Politics — A campaign to ban regulated utilities and government contractors from spending money to influence our politics.

Our school system has traditionally struggled compared to other states, has low teacher salaries, and is underfunded overall compared to the national average. While it’s tempting to look at this as a mere reform being pushed by a ballot initiative, this is a much bigger opportunity when we think about working with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and Michigan Education Association (MEA). Agitating teachers statewide in a big swing against the billionaire class is a situation we would be incredibly remiss to pass up on. It gives us the opportunity to engage teachers with our politics and gain a further foothold within these unions, most importantly, among the rank and file.

It is the second ballot initiative that catches my eye more. This second initiative targets groups such as DTE, Consumers Energy, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. The socialist understanding is that money should never influence politics — that applies doubly to those who are monopolies propped up by the state. DTE and Blue Cross Blue Shield are corporations that have burned whatever small amount of goodwill they have built, and it would be in DSA’s interest to further agitate people against them.

DTE and Blue Cross Blue Shield are the poster children of neoliberalism — public functions that ought to be handled by the public instead of privatized for shareholder gain. The dream of public power will be that much harder if we are forced to outraise and outspend DTE in politics. The dream of a single payer healthcare system is frustrated by actors like Blue Cross Blue Shield when they are allowed to use their vast resources to drown us out over the airwaves. Our victories today are only as good as the battlefields they open tomorrow — every campaign that DSA engages in should set us up for future victories. I believe that Michigan for the Many does so.

Mamdani’s campaign wasn’t built overnight — it was through the bench building and struggles of NYC DSA that all culminated in his campaign. At our Detroit convention, the electoral resolution passed with a call for establishing regional organizing just like we have in South Oakland (Ferndale, Royal Oak). Metro Detroit has some distinct differences from New York City that present unique challenges that NYC does not face, namely the large area and divided nature of Detroit. As such, as we are trying to replicate NYC DSA’s success in the electoral program, we also need to ask what actions we need that are different. Michigan for the Many gives people across the entire Metro Detroit area the ability to organize within their own communities, strengthening our goal of regional organizing.

I encourage the chapter not to view this campaign from the lens of the NGOs we may have to work with; that’s largely immaterial in my eyes. We should view this campaign with how it builds us, our chapter, and our movement. I dream of running candidates throughout the entire metro Detroit area, not just small pockets. Building out multiple bases of organizing is a step in that direction. In all cases, DSA decides its own path — we are not limited to the messaging that these NGOs are pushing through. DSA can provide its own lit, its own messaging — we can run our contribution to this campaign however we want.

This campaign has the potential to engage the entire chapter in a way we haven’t seen before. It is more than just a series of ballot measures; it’s an opportunity to invest in ourselves and prepare for the battles to come. If we commit to this work, if we organize with patience and purpose, then we can build a Michigan that reflects our values.

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Viewpoint: Michigan for the Many — Organizing for the Future was originally published in The Detroit Socialist on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Forty days on strike led to major wins for Urban Ore workers, but the struggle for a first union contract lies ahead.

The post Lessons from Urban Ore’s 40-Day Strike appeared first on EWOC.