Upcoming Events

Wednesday, October 16 (5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): Phonebank for Extreme Dean(In person at 1630 Haight)

Thursday, October 17 (5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): Phonebank for Extreme Dean(In person at 1630 Haight)

Thursday, October 17 (6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.): Palestine Solidarity and Anti-Imperialist Working Group (Zoom and in person at 1916 McAllister)

Thursday, October 17 (7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.): Labor Movie Night: Underground (In person at 1916 McAllister)

Friday, October 18 (12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.): Office Hours (In person at 1916 McAllister)

Friday, October 18 (3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.): No Appetite for Apartheid Canvass (24th St. and Bryant St.)

Saturday, October 19 (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.): Extreme Dean Door Knock Mobilization (Meet in person at Raymond Kimbell Playground at 1901 Geary)

Sunday, October 20 (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.): Extreme Dean Door Knock Mobilization (Meet at Boeddeker Park & Clubhouse Meeting Room at 246 Eddy)

Monday, October 21 (7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): Labor Board Meeting (Zoom)

Tuesday, October 22 (6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.): What is DSA? (In person at 518 Valencia)

Wednesday, October 23 (6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.): Ecosocialist Monthly Meeting (Zoom and in person at 1916 McAllister)

Saturday, October 26 (11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.): GOTV Unity Rally – Turn Out for Prop L, Prop 5, Jackie, and Dean! (In person at Duboce Park)

Saturday, October 26 (1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.): Homelessness Working Group Outreach Training + Outreach (In person at 1916 McAllister)

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

Events & Actions

Come Door Knock and Get Out the Vote with the Jackie Team!

We have just THREE WEEKS LEFT until election day! Now is a great time to jump in and help get Jackie Fielder elected!

•  Join one of our Get Out the Vote phone bank sessions Monday through Thursday at Jackie’s campaign office at 3389 26th St. from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Help out at our weekday mobilization this Thursday! We’ll be meeting at the campaign office at 3389 26th St. and heading out from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to knock on doors!
• Meet up with us at Garfield Square at 3100 26th St. from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. this Saturday to canvass for Jackie! You can RSVP for the Saturday mobilization here.

Volunteer with the Dean Team and Stack Votes in D5!

There are a TON of opportunities to get out the good word about Dean Preston’s re-election campaign this week!

• Come by our office at 1630 Haight Street any day of the week from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to chat and work on the campaign!
• Mobilize with the Dean Team in the Tenderloin this Sunday at Boeddeker Park at Taylor and Eddy from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to do some door-knocking!

No Appetite for Apartheid in SF!

Inspired by long-standing Palestinian boycott tactics and the BDS call, the Palestine Solidarity Anti-Imperialist Working Group are canvassing local stores and asking them to pledge to become Apartheid-Free by dropping products from companies complicit in the genocide of Palestinians and colonization of Palestine. It’s time to turn up the heat on this apartheid regime and take apartheid off our plates!

Want to show your support? Sign our Apartheid-Free Pledge so business owners know how popular this movement is with their local customers. After signing the pledge, we would love to see you at any of our upcoming campaign strategy sessions and canvassing days. Check dsasf.org/events for updates.

Behind the Scenes

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

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

DSA San Diego’s endorsements require the approval of our membership body. Electoral candidates must seek our endorsement and complete our Endorsement Questionnaire.

We see endorsements as more than simply support, but a commitment by our members to organize for candidates and ballot measures that align strongly with our values as socialists, and ultimately to help them win. Our members are actively campaigning or coordinating as volunteers with these campaigns to ensure these pass!

Endorsed Ballot Measures

California

Proposition 5

• YES on Proposition 5

Proposition 33

• YES on Proposition 33

County of San Diego

Measure G

• YES on Measure G

Endorsed Candidates

County of San Diego

San Diego County Board of Education – District 4

• Erin Evans is our endorsed candidate

[…]

Read More...

After trying to quash small-donor financing in 2016, The Oregonian editorial board refuses to interview top recipients of small-donor funds

Readers likely received The Oregonian’s recent endorsements of employer-friendly, corporate-backed City Council candidates with little surprise.

After all, the newspaper’s editorial board has, over its 175-year existence, endorsed a KKK-backed gubernatorial winner, greenlit Chamber of Commerce-led mobs trying to (unsuccessfully) break the great 1934 Longshore strike, lauded federal incarceration of people of Japanese descent — and endorsed a Republican presidential candidate every election until 1992.

It’s more intriguing to see a gap open up between the Editorial Board’s hardline support for ruling-class priorities and reporting by the paper’s own news staff.

Oddly, the editorial bosses refused to even interview the top recipients of small-donor contributions in District 3 and 4 (Tiffany Koyama Lane and Mitch Green, both backed by Portland DSA).

Koyama Lane is also the top overall recipient of small-donor funds across the entire city — putting her ahead of all 78 city council/mayoral candidates participating in the small-donor program.

The Oregonian’s contempt for working-class political action isn’t new here, either. The Editorial Board opposed both the 2016 small-donor campaign finance resolution and the 2023 voter-led government charter reform measure. Respectively, these bills launched the small-donor financing program and overhauled Portland’s Jim Crow-era city government. The Oregonian also lobbied against passage of ranked-choice voting, which threatens to upend the corporate-backed status quo in City Hall.

In contrast, the newspaper’s journalists apparently see something different brewing in city politics. The paper’s October 9 edition featured a front-page article overviewing the 30+ candidates running in District 3.

Koyama Lane was above-the-fold:

“People are sick of finger pointing,” said Tiffany Koyama Lane, a third grade teacher and union organizer who currently leads the citywide field in money raised by a prospective city councilor. “They really want the government to get it together.”

Portland DSA’s backing was noted as well:

“Koyama Lane has been endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America — one of two Portland City Council candidates to get that nod. She said that while it was hard to participate with two elementary age kids at home, the 2023 teacher strike showed her the power of collective action.”

Similarly, an October 1 X.com (formerly Twitter) post by staff reporter Shane Dixon Kavanaugh heralded Portland DSA’s unprecedented canvassing operation on behalf of Koyama Lane and Green, at a time when most other candidates are struggling to get doors knocked:

It is no surprise to us that our candidates would uniquely attract regular people to back their campaigns. After all, both Tiffany and Mitch demonstrate a strong commitment to our vision of a city run by the working class, not bosses, landlords, and big corporations.

Portlanders are worked to the bone just to keep a roof over their heads, and that won’t change with tepid “reforms” drawn up in consultants’ board rooms. Tiffany and Mitch will bring the power of our movement to fight for what we all deserve: guaranteed quality housing, plentiful public services, and a beautiful, livable environment.

Reliable as they are, we can expect the Portland Business Alliance-affiliated Oregonian to advocate for its interests. But it’s clear working-class Portlanders, over-represented among the small-donor rolls, want something different.

Contribute $10 or more (split between Tiffany and Mitch) to have your money matched 9:1

Portland’s silence tarnishes its progressive reputation

As the Israeli violence in Gaza escalates to horrifying levels, the human death toll continues to mount. More than 50% of those killed in Gaza are children. Israel has dropped thousands of tons of American-supplied explosives, with nearly 18,000 bombs and missiles raining down on the densely populated region. International organizations condemn the excessive use of force, war crimes, the targeting of civilian infrastructure, and the violation of human rights.

Portland City Hall remains silent. Portland DSA, and our boycott divestment and sanctions working group, call on City Council candidates — and current incumbents — to back a ceasefire resolution & arms embargo within their first 100 days in office. This is not just a moral imperative but also a reflection of the values we claim to uphold: peace, justice, and the dignity of all human beings.

In March 2024, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese, said that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. In its July 2024 ruling, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued its advisory opinion that, “all States are under an obligation not to recognize as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence of the State of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by the continued presence of the State of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” (No. 2024/57, 19 July 2024).

Calls to end this genocide are ringing out across civil society, including from universities, labor unions, and cities such as Chicago, Detroit, Seattle, Madison and San Francisco. Many of these statements recognize the interconnectedness of global justice movements. The labor movement, for example, has pointed out the parallels between the exploitation of workers in places like the Congo — where resources are extracted through violence — and the oppression faced by Palestinians. These struggles against imperialism, capitalism, and oppression are deeply intertwined.

Ceasefire resolutions were passed by Multnomah County, the city of Eugene, the Oregon Food Bank, and the Klamath Tribe. Salem, embedded in a more conservative context than Portland, passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, calling for accountability for all parties, and condemning attacks on civilians. Cities calling for a ceasefire are a part of a meaningful, longstanding tradition of grassroots activism that sends strong signals to the Federal Government. As we head into the next election cycle, it is imperative that we demand concrete action from those seeking our votes. Candidates running for office — whether at the local, state, or federal level — must take a stand.

But how is it that there hasn’t been a resolution passed calling for a ceasefire in our city? Portland, known for its progressive stances on many fronts including trans- and LGBTQ+ rights, has yet to make a robust demand for a ceasefire and arms embargo.

As Israel’s aggression escalates, we’re seeing alarming developments in Lebanon as well, where Israeli forces have begun their bombardment of civilian areas. This broader regional escalation threatens to engulf the entire Middle East in further violence, with civilians bearing the brunt of the destruction. These attacks are not isolated but part of a broader strategy of expansion and domination, which the international community must urgently address.

Our organization, DSA, stands firmly in solidarity with the people of Gaza and Lebanon, against Zionism, and with all oppressed peoples across the world. The time for silence has long passed. Now is the moment to demand an end to the killing, an end to the bombing, and a real, lasting peace that addresses the root causes of the conflict. It’s time to call for an uncompromising ceasefire and Israeli arms embargo — our complicity must end.

It has been an honor to have been able to serve this past year on the 2023-2024 Steering Committee of our chapter. It was a successful convention season, with a new chapter priorities process bearing a renewed focus for our chapter and elected leadership containing both incumbents and a slate of new chapter leadership. Furthermore, […]

Deb K R Hi, comrades. For those of you who don’t know me, I am Debra Keefer Ramage or Debs (she/her pronouns.) I was one of the first co-chairs elected in 2016 under our then-new constitution and bylaws (which I also had a major hand in writing, so please forgive me if some of them […]

by Gregory Lebens-Higgins

There could be a variety of reasons you don’t consider yourself “a writer.” The thought of writing might cause uncomfortable flashbacks to grade school essay exams and writing assignments. Maybe you fear nobody wants to read what you have to say, or that you have nothing new to contribute to the conversation. Perhaps you just don’t know where to start after picking up the pen.

It’s okay to feel this way. Even the most capable writers encounter difficulties. “It is more pleasant and useful to go through the ‘experience of revolution’ than to write about it,” Lenin wrote in the postscript to The State and Revolution. Indeed, there are methods of socialist organizing and agitation that might rightfully take precedence over longform writing. But compelling reasons remain to encourage strong writing as a foundation for the socialist movement.

To push back on the propaganda of capitalism, we must be able to skillfully articulate our arguments and critiques. This requires, first, developing our own thoughts. Writing forces us to lay out and defend our arguments with reasoning and evidence. It also compels reflection and aids in drawing lessons from our experiences. 

As socialists, we believe that the working class—regular people—have the ability to govern the world for the benefit of all. To govern, the working class must comprehend its historical role. To quote the masthead of the Marxist Unity Group’s monthly bulletin, “If every cook can govern, then every cook must write.” Even if we do not intend on publication, we should write to understand.

Accessible socialist writing contributes to the overall rise in class consciousness, and can provide new tools for analyzing the world. Each member of the working class holds a unique experience, and each perspective helps us to better understand the nefarious mechanisms of capitalism. “All men are intellectuals,” claimed Gramsci. Each “carries on some form of intellectual activity, . . . participates in a particular conception of the world, has a conscious line of moral conduct, and therefore contributes to sustain a conception of the world or to modify it, that is, to bring into being new modes of thought.”

To awaken political consciousness, we must approach our subject radically and “grasp the root of the matter.” By applying a socialist lens, we can explore the mechanics at work in our present moment and expose conditions for change. This means, first, a materialist analysis of cause and effect, and an understanding that ideology is reinforced by its material basis. Second, by thinking dialectically we can see how subjects both reinforce and reshape one another. Rather than living at an “end of history” punctuated by a series of meaningless events, the constant of change allows us to conceptualize the flow of time and history. Finally, we must present our theories as praxis, writing to “change the world,” rather than merely interpret it. Theory should provide a basis for action.

The difficulty with socialist writing comes with presenting ideas in a form the working class can grasp. “Accessib[ility] to the working class,” said Marx, is “a consideration which to me outweighs everything else.” Fortunately, good socialist writing does not have to be high-minded; it must merely incorporate our understanding of the world. According to Marxist writer Vijay Prashad, who teaches workshops on the subject, “Good socialist nonfiction writing does not assume that it emerges from the genius of the writer or an inspiration—but it comes from being absorbed by the common sense around us, and by being honest about elaborating it into philosophy of good sense.” We all live under capitalism, and good socialist writing makes intuitive the causes and effects we see and feel every day.

We now proceed to the mechanics of writing. First, you must select a topic. Think about why you are writing and what you want to accomplish. Do you want to tell a story? Make an argument? Explain a topic? Compare two topics? Or interpret a piece of art or literature? 

Much self-defeating worry occurs over offering a novel perspective. To develop an original essay, try looking at a new development, thinking about the unique overlap between two subjects, or focusing on a niche aspect within a topic. At the end of the day, it is okay to retread old ground in your words to a new audience—so long as you do not plagiarize the original insights of others as your own. Through writing, you will build a theoretical foundation to later reach for higher insights.

After picking a topic, you should brainstorm. What do you already know? This could take the form of bullet points, or maybe you just want to begin writing! Either way, it’s then important to draft an outline, taking a step back and organizing the information into a logical presentation. Paragraphs should build on one another, similar themes be grouped together, and arguments proceed logically. 

There are some standard formats worth considering. An argumentative essay presents the argument, then proceeds with evidence and reasoning. An expository essay explains a topic, by presenting the topic then adding organized details. A comparative essay presents one topic, then the other, before discussing how they relate. A critical essay might provide a summary, before presenting key themes and areas of agreement or difference with an author. Finally, a narrative essay can be creative, but should strive to tell a story in a compelling manner! Regardless of these standard formats, adapt the outline to most effectively convey your topic.

After preparing an outline, research your topic to fill gaps and back up assertions. We won’t go into the minutiae of research here; but it is important to emphasize the use of reliable sources and the need for citation. Add these findings to your outline where they are needed; though remember that your piece should not be merely a patchwork of quotations and reference, but should form its own tapestry.

Finally, you are ready to begin drafting. Just write! While composing a first draft, it is important not to get hung up on individual words or phrasing. You will address these concerns during the editing process. The initial draft should be about getting your ideas on the paper. One approach is to write like you talk—How would you explain your topic to a friend?

Feeling stuck? Return to your outline and focus on responding to one section at a time. Drafting does not necessarily occur in sequential order. Consider drafting the introduction last; using it to draw the reader’s attention, present key themes, or lay out a roadmap for the following paragraphs. A conclusion should summarize themes or inspire a reader toward further action.

Once you have an initial draft, it can help to give the piece some space; reading with fresh eyes before engaging in the editing process. Reading the piece in a different context—reading aloud, for example, or printing a copy and editing by hand—is another useful review technique. Editing should consider grammar, flow, and comprehension. It can be useful to address each of these with separate passes, rather than focusing on multiple aspects during the same read-through. 

Comprehension ensures the piece is understandable. Difficult words and key concepts should be explained by providing definitions and examples. Flow ensures the piece is interesting. It is worth trying different paragraph orders or sentence arrangements for a more effective option. To help one paragraph or idea lead into the next, consider transition sentences. Similarly, signposts such as “first,” “then,” or “finally,” direct the reader’s attention.

Proper grammar ensures the piece is legible, without distracting spelling errors or poor word usage. Use a spellchecker! Also, there is no shame in using a thesaurus to find the appropriate word, and writing will be more interesting if you avoid repetition (though repetition can be usefully employed for emphasis). But overuse of a thesaurus can be confusing, and will become evident to the reader if you’re using anomalous adjectives.

Asking a friend is a vital step in the editing process. Using the “comments” or “suggestion mode” features in your word processor are a great way to collaborate. Along with correcting grammar, your reviewer should note areas of confusion and lingering questions. Respond to these for the benefit of other readers! 

If you’re interested in publishing the piece, you should gather an idea of what to expect from the process. First, check the publisher’s submission guidelines. Some publications prefer a pitch over a completed piece. There could also be word limits or a style guide. Looking at other articles in the publication provides a sense of expected tone and style, which will help get your piece accepted. Don’t be surprised or offended if your piece requires heavy editing prior to publication—see it as a learning experience!

Since you’re reading this in Red Star—here’s an invitation to submit by using this form: bit.ly/SubmitRedStar. Our publication seeks to carve out a left media sphere that will form the intellectual basis for a vibrant socialist politics in our region. We’re interested in including your voice to forward this mission! Together, our writing will keep the spirit of socialism alive, and show the way toward making the world a better place.

The post Writing the Wrongs: Documenting Life Under Capitalism and Agitating for Change first appeared on Rochester Red Star.

Thorn West: Issue No. 217

State Politics

• AB X2 – 1, which requires oil companies to maintain higher reserves with the goal of preventing gasoline price spikes, was approved by the State Senate today in a special legislative session. All that remains now is for the Assembly to approve the Senate’s amendments. Governor Newsom promoted the legislation and called for the special session.

City Politics

• DSA-LA has released its voter guide for this November! Read and share!

• Across California, ballots are in the mail. Here is how to register to vote.

• A quarter of the way through the current fiscal year, the city has already spent the entire $100 million budgeted to settle liability claims against the city. The Controller’s office had previously broken down which city departments are most responsible, with the LAPD responsible for over half of the city’s liability.

• Following the latest round of settlement payouts, the city’s reserve fund is now below 4% of the total general fund, and is likely to dip further. Per the Controller’s office, dropping below 2.75% triggers an official “fiscal emergency.”

Police Violence and Community Resistance

• Amid a budget crisis, Charter Amendment FF would spend 23 million to give certain police officers and park rangers better pensions. The LA Times (and DSA-LA) endorses a no vote.

• Non-stop fear-mongering from media, politicians, and law enforcement about a non-existent crime wave appears to have made an impact on voters. Nathan Hochman, considered the most right-wing primary challenger of incumbent LA County District Attorney George Gascón, leads him in the general by high double digits, according to a recent poll. Similarly, Prop 36, which rolls back criminal justice reforms voters approved in 2014, also shows broad support in polls.

Labor

• 2,400 Kaiser Permanente behavioral health workers in Southern California, represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers, have announced that they will go on indefinite strike beginning on October 21 if their demands are not met. At issue are several concessions won by a similar strike of Kaiser workers in Northern California, in 2022.

Transportation

• AB 761, which further enables California municipalities to take advantage of federal loans to fund critical infrastructure projects, has officially passed. The new funding opportunity has been suggested as a way to expedite the planned extension of the Metro K Line from LAX to West Hollywood.
• This Sunday from 9am – 4pm, CicLAvia will hold one of its biggest car-free open streets events of the year, closing a route sprawling from Echo Park to East LA to all auto traffic.

Climate Justice

• The California Air Resource Board will soon consider whether to amend the Low Carbon Fuel Standard to require that gasoline manufactured in California produce less carbon-intense emissions. Meanwhile, the media has focused on the likelihood that this would likely raise the price of gas.

The post DSA-LA Voter Guide is Here + LA Over Budget On Liability Claims appeared first on The Thorn West.

North Carolina chapters of the DSA are currently organizing mutual aide relief to address the impact of Hurricane Helene. Here is one NC member's reflection.