DSA San Diego condemns the blatantly unlawful detention of Mahmoud Khalil by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Read our statement. [...]

Read More... from DSA San Diego’s Statement on the Illegal Detention of Mahmoud Khalil

The post DSA San Diego’s Statement on the Illegal Detention of Mahmoud Khalil appeared first on Democratic Socialists of America | San Diego Chapter.

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, March 18 (7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.): Abolish Rent Reading Group – Session 2 (In person at 1916 McAllister)

Wednesday, March 19 (6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.): What Is DSA? (In person at 1916 McAllister)

Wednesday, March 19 (6:45 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): Tenant Organizing Working Group (Zoom)

Thursday, March 20 (5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.): Palestine Solidarity and Anti-Imperialist Working Group (Zoom)

Thursday, March 20 (7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): Immigration Justice Priority Working Group (Zoom)

Friday, March 21 (7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.): Maker Friday (In person at 1916 McAllister)

Saturday, March 22 (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.): No Appetite for Apartheid Training and Outreach (522 Valencia)

Saturday, March 22 (6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): Homelessness Working Group Food Service (In person at Castro & Market Sts)

Monday, March 24 (6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): Tenderloin Healing Circle (In person at Kelly Cullen Community, 220 Golden Gate)

Monday, March 24 (6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.): Ecosocialist Bi-Weekly (Zoom)

Monday, March 24 (6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.): Electoral Board Meeting (Zoom)

Monday, March 24 (7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): Labor Board Meeting (Zoom)

Wednesday, March 26 (6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.): Intro to Socialism (Zoom)

Thursday, March 27 (5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.): Education Board Open Meeting (Zoom)

Saturday, March 29 (1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.): Palestine Solidarity and Anti-Imperialism Reading Group: Ten Myths About Israel (Zoom and in person at 1916 McAllister)

Sunday, March 30 (12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.): Spanish for Organizers (In person at 1916 McAllister)

Sunday, March 30 (1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.): Know Your Rights Canvassing (Meet at 1916 McAllister)

Monday, March 31 (6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): Homelessness Working Group Regular Meeting (Zoom and in person at 1916 McAllister)

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

Events & Actions

Maker Friday: Zine Edition

Join us for Maker Friday on March 21 at 1916 McAllister from 7:00 p.m. to 9 p.m.! We’ll be doing a free zine-making workshop with Tenant Organizing. Come make some art and connect with comrades. All levels are welcome, see you there!

No Appetite for Apartheid Training and Outreach

Come and canvass local businesses with the Palestine Solidarity and Anti-Imperialist Working Group! No Appetite for Apartheid is a campaign aimed at reducing economic support for Israeli apartheid by canvassing local businesses to boycott Israeli goods. On Saturday, March 22, we’ll be doing a training on how to talk to stores in the neighborhood, then going out and talking with stores together. Meet at 522 Valencia at 10:00 a.m. and we’ll debrief after canvassing at 2:00 p.m.

Homelessness Working Group Food Service

Join the DSA HWG for a food service on Saturday, March 22 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Castro and Market Streets. We’ll be serving food for our unhoused neighbors and the larger community. Sign up here to cook, serve, or otherwise help out! Questions? Email homelessness@dsasf.org.

Spanish for Organizers

Join the Immigrant Justice Working Group for Spanish for Organizers! Come learn and practice basic Spanish phrases for organizing. All skill levels welcome. We’re meeting on Sunday, March 30, at 12:00 p.m. at 1916 McAllister. See you there!

Can’t make it to Spanish for Organizers or are feeling extra inspired to encourage turnout? Come through for our Turnout Tuesday on March 25 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at 1916 McAllister. We’ll be making calls and sending texts to let folks know about the Spanish for Organizers training. RSVP here.

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.

Press release from UW-Madison YDSA

We are so pleased and proud to announce that three of our candidates have won in the ASM elections Wednesday night — Gabo Samoff for College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and Student Finance Services Committee, Bobby Gronert for College of Letters and Science and Student Finance Services Committee and Tristan Englemann for College of Engineering (five seats total).

These wins signal that students are dissatisfied with the university and Trump crackdowns on free speech on our campus, that students will not settle for university complicity in the ongoing genocide in Palestine or any other attacks on marginalized students, faculty or workers by the Trump administration — attacks on undocumented and foreign students, trans and reproductive healthcare, layoffs and cuts to university workers. We say socialism beats fascism.

We want to thank everyone who chose to support us in the elections and let you know we are here to fight for and with you. We will do everything in our power to resist repression and encroachments upon ALL students and faculty, fight for justice on our campus and everywhere and are excited to work with you very soon. Let this be a reminder that we are not powerless, and we still win in the darkest of times; a better world is possible. We are only getting started, let’s celebrate this win and keep up the fight!

The post Internationalism Working Group appeared first on Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America.

Mahmoud Khalil, Columbia University activist, was unjustly arrested by ICE on March 8th in what is a clear attack for his pro-Palestinian work on campus in the spring of 2024.

Mahmoud  was forcibly abducted from his New York apartment and now detained in Louisiana. ICE even threatened his wife with arrest, a US citizen who is 8 months pregnant. The Trump admin is attempting to revoke Mahmoud’s green card and deport him without criminal charges and without providing evidence.

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump applauded ICE for this arrest and promised more to come. In an earlier post, he claims they will freeze all federal funding for any school, colleges, or universities that allow so-called “illegal protest.” Coming from the guy that pardoned even the most violent of the January 6th Insurrectionists, we know this isn’t about legality but simply silencing speech he disagrees with.

First they came for Mahmoud Khalil and I’m gonna fucking say something!

Our comrades in NYC DSA have set up a few ways for you to take action now!

Call your members of Congress – using the provided script, demand action to secure Mahmoud’s release and protect the rights of activists.

Email your elected officials – urge them to take immediate action to stop the targeting of student activists and immigrants.

Let’s make one thing clear: we will not allow our communities to be silenced or terrorized. The fascists in the White House are hoping this will have a chilling effect on political speech and protest. And that’s why we need to be fired up!

The post Free Mahmoud Khalil – Protect Student Activists appeared first on Grand Rapids Democratic Socialists of America.

Hey Comrade,

The last few weeks, DSA Cincy has turned out at multiple protests alongside working class people in Cincinnati to oppose the Trump administration and its policies. In the past week alone, DSA Cincy members have shown out in solidarity to a protest by the organization 50501 on March 4th, an action by UC workers on March 7th, an event for International Working Women's Day on March 8th, and a protest to oppose white supremacy on March 9th. DSA has spoken and/or tabled at all these events, built strong relationships with organizers across our city, and have made sure to continue circulating our petition to protect immigrant and trans communities in Cincinnati. Needless to say, it's been a busy time for the chapter!

We're going to continue to be part of the fight for a better world. Democratic socialists are ready to fight for a socialist future, and for a movement that can defeat the forces of billionaires and fascists we've seen coalesce in this administration. We hope to see you join the fight with us at some of the opportunities we've got ahead of us. And, please sign our petition to show Cincinnati is ready to fight back as well!

Comrade, sign on to our petition

• Our regular general meeting is this Sunday, March 23rd 2 PM, at the Downtown Library, the address of which is 800 Vine Street. Join us in the 3 South Huenefeld Tower Suite! Childcare will also be provided. RSVP for the general meeting here!
• Are you a tenant nervous your landlord will find a reason to take away your security deposit? Our Community Support and Direct Action Working Group is holding an information session called Tips and Tricks to Get Your Deposit Back this Friday, March 14th 6:00 PM, at 4216 Montgomery Road in Norwood.
• DSA Cincy is hosting a movie night with Topia Coffee Cooperative! Join us for a showing of Judas and the Black Messiah this Saturday, March 15th at 6:00 PM, at Topia Coffee Cooperative! Space is limited to just 20 people, so make sure to RSVP above so your spot is reserved!
• Worried what to do if ICE raids your workplace? Join DSA Cincy's Labor Working Group for a training session on what to do in just such a scenario. Trainings will be hosted at multiple times to fit different work schedules, all at the Newport Library at 901 E 6th St. Time slots include:
  • Monday, March 17th at 10:00 AM
  • Thursday, March 20th at 6:30 PM
  • Saturday, March 22nd at 4:00 PM

The Antonio Gramsci Reader: Selected Writings 1916-1935

We need to free ourselves from the habit of seeing culture as encyclopedia knowledge, and men as mere receptacles to be stuffed full of empirical data and a mass of unconnected raw facts, which have to be filed in the brain as in the columns of a dictionary, enabling their owner to respond to the various stimuli from the outside world. This form of culture really is harmful, particularly for the proletariat. It serves only to create maladjusted people, people who believe they are superior to the rest of humanity because they have memorized a certain number of facts and dates and who rattle them off at every opportunity, so turning them almost into a barrier between themselves and others.

-Antonio Gramsci

The right to unionize is protected by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA, also known as the Wagner Act).

The post What is the NLRA? appeared first on EWOC.

Thorn West: Issue No. 227

City Politics

• The Charter Reform Commission, which is expected to consider municipal reforms including a potential increase to the size of city council, has not been able to begin meeting, because Mayor Bass has not yet appointed anyone to the four seats designated to the mayor to fill. This week, after the delay received media coverage, applications for the positions were posted to the public.

• Recent reports on the city budget from both the City Controller and Chief Administrative Officer have projected a larger than expected budget gap.

• Two weeks ago, Mayor Karen Bass fired LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley. Crowley appealed the decision to the City Council, but the termination was upheld by a vote of 13–2. An after-action report on the city’s preparedness for and reaction to the wildfires is still being drafted.

• As the mayor faces sustained criticism over her handling of the wildfires, a group of right wing opponents, including RFK Jr’s running-mate, Nicole Shanahan, has initiated a recall effort.

Labor

• It’s been one year since California law raised the minimum wage for fast food workers and created the Fast Food Council to oversee labor conditions in large chains. CalMatters summarizes year one of the council. Capital & Main has more, including a recent study indicating that so far, the wage increase has had a minimal effect on either the number of jobs, or the price of fast food.

• A package of protections for fast food workers, authored by Councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martinez and Katy Yaroslavksy, passed unanimously out of the city’s Economic Development committee.

• The Original Pantry Cafe has survived as an institution for over a century, but new owners, the heirs of former mayor Richard Riordan, are closing the restaurant for good after its workforce refused to negotiate its union contract.

• Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order requiring that most state employees work from the office at least four days a week – echoing a similar effort from the Trump administration. SEIU Local 1000, which represents 100,000 state workers, has filed an Unfair Practice Charge with the Public Employment Relations Board.

Housing Rights

• An audit has concluded that the city and county’s homelessness response programs are disorganized and lack adequate financial oversight. At both the city and county level, plans to restructure homelessness around newly created organizations have already been proposed..

• In Pacific Palisades, plans to use the opportunity of the rebuilding effort to increase affordable housing stock have met with pushback from local homeowners.

Local Media

• This week, Patrick Soon-Shiong, the Los Angeles Times’ billionaire owner, announced “Insight,” a new AI program that will chart the paper’s opinion columns on a left-right spectrum, while automatically generating the “opposing view.” Within a day of its launch, the program drew controversy by offering a defense of the KKK.

• Governor Newsom has launched a podcast. His first guest was hard right podcaster and political operative Charlie Kirk, to whom Newsom capitulated on a variety of issues. Newsom drew the most criticism for agreeing with Kirk that Democrats were too supportive of trans rights. Statement from Equality California here.

Environmental Justice

• The cities of Pasadena and Sierra Madre, along with LA County, are suing Southern California Edison, alleging that the utility company’s equipment is responsible for starting the Eaton fire.

The post Scathing Audit of Homelessness Spending Released + LA Times Owner Introduces AI to Editorial Page appeared first on The Thorn West.