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You are a soft animal in a world made for machines

by Abigail

You are a soft animal in a world made for machines.

It is okay that you leak sometimes.

It is okay that the patter of your heart doesn’t match the ticking metal clocks used to time what you produce.

It is okay that you cut yourself on the sharp edges of a world designed for creatures with precise movements and metal bodies. 

Well, it’s not okay. Actually. It’s terrible. A tragedy as large as the sky. A sprawling steel landscape of hard lines and too-bright lights and trapped gulag pits of deep agony where, if you stand at the edge right where the guardrail used to be, you can hear the distant screams of the people who have fallen into the gears of the machine.

All of this being clumsily navigated by billions of soft animals.

I’m sorry you have to be here. I’m so sorry you’re caught in this trap with me. My point is–

It is okay that you weep sometimes. 

It is the most natural thing in the world to hate the clock that times your heart. 

It is understandable to the point of inevitability that the numbers and the yelling, screaming faces flashing on the screens are bewildering and overwhelming. You were not made for numbers and constant screaming. You were made to watch clouds and eat fruit.

You do need to watch clouds and eat fruit. That is not a luxury–that is a need. Soft animals need that.

Find your clouds and your fruit where you can.

Forgive yourself for being unable to fix the machine alone. Let yourself dream, even if your dreams seem distant. 

Be patient with your soft body and its limits.

Keep breathing. That is your first and most important job.

Your second job is to be kind to the other soft animals, also trapped in the machine.

Though. Not all of them.

Because the machine isn’t an accident. The machine isn’t an inevitable fact of nature. This machine was built.

The terrible, frustrating, hideous, true thing is that the monsters that made the machine trap, with its ratcheting gears and gulags of toil, are also soft animals. Fearful, hateful, selfish, blind. But not alien. Not other. Just more soft animals.

Would it be easier if the mechanics were metal and monstrous? It would make for a simpler story. It would be easier to tell them apart.

Some of those who build and drive the machine are blind, thoughtless, panicked, desperate, also caught. Some of them are not.

Be suspicious of anyone who tells you to hate the soft animals around you.

Be suspicious of anyone who owns part of the machine.

There are well fed mice with their paws on the controls trying to convince you with flashing lights and numbers that the reason you don’t have fruit to eat and clouds to watch is because one of the people screaming in the metal gulag somehow stole them from you.

So yeah. Don’t be kind to those fucking mice.

Also I understand the temptation, but probably don’t try to blow up parts of the machine unless you really, really know what you are doing. There are people in the machine. We are in the machine.

a red rose

This is the sum of what I have. This is the sum of what I know.

Your third job, when you’re ready–

Help me find a way out.

The post You are a soft animal in a world made for machines first appeared on Rochester Red Star.

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Charlotte Metro DSA stands in solidarity with Charlotte Food Not Bombs in seeking restorative justice for Survivors

Charlotte Food Not Bombs (FNB), an organization we have collaborated and share cross membership with, recently released a statement platforming allegations of sexual violence. These allegations regard an individual involved in several activist spaces in our city.

Charlotte Metro DSA stands in solidarity with FNB in their pursuit of restorative justice for the survivor(s) as they come forth. Our organization has zero tolerance for sexual assault and harassment and will refuse to work with anyone credibly accused of such—or the organizations which uncritically harbor them. We recommend that everyone check out @clt_food_not_bombs on Instagram for details on the developing situation and how to support the survivor(s).

As a reminder, per DSA's Resolution 33, we have a grievance policy in place to seek justice for survivors and hold perpetrators accountable in our organization. If you would like to file a grievance or learn more about our process, please check out https://charlottedsa.org/grievance-policy.

As socialists, we recognize sexual violence as an outgrowth of patriarchy, itself one of the principal ways our capitalist society divides the working class and furthers our collective exploitation. The fight for socialism is inseparable from the fight for women's liberation. We have to look out for our comrades and allies by fostering welcoming and inclusive organizing spaces. This will require us to seriously reflect on how we can set an example of feminist community and organization as we fight for the overthrow of class society and its systemic perpetration of patriarchy.

In solidarity,

Charlotte Metro DSA Steering Committee

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Full Steam Ahead to Fund Social Housing in Seattle: Vote Yes on Prop 1A

Written by Collin R.

On the 11th of February 2025, the voters of Seattle will decide the fate of Proposition 1A: the people’s plan to dedicate funding to the Seattle Social Housing Developer (SSHD). Seattle DSA worked in coalition with House Our Neighbors on Initiative 135 to create the Seattle Social Housing Developer and Initiative 137 (I-137) to get Proposition 1A on the ballot, which is it is essential that we as socialists mobilize to ensure the success of this important step towards creating a more equitable city.

Proposition 1A will create a 5% excess payroll compensation tax on businesses paying an employee more than $1 million, which will raise ~$50 million per-year—enough to provide 2000 social housing units to a city over the next 10 years. TLDR: the wealthiest corporations of Seattle will contribute 5 cents of every dollar they pay an employee above $1 million to house thousands of their neighbors.

Politically, it is essential that we nullify the dirty tactics of the corporate backed members of the city council. After delaying the adoption of I-137 to appease their corporate backers to ensure it wouldn’t appear on the high-turnout November ballot, councilmembers Maritza Rivera, Cathy Moore, Sara Nelson, Joy Hollingsworth, Rob Saka, and Robert Kettle are attempting to hijack the people’s initiative with Proposition 1B: the Chamber of Commerce’s plan to strangle the SSHD in one hand and the city’s JumpStart funding in the other.

Proposition 1B would generate but one fifth of Proposition 1A’s funding and sunset after 5 years, meaning the SSHD will neither be able to provide nearly enough housing to even slightly close the housing deficit nor capitalize on experience with long-term plans. Most insidiously, Proposition 1B robs Peter to pay Paul: it plans to fund the SSHD by taking $10 million from JumpStart funding, an already existing payroll tax which funds private affordable housing, nutrition assistance, grants to small businesses, and support for immigrant families. Apparently, Maritza Rivera, Cathy Moore, and Robert Kettle think there isn’t a housing crisis, people face no difficulties affording food, small businesses have no financial issues, and immigrants can be ignored.

Ensuring Proposition 1A passes is a critical step forward for the socialist movement in Seattle and the United States. Proposition 1A validates the political labor our comrades have contributed to organizing a robust social housing program in Seattle, and represents a mandate for socialist housing policy over the current ineffective privatized approach. Seattle voters are tired of the tent cities adjacent to neighborhoods lined with walled mansions that materially and symbolically embody capitalist barbarism. Not only us socialists, but all ethically conscious human beings demand the equitable decency that social housing provides. Adequately funding the SSHD is especially critical given the current financial climate, as private affordable housing developers are suffering from a capital crunch due to ballooning costs. A dedicated revenue stream will insulate the provision of affordable housing from market fluctuations, and while 2000 units over the next 10 years is far from enough to alleviate the city’s housing crisis, it’s an essential step in proving that a better world is possible.

Without establishing an independent funding mechanism to provision the Seattle Social Housing Developer, the housing crisis will exacerbate and inequalities will widen. This is exactly why tens of thousands of voters signed I-137: to establish a new and independent funding mechanism for the SSHD. Proposition 1A will fulfill this goal, while Proposition 1B will only further strain the already overburdened funding bottlenecks in affordable housing. As socialists, we must mobilize to ensure our city takes a step on the right side of history.

Join us the morning of January 4th to kick off 2025 talking to voters about raising progressive revenue to fund permanently affordable social housing! Dozens of volunteers all across the city will be knocking doors letting voters know that they have a chance to lead the nation on a proven housing solution. With Proposition 1A, Seattle will take a leap forward towards addressing the housing crisis – but we need your help to make that possible!

Starting Jan. 4th through election day on Feb. 11th we will be knocking thousands of doors turning out our neighbors who support and benefit the most from social housing. Once folks arrive around 10:30am, we will have a short training on door knocking, Proposition 1A, and social housing so you are set up for success at the doors. At around 11:00am we will officially kick off and start hitting the doors!

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the field director Ben Ferlo at field@houseourneighbors.org. We hope to see you then – let’s build social housing!

RSVP for the kickoff events happening nearest to you to receive any updates or changes to this event!


Beacon Hill: https://www.mobilize.us/houseourneighbors/event/747105/

Capitol Hill: https://www.mobilize.us/houseourneighbors/event/747089/

Columbia City: https://www.mobilize.us/houseourneighbors/event/747088/

Fremont: https://www.mobilize.us/houseourneighbors/event/747087/

North U-District: https://www.mobilize.us/houseourneighbors/event/747093/

Wallingford: https://www.mobilize.us/houseourneighbors/event/747092/

The post Full Steam Ahead to Fund Social Housing in Seattle: Vote Yes on Prop 1A appeared first on Seattle Democratic Socialists of America.

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Palestinian Liberation is the Legacy of Stonewall

By Travis Covitz

As Pride parades become increasingly corporate affairs, the tensions between LGBT assimilation and queer liberation, especially in the United States, are made increasingly manifest. Mass disruptions of Pride events by queer people are a culmination of growing discontent with the policed capitalist display that these celebrations have become. In previous years, blocs have criticized the ways that Pride parades reflect how LGBT assimilation asks white, American queers to forget the ways the queer struggle is interconnected with other struggles for justice. The organizers of these disruptions use them as a platform to agitate queer people into supporting liberation movements across the world. 

This year, disruptions of pride parades have centered around calling out the sponsors of these celebrations for being complicit in the genocide in Gaza. In addition to direct actions, political education events have discussed why queer people should stand up against the Zionist regime. 

For example, in July, the Rochester Committee to End Apartheid hosted an event, “Stones of Resistance”, where community members came together to learn about the parallels between the First Intifada and the Stonewall Riots. Even without knowing the similarities between their liberation movements, many non-Palestinian queer people are sympathetic to the plights of Palestinians. They are disturbed by the over four-hundred days of active genocide committed by the Israeli Occupation Forces. Ending the genocide is the most pressing issue, but there are deep parallels between these communities and their struggles, that reveal the need for long-term solidarity.

Marsha P. Johnson is picketing at Bellevue Hospital to protest the treatment of Street people and gays. Marsha is holding a sign that reads "POWER TO THE PEOPLE"
Marsha P. Johnson pickets Bellevue Hospital to protest treatment of street people and gays. Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library. (1968 – 1975). Retrieved from: https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e3-5fa8-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99.

To understand the distinction between assimilation and liberation for queer people, we must look to history. The Stonewall Riots are often cited as the herald of the modern American gay rights movement. Pride parades originated from an annual commemoration of the riots. Modern queer activists have a renewed interest in the legacy of Stonewall, motivated by seeing the same contradictions that prompt leftists to shut down Pride parades—lip service to queer acceptance that does nothing to change material conditions for the most oppressed. Part of that legacy is the group Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), created in the aftermath of the Stonewall Riots by two street queens of color, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. 

What made STAR revolutionary? This question takes us in two directions. First, we can explore why the people who created STAR were interested in a politics of ‘revolution’ (liberation) rather than ‘assimilation’. Johnson and Rivera, who were active in queer community before the Stonewall Riots, watched as mainstream gay rights groups quickly distanced themselves from sex workers, transgender people, and people of color. These bases were key to the escalation of the Stonewall Riots as a showing of gay power.

Johnson and Rivera not only respected these intersectional bases, but were part of their community, and unwilling to have their demands sacrificed for the comfort of richer, whiter gay communities. With that context, we can now explore what qualities of STAR’s activist work and philosophy characterized it as revolutionary. We answer this by turning to the STAR Manifesto. 

Shared below, the STAR Manifesto demonstrates the group’s radical character through its focus on changing the material conditions that oppress queer people. Because queerness exists across racial and class categories, basing queer liberation in a materialist analysis lends itself to an intersectional understanding of collective liberation. Furthermore, the materialist lens allows queer activists of today to compare the conditions the STAR Manifesto sought to bring about to the conditions of the current day, and reflect on the extent to which the goals of previous generations have been met. 

The Manifesto can be accessed at the website of the New York Public Library – Digital Collections, or read below (please note that the term ‘transvestite’ in this context is understood to have a similar meaning to the modern use of the term ‘transgender’):

The oppression against transvestite of either sex arises from sexist values and this oppression is manifested by hetrosexuals and homosexuals of both sexes in form of exploitation, ridicule, harassment, beatings, rapes, murders. 

Because of this oppression the majority of transvestites are forced into the streets we have framed a strong alliance with our gay sisters and brothers of the street. Who we are a part of and represent we are; a part of the revolutionaries’ armies fighting against the system.

  1. We want the right to self-determination over the use of our bodies; the right to be gay, anytime, anyplace; the right to free physiological change and modification of sex on demand; the right to free dress and adornment.
  2. The end to all job discrimination against transvestites of both sexes and gay street people because of attire.
  3. The immediate end of all police harassment and arrest of transvestites and gay street people, and the release of transvestites and gay street people from all prisons and all other political prisoners.
  4. The end to all exploitive practices of doctors and psychiatrists who work in the field of transvestism.
  5. Transvestites who live as members of the opposite gender should be able to obtain identification of the opposite gender.
  6. Transvestites and gay street people and all oppressed people should have free education, health care, clothing, food, transportation, and housing.
  7. Transvestites and gay street people should be granted full and equal rights on all levels of society, and full voice in the struggle for liberation of all oppressed people.
  8. An end to exploitation and discrimination against transvestites within the homosexual world.
  9. We want a revolutionary peoples’ government, where transvestites, street people, women, homosexuals, blacks, puerto ricans, indians, and all oppressed people are free, and not fucked over by this government who treat us like the scum of the earth and kills us off like flies, one by one, and throws us into jail to rot. This government who spends millions of dollars to go to the moon, and lets the poor Americans starve to death.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

S.T.A.R.

This image is from a St. Patrick's Cathedral demonstration. Two people are holding a sign with a star on it. The sign says, "STREET TRANSVESTITES ACTION REVOLUTIONARIES"
St. Patrick’s Cathedral demonstration. Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public
Library. (1971 – 1975).
Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/
a41cce60-2279-0137-cd8c-595ed07dd515

As it is laid out in the STAR Manifesto, the struggle for queer liberation has a lot in common with the struggle for a free Palestine. The material conditions faced by STAR members bear a striking resemblance to the conditions faced by all Palestinians, regardless of gender status or sexual orientation. Job discrimination, police harassment, detention, and incarceration are core tools of Israeli occupation and apartheid. In the case of job discrimination, Labor Zionism is literally built off of the exclusion of Palestinians from labor unions. Kibbutzim, the supposedly ‘socialist havens’ of Israel, deny residency to Palestinians. Palestinians are treated as acceptable targets of the violence of unregulated capitalism. 

As for the issue of police harassment and detention, release of the mass numbers of Palestinians detained by the occupation forces has been a consistent demand of Palestinian liberation. Systemic sexual abuse at Sde Teiman makes the parallels between Palestinian experience in Israeli detention and queer experience in American detention even more blatant. The goals of the STAR Manifesto cannot be achieved as long as Palestine is occupied.

Oppression of Palestinians and queer people overlap not only in tools, but in methods. State and federal identification documents act as sites of control for transgender Americans as well as Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. Americans need identification to get legal employment and housing, for banking and healthcare access, and for obtaining government services. If their documents do not match with the gender they present, or their documents are inconsistent, transgender people can be denied services—at best—or incarcerated for fraud at worst. Legislative moves such as those by the state of Texas, banning the changing of sex on certain identification documents, make document inconsistency inevitable. The linking of gender between birth certificates, state licenses, and social security cards creates a confusing system, made even more complex by the different requirements between states to change gender markers. 

In their own case, Palestinians are given identification documents by the Israeli government based on their place of birth. The system of registration and documentation is then used to control civil rights by defining residency on different terms for indigenous Palestinians and Jewish settlers. Meanwhile, Palestine has been filled with identification checkpoints, literal barriers, denying free movement to Palestinians. These checkpoints are often sites of violence, where Israeli soldiers frequently torture, kill, and incarcerate Palestinians. As we read the perspective of the STAR manifesto, we can consider that identification documents may not be inherently inhumane. Rather, it is the state denying agency in self-identification that facilitates control of oppressed communities.

Screenshot of transgender activist and Stonewall participant, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy below the words "You much let Palestine go! Free that motherf* place!"
Transgender activist and Stonewall
participant, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy.
Instagram.com/missmajor1

Because of their similar material conditions, the principles guiding queer liberation and Palestinian liberation mirror each other. The first demand of STAR, self-determination, also appears in the Thawabit, the fundamental principles of Palestinian liberation. Israeli occupation violates Palestine’s external self-determination, the right under international law for a state to be free of foreign domination, while the apartheid and embargo violate Palestinians’ internal self-determination. 

For the activists who established STAR, self-determination was centered on queer “use of our bodies.” Palestinian self-determination is an embodied practice. The demands of Palestinian society—the right of return, the rebuilding of communities, the freedom to maintain ancestral practices that facilitate stewardship of the land—are all uses of the body that cannot presently occur due to Zionist violation of Palestinians’ right to self-determination. Individuals cannot practice self-determination when it is denied to their community, let alone their nation.

As we can see, Palestinian liberation and queer liberation arose from similar material conditions created by parallel tools of oppression, and therefore have common principles undergirding their radical stance of resistance. The interconnected nature of Palestinian and queer liberation is recognized by Stonewall veterans, such as Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, who canceled an appearance at an institution in protest of its complicity in the ongoing Gaza genocide.

Zionists themselves have realized the power of connecting queer and Palestinian liberation. They seek to disrupt this connection through pinkwashing, anti-Palestinian racism, and islamophobia. Queer activists outside of Palestine must emphasize the demands of queer Palestinian organizations, like al Qaws, who recognize Zionist colonialism as a primary contradiction for their communities. Liberation for queer people will not occur until there is liberation for every Palestinian.

The post Palestinian Liberation is the Legacy of Stonewall first appeared on Rochester Red Star.

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Weekly Roundup: December 17, 2024

🌹Tuesday, December 17 (7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): Ecosocialist Monthly Meeting (Zoom)

🌹Wednesday, December 18 (6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.): What is DSA? (In person at 1916 McAllister)

🌹Thursday, December 19 (5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.): Education Board Open Meeting (Zoom)

🌹Thursday, December 19 (6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.): Palestine Solidarity and Anti-Imperialist Working Group (Zoom)

🌹Monday, December 23 (7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.): Labor Board Meeting (Zoom)

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

DSA SF Education Board: 2025 Planning Survey

What did you come to DSA to learn about? What types of educational events do you think would help our organizing work as a chapter? Help the ed board shape our 2025 educational offerings by taking this three minute survey.


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 canvassing. Check dsasf.org/events for updates.

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.

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Apply for ROC DSA’s Electoral Campaign Endorsement

Are you a progressive running for office? ROC DSA may be willing to endorse and assist you.

You do not need to identify as a socialist to apply. We are seeking candidates whose policy stances align with ROC DSA’s goals. If you have anti-capitalist sentiments and support socialist policies, such as unions, housing as a human right, and improved city schools, we may be a good fit.

We can potentially provide both a formal endorsement and mobilize our membership to assist with your campaign.

To begin the process, fill out the form to the extent you are able. We will be in contact shortly.

APPLY HERE: bit.ly/endorserocdsa

DEADLINE: January 7th

The post Apply for ROC DSA’s Electoral Campaign Endorsement first appeared on Rochester Red Star.

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2025 Local Leadership Election Results

2025 Local Leadership Election Results



The Nomination Committee is excited to announce the results of the Local Leadership elections! Note the offices with an asterisk * received a number of nominations equal to the number of seats available and are uncontested. Congratulations to these new leaders! Detailed results for the contested elections can be viewed below.

Steering Committee

  • *Communications Director – Claire P
  • *Campaigns Coordinator – Noah C
  • *Recording Secretary – Mark G
  • Treasurer – Andre A
  • At-Large Steering Committee – Mark K, Benina S, Clayton R, Jenn M & Dana K


Branch & YDSA Coordinators

  • *Central Branch Coordinators – Jack S-L & Noah S-S
  • *Eastside / San Gabriel Valley Coordinators – Leslie C & Paul Z
  • *San Fernando Valley Branch Coordinators – Paula A & Lorena M-K
  • South Central / Inglewood – Tracey B & Adam M
  • *Westside Branch Coordinators – Jesse-James A & Brady B
  • *YDSA Coordinator – Roxy

Candidate statements can be viewed here.



Contested Officer Results

The full detailed results can be view on the BetterVoting results page. Here’s over overview:



Steering Committee Treasurer

Summary

Of the 3184 voters in this election, 290 cast ballots. Andre A is the winner after counting the ballots using Single-Winner STAR Voting.

Detailed Results

STAR Voting stands for “Score then Automatic Runoff”. Each voter gave a score to Andre & Laura on a 0 to 5 scale, and during the scoring round those stars get added up. In total Andre got 1233 stars (an average of 4.2 stars per voter), and Laura got 527 stars (an average of 1.8 stars per voter).

After the scoring round, the top 2 candidates become finalists. As there’s only 2 candidates in this election, both proceeded to the automatic runoff. In the automatic runoff each vote goes to the candidate most preferred. Andre wins with 74% of voters preferring Andre over Laura, 19% preferring Laura over Andre, and 7% scoring both candidates equally (and it turns out most of those had a positive opinion of both, all were in the 3-5 range, and 57% of them gave both 5 stars).

At-Large Steering Committee Members (5 to be elected)

Summary

Of the 3184 voters in this election, 306 cast ballots. Marc K, Benina S, Clayton R, Jenn M, and Dana K are the winners after counting the ballots using Proportional STAR Voting.

Detailed Results

Under STAR-PR, voters scored the candidates on a 0 to 5 scale. Then all the scores got added across the candidates, and the candidates with the highest scores get elected in rounds. Each round a quota’s worth of represented voters are removed so that unrepresented voters can have more influence in future rounds.

Since there are 306 voters and 5 winners, winners will represent a quota of 61.2 voters each.

In round 1, Mark K is elected.

In round 2, Benina S is elected.


In round 3, Clayton R is elected.


In round 4, Jenn M is elected.


In round 5, Dana K is elected.

South Central / Inglewood Branch Coordinator

Summary

Of the 185 South Central / Inglewood voters in this election, 30 cast ballots. Tracey B and Adam M are the winners after counting the ballots using Proportional STAR Voting.

Detailed Results

Under STAR-PR, voters scored the candidates on a 0 to 5 scale. Then all the scores got added across the candidates, and the candidates with the highest scores get elected in rounds. Each round a quota’s worth of represented voters are removed so that unrepresented voters can have more influence in future rounds.

Since there are 30 voters and 2 winners, winners will represent a quota of 15 voters each.

In round 1, Tracey B is elected.


In round 2, Adam M is elected.



Thank you to all candidates!


As always, please send your questions to elections@dsa-la.org , and head over to the BetterVoting results page for a more detailed breakdown!


 

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Building Tomorrow Together: The Value of DSA Community in Challenging Times

In an era when democratic institutions face mounting threats, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) offers something invaluable: a space where people can come together not just to resist deteriorating conditions, but to actively build a better world. This combination of practical organizing and genuine community provides essential support for personal well-being and effective political action.

Walking into your first DSA meeting can feel like finding an oasis in a desert of political despair. Here are people who not only share your concerns about the direction of society but are actively working to change it. Whether it’s your local DSA chapter’s mutual aid program, tenant organizing efforts, or labor solidarity initiatives, you’ll find concrete ways to channel your anxiety into action.

The mental health benefits of joining DSA extend far beyond political engagement. Research consistently shows that feelings of powerlessness contribute significantly to depression and anxiety – feelings that are particularly acute when witnessing the rise of antidemocratic movements. DSA membership offers a powerful antidote through collective agency. Rather than doom-scrolling through news alone, you’re working shoulder-to-shoulder with comrades on tangible projects that make a real difference in your community.

“In times like these, it’s pretty easy to feel alone. Joining DSA, attending meetings, coming to social events, all of these have helped me see that I’m not actually alone. There are people out there who value solidarity, equality, and democracy, and DSA is where they connect with each other.”
– Anonymous, member since 2024

The structure of DSA chapters combines social connection with political purpose. A typical month might include formal organizing meetings, but also movie nights, shared meals, or informal gatherings where members can relax and build genuine friendships. These social bonds strengthen the organization’s political work while providing vital emotional support. There’s something profoundly comforting about knowing that your concerns are shared by others who are willing to work alongside you for change.

The physical aspect of DSA gatherings shouldn’t be underestimated. In an age of increasing digital isolation, coming together in actual spaces to both socialize and organize creates connections that online interaction simply can’t match. Whether you’re planning a campaign, joining a reading group, or sharing a potluck dinner, the simple act of being physically present with others who share your values helps combat the alienation that makes authoritarian movements possible.

DSA’s democratic structure provides members with genuine agency in shaping both the organization and its initiatives. Unlike traditional political organizations where decisions come from the top down, DSA chapters empower members to propose and lead projects they’re passionate about. This participatory approach not only leads to more effective organizing but also helps members develop practical skills in leadership, project management, and collective decision-making.

The intergenerational nature of DSA provides unique opportunities for learning and growth. Newer members can learn from those with decades of organizing experience while bringing fresh perspectives and energy to the organization. This creates a living tradition of solidarity and collective action, where knowledge and skills are constantly shared and refined.

Working within DSA also provides an important counter to the feeling of historical inevitability that authoritarian movements try to create. When you’re actively building alternatives – whether through mutual aid networks, tenant unions, or labor organizing – you demonstrate in practice that other ways of organizing society are possible. Each successful project, no matter how small, becomes evidence that collective, democratic action works. The regular rhythm of meetings and actions helps maintain hope and purpose, while the concrete achievements of collective work provide tangible evidence that change is possible.

“I joined DSA because I was tired of feeling powerless to stop the world from getting worse. The moment when you commit to joining an organization – to doing politics together with other people rather than simply thinking the right thing – is such a powerful one. Working with comrades has given me hope and prepared me to be a better member of the society we hope to build.”
– Luke, member since 2018

DSA chapters also serve as crucial hubs of information and rapid response in times of crisis. When communities face threats – whether from hostile legislation, corporate exploitation, or direct attacks on vulnerable populations – DSA members learn to work together to properly analyze the moment, and develop tactics and strategies that drive successes, rather than simply respond in a way that is itself status quo.

For many members, DSA becomes not just a political organization but a central part of their social world. The friendships formed through shared struggle and celebration create bonds that extend beyond political work. These relationships provide emotional sustenance during difficult times while strengthening the organization’s capacity for long-term organizing.

Joining DSA offers a powerful combination of political engagement and personal connection that’s particularly vital in challenging times. By bringing people together in physical spaces to both socialize and work toward concrete political goals, DSA provides the community, agency, and purpose that people need to maintain their mental health while building effective resistance to anti-democratic movements. The path to a better world isn’t found in isolation but in coming together with others to actively create the future we want to see.

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