MADSA’s December general meeting, held at our downtown office, featured a holiday potluck feast and socializing in addition to a few business items and reports from working groups and committees. By breaking into groups of four we got to know some fellow members better, including new comrades from Athens (one plans to run for county commissioner!) and Kennesaw.

We also heard about plans for another break-light clinic in January (Mutual Aid WG); ongoing canvasses for Bernie; joining actions with our allies against climate change and a proposed Ga. Power rate hike, plus a popular ecosocialism book club (Ecosocialism WG); planning for public and internal education programs in 2020 (Education WG); a new MADSA YouTube channel, ready for your contribution (Digital-Communications Committee); and outreach to increase member engagement (Membership Committee). All members are encouraged to join these groups. Announcements included an Afro-Socialism group party, and the Housing Justice League’s City Hall protest against displacement of inner city neighborhoods by gentrification. We learned a lot but also had lots of fun!

MADSA Chair Councilman khalid opened the meeting. Photo: Catie Elle.

MADSA was in the house at the Bernie Sanders for President rally at Morehouse College on Nov. 21. We joined thousands of other Bernie fans, inspired by his political vision of Medicare for All, Collegefor All, a Green New Deal, and Workplace Democracy.

“Table got taken down, but the clip-boarding was very successful,” said MADSA officer Cole Reardon.”Sometimes it’s actually nice preaching to the choir.” Word is we signed up 200 people interested in joining our chapter!

See Bernie’s talk here. (Photos: Steve Eberhardt. Video: Georgia Grassroots Video.)

MADSA’s 13th annual Douglass-Debs awards dinner at Paschal’s restaurant Nov. 9 was a great success. The dinner has been our main fundraiser, enabling us to help our allies and pay our expenses, while honoring leaders of our progressive community and networking with friends and fellow activists from the unions, civil rights and other movements.

This year’s keynote speaker was Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO. That title doesn’t begin to suggest her inspiring, yet down-to-earth oratory, lifting all of us to support labor’s struggles — an especially relevant message right now, as her union just launched a campaign to organize Delta workers! She quoted widely from historic figures such as Mother Jones, Fredrick Douglass and Eugene Victor Debs, and from her own experience as a worker and a woman, assuring us that “Solidarity is stronger than gravity!” Watch her speak here!

Other moving tributes followed to the awardees:
1) The Highlander Research and Education Center, a key resource for progressive organizers since the 1930s (now located in New Market, TN) lost their main building to a right-wing arson attack earlier this year but continues their work undeterred. Member Eric Robertson explained that the award recognizes the continued importance of the center to the current movement for human rights, worker rights and racial justice as well as its role in nurturing such historic figures as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks. As the Center was holding its own board meeting that weekend, Annie Thomas, regional organizer for Project South, accepted the award in Highlander’s behalf.

2) Georgia State Representative Renitta Shannon was recognized for her courageous service as one of a few progressive members of the Georgia General Assembly, standing up for women’s reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, and immigrant rights. Her friend Charmaine Davis, SE regional administrator of the U.S. Dept. of Labor’s Women’s Bureau, recalled her friendship with Renitta and the awardee’s inspiring career.

3) To top off the celebration, we gave one of our special awards — for “creative activism” — to our own Daniel Hanley, well known for his leadership in every kind of direct action, most recently with the Light Brigade, which provides illuminated signage and projects uplifting slogans onto Atlanta’s night-time cityscape during demonstrations. MADSA founder Milt Tambor presented the award by noting many instances of Daniel’s commitment, courage and creativity — the essential makings of an activist — since he joined MADSA several years ago.

On Nov. 1, Metro Atlanta Democratic Socialists of America brought our own “lanterns” to the Grant Park Halloween Lantern Parade, where observers broke into spontaneous chants of “ABOLISH ICE!” and “Bernie, Bernie!”

All the kids in costume wanted photos taken with the Bernie signs, clearly because they appreciate a political movement capable of addressing the apocalyptic crises of capitalism in their lifetime. (Or they just liked the cool glow of 400 LEDs.)

As small crowds gathered around the signs for photos, MADSA members shared details of Bernie’s agenda for democracy and socialism, along with buttons expressing related demands.

At our October 26th meeting, Metro Atlanta DSA voted to endorse member Andrea Cervone in her re-election campaign for Clarkston City Council. In her time on City Council, she has helped build Clarkston into one of the most progressive cities in the South. In this election, she hopes to win a mandate to broaden the coverage of Clarkston’s non-discrimination ordinance to protect workers on housing assistance; to extend the right to vote in municipal elections to all lawful residents, not just citizens; and to expand the city’s recently piloted participatory budgeting program.

MADSA members plan to help canvass for Andrea in Clarkston on Sunday, November 3rd, ahead of the November 5th election day. MADSA chair Councilman khalid, who serves on the City Council of South Fulton, said he hopes MADSA can become a strong voice in local politics while also continuing our efforts for Bernie Sanders’ presidential candidacy. If you’re interested in running for office or helping with MADSA’s electoral work, contact the electoral committee via email at electoral@madsa.ga.
(MADSA electoral committee breakout session at meeting. Photo: Reid Freeman Jenkins)

Daniel Soyer is professor at Fordham and a scholar of American Jewish history. He is a co-editor, along with Irena Klepfisz, of The Stars Bear Witness: The Jewish Labor Bund 1897 - 2017. Our interview with him is the second of a two-part series on the Jewish Labor Bund; it covers the origins and operations of the Bund in Eastern Europe, American Bundist history, as well as how Jewish immigrant communities formed the backbone of socialist political activity in NYC and throughout America. Our music is “Made and Broken” by Hugel. Support us on https://www.patreon.com/religioussocialismpodcast

MADSA members again marched with our banner and signs in Atlanta’s massive LGBTQ Pride parade, despite scattered showers, as thousands cheered from the sidelines. Photos: Michael Roberts

On Oct. 11, MADSA and Ga. Tech Young Democratic Socialists of America, with the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights, Mijente, the Black Alliance for Just Immigration and others marched and picketed at Amazon headquarters in Buckhead during the workday, to protest the company’s contracts with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency that separates families, jails people legally seeking asylum in the U.S. and puts children in cages. The action was coordinated with events taking place throughout the U.S. during the weekend leading up to Indigenous People’s Day (AKA Columbus Day). Below is the statement issued by the demonstrators:

From the day he took office, Donald Trump escalated a failed and cruel immigration policy into an all-out war against immigrants, banning Muslims, slamming the door on refugees, tearing children from their parents’ arms. Each new affront has been met with outrage and protest, but even when he has retreated, Trump has sought new lines of attack: concentration camps, workplace raids, new bars to green cards and citizenship.

Meanwhile many immigrants are being terrorized in their own communities, afraid to answer the door, take children to school, or go to work. These communities need to see and feel the solidarity of the majority that stands with them.

We call on all those who oppose the raids, family separation, deportations and incarceration to unite against this reign of racist persecution. It is time to say, “¡Basta Ya!” Enough is enough!

This indigenous people’s day weekend let us act together –whether with a march, vigil, rally or direct action– against those who would give us a future of division and white supremacist hate. Let us unite in broad regional coalitions drawing together people of faith, unions, anti-nativist fighters and other progressives to target camps, jails, shelters or other parts of Trump’s anti-immigrant, deportation machinery.

Let us act in the knowledge that no human being is illegal anywhere, not least in a country formed through violent colonialism. Most of all, let us open our arms to immigrants in our country or at our borders with a greeting of friendship: Mi casa es tu casa. Our home is also your home.

Photos: Reid Freeman Jenkins

MADSA’s general meeting Sept. 28 included our annual officer elections. We chose Councilman khalid for our new chair; Cole R treasurer; Brandyn B membership secretary; Nate K recording secretary; and three at-large members: Q B, Rara I and Catie E, who will help make the many decisions that our officers face and take on other work as needed. Thanks to outgoing officers Jen G, chair and membership secretary; José P, treasurer; Barbara J, recording secretary; and at-large officers Jeff C and Wendell B (Q also served this past year).

A representative of Ga.Tech YDSA (TBA) and any other Atlanta YDSA chapter that is chartered by national DSA will also have a seat on the MADSA executive committee. Two are on the way: Emory and Ga. State U., and three other area campuses may join them soon.

Councilman khalid volunteered to organize our traditional contingent in the Atlanta Pride parade that starts at noon on Sunday, Oct. 13 (see other Atlanta Pride events here). Meet at Civic Center MARTA station, 11am, parade steps off at noon.

On Friday, Sept. 27, MADSA, Extinction Rebellion and 10 other local organizations participated in the Global Climate Strike, calling for “rebellion against the government for criminal inaction in the face of climate catastrophe and ecological collapse,” saying: “The science is clear. The planet is steadily warming as carbon is released unabated into our atmosphere. Ice caps are melting, ecosystems are collapsing, and natural disasters are becoming more and more common. Meanwhile, in the shadow of this unprecedented threat to life on earth, the rich and powerful continue business as usual, upholding the status quo of the economic system that depends on the unlimited and unsustainable use of our planet’s resources. Our goal is to stand against those who wish to ignore the evidence and continue business as usual.”

MADSA member Michael Roberts reported:

Today MADSA comrades joined over 100 protesters in a climate strike. The strike began at the Buckhead MARTA station, then quickly moved across much of north Atlanta in an attempt to stay ahead of the police, who were prepared with a small army equipped with bikes,trucks, and buses. The police prevented access to the streets and even arrested many protesters, including some MADSA members. Despite being out-matched by the police, the protesters held strong and lasted the day, constantly asking the police “Who do you serve?” as a reminder and a call to action.

MADSA stands in solidarity with any group of grassroots activists who are willing to highlight and call into question the unquenchable greed that has brought on this climate crisis, and stand ready to defend all oppressed people to prevent further victimization while trying to hold back the exctinction of the human race.
Photo: Michael Roberts

See also AJC report and Channel 11.

Comrades Daniel Hanley and Lorraine Fontana were among 20 demonstrators arrested (all have been released). Donate to the bail fund: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/extinction-rebellion-mass-action-bail-fund