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Metro DC DSA Weekly Update for Friday, February 21, 2020
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THE WEEKEND
This weekend, important canvasses for the Super Tuesday Virginia Primary (see DSA for Bernie, below), as well as action for our endorsed local candidates Janeese Lewis George in DC Ward 4, a rally and canvass Sunday and planning meeting Monday and Mckayla Wilkes in Maryland’s Fifth C.D., canvasses (Saturday and Sunday) and text parties; more here and here.
EARLY NEXT WEEK an important collaboration with allies: The DC Tenants Union will be doing a special canvass on Tuesday, September 25th at 6pm, and Stomp Out Slumlords, one of MDC DSA’s most thriving campaigns, is organizing to join them. Meet at the LEDC office at 1401 Columbia Road NW, Unit C-1 (the basement) and canvass in neighborhood, where a number of people live at UIP-managed buildings -- one of the biggest offenders for abusing loopholes in rent control laws. Do you live at a UIP-managed building? We would love to see a ton of UIP tenants from across the city at this event. -- email [email protected]
--Lia R
From Union City yesterday (Thursday) morning:
Giant settles; Safeway strike possible
Hundreds of union Safeway employees, members of UFCW Locals 400 and 27, yesterday rallied alongside elected officials, community leaders and other allies, telling management to negotiate a fair contract or face a strike. At the same rally, however, Giant workers announced they had reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, averting a potential work stoppage. “The promise of a union job was that we won’t get rich but we will be able to provide health care for our families,” said Safeway member Jane St. Louis. “But now, Safeway wants to break that promise.” Union members will meet on March 5th, announced UFCW 400 president Mark Federici. [The two mega-chains have 25,000 union members in the region.] Giant members will vote on whether to ratify their new collective bargaining agreement, while Safeway members will vote on whether to authorize a strike. “The countdown starts today,” Federici said. “The countdown for justice ends March 5th.” Read more here
BRIEFS
Here is the MoCo Branch newsblast from Wednesday https://mailchi.mp/mdcdsa.org/join-us-on-saturday-nov-1263543?e=003de9ccab
They remind you, and so do we, that Super Tuesday in VA is coming up March 3, sooner than the April 28 primary in Maryland. So canvass there first.
If you are a Maryland voter and need to change your registration to vote for Bernie, the deadline is April 7.
MDC DSA 4 BERNIE UPDATE
--Accomplished!
Saturday Feb 15th Canvass in East Falls Church – Record number of doors knocked yet! Over 80 volunteers (including Spanish-English bi-lingual folks) knocked on a record-breaking 4,100 doors despite freezing cold temperatures and a technical snafu. Photos HERE. Afterward we ate, drank, and gabbed at a local beach bar.
Did you canvass with us and forget to sync your data? You still can on the MiniVan app! Go into the app and tap the cloud+arrow icon in the upper righthand corner of your phone screen.
Tuesday Feb 18th Working Group Meeting: Nearly thirty (30!) Bernie enthusiasts joined together at the MDC DSA HQ in Dupont Circle to plot our next moves toward putting Bernie in the White House this year. We assigned tasks for upcoming events like the Sat 22nd canvass, GOTV carpooling, 3/3 Super Tuesday Evening Watch Party, and the 3/15 Univision Arizona Dem Debate.
Do you want to volunteer for a special role for one of our upcoming events? We need you! Email us at [email protected] to find out what roles still need filling!
----Upcoming Revolutionary Activities!
Last Chance: This Saturday Feb 22nd is the Final MDC DSA 4 Bernie Canvass before Get Out The Vote >> ¿Hablas español y quieres ayudar a Bernie? ¡Acompáñanos! – We need Spanish speakers!!
This is your last chance to join forces with fellow socialists to knock on Alexandria doors just TEN DAYS before Virginia votes on Super Tuesday! It should be sunny and in the 50s so it’s a perfect day to canvass! We’ll join up afterward at a local brewpub for a final hoorah with our socialist friends!
Where/When: Huntington Metro Station at 2501 Huntington Ave · Alexandria, VA at 12:30pm
RSVP if you can and learn more: https://www.meetup.com/mdcdsa/events/268285340/
BONUS RESOURCE--Principles for Bernie Canvassers: We represent Bernie. We listen with empathy. We don’t argue or debate. We connect by sharing our stories. We stay focused. Not Me Us. (LINK to more)
Saturday Feb 22nd 9pm: Nevada Caucus Watch Party
DSA 4 Bernie is hosting a Nevada Caucus Watch Party at sPACEYcLOUD in AdMo on Saturday, February 22 at 9 pm. Come to hang out with your comrades, consume spectacular food and beverage, and watch Bernie win the third pre-Super-Tuesday state in a row!
Tues Feb 25: South Carolina Debate Watch Party
You know the drill by now: (1) Be at Penn Social in Penn Quarter, DC after 7:30pm; (2) Catch up with fellow supporters; (3) Watch Bernie articulate why he will be the 46th President of the United States.
RSVP if you can: https://www.meetup.com/mdcdsa/events/268286080/
Sat Feb 29th: Post-GOTV celebration & South Carolina Election Returns Watch Party!
After a full day on the doors talking to Bernie supporters about their Super Tuesday voting plans (see below for info about carpools to canvasses), we deserve food, drink, and fun…and to watch South Carolina vote for Bernie as their top Democratic choice, and pave the way for Bernie to capture a Super Tuesday victory just days later.
We’ll likely meet at Courthaus Social in Clarendon. Please note that it’s (very!) highly encouraged that you bring proof that you canvassed or phonebanked that day for Bernie in Virginia!
>
Super Tuesday, the largest election day in the primary, is March 3rd in Virginia. If you haven’t knocked doors for Bernie in Virginia by then, you’ve officially slept through the revolution. Get Out The Vote, or GOTV, is the ground-game for turning out Bernie supporters to the polls on election day.
For GOTV, we are asking people to canvass with the official campaign. We are organizing carpools for the 29th: If you need a ride or have a car and can provide rides, please fill out this form and we’ll plug you into our system. Be sure to recruit your friends to join you! Also, participate in as many other GOTV canvasses as possible. Email us at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Note: We can’t coordinate with the official campaign behind the scenes, but we can post about their public events. Keep us on the right side of election law and please don’t share nonpublic info between us and the official campaign!
Win Virginia for Bernie in two simple steps---
Step 1: Download BERN at the App store, at Google Play, or access it online at app.berniesanders.com.
Step 2: Find canvassing events in Virginia on the BERN app or the Bernie Event Map (or see below):
Sun Feb 23rd:
Alexandria (Huntington Metro) • Alexandria (22304) • Alexandria (Kingstowne Center) • Alexandria (Vermont Ave) • Arlington (Aurora Hills Library) • Arlington (Central Public Library) • Fairfax (Arrowhead Circle) • Fairfax (22030) • Falls Church (Lincoln Park) • Leesburg • Reston (20191) • Woodbridge
Tues Feb 25th:
Reston (20191)
Thu Feb 27th:
Alexandria (John Marshall Library) – F2F • Arlington (22201) – F2F • Reston (20191)
Fri Feb 28th:
Stafford (22554) – F2F
Sat Feb 29th:
Alexandria 10am (Kingstowne Ctr) • Alexandria 2pm (Kingstowne Ctr) • Falls Church (22042) • Manassas (Centreville Rd) • Reston (20191) • Reston (20190)
Sun Mar 1st:
Alexandria (22304) • Alexandria (N West St) • Alexandria (Kingstowne Center) • Reston (Rosedown Dr) •
Mon Mar 2nd:
Alexandria 9am (Kingstowne Center) • Alexandria 12pm (Kingstowne Center) • Alexandria 3:30pm (Kingstowne Center)
SUPER TUESDAY MARCH 3RD – Take the day off work to knock doors all day!
Alexandria 9am-8pm (Kingstowne Center)
Email us: [email protected]
Join us on slack: #bernie
Bernie in Prince George’s -- Tuesday Feb 25th 7:30-10pm debate watch party in College Park
https://www.mobilize.us/s/N0Tn5k
Also phone banks Saturday (Mt. Rainier, Ft. Washington), Sunday (Bowie) and Monday (Greenbelt). For info [email protected]
A BOOK TALK OF NOTE --
Tuesday, February 25 We Own The Future: Book Discussion and Luncheon 12:00 PM at The American Prospect, 1225 I St NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC MAP
We Own the Future: Democratic Socialism–American Style is Edited by Kate Aronoff, Peter Dreier, and Michael Kazin and gives readers a practical vision of a future that is more democratic, egalitarian, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable. It articulates a clear and uncompromising view from the left. More Info and RSVP
DSA National Director Maria Svart sends along this nationwide strategy call invite for the weekend: Please join the Green New Deal Campaign Committee this Sunday, February 23 at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT for a nationwide strategy call on how we’re going to win a Green New Deal. RSVP HERE
MDC DSA CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY AND MARCH
Saturday FEB 22 12:30 PM
DSA for Bernie Canvass in No Va.
Gather at Huntington Metro parking lot
Saturday FEB 22 | 9:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Nevada Caucus Watch Party
TBD (Penn Social Lounge WORKING)
Join us on February 22nd as we await the results of the Nevada Caucus! To raise additional funds, we will also be playing a short round of Election Trivia. DSA 4 Bernie is fundraising to purchase new Virginia literature so that we can knock doors before Super Tuesday!
Sunday FEB 23 | 1:30 PM
Stomp Out Slumlords: Anti-Eviction Canvass Update
L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station, 600 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC
Come help us connect tenants facing eviction with legal resources! Tenants we speak to are twice as likely to go to court and fight their eviction, so every volunteer can make a big impact.
Tuesday FEB 25 | 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Steering Committee Meeting
Remote Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/649424602
Meeting of the Metro DC DSA Steering Committee. All members are welcome to attend. Meeting agenda will be distributed via Slack; to request an agenda item, use reddesk.mdcdsa.org
Tuesday FEB 25 | 7:30 PM
DSA for Bernie 2/25 Debate Watch Party
Join us for the last Democratic debate of February! The SC primary will be right around the corner on the 29th, and Super Tuesday just after that. We always say the debates are ones not to miss, but this is REALLY one you do not want to miss. Location TBD. Follow link for details
Tuesday, FEB 25 6-9 PM
Special Canvass with the DC Tenants Union
At DCTU office, 1401 Columbia Rd. NW Unit C-1 (basement)
Canvass to inform residents of their rights against greedy landlords.
Wednesday FEB 26 | 7:00 PM
Ecosocialist Caucus February Meeting
Shaw Library, 1630 7th St NW, Washington DC
Topics include next steps for our energy democracy and climate strike campaigns, as well as breakout sessions to focus on a wide range of topics. New and old members welcome!
Thursday FEB 27 | 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
February Labor Working Group
1616 P Street NW, Washington DC
Join the Labor Working Group for updates on our Bust the Boss wage theft and organizing project, Virginia labor law reform, ride share organizing, Labor for Bernie updates, and upcoming solidarity!
Thursday FEB 27 | 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Trumpism and All-American Nativism: Socialist Night School
Cleveland Park Library, Meeting Room 1, 3310 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC
It is often said that with the election of Donald Trump nativism was raised from the dead. But although his actions may often seem unprecedented, they are not as unusual as many people believe. For decades, Republicans and Democrats alike have employed xenophobic ideas and policies, declaring time and again that “illegal immigration” is a threat to the nation’s security, wellbeing, and future.
Saturday FEB 29 | 12:30 PM
February 29 Get Out the Vote Canvass
THIS WILL BE YOUR LAST CHANCE to reach voters before Super Tuesday, and we need to do everything we can to make sure Virginia shows up for Bernie! Help us reach our goal of knocking 5,000 doors in Virginia by the end of February. We will be in canvassing in Virginia, location TBD. Follow link for details.
Sunday MAR 1 | 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
MoCo DSA General Branch Meeting
Main Mtg Room, 3rd Floor, Silver Spring Library, 900 Wayne Ave, Silver Spring MD
join us for our March branch meeting at the Silver Spring library! Help us plan our rent control fight and get electoral and legislative updates. Afterwards, we'll adjourn to a local bar for a social hour.
Monday MAR 2 7-8:30 PM
Libertarian Socialist Caucus (LSC) Meeting
Northeast Library, Mezzanine Conference Room 2
A meeting to focus our efforts and conceptualize/strategize about what we want to work on together as a group in the coming months. (open to non-members)
Sunday MAR 8 | 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Metro DC DSA Monthly General Body Meeting
Friends Meeting of Washington, 2111 Florida Ave NW, Washington DC
Monthly meeting of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America. The agenda will be distributed the week before the meeting.
Tuesday MAR 10 | 7-8:30 PM
Steering Committee Meeting
1301 Connecticut Ave. 6th floor
All members may attend. Follow link for info on Zoom link.
Tuesday MAR 24 | 7:00 PM
Steering Committee Meeting
Remote via Zoom,
Meeting of the Metro DC DSA Steering Committee. All members are welcome to attend. This meeting is remote-only; you can participate via Zoom; information is at link.
Wednesday MAR 25 7:00 PM
NOVA Branch DSA 🌹 Organizing Meeting
Aurora Hills Branch Library, 735 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202
Welcome to our monthly NOVA DSA organizing and planning meeting. Follow link for details and participation guide.
INFO ACCESS
Publication Schedule: This is the last Update for February; Friday, Feb. 28 the Publications Working Group publishes and sends the March issue of the Washington Socialist, MDC DSA’s monthly newsletter. Article deadline for that issue is tomorrow -- Saturday, Feb. 22. Send your contributions to [email protected].
Like all our working groups, the Pubs WG needs pitch-in from members: writing on subjects close to our socialist hearts (including what your WG/caucus/campaign has been doing or plans to do); editing, design, creating ‘zines and one-off flyers for our work, and doing website work to keep our MDC DSA profile dynamic. So fill out our contributor’s form and we’ll be in touch. We need your help to spread socialist ideas and news about the chapter’s work.
FAQ
>How many newsletters, updates and articles have we published? Articles on what topics? Check our Index here.
>What does the MDC DSA local chapter do, week in and week out? See our working groups, caucuses and campaigns in the DMV here.
> What can I find out from MDC DSA Slack and how do I join?: Many of our campaigns, working groups and caucuses keep the conversation going between meetings on our MDC DSA Slack platform. If you are a DSA member in good standing and aren’t on our Slack you may not be getting the full picture about the rich array of activities suggested above in the chapter structure link. To get on Slack, use the email by which DSA knows you and request access from [email protected]
EVENTS FROM OUR ALLIES IN THE DMV
Saturday, FEB 22 Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools Canvass 1 - 3:30 PM PGCEA HQ, 8008 Marlboro Pike, Forestville, MD 20747 -- Join us as we talk to voters about supporting community schools and the Kirwan commission funding recommendations. RSVP and info
Monday FEB 24 Maryland Sierra Club Lobby Day/Night in Annapolis, 4 PM, Miller Senate Office Building East Room, 11 Bladen St. Detailed info, directions and RSVP.
Tuesday, FEB 25 We Own The Future: Book Discussion and Luncheon 12:00 PM at The American Prospect, 1225 I St NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC MAP
We Own the Future: Democratic Socialism–American Style is Edited by Kate Aronoff, Peter Dreier, and Michael Kazin and gives readers a practical vision of a future that is more democratic, egalitarian, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable. It articulates a clear and uncompromising view from the left. More Info and RSVP
Wednesday FEB 26 - 8:30 am – Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform Lobby Day in Annapolis. Follow link for details.
Thursday FEB 27 Defending Black America: The Raw Law Project 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
An interactive Black History Month people's practicum deconstructing interconnections between law and political motivation associated with representing and defending black people in the criminal justice system. Institute for Policy Studies, 1301 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20036
Thursday FEB 27 ONE DC Organizing Committee Meeting 6 PM to 8 PM, regular Thursday meeting at our Shaw Office (614 S Street NW/Near Shaw-Howard Metro)! Organize with other ONE DC members to fight for our rights to income and housing. Follow link for meeting details; other ONE DC events here.
Feb 27- 29 - Pulitzer-Prize Winning Play "Sweat" - Oakton
Sweat is a play about factory workers facing rumors of a lay-off. At Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road in Oakton, VA.
Union talk-back after the Friday performance.
For tickets: https://uucf.org/events/sw eat/
Tuesday MAR 3 Book Event: The Young Lords: A Radical History 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Busboys & Poets (5th & K), 450 K Street NW Washington, DC 20001 Talk and book signing with author Johanna Fernández about the rise and fall of the street gang turned political organization that led predominantly poor and working-class Puerto Rican youth to confront race, class inequality, and US foreign policy.
Sunday, MAR 8 -- Prince George’s County Our Revolution 2-4 PM, monthly meeting to discuss current actions and events. New Deal Cafe, 113 Centerway, Roosevelt Center,
Greenbelt
Friday May 15th - Tribute to Labor Dinner- 6 pm
Join us for our annual dinner at Sheraton Tysons, 8661 Leesburg Pike, Tysons.
Awardees include: Excellence in Leadership Award to Lee Saunders, President of AFSCME; grassroots political activism awards to National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Carpenters Eastern Atlantic region (UBC); Organizing award to ATU. Music by the Dave Marsh band. Link for sponsorships, ads and tickets: : file:///Users/virginiadiamond/Downloads/2020%20Flier%20NoVA%20Labor%20Dinner%20%20(2).pdf
GOOD READS
Union to vote on strike action at hundreds of DC-area Safeway and Giant stores
Feb 18, 2020
WTOP
Melissa Howell
After six months of discussions, the Safeway and Giant workers’ union will hold a rally Wednesday to announce an upcoming vote for a strike if their demands aren’t met. In addition to affordable health care and a fully-funded pension, the union also hopes to secure dependable schedules.
An effort to decriminalize prostitution in D.C. faces unlikely opposition: Local sex worker advocates
Feb 14, 2020
Washington Post
Fenit Nirappil and Samantha Schmidt
A national group looking to bring sex work decriminalization to ballot is facing opposition from local sex worker activists. Many want nothing to do with the group because one of its founders was accused of sexual misconduct during time as a marijuana advocate. The local activists also are suspicious of the predominantly white national organization, arguing that black, Latino and transgender women bear the brunt of anti-prostitution laws. And they worry a defeat at the ballot box could hurt their cause if local lawmakers see constituents rejecting decriminalization.
The sky’s the limit
Feb 15, 2020
The Guardian
Colum McCann
On the variations of solidarity and how to build it. Slow down, tell our stories, tell others’ stories back to them.
Democrats fear Republican sabotage in key Senate race
Feb 17, 2020
Politico
James Arkin and Burgess Everet
Politico reports on apparent GOP skullduggery in the North Carolina Senate race. An important reminder to keep an eye out on where political messaging is coming from, even when favorable.
Socialism Featured by One of the Most Mainstream of Media
Feb 16, 2020
TIME Magazine
A brief video (about 10 minutes) published about socialism’s history in the US this past week, showing the inevitable inaccuracies that come with compression; TX to our comrade Jules B for passing it along. Note that the video is also more recently posted on national DSA’s Democratic Left site with a contextual introduction from Maurice Isserman, who is also featured in the video. Maxine Phillips of DL passed that link to us and we here provide that one...
The Perils of Economic Boosterism
Feb 17, 2020
The New Republic
Max B. Sawicky
Our comrade Max Sawicky on how promoting the growth economy has significant, if not planet-lethal, downsides.
Anatomy of a Smear
Feb 18, 2020
Popular Information
Judd Legum
Trump established the playbook - now the Republicans follow suit. How a smear is introduced, legitimized, and disseminated before a proper defense can be established.
Why are climate-conscious cities often the least affordable?
Feb 19, 2020
Grist magazine
How can solutions to the housing crisis be integrated with the Green New Deal? Ecosocialists know it’s essential but some of the “greenest” urban areas around the globe are also epicenters of that housing crisis amid skyrocketing and unmitigated shelter costs. Grist interviews Connor Dougherty, NYT economics writer and new-book author, about this phenomenon. Also catch Dougherty’s excellent case study of a “YIMBY” episode that’s still unresolved, from last Sunday’s NYT.
