Howdy comrades, 

Communications Committee checking in and bringing you edition #195 of the Houston DSA newsletter! Hope to see you at one of our upcoming events! Solidarity!

We call on the Houston community and supporters to join us as we #ShutItDown for Palestine and make our stance clear as we stand against Israel's genocidal assault on Gaza.

Meet us at 4 PM on Friday, December 8 at the Israeli Consulate (24 Greenway Plaza) where we will demand a full and permanent ceasefire, and end to U.S. complicity, the end to the siege on Gaza, the release of all Palestinian prisoners, and an end to the occupation!

Contact: [email protected]

Join us for a solidarity screening of Naila and the Uprising directed by Julia Bacha. The film chronicles the remarkable journey of Naila Ayesh and the realization of the women's movement during the First Intifada. Palestinian resistance and resilience are key topics in this film, but there is also an unshakeable and unbreakable hope that is brought to life in this story.

Food will be provided and a group discussion will follow the film! RSVP below so we can get an accurate count for food.

When: Sunday, December 10th, 1 - 3 PM

Where: Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, 2506 Sutherland St

Palestine will be free!

Please see our Instagram statement regarding Pervez Agwan. This meeting is for Houston DSA members via Zoom, tomorrow December 7. Please check December 1 email to RSVP.

If there are any questions, please feel free to check in with Steering Committee, or send an email to [email protected]. Please do not hesitate to reach out. 

Join our Political Education Working Group for our last Socialist Night School class of the year on Monday, December 11! We will be reading and discussing Albert Einstein’s 1949 piece, “Why Socialism?”, in the Monthly Review. This will serve as a pivot between our modules “What is Capitalism” and “What is Socialism.” 

Our Socialist Night School is an in person event at The Montrose Center, but there is also a Zoom option. Please RSVP for details and Zoom link! Event starts at 7 PM, we hope to see y'all there!

We're having our Chapter Orientation today at 7 PM on Zoom! Whether you are a new member, a non-member who is curious about DSA, or a member who wants to re-engage, this is a great event that describes who we are and what our chapter's work consists of.

Please RSVP below for call link! Hope to see you there!

Please congratulate James M, Jay N, and Stephen H as they were chosen to represent the Houston chapter as Electors for the upcoming DSA National Electoral Commission (NEC) Steering Committee! Our chapter participating in the selection of the leadership of this national body is thanks to all the hard work of our volunteers for the Vote Yes for Prop A campaign this past fall, which was a successful, nationally-endorsed campaign for DSA!

The electors will attend an NEC SC candidate forum this Sunday, December 10 and will then vote, choosing among the 31 candidates (based in chapters from around the country, including New York City, Louisville, Metro DC, Seattle, San Antonio, Denver, among others) running for the 13 seats.

In other news, following the passage of the Democracy Commission Resolution at the 2023 National Convention, delegates from chapters across the country voted to elect members in good standing to the 21 member Democracy Commission. The Democracy Commission is charted to research and recommend structural changes to the organization with a view of improving democratic decision making. These recommendations will be presented and voted on at the next National Convention in 2025.

Finally, Megan Romer and Ashik Siddique (both at large members) have been elected as the first ever paid co-chairs of the National Political Committee!

The Gaming Caucus/Group is putting on a tournament fundraiser on the evening of December 9th. Join your comrades in the frenzy! While this is a competition, please do not feel like you can't participate because you're not good at Smash Bros :D. We're just here to have a good time!

Check Mattermost for details!

(all events posted in houstondsa.org/calendar)

December Chapter Orientation

Wednesday, December 6, 7 - 8 PM (Zoom)

Screening: Naila And The Uprising

Sunday, December 10, 1 - 3 PM

Socialist Night School

Monday, December 11, 7 - 9 PM (Hybrid)

December General Meeting

Thursday, December 14, 7 - 9 PM (Hybrid)

If you're a DSA dues paying member and do not have access to Mattermost, our discourse space, please email [email protected] and you'll receive a join link once verified.

To update your name, phone, and/or mailing address tied to your DSA membership, fill out this FORM. Please use the email currently tied to your DSA membership. For membership questions please check out the DSA FAQ. 

Interested in joining Houston DSA? Become a dues paying DSA member to become affiliated with the local chapter! 

(click on each image for more info)

Signing off, take care comrades and solidarity forever!

Houston DSA Communications Committee