Friend —

The Steering Committee of Metro-Detroit DSA met today to make plans for our continued organizing efforts in light of the Coronavirus pandemic, which has now officially hit Michigan. Members of the Steering Committee (as well as the other DSA members in attendance) agreed that our Chapter should heed the advice of the CDC (and the rest of the scientific community) and follow “social distancing” protocols for the foreseeable future. All future Detroit DSA events -- up to and including our next general meeting scheduled for April 5, 2020 -- will therefore take place online via widely available digital platforms such as Zoom. More information to come. 

As members of DSA, we know that our dysfunctional for-profit healthcare system cannot handle this pandemic. It is therefore critical that we reduce the spread of the virus as much as possible via social distancing. Social distancing means that you do not leave your home unless you have to, and that, if at all possible, you avoid going anywhere (e.g., bars, restaurants, concerts) that will require you to be closer than 6 feet from another person. It also means refraining from inviting anyone into your home, and from visiting the homes of others. Stay connected with friends, family, comrades, and co-workers online or by phone. 

While we are aware of various direct aid efforts that are already underway throughout the area to deal with the crisis, we cannot say with confidence whether all of these efforts can be done safely, without inadvertently spreading the virus. We will not be promoting or recommending any aid efforts that involve breaking social distancing protocols until we have more information about the crisis.

Practicing social distancing does not mean that we stop organizing. The COVID-19 pandemic lays bare the injustice, inequality, and indifference to human suffering that are endemic to capitalism. We have a lot of work to do, and need DSA members to pitch in on a number of upcoming projects, described below. 

Sign up to volunteer here!

1. Detroit DSA Online Debate Watch Party: Join us TONIGHT at 8pm to watch Bernie Sanders eviscerate Joe Biden in their first one-on-one debate. The debate starts tonight at 8pm, and we’ll be streaming together here. 
2. Petition: The Democratic Nominee Must Support Medicare for All: We will be circulating a petition following tonight’s debates that makes clear that if Joe Biden is the eventual nominee (and wants the votes of progressives and people under 50 in the general election) he needs to immediately endorse Medicare for All, which is supported by over 80% of Democrats and a majority of all Americans. (Contact Kyle/Natasha at [email protected]) 
3. M4A Virtual Town Hall w/Rep. Elissa Slotkin: Rep. Slotkin is one of the targets of our DSA-M4A US House pressure campaign. She hasn't signed on to Medicare for All yet, so we have a really great opportunity to bird dog her upcoming Teletownhall on the Coronavirus. The call is this Tuesday, March 17th, at 5:00 PM. We’re organizing a number of people to join the call and ask her if she’ll support the house M4A bill in the wake of this crisis. You don’t need to live in Elissa Slotkin’s district to join the call.  (Contact Kyle/Jeff at [email protected])
4. Digital Organizing Task Force: We need comrades who have skills related to digital organizing platforms (Zoom, Google Chat, Opavote, etc.) to help us come up with a tech plan for the crisis (how to remotely hold meetings, administer night school classes, take votes, watch debates together, and more). (Contact Melissa at [email protected])
5. Internal Check-in Committee: We need comrades who are willing to devise and carry out a system for checking in with members of our Chapter to make sure they are okay and have everything they need during the crisis. (Contact Michelle/Danielle at communications@metrodetroitdsa.com) 
6. External Outreach Committee: We need members of Detroit DSA who will check in with other groups in the area (unions, labor groups, non-profits, community organizations, etc.) to learn what efforts they are engaged in and determine whether Detroit DSA should get involved (and how). (Contact Madeline/Glen via communications@metrodetroitdsa.com) 
7. Member Engagement/Recruitment Committee: We need comrades who will continue to use our phone bank and other means of communication to reach out to current members about our work, events & meetings (online or otherwise) and continue to engage and recruit other interested friends to our activities. We’ll be meeting (remotely) Thursdays at 6pm. (Contact Peter/Amanda/Audrey via communications@metrodetroitdsa.com) 
8. Newspaper/Media: We will be using our time trapped at home to write lots of articles for our newspaper, the Detroit Socialist, and we need stories. Is your boss making you come to work during the pandemic? Is your workplace organizing around demands related to the pandemic? Have you tried to get tested and been turned away? Let us know! (Contact Jonathan/Jane/Glen/Caleb at [email protected])
9. Political Education: We need comrades to help with Night School, reading groups, and other political education efforts. (Contact Peter/Madison at [email protected]) 

In solidarity,

Natasha Fernández-Silber
http://www.metrodetroitdsa.com/

Support Detroit DSA! 
Detroit DSA is one hundred percent funded by ourselves. Help us keep the chapter financially healthy!