Isolated, we are but straws that any boss can bend to his will, but organized we are a mighty force that no one can break.
-- Alexandra Kollontai

Comrades,

This past weekend, 1,056 delegates attended DSA's biannual national convention in Atlanta. It was the largest gathering of socialists in the United States since the 1940s. As one outside observer put it ([link removed]) , "My God, I thought, they are actually going to win."

The convention passed resolutions to support a campaign for a Green New Deal, focus our labor efforts on rank-and-file union work and organizing the unorganized, create an anti-fascist working group, narrow national electoral endorsements to class-struggle candidates who identify as open socialists, create a campaign to end cash bail, enhance our national housing efforts, and endorse nobody in the Democratic Party presidential primary besides Bernie Sanders.

Delegates also deliberated over a number of resolutions pertaining to internal matters, voting to invest in a national political education program, develop a plan to intensify grassroots fundraising efforts for small chapters, expand childcare in DSA, beef up our national grievance procedure, and hire more staff — including full-time staffers dedicated to labor and Medicare for All. These are just a few of the items that the convention passed: keep an eye out for a more complete list in the upcoming issue of DSA's paper newsletter Democratic Left.

One of the highlights of the convention was a speech given by Sara Nelson, the president of the national flight attendants' union. It was Nelson's union that stopped Trump's government shutdown by threatening to go on strike. Nelson told DSA, "People think power is a limited resource, but using power builds power. Once workers get a taste of our power, we will not settle for a bad deal. And we won’t stand by while someone else gets screwed, either."

Using power builds power — in that spirit, we are ready to begin another two years of socialist organizing in DSA. See below for how you can get involved right here in the East Bay. Solidarity!

Featured Events
If you're ready to use power to build power, here's a list of official chapter events. RSVP to keep up to date. You can also keep track on our Events page ([link removed]) .


** THE GLOBAL RISE OF THE RIGHT
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Friday, August 9 | 5–7 p.m.
Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave, Oakland ♿️

What does the global rise of far-right politics mean for socialist activists across the world? How can we build international solidarity to defeat demagogues like Trump and Duterte—and the movements that drove them to power?

Join us for a political discussion on these questions and more with Aaron Pedrosa, a leader in many left-wing Filipino organizations and movements. Pedrosa currently serves as the Co-Convenor of the Campaign for Peace with Social Justice and Co-Chair of the External Affairs Committee for the socialist Partido Lakas ng Masa.

Don't miss this chance to discuss global perspectives on left politics and build international solidarity!

Accessibility: Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library is wheelchair-accessible. There is a restroom with no step up, but the restroom doorway is narrow.


** VOTING GENERAL MEETING
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Sunday, August 11 | 1–3 p.m.
Omni Commons, 4799 Shattuck Ave, Oakland ♿️

East Bay DSA's bimonthly general meetings (GMs) include deliberation and voting on member-submitted resolutions, member announcements, reports from our committees, and more.

Volunteering at the GM is lively, easy, and low-commitment, and volunteers participate fully in meeting business. The contribution is huge, though—meetings require a lot of hands, and our volunteers keep them lively, inspiring, and productive. Join up here ([link removed]) . Use this form, too, if you have child supervision or accessibility needs, including the need for an ASL interpreter.

With our new regular schedule, member-submitted resolutions will be accepted on a rolling basis—please email them to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) . The submissions deadline for each meeting is three weeks in advance of the meeting itself.

General Meetings are run by the Meetings Committee—for questions or comments, or if you are interested in joining the committee, write us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) !

The Omni Commons ballroom is wheelchair-accessible via a lift and has wheelchair-accessible restrooms, and we provide child supervision and wireless microphones with runners. It is also accessible by BART (1/2 mile walk from MacArthur Station) and by AC Transit bus lines 18, 88, and 12. See more information on Omni accessibility ([link removed]) .

RSVP/Volunteer ([link removed])


** SOCIALIZE WITH SOCIALISTS
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Thursday, August 15 | 7–9 p.m.
Ale Industries, 3096 E. 10th St., Oakland ♿️

Come hang out with East Bay DSA members and talk about socialism, current events, historic events, the future, music, your cat, someone else's cat, etc. This is a great event for new members and people curious about DSA. We'll tell you about upcoming East Bay DSA events and how you can get involved!

Ale Industries is family friendly and allows dogs. It's a five minute walk from Fruitvale Bart and has some parking available in front of the brewery. While Ale Industries doesn't sell food, there will be a food truck parked outside.

Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible entrance and restrooms.

RSVP ([link removed])


** RACIAL SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE MONTHLY MEETING

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Monday, August 19 | 7–9 p.m.
Call / text 209-613-0810 for location
Accessibility: Location and accessibility details may vary.

RSVP ([link removed])


** SOCIAL HOUSING COMMITTEE MONTHLY MEETING
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Wednesday, August 21 | 7–9 p.m.
ACCE, 2501 International Blvd, Oakland ♿️

RSVP ([link removed])

Upcoming Events

** MEMES 4 BERNIE CONTENT PARTY!
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Sunday, August 25 | 2–4 p.m.

Powderface, 3411 E. 12th St. #134, Oakland ♿️

Come meme with us! An electrifying afternoon of content creation awaits. We'll be curating articles, hatching tweets and slappin' text on cat pictures for Bernie Sanders and Socialism.

We'll be using this form ([link removed]) to collaborate on content. Feel free to use it any time and to peruse the replies!

This is a great event for new members, people curious about DSA or those who want to connect with our 2020 electoral work. Please bring a charged device!

RSVP ([link removed])


Not a Member Yet? Let's Fix That.
DSA has more than 56,000 members, and we're still growing. There's never been a better time to get involved than right now! Join our national organization by clicking below and become an official socialist organizer.

Join DSA ([link removed])


Caucus Corner
Check the Caucus Corner of the East Bay DSA website ([link removed]) to learn more about the activities of East Bay DSA caucuses and how to participate!
Announcements


EAST BAY DSA IN SEARCH OF OFFICE SPACE
Do you or someone you know have access to an office space that East Bay DSA could rent? Because we are a member-run organization with limited resources, we are looking for a low-cost, below market rate office space. Please contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Office%20space) if you have any leads. Thank you!

What the bourgeoisie therefore produces, above all, are its own grave-diggers. Its fall and the victory of the proletariat are equally inevitable.

--Marx & Engels, "The Communist Manifesto"



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