Election days come and go. But the struggle of the people to create a government which represents all of us and not just the one percent—a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice—that struggle continues.

--Bernie Sanders

Comrades,

It feels cruel, dispiriting and stupid, that in this moment of historic unrest, there are still people who resist the radical and necessary change we're fighting for. Some people even feel vindicated by Bernie Sanders's announcement this week that he would suspend his campaign for the presidency.

Meanwhile, the facts are that people can't get adequate care from our healthcare system, are left hanging by our welfare system, and are made to put their lives on the line in order to make rent or even to vote. This state is indefensible. The need for democratic socialism is clear.

Bernie's campaign turned public attention to these faults in our society, while radicalizing millions of people to the urgency of this moment. And its greatest lesson was always this: change takes all of us, working together, fighting for each other and for a better society. Not Bernie, us.

The same people who wanted his campaign to blow over want this economic and public health crisis to blow over, too — for us to let it pass without asking how it happened. But we're still in the height of a crisis. More people than ever see the necessity of a political revolution. And we can't let this moment pass.

Solidarity!


News and Information

Here's some of the latest news and information from East Bay Majority ([link removed]) , East Bay DSA's news source with a socialist perspective.


** CALIFORNIA HEALTHCARE WORKERS FIGHT FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD DURING THE PANDEMIC
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Healthcare workers across the state are putting their lives on the line to battle Covid-19. They are demanding that Gov. Gavin Newsom take immediate action to equip them to fight the pandemic—and to rein in a public health catastrophe.

Read more ([link removed])


** ALAMEDA BOARD CONSIDERS GIVING SHERIFF AHERN $85 MILLION, WHILE HIGHLAND HOSPITAL GOES WITHOUT MASKS
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As the Covid-19 crisis looms, Alameda County considers beefing up Sheriff Ahern's militarized police force while starving Highland Hospital.

Read more ([link removed])


** COVID-19 IS A MAJOR THREAD TO OAKLAND'S HOUSELESS POPULATION
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Oakland's unhoused residents are especially vulnerable to the coronavirus. Elected officials must go beyond small gestures and take drastic action to protect our houseless population.

Read more ([link removed])
Featured Events
While we are still unable to meet face-to-face, events are still going on that you can be a part of. RSVP below to stay updated. You can also keep track on our Events page ([link removed]) .


** COVID RESPONSE TEAM MEETING

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TONIGHT! Friday, April 10 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Zoom meeting details below

We will be (virtually) meeting on Friday April 10th from 6:30–8:30pm to check in on our COVID Response Team's work. We will also be hearing from DSA member and SEIU Local 1021 nurse John Pearson about what is happening on the ground in our public healthcare system.

More details on how to join coming soon. Stay safe—solidarity!

(Please consider calling in via video if possible to increase the sense of community we are trying to build in this time!)

Join via Zoom ([link removed])


** EAST BAY DSA VIRTUAL GENERAL MEETING

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Saturday, April 11 | 1–2:30 p.m.
Online via Zoom ♿️

Join our first virtual General Meeting of East Bay DSA ([link removed]) ! Please RSVP and invite other comrades to hear updates on our campaigns and events, including our chapter’s response to Covid-19.

The meeting will be conducted via ZOOM and can be accessed using the following link: [link removed]

Join us to hear updates on:
* Alameda Health System Solidarity Campaign
* Mobilizers program
* Social Housing pressure campaigns
* Political education/night school update
* Committee reports
* Member announcements

RSVP ([link removed])


** CAREWORK & CORONAVIRUS: ANALYZING THE PANDEMIC THROUGH SOCIAL REPRODUCTION THEORY

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Tuesday, April 14 | 7–9 p.m.
Online via Zoom ♿️

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, we're taking a look at Social Reproduction Theory. Social reproduction Theory studies how we feed each other, how we raise and educate our children, care for the elderly, the sick, and manage our households within capitalism. To quote leading scholar Tithi Bhattacharya, Social Reproduction Theory studies "this relationship between profit making and life making under capitalism."

By now, the scope and implications of the COVID-19 crisis are clear—our economy and healthcare system buckle under the strain of an unprecedented challenge. However, this crisis also highlights our connectedness and interdependence. The economy is people doing things, buying things, making things, providing services, having fun, and resting. When these everyday activities can't happen, the economy crashes.

In this class, we will focus on the work that is so often unpaid, hazardous, and invisible—the work that has to happen no matter what—the essential work now being lauded as heroic but which in "normal" times is completely devalued, for example, healthcare, education, childcare, and household management.

Join us via Zoom ([link removed]) as we dive into Social Reproduction Theory to explore, understand, and fight during this time of crisis.

Watch eastbaydsa.org/events/ for updates


** SOCIAL HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING

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Wednesday, April 15 | 7–9 p.m.
RSVP for info ♿️

Our Social Housing Committee meets on the third Wednesday each month. The first half of the meeting is dedicated to learning together about social housing and about the broader housing justice movement. The second part of the meeting we discuss campaigns and working group updates. All are welcome!

RSVP ([link removed])
Upcoming Events


** STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

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Sunday, April 19 | 2–5 p.m.

RSVP for info ♿️


See how your elected leadership works as we deliberate on current chapter issues. This meeting is open to all DSA members to observe the proceedings. Please RSVP for the address.

RSVP ([link removed])


** RACIAL SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE MEETING

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Monday, April 20 | 7–9 p.m.

RSVP for info ♿️


Join the Racial Solidarity Committee for our monthly meeting!

The Racial Solidarity Committee (RSC) is dedicated to fighting for the rights of BIPOC communities here in the Bay Area as well as around the world. We are committed to building a multiracial democratic socialist organization that reflects the diversity of the Bay Area working class. Our work ranges from immigration justice and open borders to workers' rights and access to fully-funded public education. In our general meetings, we hold political discussions and report on upcoming RSC campaigns and events. Join us and become a part of the fight for Racial Solidarity!

Racial Solidarity Committee is open to all, and we especially welcome self-identified BIPOC folx. BIPOC facilitators take progressive stack, and we maintain community agreements.

RSVP ([link removed])


** LABOR COMMITTEE MEETING

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Sunday, April 26 | 6–8 p.m.

RSVP for info ♿️


Please join the East Bay DSA Labor Committee for our regular monthly meeting. It's open to all DSA members who are interested in getting involved in labor work with their comrades! Learn more about how to get involved in the committee, our ongoing projects, and upcoming solidarity actions!

If you'd like to submit an item for the agenda, please email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

RSVP ([link removed])


CATCH UP ON NIGHT SCHOOL
With social distancing guidelines still in place, now's as good a time as any to catch up on our Socialist Night School.

Catch up on past night school readings and videos below.

Watch past Night School videos ([link removed])

Catch up on Night School readings ([link removed])

Not a Member Yet? Let's Fix That.
DSA now has 60,000 members nationally, 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])

We're sort of out of photos now, because all of our events have moved online—even our chapter's general meeting! Join our first virtual GM this Saturday and see your comrades. What a radical idea!

Caucus Corner
Our caucuses organize events too! Check out the Caucus Corner of our website ([link removed]) to learn more about the activities of East Bay DSA caucuses and how to participate.

Announcements

2020 LOCAL CONVENTION AND STEERING COMMITTEE ELECTIONS
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the SC decided unanimously to hold online elections for our next Steering Committee (SC), the 13-member elected leadership of our chapter. We plan to hold an online candidate forum and vote for our new leadership via OpaVote, an online voting system.

The rules for election eligibility and process were approved by majority vote at our February General Membership Meeting, and ratified by a unanimous Steering Committee vote.

Candidates must be nominated in order to run for Steering Committee positions. Nominees must be in good standing and have been East Bay DSA members for at least 3 months before the date of the election. They must be nominated by ten members in good standing before 11:59 p.m. on April 26 in order to be on the ballot. Candidates receiving ten or more nominations before 11:59 p.m. on April 26 will be notified and asked to submit a candidate statement.

Nominate Someone ([link removed])


Thus we find that, not only can we manage very well without the interference of the capitalist class in the great industries of the country, but that their interference is becoming more and more a nuisance. Again we say to them, "Stand back! Give the working class the chance of a turn."

--Friedrich Engels

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