East Bay DSA Newsletter April 23, 2020

Sooner or later, we will have to recognise that the Earth has rights, too, to live without pollution. What mankind must know is that human beings cannot live without Mother Earth, but the planet can live without humans.

Evo Morales

Comrades,

Maybe you're working from home, watching your days blend together in a blur of overcaffeinated Zoom calls. Maybe you've been laid off, and seen your paltry stimulus check seized to line a billionaire banker’s already-bulging pockets. Or maybe you're still going in to your job, considered "essential" enough to work but not enough to get the protective equipment you need or the pay you deserve.

No matter how the pandemic has affected you, it's easy to feel powerless. The Trump administration is using the crisis as an excuse to implement crushing austerity and a draconian immigration ban, and the Democrats (theoretically the opposition party) have met every move with a rueful shrug and a promise to maybe do better next time. In the face of all this cruelty and indifference, who could blame you for feeling demoralized?

But take heart! Wherever there is despair, the force of solidarity is there to meet it. Our members are fighting to support workers from McDonald’s to Highland Hospital and everywhere in between. We’re meeting (virtually) to discuss the mass strikes that are sweeping the globe, fight for the Green New Deal, and elect the leadership that will enact the chapter’s will for the coming year.

As the saying goes: in our hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold. There's never been a better time to use it.

Five workers walked out of this East Oakland McDonald’s on Saturday demanding basic PPE, hazard pay, and better, safer working conditions. This follows other recent COVID-related walkouts at McDonald’s in San Francisco, San Jose, and Los Angeles. And Oakland’s workers are still on strike - show them your support, and look at this online list of demands from Fight for 15: https://fightfor15.org/c-petition/coronavirus/.

News and Information

Here's some of the latest news and information from a socialist perspective.

HIGHLAND HOSPITAL FIRES NURSE WHO WORE GARBAGE BAG AS PPE

Highland Hospital nurse Saber Alaoui made the news when he wore a garbage bag as a gown to protect himself from Covid-19. His employer didn’t like the attention — and fired him soon after.

Read more

THE COURTS WON’T SAVE US FROM THE PANDEMIC

A recent California judicial ruling suspends cash bail for some defendants and halts most evictions during the Covid-19 state of emergency. But we can’t rely on court orders to deal with the ongoing social crisis.

Read more

DSA COVID-19 BULLETIN #10

The DSA COVID-19 Bulletin from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is designed to keep working-class people informed about the evolving COVID-19 crisis and its political implications. If you'd like to get the DSA COVID-19 Bulletin by email, sign up here, and share this link with your friends and comrades! Anyone can sign up. New bulletins come out at least once a week.

In the latest issue:

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.

LABOR COMMITTEE MEETING

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].

RSVP

MASS STRIKES AND THE CORONAVIRUS, FEATURING DAVID MCNALLY

Tuesday, April 28 | 7–9 p.m.

Online via Zoom ♿️

Mass strikes have played a central role in the history of left movements, and they have long captured the imagination of socialists and other radicals. Mass strikes represent the explosion of class struggle outside of a single workplace or industry, bringing the working classes of entire cities or countries into revolt against the prevailing order. Such occurrences can act as the catalyst for significant pro-worker reforms, or even lead to revolution.

Recent movements against austerity in France and Chile show that mass strikes are far from a thing of the past. And with coronavirus causing a global social and economic crisis, along with sparking an upsurge in labor militancy, it’s not hard to imagine similar events breaking out in the U.S. or across the world.

Join East Bay DSA’s Socialist Night School on Tuesday, April 28 for a discussion of the history and theory of mass strikes, with a focus on drawing lessons for the current crisis.

Readings:
"General Strikes, Mass Strikes," Kim Moody
Excerpts from "Depression Decade," Strike!, Jeremy Brecher
"The Great Minneapolis Strikes," The History of American Trotskyism, James P. Cannon
"Even in a Pandemic, Workers Can Fight Back," Nick French

Join on Zoom RSVP

Upcoming Events

GREEN NEW DEAL COMMITTEE MONTHLY MEETING (VIRTUAL)

Wednesday, May 13 | 12–1:30 p.m.

Online via Zoom – RSVP for info ♿️

Our Green New Deal Committee meets on the second Wednesday each month. We will discuss eco-socialist issues, upcoming events and actions, committee priorities, and campaigns. All are welcome! Please note that due to COVID-19, this committee meeting will be conducted via Zoom video call. Please RSVP to receive the URL to the meeting.

RSVP

Catch up on Socialist Night School

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

Catch up on Night School readings

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

McDonald's workers on strike!

Caucus Corner

Our caucuses organize events too! Check out the Caucus Corner of our website 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

The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people.

César Chávez

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Sooner or later, we will have to recognise that the Earth has rights, too, to live without pollution. What mankind must know is that human beings cannot live without Mother Earth, but the planet can live without humans.

-- Evo Morales

Comrades,

Maybe you're working from home, watching your days blend together in a blur of overcaffeinated Zoom calls. Maybe you've been laid off, and seen your paltry stimulus check seized to line a billionaire banker’s already-bulging pockets. Or maybe you're still going in to your job, considered "essential" enough to work but not enough to get the protective equipment you need or the pay you deserve.

No matter how the pandemic has affected you, it's easy to feel powerless. The Trump administration is using the crisis as an excuse to implement crushing austerity and a draconian immigration ban, and the Democrats (theoretically the opposition party) have met every move with a rueful shrug and a promise to maybe do better next time. In the face of all this cruelty and indifference, who could blame you for feeling demoralized?

But take heart! Wherever there is despair, the force of solidarity is there to meet it. Our members are fighting to support workers from McDonald’s to Highland Hospital and everywhere in between. We’re meeting (virtually) to discuss the mass strikes that are sweeping the globe, fight for the Green New Deal, and elect the leadership that will enact the chapter’s will for the coming year.

As the saying goes: in our hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold. There's never been a better time to use it.

News and Information

Here's some of the latest news and information from a socialist perspective.

** HIGHLAND HOSPITAL FIRES NURSE WHO WORE GARBAGE BAG AS PPE

------------------------------------------------------------
Highland Hospital nurse Saber Alaoui made the news when he wore a garbage bag as a gown to protect himself from Covid-19. His employer didn’t like the attention — and fired him soon after.

Read more (https://eastbaymajority.com/highland-hospital-fires-nurse-who-wore-garbage-bag-as-a-gown/)

** THE COURTS WON’T SAVE US FROM THE PANDEMIC

------------------------------------------------------------
A recent California judicial ruling suspends cash bail for some defendants and halts most evictions during the Covid-19 state of emergency. But we can’t rely on court orders to deal with the ongoing social crisis.

Read more (https://eastbaymajority.com/the-courts-wont-save-us-from-the-pandemic/)

** DSA COVID-19 BULLETIN #10
------------------------------------------------------------
The DSA COVID-19 Bulletin from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is designed to keep working-class people informed about the evolving COVID-19 crisis and its political implications. If you'd like to get the DSA COVID-19 Bulletin by email, sign up here, and share this link with your friends and comrades (https://actionnetwork.org/forms/dsa-covid-19-bulletin/) ! Anyone can sign up. New bulletins come out at least once a week.

In the latest issue:
* Capitalism is the Virus (https://www.dsausa.org/news/dsa-covid-19-bulletin-10/#capitalism_virus)
* Recession is No Climate Solution (https://www.dsausa.org/news/dsa-covid-19-bulletin-10/#recession_climate)
* A Green Stimulus, Not a Fossil Bailout (https://www.dsausa.org/news/dsa-covid-19-bulletin-10/#green_stimulus)
* Workers Take Power (https://www.dsausa.org/news/dsa-covid-19-bulletin-10/#workers_power)
* DSA Announcements (https://www.dsausa.org/news/dsa-covid-19-bulletin-10/#announcements)
* Online Political Education Events (https://www.dsausa.org/news/dsa-covid-19-bulletin-10/#online_events)

Read more (https://www.dsausa.org/news/dsa-covid-19-bulletin-10/)

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 (http://eastbaydsa.org/events/) .

** LABOR COMMITTEE MEETING
------------------------------------------------------------
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 (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/929/2020-04-26-labor-committee-meeting/)

** MASS STRIKES AND THE CORONAVIRUS, FEATURING DAVID MCNALLY

------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, April 28 | 7–9 p.m.
Online via Zoom (https://dsausa.zoom.us/j/307978083) ♿️

Mass strikes have played a central role in the history of left movements, and they have long captured the imagination of socialists and other radicals. Mass strikes represent the explosion of class struggle outside of a single workplace or industry, bringing the working classes of entire cities or countries into revolt against the prevailing order. Such occurrences can act as the catalyst for significant pro-worker reforms, or even lead to revolution.

Recent movements against austerity in France and Chile show that mass strikes are far from a thing of the past. And with coronavirus causing a global social and economic crisis, along with sparking an upsurge in labor militancy, it’s not hard to imagine similar events breaking out in the U.S. or across the world.

Join East Bay DSA’s Socialist Night School on Tuesday, April 28 for a discussion of the history and theory of mass strikes, with a focus on drawing lessons for the current crisis.

Readings:
"General Strikes, Mass Strikes (https://solidarity-us.org/atc/160/p3679/) ," Kim Moody
Excerpts from "Depression Decade (https://drive.google.com/file/d/17DpAlD3QfLNesIPJoAYCLcnIBYJYe5g3/view) ," Strike!, Jeremy Brecher
"The Great Minneapolis Strikes (https://www.marxists.org/archive/cannon/works/1944/ht03.htm) ," The History of American Trotskyism, James P. Cannon
"Even in a Pandemic, Workers Can Fight Back (https://www.jacobinmag.com/2020/04/workers-great-depression-economy-coronavirus-new-deal) ," Nick French

Join on Zoom (https://dsausa.zoom.us/j/307978083) RSVP (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/1283/2020-04-28-mass-strikes-and-the-coronavirus-featuring-david-mcnally/)
Upcoming Events

** GREEN NEW DEAL COMMITTEE MONTHLY MEETING (VIRTUAL)

------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, May 13 | 12–1:30 p.m.

Online via Zoom – RSVP for info ♿️

Our Green New Deal Committee meets on the second Wednesday each month. We will discuss eco-socialist issues, upcoming events and actions, committee priorities, and campaigns. All are welcome! Please note that due to COVID-19, this committee meeting will be conducted via Zoom video call. Please RSVP to receive the URL to the meeting.

RSVP (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/1274/2020-05-13-green-new-deal-committee-monthly-meeting-virtual/)

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 (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeMYhhCCTFq1jGdOt6lcF8l7HQJwnJndD)

Catch up on Night School readings (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/night-school/)

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 (https://act.dsausa.org/donate/membership/)

Caucus Corner

Our caucuses organize events too! Check out the Caucus Corner of our website (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/about/caucuses/) 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 (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/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 (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/steering-committee/minutes/2020-03-15/) .

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 (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdphPMeLHo2O3x5EeKtI_V54UOsXkMHrXlicQTUaMLwsKS7dg/viewform)

The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people.

--César Chávez