Workers of the world, unite!
--Karl Marx
Last Friday was International Workers' Day. Every year, May Day
celebrates the power, dignity, and solidarity of the working class and
highlights the brutality and exploitation of the capitalist
system.
These are always relevant, urgent themes. But the COVID-19 pandemic
makes this a historic, horrifying moment for American workers, who are
being told to return to work without paid sick time, adequate
workplace protections, or any other options. This is a nightmare; a
mass murder in the name of profit.
It's also perhaps the clearest illustration many Americans have
ever had of class politics. What do you mean by the working class?
What do you mean by the capitalist class? What are the "means of
production," the "levers of power"?
Well, there's us, and there's the people telling us to get back to
work. We’re afraid for our families' lives. They would rather kill us
than lose profits, and they’re pulling that lever now.
So in this moment, we see both the necessity and the unprecedented
opportunity to organize the working class and fight back. East Bay DSA
is holding elections for our steering committee (online, of course) to
choose a vision and a path for how we do that. Read statements from
the candidates to get informed and inspired, then check out our events
to get involved.
Solidarity!
News and Information
Here's some of the latest news and
information from a socialist perspective.
** WORKERS AT EAST OAKLAND MCDONALD'S STRIKE FOR
SAFETY
------------------------------------------------------------
An
Oakland McDonald's restaurant is forcing its employees to work in
unsafe conditions. Its workers are going on strike to demand hazard
pay and protective gear for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Read more
(https://eastbaymajority.com/workers-at-east-oakland-mcdonalds-strike-for-safety/)
** 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
#11
------------------------------------------------------------
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:
* DSA is Continuing the Fight for Medicare
for All
(https://www.dsausa.org/news/dsa-covid-19-bulletin-11/#m4a)
*
Socialist Forum Call for Submissions
(https://www.dsausa.org/news/dsa-covid-19-bulletin-11/#socialist_forum)
*
DSA Announcements
(https://www.dsausa.org/news/dsa-covid-19-bulletin-11/#announcements)
Read more
(https://www.dsausa.org/news/dsa-covid-19-bulletin-11/)
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/) .
** GREEN NEW DEAL COMMITTEE MONTHLY MEETING (VIRTUAL)
------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday,
May 13 | 6:45–8:45 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, that 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/)
** MAY GENERAL MEETING AND STEERING COMMITTEE CANDIDATE
FORUM
------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday,
May 16 | 1–3:30 p.m.
Online via Zoom—RSVP for info ♿️
It’s time
to elect a new East Bay DSA Steering Committee!
Join us for our May General Meeting and Steering Committee
Candidate Forum via online conferencing (link TBA). During the first
hour, we’ll hear updates from our committees and learn about ways to
plug in to DSA. The second half of the meeting will be dedicated to
our Steering Committee Candidate Forum. You’ll get to hear candidates
talk about their vision for our chapter’s future and answer moderated
questions from assembled members.
All Steering Committee members are elected for a one-year term,
including two Co-Chairs, a Vice-Chair, a Recording Secretary, a
Communications Secretary, a Treasurer, and seven At-Large members. You
can read the role descriptions in our bylaws.
More info (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/elections/)
Due to the current COVID-19 crisis, all voting will take place
electronically through OpaVote. Each eligible voting member will
receive a unique link through the email address that corresponds to
their national account. Voting will open on May 17 and close one week
later on May 23 at 11:59 p.m.
Eligible voting members must have joined East Bay DSA at least 1
month before the election, be current dues paying members at the time
of the election, and not have been lapsed for the full year preceding
the date of the election in order to vote in the Steering Committee
election.
RSVP
(https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/1288/2020-05-16-may-general-meeting-and-steering-committee-candidate-forum/)
** STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday,
May 17 | 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 meeting info.
RSVP
(https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/1092/2020-05-17-steering-committee-meeting/)
** RACIAL SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE MONTHLY MEETING
------------------------------------------------------------
Monday,
May 18 | 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. Contact
[email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]) for meeting information.
RSVP
(https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/1099/2020-05-18-racial-solidarity-committee-monthly-meeting/)
** SOCIAL HOUSING COMMITTEE MONTHLY MEETING
------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday,
May 20 | 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
(https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/928/2020-05-20-social-housing-committee-monthly-meeting/)
Upcoming
Events
** LABOR COMMITTEE MEETING
------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday,
May 24 | 6–8 p.m.
Online via Zoom – 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/1193/2020-05-24-labor-committee-meeting/)
** INTRO TO
DSA
------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday,
May 30 | 1–3 p.m.
Online–stay tuned for details
New to DSA or to democratic
socialism? Let's talk about it. Come to our next Intro to DSA event
and hear from experienced DSA organizers, discuss topics related to
DSA and democratic socialism, and get involved with our campaigns and
projects.
Stay tuned to https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/ for
details.
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
(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
STEERING COMMITTEE CANDIDATE STATEMENTS
Elections for our
chapter’s steering committee are this month (online voting starts May
17), and candidate statements are now online. Get informed for this
election and inspired for this crucial moment by reading up on each
candidate’s goals and priorities for the chapter.
More info (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/elections/)
The only way to end class domination is to dissolve the class that
dominates. There is no evidence that this class will dissolve itself.
Individual members may repudiate their affiliation with the class, but
for the class as a whole to be dissolved, its most intransigent
members must be stripped of their power.
--Victor Wallis