Socialists organize to resist Trump's return; Stop Fueling Genocide BDS campaign night school and launch; March for "Life" counterprotest; and more ...
This is the weekly newsletter of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (MDC DSA), which is produced by local members of the chapter's Publications Working Group. The Weekly Update publishes every Friday at 9am. Want to fight fascism from the heart of empire? Join DSA and fight to build socialism!
Paid for by Metro DC DSA (mdcdsa.org). Not authorized by any candidate or committee.
UP FRONT
Donald Trump returns to Washington — Socialists and workers begin organizing resistance
Donald Trump returned to Washington this week, flanked by the wealthiest men in the country. At an inaugural event for the president, his newest patron, Elon Musk, feverishly gave an awkward Nazi salute — twice — to crazed applause as Proud Boys marched in circles in the barren streets of DC. In an inaugural address, Trump signed a number of legally dubious executive orders. When finished, he tossed a collection of Sharpies into the crowd, which fought over them like hyenas on a bone.
Meanwhile, the people of DC braved frigid temperatures to voice their opposition to this new era of governance as circus. On the 19th, approximately 50,000 people cohered into the People’s March, calling for resistance to Trumpist scapegoating to be led by a movement of the multiracial working class. Campaigns for union expansion, medicare for all, a green new deal, social housing, and strong tenant rights aren’t just the demands of this movement — they are the ticket to resisting Donald Trump’s bizarre and disorienting spectacles.
Donald Trump promised to be “a dictator on day one.” Instead, his barrage of executive orders is largely an organized pursuit of his campaign pledges — with a noticeable lack of action on tariffs and immigration raids thus far. From Jacobin: “It looks like he is setting the groundwork for significant action (i.e., lifting restrictions on immigration enforcement in schools, hospitals, and churches), but he retreated from the promised day-one mass deportations and raids. It’s possible that the money just isn’t there yet to conduct the mass deportations, and so any such project has to wait for the big bill they’re negotiating.”
Trump also issued a number of pardons — particularly aimed at freeing insurrectionists who sacked Washington and killed a police officer in 2020. Included in his maneuver was the pardon of killer cops Terrence Sutton and Andrew Zabavsky, who were charged with second-degree murder in the killing of DC’s Karon Hylton Brown in October of 2020. The myth of criminals crossing the Southern border has been trumped by Trump, who turned loose 1,500 convicted and sentenced criminals onto the streets of DC with no border involved.
The collapse of the Democratic Party — destroyed by corporate interlocutors — leaves little in the way of national political resistance to this incoming regime. From the Democrats’ demise, the workers will rebuild; the grassroots resistance is well underway. Some immediate calls to action happening among the local resistance:
Stomp Out Slumlords is holding an anti-eviction canvass at 1:30pm this Saturday, January 25th, launching at L’Enfant Plaza Metro. SOS will be canvassing to inform tenants facing eviction of their rights in court, how to acquire a lawyer, and how to build a tenant association. As Trump’s corporate suitors pursue weakened tenant laws and sadistic roundups of immigrants, the need for organized tenant power is more urgent than ever. (All ranges of canvassing experience are welcome: New volunteers will be partnered with experienced canvassers.)
Defend DC is holding a mass meeting on January 29 in Ward 8 at Matthews Memorial Baptist Church, doors opening at 6pm (with dinner) with meeting to start at 6:30. The disenfranchised people of DC will not be silenced or forgotten.
Keep on the lookout for ICE. Trump’s regime is plotting mass roundups of migrants and families, ripping families apart. To report ICE raids or other activity, locals are urged to call the local emergency hotline at 202-335-1183 to report suspicious activity from ICE. DMV locals should orient themselves with DC Migrant Mutual Aid for additional information.
Resist zoning out — resistance will come from organized working-class movements united for real change. NOW is the time to get organized. Not a member of the Democratic Socialists? JOIN TODAY!
Stop Fueling Genocide: The BDS Campaign Against Chevron and Our Role in the DMV — Monday, January 27, 7pm
As the domestic resistance to Trump begins, the battle for liberation for the people of Palestine continues. Metro DC DSA’s Internationalism Working Group and local allies are holding a political education event on Monday, January 27th that will cover how DMV locals can participate in a Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions campaign. This is a Socialist Night School event and campaign launch that will foster discussion of the BDS campaign targeting Chevron, and will include education on Chevron’s pattern of environmental destruction throughout the Global South. Attendees will hear from speakers on BDS campaigns from the past and present in a conversational setting. RSVP to the Socialist Night School here. Then, on Thursday, January 30 at 4:30pm, locals will be launching a spirited, community action outside Chevron’s Government Affairs Building. RSVP for the action here.
March for “Life” Counterprotest — Friday, January 24, 12 to 2pm
Metro DC DSA’s Bodily Autonomy Working Group will be counterprotesting the March for “Life” TODAY, January 24, at 12pm outside the Supreme Court. The organizers of the March for Life do not speak for the majority of Americans, who believe abortion access is non-negotiable and that women and pregnant people deserve the right to choose what happens to their bodies. Through collective protest, the masses will make their defense of reproductive rights heard loud and clear. RSVP here.
BRIEFS
New to DSA and looking to connect with others? Join the new member cohort this February — applications due next Sunday
Everyone new to Metro DC DSA is invited to apply to join the Winter 2025 New Member Community Cohort. The cohort will participate in weekly sessions throughout February. The first session covers the concept of organizing; the second provides an overview of socialism and capitalism; and the final one explains how MDC DSA works and provides opportunities to talk to people who run chapter campaigns. At least one session will be followed by a social outing, and there will be one designated all-cohort action day. Applications are due by February 2.
DSA’s public power campaign kicks off the new year with We Power DC 101 meeting this Saturday, January 25
Learn more at MDC DSA’s public power campaign’s first event of the year at We Power DC 101. The event will be held on Saturday, January 25th, at 3pm at Sudhouse on U St. Attendees will learn about DC’s path to a public power alternative: an electric grid owned fully by our local government. Organizers envision a future with lower rates, community control, greener energy, and no shareholder influence. Plenty of big cities already operate under this model, like Austin, Seattle, and the entire state of Nebraska.
We Power organizers will provide a brief presentation on the current state of energy distribution in DC, the grave ills that Pepco and the investor-owned utility model have wrought on working-class people, and We Power DC’s campaign for municipalization. Following the presentation, organizers will be hanging out for drinks and a chat. RSVP for the event here.
Arlington County Board members retreat from prior support for trans sanctuary — locals organizing response on Saturday, January 25
Comrades in the Northern Virginia branch of Metro DC DSA (NoVA DSA) have been working for months with Equality Arlington to pass a county-level trans sanctuary resolution. Arlington County Board members have retreated from their assurances of support for our community and their promises to get this done in their cowardice and fear of the Trump administration. NoVA DSA and allies have called for as many comrades as possible to attend the County Board meeting on Saturday, January 25 at 9:30am, to show that LGBTQ+ residents deserve support from our county government. RSVP here.
Socialists hosting Northern Virginia Mutual Aid interest meeting next Thursday, January 30 at 7pm
Corporate profits are up, rent is up, homelessness is up, food insecurity is up, income is … stagnant. Are you interested in highlighting the contradictions of capitalism and its inability to feed, clothe, and house the working class, while working together to directly improve our material conditions? Join the (tentative) NoVA Mutual Aid Working Group for a virtual interest meeting on Thursday, January 30 at 7pm to discuss how to create a sustainable, long-term mutual aid project in the NIMBY suburbs of Northern Virginia. The working class needs to know that when capitalism fails them, socialists will be there with a working, humanizing, empowering alternative. RSVP for the interest meeting here.
Canvassing for Shayla Adams-Stafford for PG County Council continues this weekend — Saturday, January 25 and Sunday, January 26
The balance of power on the Prince George’s County Council is split 5-5 between developer-backed conservative Democrats and the progressive bloc. Control of the council would empower the local left to push for stronger rent control, social housing, and workers’ rights in the county for years to come. That’s why the chapter is knocking doors for former Washington Teachers’ Union shop steward and current Board of Education member Shayla Adams-Stafford for PG County Council District 5. RSVP to join us for canvassing at 11am at the Downtown Largo Metro Station Parking Lot on Saturday and Sunday — the primary takes place on March 4, just six weeks away, and mail ballots are already arriving for District 5 residents. Chapter members should join the Slack channel #shayla-pg-district-5 for updates.
Fundraise to rebuild Palestine — Monday, January 27, 7pm
In 2024, MDC DSA member Elizabeth T. and comrades, including many in the Internationalism Working Group, joined together to raise more than $330,000 for Palestine in ~5 days. YOU CAN TOO! If you have been fundraising for Palestine (or would like to start), join this Zoom so we can all learn from each other how to raise more money during this critical time! Ceasefire is only the first step — Palestinians urgently need our support to rebuild their lives: their homes, schools, hospitals, and myriad other institutions that have been devastated by 16 months of US-funded genocide. Join us Monday, January 27 at 7pm on Zoom. RSVP here.
Restaurant workers on the march! DC Culinary Union announces organizing drives at popular restaurants across city
Last week, workers at five DC restaurants — Le Diplomate, Rasika, Modena, Patis, and St. Anselm — publicly announced they are organizing for respect, stability, and a seat at the bargaining table. Workers are hoping that restaurant owners Stephen Starr and Ashok Bajaj will follow the example of José Andrés, who voluntarily recognized the workers’ union at The Bazaar just days after their announcement last year, but the bosses have already begun to crack down.
Workers at Rasika and Modena (owned by the Knightsbridge Restaurant Group, one of the biggest conglomerates in the region) have already faced illegal interrogation and firing since the union went public. Yesterday evening, workers launched a picket in front of Rasika in Penn Quarter, joined by Metro DC DSA and labor allies. Strong unions at these restaurants would anchor wages and working conditions across the city — their victory must be achieved. To support the cause: follow the DC Culinary Union on socials to keep apprised of rapid notice; sign this petition in support of workers’ rights; continue to patronize these restaurants as you normally would (while voicing support for workers).
Tenants urge the Maryland General Assembly to pass Good Cause eviction legislation during the 2025 session
As the 2025 Maryland General Assembly session heats up, tenant advocates in Annapolis and across the state of Maryland are urging Maryland lawmakers to pass Good Cause eviction legislation this year. This legislation would allow localities to pass legislation prohibiting landlords from refusing to renew leases without a reason. Landlords often refuse to renew leases when renters organize for their rights, demand that repairs be made, or complain about violations of the law. “Good Cause” laws protect renters from this kind of retaliation and promote housing stability for tenants, neighborhoods, and communities. Similar legislation passed the Maryland House of Delegates last year but failed to advance in the Maryland State Senate. This bill is a top priority for tenant advocates statewide. Use this tool from Renters United Maryland, the statewide renters rights coalition, to show your support for Good Cause and other renter protection legislation, and let them know that you are affiliated with Metro DC DSA.
INFO ACCESS
Learn more about our local MDC DSA chapter — structure, campaigns and working groups, Night School, and reading groups — HERE. Even longtime comrades may find it a learning experience. New member or DSA-curious? Check out Why You Should Join DSA/New Member Orientation, a one-hour account Wednesday, Feb. 19 of what we do and how we win. MDC DSA members: Join our all-member Slack for real-time info on working group and campaign events, convo, and inspiration. Email [email protected] with your most recent DSA dues receipt to get Slack access. Chapter members are also invited to read — and edit — MDC DSA’s internal wiki. Email [email protected] to get set up, or ask in #helpdesk.
MDC DSA Publications is information central for not only MDC DSA but the entire DMV left, and is always ready to onboard new socialist communicators; #publications is our working group’s Slack channel. Weekly Updates like this one are scheduled and emailed on Fridays; current and past Updates are on the web here. Not subscribed? DSA member or not, sign up to get the Update here. Submit your Update suggestions or chapter political blog REDBUG tips to our tip line. TheWashington Socialist, published since the 1970s, offers articles on a quarterly schedule; the Winter 2025 edition is now live and will be updated on a rolling basis, meaning timely submissions may get added as appropriate. Check our archive to see what we write — and what you can write. Anyone, MDC DSA member or not, interested in contributing to the Washington Socialist can email submissions or questions anytime to [email protected]. Get your socialist self on the record. Donate to our Comradery page if you would like to financially support socialist publishing in the DMV.
DMV LEFT COMMUNITY BULLETIN
Testimony prep workshop on January 25 | Fair Budget Coalition
Learn to testify at DC Council’s Performance Oversight Hearings, an important opportunity to make our voices heard about the performance of our government programs and agencies last year. Whether you have given 0, 2, or 10 testimonies at DC Council, join Fair Budget Coalition on Saturday, January 25, from 1–2:30pm on Zoom and prepare to give budget testimony together. RSVP here.
Get Warm Wednesdays on January 29 | Visionary Organizing Lab
Join Visionary Organizing Lab for a 90-minute workshop where you will see and name your lineage. Knowing this lineage can equip you with the resilience and inner strength needed to exist differently in even the hardest circumstances. Available on a sliding scale of $0-15 on Wednesday, January 29, at 6:30pm. RSVP here.
Community Bake Sale on February 2 | Food Not Bombs DC and Silver Spring Takoma Park Mutual Aid
TPSS Co-op presents a Community Bake Sale on February 2 from 4-6pm at Rhizome DC to raise funds for Food Not Bombs DC and Silver Spring Takoma Park Mutual Aid. Each ticket purchase comes with entry to the event and all treats brought to the space. Everyone is encouraged to bring home-baked treats like cake, muffins, loaves, cookies, and pies. RSVP here.
Rally to defend the right to stand with Palestine in Virginia | Alexandria for Palestine
Join Alexandria for Palestine for a rally outside Alexandria City Hall on Saturday, January 25th at 1pm to demonstrate against a dangerous suite of bills being considered in the Virginia state government right now. These bills seek to prohibit university students from calling for divestment over human rights abuses, infringes on student’s First Amendment rights, and gives the state extensive powers to target civil society groups over support of Palestine. In the face of brutality abroad and repression here at home, we need to defend our right to stand with Palestine. Read about the dangerous bills here.
ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVES
ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVES are articles and opinion pieces of interest to DMV leftists but not, generally, appearing in local media. They should have links without paywalls. Readers are invited to submit candidates at our tip line.
‘If we plan sufficiently well the funding of public services — I don’t see any reason to have strong restrictions on free circulation’ What are the implications/requirements of an open border policy — a swear word for Trumpists but a proud (and embattled) accomplishment of the EU’s Schengen compact? Or conversely, what kind of socioeconomic surround would be needed for open borders to succeed worldwide? A conversation skein and mutual critique of neoliberalism between Thomas Piketty and Michael Sandel explores this, in the NYT.
‘Reactionary nihilism’: how a rightwing movement strives to end US democracy: Katherine Stewart’s “Money, Lies, and God” exposes a Christian nationalist movement funded by the super-rich seeking to secure their wealth at the expense of others. “Money is a huge part of the story, meaning that huge concentrations of wealth have destabilized the political system. Second, lies, or conscious disinformation, is a huge feature of this movement. And third God, because the most important ideological framework for the largest part of this movement is Christian nationalism,” Stewart said. Review in The Guardian.
Notes on Fighting Trumpism: To mobilize the abandoned working class, we need to revive the idea of solidarity, Robin D.G. Kelley argues. “… and this requires a revived class politics: not a politics that evades the racism and misogyny that pervades American life but one that confronts it directly. It is a mistake to think that white working-class support for Trump is reducible to racism and misogyny or ‘false consciousness’ substituting for the injuries of class. …The only way out of this [neoliberal] mess is learning to think like a class. It’s all of us or none.” The Boston Review via Portside
Bernie: what Trump didn’t say in his inauguration speech The simple truth is that Trump ignored almost every major issue facing this country’s working families in his first speech… How crazy is that? “In the coming months and years, our job is not just to respond to every absurd statement that Trump makes. That is what the Trump world wants us to do. They want to define the parameters of debate and have us live within their world. That’s a trap we should not fall into. Our job is to stay focused on the most important issues facing the working families of our country, provide solutions to those crises and demand that Trump responds to us.” Bernie Sanders, opinion in The Guardian
The toxic myth of hard work: The phrase “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” actually started as a joke; and yet, the saying has become a uniquely American folk myth. In a conversation with journalist Adam Chandler, Adam Connover dives into the origins of this myth and its cost on the lives and organizing potential of workers.
This is the weekly newsletter of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (MDC DSA), which is produced by local members of the chapter's Publications working group. The Weekly Update publishes every Friday at 9am.
Paid for by Metro DC DSA (mdcdsa.org). Not authorized by any candidate or committee.
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The flame of thought, the magnificence of art, the wonder of discovery, and the audacity of invention all belong to revolutionary periods when humanity, tired of its chains, shatters them and stops inebriated to breathe the breeze of a vast and free horizon. - Virgilia D'Andrea
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