Hi John,

Please be sure to read through for upcoming events, resources for Earth Day and ecosocialism, resources for dues-paying members, and some thoughts on "we keep us safe" from the Chair.

• BDS In Action: Food Boycotts through No Appetite for Apartheid
  Tuesday, April 4 - 6:30-8:30 PM - Join us for a virtual event featuring experienced organizers discussing local BDS efforts. We'll hear from a comrade from SLC DSA about their No Appetite for Apartheid Campaign and another from River Valley DSA regarding a petition to de-shelve Israeli products, which did not pass. A Q&A and discussion will follow the presentation.
  RSVP HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdBKX0ErQcjPrsE6B6Gd-PkW-lhfphEe5a62gHOjg6SXFkbAA/viewform?usp=sharing
• Social Sips at WANDER
  Sunday, April 6 - 9:00-11:00 AM - In person, 34 Depot Street, Suite 101, Pittsfield MA. Join us for an exciting morning of community and conversation! Engage in lively discussions about DSA and connect with others. Enjoy delicious food and drinks available for purchase at WANDER. Don't miss the fun!
  RSVP HERE: https://actionnetwork.org/events/social-sips/

• April General Meeting

  Sunday, April 27 - 11:00 AM-1:00 PM - Virtual. Our General Meeting will have a great political education segment to begin the meeting, and we will have a discussion about how the chapter is moving forward and what we can be doing to connect with the Berkshires more. All interested parties are invited to attend!
  RSVP HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfsnOPiZffW7zq0-8ZnxmEeS7WGF99NsbRCIByTEQz_oKC4hg/viewform?usp=sharing

Earth Day has been celebrated since April 22, 1970, fighting for the one planet we have and against the forces that actively harm it. While looking for information on eco-socialism, this manifesto came up from Fourth International that was an interesting read, and overall exploration of this Trotsky-formed group. [DRAFT] “Manifesto of Revolutionary Marxism in the Age of Capitalist Ecological and Social Destruction”.

While Earth Day may have not began as an explicitly socialist movement, DSA supports eco-socialism through the Green New Deal campaign.

Hey dues-paying members, here are some reminders about things we have going on for y’all. Not a member? dsausa.org/join

• We have a Chapter-wide Signal chat for dues-paying members. We use this for more frequent contact. If you haven't joined and want to, please email [email protected]
• Check out our Little Leftie Library! Our Librarian, Victor, has diligently worked on cataloguing our book list which consists of over 150 titles, all donated by members or comrades. The Book List can been found HERE.

I am finding myself seeking new ways to build community as we watch the regime unfold before us. Neighbors need us, and our community is only as safe as we make it. While DSA is a political organization, we cannot ignore that in 2025, survival is political. “We keep us safe” is not just a platitude I toss around to sound brave or worldly. I genuinely believe that. We keep us safe, fed, sheltered, healthy, and alive. If we look back at history, organizing at the hyperlocal and regional levels was what worked well. Now is not the time to silo ourselves into factions of “the left.” If we truly believe “we keep us safe,” we must begin organizing around that by committing to our communities. Plant food gardens, share skills and resources, learn CPR and first aid, form time banks and child co-ops. Learn and practice conflict resolution skills. Be brave together when you see the need.

with rugged hope,

Heidi