Working masses plan nationwide protests as military descends on DC for Trump’s parade; Socialists plan rally: budget for workers, not owners; Los Angeles demonstrates steadfast resistance to militarized fascism
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!
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UP FRONT
Masses plan nationwide protests as military descends on DC for Trump’s parade
A thick fog of unease has
surrounded the District over the past week in anticipation of the US
Army’s march into Washington this Saturday. The parade called by Trump
will roll tanks, soldiers, armored fighting vehicles, and a mule down
Constitution Avenue. This isn’t an invasion: it’s a celebration of the
250th Anniversary of the US Army and the Orange Emperor’s birthday.
Estimated
to cost between $30 to 45 million, Trump’s circus aims to cure Americans of national disillusion, reflected in recent
polling that suggest the emperor’s antics are wearing thin (38%
approval, reported Quinnipiac). However this parade intends to look on
broadcast, local revelers will be disappointed. A labyrinth of fences
(18.5 miles!) and security checkpoints will manage spectators like
cattle maneuvering through the chute of a slaughterhouse. Armed
soldiers, likely exhausted and anxious, will leer and gawk, fingers on
the trigger, when they should be “riding the sick-book.” Buzzing drones
will swarm the skies to peer, prod, and catalogue the public — steered
and operated by the always sober Secret Service. Retinues of local and
federal police will stalk the city’s streets and alleyways. What a
celebration!
Although Washington will be occupied, partisan counter-rallies are expected across the country: more than 1,800, reports Democracy Now. The No Kings protests
— kicked off by the left-liberal outfit Indivisible — are expected to
convene mass outrage over the excess and cruelty of Trump’s nascent
regime. In DC, locals will be convening a resistance celebration at
Anacostia Park from 3-8pm. Organized by Free DC and Harriet’s Wildest
Dreams, DC Joy Day
will honor community and struggle with music, performances, and
teach-ins. Attendees are invited to bring friends, families, children,
and coolers to celebrate the DC resistance movement. The event is
endorsed by the Metro DC Democratic Socialists.
Those looking to navigate downtown DC this weekend should review The 51st’sroundup of parade activity. Metro DC DSA has only endorsed the DC Joy Day resistance celebration — occurring from 3 to 8pm at Anacostia Park. Those considering protest are urged to navigate downtown with caution and should review proper digital and legal
protection measures. Chapter members can refer to the #action-alerts
channel in the chapter Slack to read or report any day-of developments
or notices.
DC working class plans rally in opposition to Bowser budget — June 18
Workers, activists,
progressives, and socialists have been surging the DC Council building
over the past two weeks, urging a stop to a proposed austerity regime from Mayor Muriel Bowser. On Wednesday, June 18th at 8:30am, join Metro DC DSA and allies to tell the District Council: the people of DC deserve a budget that puts workers above owners, tenants above landlords, and autonomy over Trump's agenda. Please RSVP.
As reported two weeks ago,
Mayor Bowser’s proposed budget is a naked austerity agenda. A new means testing regime would hoist Medicaid away from over 25,000 residents.
Healthcare Alliance cuts would eliminate coverage for nearly 30,000
low-income immigrants. The Pay Equity Fund, which taxes the rich to pay
for child care workers, would be eliminated. Universal paid leave
benefits would be slashed: medical leave from 12 down to 8 weeks and
family leave from 12 to 6. Emergency rental relief would be nearly wiped
out, from $26 to $5 million, as the mayor also backs restrictions to both TOPA and eviction rights. DC’s sanctuary-city status would be ended, enabling police cooperation with Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The budget would also completely repeal Initiative 82, cutting the minimum wage paid to tipped workers’ from $10 to $5.95.
If
the mayor is attempting to initiate a Republican agenda to halt
congressional takeover, the defense appears to be failing. Just this
week, the US House resumed its attacks on DC autonomy — voting to bar
noncitizens from voting in DC local elections (266-148) and to restore
collective bargaining rights for violent or insubordinate police
officers (235-178), reversing a post-Floyd victory. Both bills were
passed with the support of congressional Democrats; 56 Democrats voted
for the former and 30 voted for the latter (the current breakdown in the
house is 220-212 — a full Democratic front would have stopped both of
these assaults — useful idiots). All the while, $1.1 billion
in tax revenue is still being held ransom in Congress. It appears that
Bowser is not protecting DC from Republican capture of the city — she is
a vector for it.
Bowser’s
plot would constrain disposable income among DC’s working class,
undoubtedly sparking economic disaster throughout the city. But a
resistance path may still be charted through the District Council. In
their public communications, CMs Lewis George (Ward 4), Parker (Ward 5), and Nadeau
(Ward 1) have been most clear in their opposition to this austerity
regime. A left bloc may yet emerge — but is frustrated. In their vote
last week to temporarily freeze a tipped worker wage increase, CMs
Henderson, Allen, and White betrayed workers and democracy in the
District, threatening the potential for coordinated response. (See last week’s Update for more info.)
Only a serious political alliance that protects the lives of tenants,
workers, and immigrants will keep the District united against
coordinated right-wing assault. Anything less spells a grim future for
the life and culture of the city.
The Metro DC DSA is calling for DC’s workers, tenants, progressives, and socialists to rally at the steps of the Wilson Building
at 8:30am on Wednesday, June 18. The rally coincides with the council
hearing of the Committee of the Whole, which will take place later in the day and record public
testimony on the wider DC budget.
People of Los Angeles show steadfast resistance to militarized fascism
Last Friday, June 6th, ICE,
the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and the DEA conducted militaristic
raids in LA, arresting dozens of workers without judicial warrants,
according to several legal observers and the ACLU. The raids centered on
locations in downtown LA and its immigrant communities. During these
gestapo-like raids on working people, witnesses described heavily armed
agents in camouflage and tactical gear, unmarked armored vehicles, and
surveillance drones.
With
news of the raids spreading, hundreds of peaceful protestors gathered in
downtown LA, where detainees were being processed, to show their
support for the imprisoned. The LAPD responded with threats to arrest protestors and
deployed their riot-gear-clad officers, who were armed with tear gas,
pepper spray, and so-called “less-lethal munitions.” David Huerta,
president of the Service Employees International Union California, was
violently thrown to the ground, injured, and arrested. He was recently
released on $50,000 bail. Over the weekend — and without Governor Gavin
Newsom and California officials’ request — Trump issued direct orders
to mobilize and deploy 2,000 National Guard troops, as well as several
hundred marines. Protests in LA and solidarity events in opposition to
ICE have unfolded across the country since.
Trump and his cronies have been painting the peaceful protests as violent ever since — a deliberate tactic. By manufacturing a crisis,
Trump lures public attention from the disastrous so-called “Big
Beautiful Bill” Republicans are attempting to smash through the Senate.
The bill would strike Medicare and Medicaid benefits, reduce food
assistance, and provide the richest Americans with even bigger tax
breaks. It’s the oldest trick in the book: divide and conquer through
sweeping measures and fear-mongering tactics, while finding scapegoats
for failing, unpopular policies.
Socialists are fighting back. In a statement, the National Political Committee of the DSA called on members
“to pour into the streets, to organize, and to fight to defend
immigrant communities.” Metro DC DSA is organizing immigrant solidarity
work, in alliance with local partners, through the chapter’s Migrant
Justice Subcommittee. Members looking to get involved in the DMV can
visit the #migrantjustice channel in the chapter Slack or fill out this interest form.
ATTENTION NEW DSA MEMBERS — chapter Member Engagement Department seeking your input
The DSA has been seeing
massive growth over the past year, and the Metro DC chapter is no
exception. Processing, onboarding, and mobilizing members are vital
tasks for socialists. Locally, this work is coordinated by the chapter’s
Member Engagement Department (MED), which runs a suite of chapter
orientations, social gatherings, and member onboarding programs.
With
the surge in new membership, the MED wants to improve access to the
chapter and empower new members to get more involved. But member
perspective is needed to study if recent efforts are working. If you joined the chapter in November 2024 or later, give your opinion in this very short survey to help the department make the new member experience even better for people joining this summer.
As city of Rockville plans update to landlord-tenant code, locals continue pressure for rent stabilization — hearing on Monday, June 16 at 6:30pm
After more than a year of
pressure from tenants to pass rent stabilization, the city of Rockville
is working to update its landlord-tenant code. While the city is not
officially considering rent stabilization, the Montgomery County branch
of Metro DC DSA still encourages Rockville tenants and residents to
complete the city’s survey
and emphasize the need for housing affordability as well as anything
else that tenants consider important. On Monday, June 16, the Rockville
City Council and mayor will discuss the updates to the landlord-tenant
code, and tenants and rent stabilization supporters will pack the
hearing room to tell the council that they need rent stabilization. Please RSVP for the hearing.
In response to proposed cuts, local environmentalists planning Green Budget Day of Action on June 16
Residents and advocates
from across the District are invited to make their voices heard at the
Green Budget Day of Action on Monday, June 16th, 8am. DC residents are
gathering at the Wilson building to call on the DC Council and Mayor
Bowser: Don’t defund District communities and the climate in the local
DC budget. All progressives, environmentalists, ecosocialists, and
allies are invited to join the 8am rally and press conference, which
will precede public lobbying in the Wilson building until 3pm. Allies
are urged to wear green and encouraged to participate for as long as
possible. RSVP to attend the event, and access advocacy guidance.
Mayor Bowser is proposing to cut the District’s Department of Energy and Environment by nearly a quarter.
Shockingly, the plan includes the naked theft of $70 million from the
Sustainable Energy Trust Fund — which funds energy efficiency upgrades
and solar panel installations for low income renters and homeowners — to
pay for the government’s own utility bills.
Also proposed are delays and repeals of laws on the books to require
energy efficiency in a large number of privately and publicly owned DC
buildings — vital to meet DC’s net-zero carbon plan.
Later in the day, socialists will be embarking on a wheatpasting expedition
at 5:30pm, kicking off from Shaw Library (Room 1), to spread awareness
of We Power DC’s impending white paper release. The lengthy report will
document the path to bringing public power to DC. All interested in
public power and the city’s electrical grid are invited to attend and
learn more about the campaign. RSVP for We Power’s June 16th Poster session.
Tuesday, June 17: Stop Project Pipes — testify at a PSC Hearing (5:30pm, online or downtown)
Washington Gas wants to add
$215 million to our gas bills to pay for their project to lock the
District into dirty methane gas for decades. Will the public halt this
hike? Testify against Washington Gas’s money-making District (un)SAFE
plan — long called Project Pipes — at a June 17th community hearing
hosted by the Public Service Commission at 5:30pm, online or at the PSC
downtown. RSVP with CCAN to let them know you’re going and to get invited to a comment-writing party and office hours to help you craft your testimony. Check out their testimony guide for more info.
Socialists planning fourth teach-in session on global empire — Anti-Imperialist Summer School Week 4, June 22
In
this session, participants will examine the role of international NGOs
and quasi-autonomous US government entities like USAID and the National
Endowment for Democracy (NED) in upholding global imperialism, and
American empire in particular. How do these entities promote
neoliberalism in the name of humanitarian assistance and “international
development,” and how have these institutions historically served (and
continue to serve) as fronts for direct and indirect US intervention in
the affairs of sovereign nations in the Global South? Learn more and register to attend the Anti-Imperialist Summer School.
Solidarity Is Not A Crime! Fighting Fascism in the Philippines and Around the World — June 21
On June 21st, ICHRP-DMV and
Metro DC DSA will hold an educational forum and panel on fascism and
political repression in the Philippines and worldwide. Amidst economic
and political crises, right-wing parties have taken power and grown
around the world. Marcos Jr. in the Philippines, Orban in Hungary,
Netanyahu in Israel, Bukele in El Salvador, and Trump in the USA have
promised strongman tactics to make their countries great again. They
have focused their attacks on critics, human rights defenders,
activists, and organizations fighting back. Through coordinated
international struggle, fascism can be defeated. The forum is set to
take place at the University United Methodist Church (3621 Campus Drive)
at UMD from 4 to 6:30pm — those interested in attending the forum are encouraged to register.
MDC DSA Political Engagement Committee to hold online Electoral Accountability Forum — Tuesday, July 1 at 7pm
Following Shayla
Adams-Stafford’s win earlier this year in Prince George’s County, the
socialist electoral project continues on; future electoral planning and a
return to accountability
for socialist electeds remains a crucial need. This project is being
coordinated by the chapter’s Political Engagement Committee, a
five-member body appointed by the Metro DC DSA Steering Committee.
The PEC will be holding a conversation on the chapter’s strategy around accountability for endorsed elected officials at their upcoming bi-weekly meeting on July 1; all chapter members are invited to attend (invite forthcoming) and to join #electoral
in Slack for updates. This event will be a great opportunity to learn
about — and comment on — a set of important chapter decisions, and will
help to guide our electoral approach over the rest of this year. Whether you are a DSA member new, old or returning, input and engagement on this process is strongly encouraged.
Want to stay current? Weekly Updates, like the one you are reading, are scheduled and emailed on Fridays; current and past Updates are available on our website. Not subscribed? DSA member or not, sign up to get the Update,
the go-to source for the DMV left. The MDC Dispatch is the chapter’s
new video news series, published on the first and third Sunday of each
month. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and submit your Update or Dispatch suggestions or DMV scandal tips to our tip line. The Washington Socialist, published since the 1970s, offers in-depth analytical/opinion articles on a quarterly schedule; the Spring 2025 quarterly issue now leads the queue but the Summer 2025 issue is in editing now. Check out our indexed and searchable 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 to [email protected].
Members — want to stay updated in our workspace? MDC
DSA members are encouraged to join our all-member Slack for real-time
info on working group and campaign events, strategy exchange, and
inspiration. Email [email protected] with your most recent DSA dues
receipt to get Slack access.
DMV LEFT COMMUNITY BULLETIN
Lunchtime lecture series, “Vietnam Then, Palestine Now: US Subversion of Liberation Movements” | TODAY, June 13, 12pm
Lecture/discussion with Robert Buzzanco, emeritus professor of History, University of Houston and Green and Red Podcast co-host. In person at The Jerusalem Fund, 2425 Virginia Ave. NW, DC 20037 or hybrid (please register to attend virtually or in-person.)
The Palestine Exception documentary screening | New Deal Cafe, June 16
The documentary The Palestine Exception
will screen at the New Deal Café, 113 Centerway, Greenbelt, MD 20770
Monday, June 16, 6:30pm. The film depicts the campus protests demanding a
Gaza ceasefire, which have triggered an intense crackdown that reveals
the “Palestine exception” — a distinct taboo against criticizing Israeli
policies. Students and faculty are finding that advocating for
Palestinian solidarity results in arrests, suspensions, and firings.
Professor Laurie King of Georgetown University leads the post-film
discussion. Those unable to attend in-person can register to watch via Zoom.
Rally to End Chronic Homelessness | The Way Home Coalition, June 18
The Mayor’s proposed budget slashes
our social safety net and falls short of what is needed—for families and
to end chronic homelessness. The Way Home Coalition is rallying in
front of the Wilson Building on June 18 starting at 9:30am to invest in
solutions to homelessness. Learn more and follow thewayhomedc on Instagram.
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.
Tuesday’s lede: David Huerta is free.
The Daily Bread is a new labor newsletter for union members and allies
across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It [promises to] compile the
clips you need to be reading as well as periodic analysis about points
of leverage where labor can come together and take action. Thursday, for
instance, it reported that behind the Potemkin deployment of troops in
L.A., ’Trump’s Labor Department is “reassessing” a 2013 rule that expanded basic protections for home care workers, [via Bloomberg]. The 2013 measure granted
home health aides minimum wage and overtime protections — and a
rollback or repeal of the rule would impact millions of workers, many of
whom are immigrants.’ The Daily Bread is a project of the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies and Fair Future Lab. They invite submissions and tips via email. (TX Portside)
The Last Days of Gaza.
In a dour report, veteran journalist and reporter Chris Hedges spells
out the near completion of Israel’s genocide on Gaza and the moral
bankruptcy that failed to stop it. Although the genocide will eventually
end, Hedges concludes, blowback against the imperial system will “echo
down history with the force of a tsunami. It will divide us forever.
There is no going back.” Hear more from Hedges in an hour-long interview
conducted on Hasan Piker’s program last week, which diagnoses the
structures of American society and industry that constructed the
genocide.
As the challenges
posed by reaction mount, the need to understand organizing as a process
rooted in building relationships rather than a formula that can be
applied anywhere at any time is more important than ever. UAW Organizing
Director Brian O. Shepard makes that point in The Art of Organizing — his approach, though rooted in his experiences in the labor movement, is widely applicable.
The
on-going movement in Los Angeles against ICE, in solidarity with
targeted immigrant movements, is bringing to the fore challenges in
building protest movements in the face of growing repression. Marc
Cooper, a journalist and activist who served as a translator for Chilean
President Salvador Allende, has been reporting on the events on the
street. His June 9 article “Protestor Violence in LA”
provides a context most media accounts miss. Cooper has been covering
almost daily and is worth reading to understand what has been unfolding
on the streets.
Despite
years of organizing, massive protests, arrests and one death, “Cop
City,” in Atlanta is now open and serving as a police training center.
Even in defeat, however, there is something to learn especially as the
fight in Atlanta is not over. Community organizers Kamau Franklin, Micah
Herskind and Marian Parker talked to editors of Prism about the lessons learned along the way. See Policing, Protest and the Future of Atlanta: Inside the Movement Against Cop City.
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.
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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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