Seattle Democratic Socialists of America

We’re keeping up the pressure to defund SPD and bring justice to families impacted by police violence in our city. Last week, rank-and-file organizing succeeded in expelling SPOG from the Labor Council (make sure to read our SDSA statement here!) and the ILWU shut down all 29 ports on the West Coast in honor of Juneteenth, costing the ruling class billions in profits. This week, we’re setting our sights on Mayor Durkan.

Mayor Durkan has not agreed to the movement’s demands to defund the police and reallocate funds to Black and Brown communities. In fact, she’s tear-gassed residential neighborhoods and locked up peaceful protesters. Over her entire tenure as mayor, she has overseen violence against our BIPOC community members—police violence from a racist police force under federal oversight for using excessive force, and economic violence in the form of displacement, gentrification, and underfunding of public services. We say: Jenny Durkan has got to go!

Join the protest and march at 5PM this Sunday (June 28) to demand the Mayor’s resignation! Co-hosted by the Family of Charleena Lyles, Families are the Frontline, Black Education Matters, Shaun Scott, and the Seattle Democratic Socialists of America. We will be marching on the Mayor’s mansion, starting at Magnuson park. Facebook event here.

DSA members in solidarity with the ILWU strike for Juneteenth!

NO JUSTICE, NO PRIDE

This year, Pride is not just a celebration. It is a commitment to carry on the fight against police brutality and for Black, Brown, and queer liberation.

The Stonewall uprising in New York City was a rebellion against police brutality, led in particular by Black and Latina transwomen and lesbians. This Pride weekend, we honor the activism of Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Stormé DeLarverie, and so many other of our LGBTQ comrades, by continuing to fight against police violence.

That’s why this Sunday, we’re honoring Pride with a rebellion. If our Black and Brown LGBTQ family does not get to fully celebrate Pride, then neither does our lesbian Mayor. No justice? No peace for the Mayor until she agrees to the movement’s demands.

JOIN THE AFROSOCIALISTS & SOCIALISTS OF COLOR

Tonight! Members of color are invited to weekly meetings of our Afrosocialists and Socialists of Color (AFROSOC) Caucus, Mondays at 6PM! Members get to know each other, build solidarity, discuss socialist politics, and plan activities. Tonight, we will discuss the march on the Mayor’s mansion. Join us here.

GET YOUR DSA SWAG!

Our AFROSOC caucus printed amazing Angela Davis t-shirts for DSA members. Sign up here to get one before the protest this Sunday: you’ll be able to enter your preferred pick-up location and pay upon pick-up. $20 suggested donation to cover printing costs.

DISPATCH BLOG

We’ve got two new blog posts up! First, watch Twin Cities DSA member Robin Wonsley talk at our June meeting about the uprising in Minneapolis, and how socialists can contribute to the fight for Black lives.

Then, watch an interview with Whitney Kahn, SDSA member and member of the Seattle Education Association. After the groundbreaking move to kick SPOG out of the Labor Council, Whitney talks about the rank-and-file organizing that led to the vote and the potential for a revitalized left-wing of the labor movement, fully in the fight for racial justice. You can also read our SDSA statement on kicking SPOG out here.

Looking to be kept up to date on a regular basis? Sign up here to get regular dispatches from our blog! Want to contribute to the SDSA blog with on-the-ground reports, updates, or perspectives? Send submissions to [email protected].

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED THIS WEEK?

We’ll see you at the march on the Mayor’s mansion on Sunday! This is all hands on deck—we’ll keep you updated this week with volunteer tasks and other ways to get involved. Keep an eye out for future emails and check Slack.

Can’t come in person? We still need you! Sign up here to help with protest support from afar. Right now we’re in need of people for “scanner duty”—you’ll monitor the police scanners and keep our comrades on the ground safe!

NEW TO DSA?

Not a member yet? Join here! New member? Come out to our New Member Orientation this Thursday!

Do you want to join our Slack, where most of our communication takes place? Just send your DSA welcome email from Maria Svart to [email protected] and we’ll plug you in.

In solidarity,

Seattle DSA