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**
THE
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twin cities
democratic socialists
of america


** Little Red Letter No. 60
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The Solidarity Fund needs your help!

The TCDSA Solidarity Fund has distributed well over $50,000.00 to people in need. As of this writing, the fund is empty and we need help replenishing it. Please donate ([link removed]) what you can so we can redistribute the wealth!
[link removed]
Health Justice Discussion: Who Does Our Healthcare System Serve?

Sunday, July 12th at 11:00 a.m. on Zoom

Join the Health Justice Working Group for the first of two consensus-building meetings. By sharing our personal experiences with healthcare under capitalism, we will collectively form a political analysis that will inform our future work in the fight for health justice. In part two (date TBD) we will envision healthcare in the better world that we know is possible. All are welcome!
[link removed]
Support the union drive at our local distillery!


** '“Order prevails in Berlin!” You foolish lackeys! Your “order” is built on sand. Tomorrow the revolution will “rise up again, clashing its weapons,” and to your horror it will proclaim with trumpets blazing: I was, I am, I shall be!'
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** — Rosa Luxemburg ([link removed])
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Upcoming Events:

Labor Branch Meeting
Tues, Jul 7, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Zoom Meeting ([link removed])

Steering Committee
Weds, Jul 8, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
(see calendar ([link removed]) for details)

Left Social Democrats
Thurs, Jul 9, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
(see calendar ([link removed]) for details)

Mental Health Wellness Hour
Sat, Jul 11, 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Zoom Meeting ([link removed])

Health Justice Discussion: Who Does Our Healthcare System Serve?
Sun, Jul 12, 11:00am – 12:30pm
Zoom Meeting ([link removed])

Branch Leadership / SC Coordination
Mon, Jul 13, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
(see calendar ([link removed]) for details)

Why Socialists Should Care About Public Housing
Thurs, Jul 16, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Zoom Meeting ([link removed])

Food Justice Kickoff
Sun, Jul 19, TBD
(see calendar ([link removed]) for details)

Ops/Tech Committee Meeting
Mon, Jul 20, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Zoom Meeting ([link removed])

Budget / Fundraising Committee Meeting
Tues, Jul 21, 7:30pm – 9:00pm
see calendar ([link removed]) for details

Steering Committee
Weds, Jul 22, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
(see calendar ([link removed]) for details)

Housing Branch Meeting
Thurs, Jul 23, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
(see calendar ([link removed]) for details)

Socialist Feminist Branch Meeting
Sat, Jul 25, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Zoom Meeting ([link removed] )

Branch Leadership / SC Coordination
Mon, Jul 27, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
(see calendar ([link removed]) for details)

TCDSA Libertarian Socialist Study Group
Fri, Jul 31, 5:30pm – 7:00pm
(see calendar ([link removed]) for details)

Ops/Tech Committee Meeting
Mon, Aug 3, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Zoom Meeting ([link removed])

Socialist Feminist Reading Group
Tues, Aug 4, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Zoom Meeting ([link removed] )

Steering Committee
Weds, Aug 5, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
(see calendar ([link removed]) for details)

Keep an eye on our calendar ([link removed]) for more events as they're scheduled or changed! Please check the calendar for updated Zoom links, location changes, or other details.


** Political Education Snippets
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First in a monthly series


** Who was Alexandra Kollontai?
Part 1 of 2
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Few in the US today have even heard of Kollontai, let alone know anything about what made her so important to the world history of socialism. Have you ever wondered why all the “schools” of political theory - the “isms” - are all named after men? There is not one -ism that commemorates the wisdom, actions, or sacrifices of any of the many political women who have fought the class struggle throughout history. If there ever should be one, there should be a flavor of socialism called Kollontaiist. (Read more... ([link removed]) )
What we're up to...

On the George Floyd Uprisings

On Memorial Day night, a video showed a white Minneapolis police (MPD) officer choking a Black man to death with his knee, as his Hmong officer partner stood by for nine minutes. The video was heart wrenching. We all watched as yet again, even in a pandemic, the system will stop at nothing to antagonize, murder, exploit and destroy black life. Grief and rage swept a nation already reeling from historic unemployment, pandemic and lackluster general election choices. I went to bed that night angry and hopeless like many in the community. Little did we know how much this would shake our world. (Read more... ([link removed]) )

- Bol B.
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#JusticeForGeorgeFloyd at Seward Co-op

On June 16th nearly the entire staff on shift at Seward Co-op’s Franklin Ave. store walked out for a 9 minute work stoppage to mourn the murder of George Floyd and to stand in solidarity with the #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd protests erupting around the world. Nine minutes is the length of time George Floyd suffocated under MPD officer Derek Chauvin’s knee. This was an effort led entirely by rank and file workers. With our action we also hoped to encourage the Seward Co-op to announce its support for dismantling the Minneapolis Police Department and called on the leadership of UFCW Local 663 (our union) to demand Bob Kroll’s immediate resignation. (Read more... ([link removed]) )

- Joe K.
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How to Roll Your Own Solidarity Fund

The TCDSA Solidarity Fund has been redistributing wealth since 2018, and in these precarious times, it's more active than ever. We occasionally get questions from other orgs or DSA chapters about how our fund works, and we're more than happy to share this information. Here, thanks to our comrade Stacy, is a concise writeup of our philosophy and our process. Spread the link far and wide! (Read more... ([link removed]) )

- TCDSA Mutual Aid & Solidarity Economy Branch
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Do you have opinions? Hot takes? Cool things you've been doing with DSA or our allies? Write for us ([link removed]) !


** For Further Review
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With so many great podcasts, articles, books and videos coming out, it's easy to miss something great. Here's a few things members have found and loved recently.
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History Revealed : Exploring the Historical Roots of Racism in MN ([link removed])
Online political education event by the folks at East Side Freedom Library and the Ramsey County Historical Society. July 9 at 7:00 pm. Free. --DKR

Towards the horizon of abolition: A conversation with Mariame Kaba ([link removed])
Extraordinary interview with Mariame Kaba, asking and answering serious questions about prison and police abolition. --JT

Twilight of the Cop Consensus ([link removed])
“It turns out this wasn’t really very complicated, after all.” David Roth lays out some uninformed but common arguments against abolition, as well as the clear truth that the status quo is failing us. --TMW

Bargaining Against the Common Good ([link removed])
In the nationwide uprisings against racism and police brutality, police unions have become a focal point of both the Left and the Right. Leftists will point out that police are more like management than labor, and thus cannot have a union. Meanwhile, anti-union conservatives are using this moment to mount arguments against all public-sector unions, including teachers and nurses. Harold Meyerson makes the argument that a focus on the unions of police is unstrategic, while insisting that they have zero place in the labor movement. --NR

The American Indian Cultural Corridor in times of COVID-19, police brutality and civil violence ([link removed])
DSA member Debra Keefer Ramage on the American Indian Cultural Corridor in Minneapolis, COVID-19, the George Floyd uprising, and the reactivation of the AIM patrols. --DKR

Community Policing and Other Fairy Tales ([link removed])
Download this free comic about police abolition from MPD150, featuring artwork by MycDazzle, Jonas Goonface, Ricardo Levins Morales, and more, plus text from Alex Vitale and other activists. --DKR

Safer in the Streets ([link removed])
A comic guide to street protests from Jewish Currents. "In the series, seven cartoonists interpret basic principles of street tactics, from navigating snake marches to preventing cops from breaking your fingers." --TMW
The “Camden Model” Is Not a Model. It’s an Obstacle to Real Change. ([link removed])
"In response to radical demands to defund and disband the police, liberal reformers are pushing the 'Camden model.' Don’t fall for it. Camden relies on mass surveillance to pacify its population — all to benefit business interests." Really good article here on what the "Camden solution" actually is. --PKD

Examining the Wreckage ([link removed])
“This generation has ushered in an era of world-shattering protest movements—from Ferguson to Standing Rock to the present struggles. The young people in the streets are courageous. They are the true revolutionary theoreticians, moving history along, sometimes at speeds that feel daunting. More importantly, these movements are categorically shaped by the deep histories of Indigenous and Black resistance.” --AHR

Community Defense in Minneapolis ([link removed])
What does a working-class, abolitionist practice of community self-defense look like? --AHR

To loot a revolution ([link removed])
"We have thoroughly lost our hope in a brighter day in colonialism and this - contrary to the warnings of liberals, the affable spokespeople of colonial order - does not mean the end of the world but the beginning of a new one.” --AHR

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If you find something that should be shared, post to the #linkroundup channel on slack, submit to this form ([link removed]) , or reply to this email.
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** 'Fatalism begets premature death...I'm not an optimistic person at all, but I am profoundly and deeply hopeful and for me that means that I believe in every single day waking up and making a choice to continue to fight for something better.'
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** — Mariame Kaba ([link removed])
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Join Us!
To become a dues paying member, please click here ([link removed]) .

To check if you're a current dues paying member, please click here (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Membership%20Status) .

To make a donation to TCDSA, please click here ([link removed]) .

To make a donation to or request aid from the Solidarity Fund, please click here ([link removed]) .

To join the TCDSA Slack, please click here ([link removed]) .
As always, socialism can't be solitary: what do you think about the newsletter? Do you want to help? Want to create or suggest some #content for next time? Please do ([link removed]) !
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Twin Cities Chapter DSA . PO Box 6554 . Minneapolis, MN 55406 . USA