A reflection from DSA-LA member Victor Narro
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DSA-LA is deeply saddened by the loss of Kent Wong, a longtime activist and powerful leader
in the labor and immigrant rights movement. Kent was a tremendous force for justice, and he
leaves behind a strong foundation for us to continue the struggle and apply all that he taught us. Kent was an uncompromising and tireless fighter for workers, immigrants, students, and others of the most vulnerable in our community.
My powerful journey with Kent Wong encompassed most of my adult activist life. I first met
Kent in the mid-1990s, when I was Workers’ Rights Project Director for the Coalition for
Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA). We had started the movement to organize day laborers
and I reached out to Kent to ask him for support to connect us with the L.A. labor movement.
Since that first encounter, Kent and I embarked on a 30-year journey where he became my close friend, confidant, director and mentor.
Kent believed strongly that there is no greater power than when workers come together and
organize. He was one of the early pioneers of integrating immigrant workers to transform the
labor movement. You would always find Kent at every picket line, union strike action and major mobilization. For him, holding up a picket sign was a powerful weapon for justice. Kent also embraced and supported the efforts of worker centers and saw them as a part of the labor movement.
As an educator, Kent’s vision was to create the next generation of leaders in the labor, immigrant rights and social justice movements. Through his leadership, we created a Labor Studies Minor that grew into a vibrant B.A. program. Last month, we officially became a Labor Studies Department, the first one in the UC system. Kent had a vision to launch labor centers beyond he existing ones at Berkeley and UCLA. Today, there is a labor center in every UC campus.
On a global level, Kent was much beloved by the labor movements of other countries. He developed solidarity work between the U.S unions with the labor movements in China, Vietnam and Japan. I am grateful to have worked with Kent on a two year project with the trade unions in Vietnam. I witnessed how much love and solidarity the workers of the world had for Kent.
As an immigrant rights activist, Kent was always an uncompromising champion for the young
leaders of the Dream activist movement. He worked with undocumented student leaders at
UCLA to create IDEAS, the first ever campus student organization to represent them. Kent
established the UCLA Dream Resource Center (DRC) as part of the Labor Center. The DRC has provided emerging leaders a safe and empowering space to create impactful social, policy, and narrative change. In 2011, Kent worked with young immigrant leaders to launched Dream Summer, the only national fellowship program for undocumented students. Over the past 14 years, Dream Summer has built an alumni network of over 1,000 immigrant rights leaders.
On a personal level, Kent embraced me for who I was – a soft spoken and quiet servant leader who prefers to work from behind the scenes. He always challenged me, however, to step up and make my voice heard whenever the moment called for it. He supported my work with DSA-LA and he believed in its vision of organizing to build a world where everyone can live a life of dignity, free from injustice and capitalist exploitation. Kent represented for me the true meaning of deep camaraderie and radical solidarity.
Our hearts go out to Kent’s family, close friends, and all who were touched by him. Today we
honor Kent, and we continue forward in the path that he created for us to fight for a better world.
Rest in Power, Kent Wong.
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Want to talk to socialists in your neighborhood? Interested in getting involved and transforming this city? Want to shape the future of DSA and the world? Come to your local Branch meeting! This is a great meeting for new members, DSA-curious folks, and longtime comrades.
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👻 It's almost Pre-Halloweekend! 👻
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👻DSA HALLOWEEN COMEDY SPOOKTACULAR with REGGIE WATTS, WHITMER THOMAS, SOLOMON GEORGIO, and MORE!!👻
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October 24 @ 7:00 pm - 11:30 pm
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On October 24, join us at Zebulon for a fundraiser to support DSA-LA's work fighting ICE, electing socialists, and way more!
🎤 With: Reggie Watts, Whitmer Thomas, Jamie Loftus, Solomon Georgio, and more!
💥 Plus Thick Strip, Pro-Wrestler Ryan Nemeth (TNA), Chess vs Mike Castle & Filosophy, and a COSTUME CONTEST!
🚪 Doors at 7:00 PM
🎭 Show at 8:00 PM
📍 Zebulon (2478 Fletcher Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90039)
*Public Transit or Rideshare encouraged*
Lineup subject to change.
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👻SATURDAY! Estuardoween!!👻
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Put on your Halloween costumes and join us for a spooky fundraiser to elect Estuardo to LA City Council for District 9!
OCTOBER 25, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Water & Power Gallery
3027 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, 90007
Featuring:
Food!
Drinks!
Spooky Treats!
Piñatas!
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Queer and Trans Liberation Working Group Meeting
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Tuesday, October 21 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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Join DSA-LA's Queer and Trans Liberation Working Group as we celebrate last month's wins and plan for next month's actions and events!
RSVP for all of the juicy details.
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Political Education Committee Open House
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Wednesday, October 22 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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Are you interested in getting involved with the DSA-LA Political Education Committee? Or, are you curious about available educational resources in the chapter?
If so, consider coming to the DSA-LA Political Education Committee Open House! This informal event will feature snacks + socializing + the opportunity to learn about past and ongoing Political Education Committee work in conversation with leaders and active members. We hope to see you there!
And, if you want to learn more about the Political Education Committee ahead of the event, you can find our mission and platform here: https://dsa-la.org/committees/political-education-resource-committee-platform/
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Central Branch: Know-Your-Rights Community Outreach
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Sunday, October 26 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
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Under orders from the Trump administration, fascist ICE agents descended on Los Angeles to conduct brutal raids at our workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods. Join community members and DSA-LA comrades to walk through Thai Town to do outreach to community businesses, and make sure they are informed about their legal rights and prepared to safeguard their workers from ICE raids.
Training and support provided to first time canvassers.
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Canvass DSA-LA Members for Eunisses Hernandez and Prop 50
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Sunday, October 26 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
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Help build the movement for the Eunisses Hernandez campaign in CD1 by canvassing DSA-LA members to get involved in our campaign to re-elect Eunisses. This will be a member-to-member canvass, providing a great opportunity to meet fellow socialists.
We’ll also be canvassing for Prop 50 to counter Republican-led election rigging and counter the Trump administration’s dangerous agenda. Help us share a vision for a better, democratic socialist, world with our neighbors.
If you’ve never canvassed before: we will provide you with a thorough training, pair you up with someone experienced/confident, and make sure you are comfortable going out. Don’t worry — we got you!
You will need:
- a fully charged smartphone
- water, a hat (optional, but a good idea)
- a mask
- a tote bag/backpack (optional, useful!)
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Westside Branch: Mass Organizations and Parties
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Sunday, October 26 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
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DSA-LA's Mass Organizations and Parties Introduction is political education about DSA's mass organization orientation and how it guides our organizing and politics.
We will provide a base-level understanding of how mass organizations and parties have operated and organized, and how they can serve as inspiration for us going forward. The political education focuses on the Social Democratic Party of Germany, the Congress of Industrial Organizations, and MORENA as examples for engaging in a broader discussion of effective models and strategies for building mass organizations and parties.
DSA-LA's Mass Organizations and Parties Introduction is open to all and serves as a political education building block for those looking to engage in mass politics through DSA-LA.
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Sunday, October 26 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
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Come write postcards to let CD11 constituents know to turn out the vote for Faizah for City Council in the June 2026 primary! No barrier to entry, first-timers welcome! Postcards, pens, and template provided. 🙂
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Want to support our chapter in direct actions, door knocking, political education, and more as we fight fascism with socialism? Chip in some socialist cash to take out the capitalist trash!
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