The risk of exposure to COVID-19 is still very real -- especially out in the streets! Consider getting tested for piece of mind, collect data on this virus, and keep our communities as safe and healthy as we can right now. Be sure to wait at least 5 days after attending a protest to get tested for a more accurate result (false negative rates average 20%, so if you feel even the slightest bit sick please STAY HOME). And when you show up, mask up!
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“I want to see young people in America feel the spirit of the 1960s and find a way to get in the way. To find a way to get in trouble. Good trouble, necessary trouble.”
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Healthy LA Action Alert: LA County vote on Eviction Protections & COVID Relief on Tuesday
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There are really important items moving at the County Board of Supervisors’ meeting this Tuesday, July 21st. It is the last meeting before they go on summer recess and they will be voting to extend the eviction moratorium to September 30th and also voting to make these protections the floor (or minimum set of protections) for all 88 cities in the County. This is big! But the opposition is lobbying hard and there’s a possibility that they will move to only doing a report back on this item.
The BOS is also voting on moving forward a proposal for how to use $1.2 billion in COVID19 relief funding without community consultation. We are opposing this plan until the County engages in a transparent process.
We need the Board of Supervisors to feel pressure, especially about the eviction moratorium extension. Call your Supervisor today to let them know your demands!
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Candidate Q&A with Fatima Iqbal-Zubair & Konstantine Anthony + Member Debate
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Saturday, July 25 @ 11am - 1pm PST
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DSA-LA is now considering two additional candidates for the chapter’s endorsement in the 2020 general election. At this Q&A Session and Member Debate, DSA-LA members can ask the two candidates in consideration of endorsement questions about their politics and campaigns, as well as debate reasons for or against supporting these candidates for endorsement.
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Save the Date: Chapter Convention
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Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 12, 2020 for our Annual Chapter Convention. Members have the opportunity to start thinking about changes that our bylaws need or political projects that we should be focused on. The Steering Committee will be accepting by email to [email protected] proposed bylaw amendments & chapter resolutions, properly qualified by signature of 25 members in good standing until August 12th. More details about programming and speakers TBA!
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We are excited to announce our Mask Design Contest. We are calling out to all our creative members to submit their design for our upcoming merchandise. We are looking for a one color print design that will be used as our Chapter mask that will be available in our store. Designs that incorporate more than one color will be disqualified.
We will be accepting submissions from Monday July 20 through the end of the month, July 31. Submissions should be sent to [email protected]. Voting will be from Aug 3rd through Aug 7th and announced at our next Chapter meeting. We are excited and can’t wait to see your designs!
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Couldn't make it to our Branch meetings this past Saturday? Be sure to check out our meeting packet for chapter reports, electoral updates, more about our Prop 15 working group (i.e. TAX THE RICH), neighborhood, tenant, and workplace organizing–and other ways to plug in!
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A People of Color's History of DSA
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By comrades David Roddy and Alyssa De La Rosa of Sacramento DSA
One of the most serious and divisive issues facing DSA since its membership explosion is how socialists should approach the issue of race and racism. Numerous pages of online left-wing periodicals, Medium posts, and Facebook threads have poured over the issue, with political positions varying widely from accepting the liberal framework of class and race as separate issues or the old “class struggle first” tendency of leftists to sideline anti-racist struggles. What most of the articles fail to articulate, however, is that DSA did not form after Trump was elected. In fact, this debate has raged within the organization since its founding in 1982.
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Check out our online calendar for full list of committee meetings and chapter events. Be sure to follow our Instagram & Twitter for real-time announcements and calls-to-action!
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Housing & Homelessness Reading Group
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Tuesday, July 21st @ 7pm - 8:30pm PST
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Join the monthly Housing & Homelessness Committee reading group for a discussion on white supremacy culture and accountability within organizing spaces. As housing justice is also racial justice — with BIPOC tenants disproportionately impacted by housing insecurity and homelessness — this issue is central to our fight for tenant power.
Please try to read the following short articles in advance of the meeting:
• "The Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture," from Dismantling Racism: A Workbook for Social Change Groups, by Kenneth Jones and Tema Okun
• "We Need Comrades" by Jodi Dean
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Mutual Aid Book Club: Seize The Time, Pt. 2
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Tuesday, July 21st @ 7pm - 9pm
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For this Mutual Aid Book Club series, we will be discussing Seize The Time: The Story of The Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton, by Bobby Seale. At this meeting, we’ll be discussing up through the third and fourth chapters: The Party Grows, Eldridge Joins and Picking Up The Gun. Discussion will be pretty informal, and folks of all levels of involvement are encouraged to join! Physical copies of the book can be pretty hard to come by, but you can find a digital copy on The Internet Archive by clicking here. The Mutual Aid Book Club meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month.
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WEEKLY #JackieLaceyMustGo PROTEST
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Join DSA-LA in support of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles every Wednesday, 3PM @ 211 W. Temple Street at the Hall of (in)Justice for their standing #JackieLaceyMustGo protest, since the DA refuses to #ProsecuteKillerCops! More than 600+ Los Angeles County residents have been killed by law enforcement since Jackie Lacey was elected as District Attorney. She has refused to file charges against a single officer, even when they have been found to have acted “out of policy.” Meet-up spot is in front of the steps of the Courthouse, directly across the way from BLM speakers. Look for our DSA-LA banner and/or the Defund LAPD banner (pictured above).
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Art & Socialism: Rock Against Racism
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Wednesday, July 22 @ 7pm – 9pm PST
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In late 1970s Britain, the fascist National Front was winning elections, marching through the streets, and attempting to invade the country’s burgeoning punk scene. In response, socialists united with artists, musicians, and members of Britain’s Black and Asian communities to form two important movements: the Anti-Nazi League and Rock Against Racism. Together, these groups fought to kick the racists out of the UK’s politics and culture. Today, Rock Against Racism is seen as a watershed moment in British popular music. Join us for a presentation and discussion on music and anti-racist resistance. Attendees are encouraged to read the short book Beating Time: Rock & Roll & Race & Riot.
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Saturday, July 25 @ 11am – 1pm PST
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Are you new or newly returning to DSA? To Los Angeles? To the Left? Then join us for DSA 101! At this orientation, we’ll talk about what capitalism is, how it functions, and why socialism is ideologically opposed to it. Participants will also learn about the history of our organization and our chapter in particular, the current projects we’re working on, and how you can get involved. This is not a lecture, but a meeting for new and veteran organizers. We’re excited to chat with you!
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