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December 26, 2025 |
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Features |
Poem from a Comrade —M.L. Banks |
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In Response to “On Leftist Gun Ownership”Dear Comrades, Last week, a New Orleans DSA comrade expressed an opinion that leftists “no longer have the luxury of choosing not to own firearms” lest we “let them hold a monopoly on violence.” I disagree with this take for several reasons. First, violence begets more violence. We will not create a more peaceful community by arming more people any more than the U.S. is creating a more peaceful world by spending massive amounts of tax dollars funding wars. Second, as a military veteran myself, I can attest that there are a lot of people with PTSD and other mental health issues that would make it very dangerous for them and those around them to have access to firearms. Keeping yourself and others alive is not a “luxury;” it’s a necessity for a functioning community. Third, instead of spending time and money purchasing and shooting guns, leftists could spend time building and using alternatives that create Dual Power—institutions built on direct democracy that can challenge and eventually replace capitalism. As we've seen time and again throughout history, a revolution doesn’t end in systemic change without an alternative system in place. A new economy will not spontaneously appear on its own; we have to build it. I’m not going to sit idly by, but I’m also not going to purchase a gun. To those leftists who fear right wing militias and state-sponsored violence, I suggest considering non-lethal self-defense weapons—also consider your own mental health, and the physical and psychological safety of your family, before making the leap to gun ownership. It's ok to recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The success of our movement will require a diversity of tactics, and it’s perfectly valid to stick to the ones that don’t require weapons. ~ Aaron Junot
The Swoletariat ManifestoA spectre is haunting the gym—the spectre of the swoletariat. The chuds would seek to exorcise the swole lefty. Capitalism cares nothing for our health. For the owner class, a human is only useful to work and raise offspring. They would have us eat anti-nutritive slop, sit in front of a screen for more slop, and die before retirement. They are then off the hook for providing health care, retirement benefits, or a comfortable life. The bourgeoisie, however? They want to live forever. Techbro Bryan Johnson keeps a hyperbaric oxygen chamber at home, receives gene therapy at an offshore Honduran “special economic zone,” and uses his son as a personal blood bank. He takes exactly 2,250 calories per day, has frequent blood tests, and uses a penile tumescence meter nightly to compare himself against younger men. Fitness, longevity, and strength have unfortunately become a rightwing stronghold in the capitalist West. The right preaches personal responsibility while the left looks to societal level interventions to keep us healthy. In our capitalist hellscape, such interventions are scarce. RFK Jr., when not eating roadkill bear, rejects science and ignores the underlying capitalist machinery that perpetuates our unhealth. It is up to us collectively to keep ourselves healthy. Organize group exercises and outdoor activities, including cardio and weight training, with more experienced comrades offering guidance. Identify and support friendly gyms and dojos. Spaces for health and not toxic masculinity. We need to fight for local groceries and more time off from the grind. We need to shut down factories that pollute our water and soil. Members of Nola DSA unite! You have nothing to lose but your gainz! ~Dr. Ali |
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Bulletins |
Direct Service & Mutual AidTime to lock in for the next event!! Please join us Saturday, January 10, from 11:00 am - 1:30 pm for our Fork & Knife club food distribution at the Healing Center #204 (Blue Room!) to prepare, cook, package, and distribute hot meals and food supplies to various community fridges in the city! We are also partnering up with SEDND for their ongoing grocery donation drive for families affected by ICE. It’s crucial we show up for our community during these difficult times and make it known that New Orleanians fight back for our immigrant community. Your direct impact strengthens our chapter and mutual aid presence as well. Solidarity and y’allidarity forever! Hope to see you next month.
Organize With Our Immigration Advocacy Working GroupDSA members have flocked to Ojos trainings and are flying around town every day, filming ICE, and scaring them away from schools, work sites, and neighborhoods. We’re forming coalitions with partner orgs and putting our mutual aid skills and infrastructure to work. We’re making our demands known to City Hall, and we’re keeping receipts on who steps up and who stays quiet. When the people come together, the people will win. Join our Discord channel to plan our workshops, steer our neighborhood groups, and build transformative campaigns to run Greg Bovino out of our town.
Red Cup Rebellion: Historic Starbucks Strike Sweeping the NationStarbucks Workers United (SBWU) baristas continue their nationwide strike against unfair labor practices. That strike includes our local unionized Starbucks in River Ridge. Please support our striking baristas here and across the country by boycotting Starbucks donating to the workers’ solidarity fund. Baristas have been fighting for over two years for a fair contract. As participants in a wage market system, every worker has a stake in seeing the SBWU fight to the end.
Protect the Leah Chase School from Charter ProfiteersThe future of our city’s only publicly run school, the Leah Chase School, is at risk. The business lobby and charter school profiteers have been contacting school board members incessantly about closing the school. They want to spread the lie that direct-run schools are doomed to fail. Direct-run schools are accountable to residents who live here, and not to out of town charter school networks. Gaby Biro, Orleans Parish School Board and DSA member, is fighting hard for the future of Leah Chase. Let your school board member know you want them to stand up for direct-run schooling in our city. Invest in our future and protect public education!
Neighborhood CirclesOrganizing is about trust, and trust gets built by showing up again and again and getting to know your neighbors. Neighborhood circles are how we connect with comrades where we live, work, or otherwise spend our time. We’re using them to host gatherings, plan events, and organize around issues in our neighborhoods. Click here to join yours today! Neighborhood circles are for members only and follow the chapter's code of conduct and guidelines for respectful discussion.
Poli-Ed Reading GroupThe Reading Group meets every third Sunday, from 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm, at the Healing Center #258. Our current reading series focuses on Palestine. January 18 February 15
Follow New Orleans DSA on Socials!We’re now on TikTok! Wherever you scroll, keep up to date with chapter happenings and share with your friends. We’re on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Not a fan of our social media techbro oligarchs? You can always check out our newsletter and calendar at neworleansdsa.org.
Write Like a Socialist: We Have a World to Win!Have an update from your committee or working group? That’s a Bulletin! Want to tell us about an upcoming event? Add it to the Community Calendar! Got some opinion or analysis to share for the good of the membership? Write us a Feature! Make your contribution to the next edition of Solidarity Means Action from the link on Discord. |
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Community Calendar |
Friday, December 26🌹 🌹 🌹
Saturday, December 27🌹 🌹 🌹
Sunday, December 28Queer Soc Meeting Chapter Orientation
Monday, December 29Local Council Meeting
Tuesday, December 30Membership Working Group
Wednesday, December 31🌹 🌹 🌹
Thursday, January 1🌹 🌹 🌹
Friday, January 2🌹 🌹 🌹
Saturday, January 3🌹 🌹 🌹
Sunday, January 4Coffee with Comrades Poli-Ed Planning Meeting Chapter Orientation
Down the RoadJanuary 7 Eye on Surveillance Meeting |
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Solidarity Means Action is the weekly newsletter of the New Orleans Democratic Socialists of America. Subscribe for updates every Friday at 8:00 am Central. |
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