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East Bay DSA Newsletter September 5, 2019
What the system thrives on, what the establishment hopes and prays every day, is that people fall asleep, people think they can't do anything, and they do not get involved. Our job is nothing less than to make a political revolution by revitalizing American democracy.
Bernie Sanders
Comrades,

We know that Bernie's slogan "Not Me, Us," is not just a catchy phrase. It’s an acknowledgment that capitalist power won't yield without a struggle from millions of working-class people, and it’s an invitation to join in the political revolution ourselves. A Green New Deal, Medicare for All, tuition-free college, stronger unions, and student and medical debt cancellation — by his own admission, Bernie can't deliver on these promises by himself. We have to build a movement strong enough to wring concessions from corporate elites. 

Join us in building that movement! This weekend is the official nationwide DSA for Bernie launch weekend. We'll be tabling at First Friday in Oakland, and then canvassing all day on Saturday. 

It used to be that votes in the California Democratic Party primary didn’t matter much, because the election happened late in the game. But the California primary has been moved up to Super Tuesday, and suddenly what happens here is of great importance to the rest of the country. (Read this piece in our publication East Bay Majority: "Why your vote actually matters in the 2020 California primary.")

Therefore, the fight for a Bernie Sanders nomination is the most pressing issue for socialists in California for the next six months. But we also know we can’t drop our other organizing work. We need a movement that will outlast a single campaign cycle, which means we need to continue to build DSA's roots in the East Bay working class. Join us, also, in our labor solidarity work and in the fight against public school closures in Oakland. See below for how to get involved!
August 23: Thank you to our 30+ canvassers who covered four BART stations and the Bernie Town Hall in SF!
August 23: Spreading the word on both sides of the bay! We got folks canvassing the Bernie town hall in SF too!
Featured Events
If you want to help build this movement, come out to the events below. RSVP for updates. You can also keep track on our Events page.

CROWD CANVASS FOR BERNIE AT OAKLAND FIRST FRIDAY

Friday, September 6 | 4:30–8:30 p.m.
Uptown Oakland, near Telegraph & Grand ♿️
Join us at Oakland First Friday to crowd canvass in support of Bernie's 2020 run and democratic socialism! A democratic socialist is a frontrunner for the presidency, and DSA is building a mass movement for socialism behind him. Bernie Sanders's 2020 run offers an unprecedented opportunity for democratic socialists to reach thousands of ordinary people with our politics, build working-class power, and make sure that California—a crucial battleground state—goes to Bernie on Super Tuesday.

August's First Friday canvass was a resounding success, and this First Friday should be even better! Join us to talk to all kinds of folks about the issues that affect their lives and empower them to join the mass, working-class movement being built by Bernie 2020 and DSA.

RSVP

KNOCK DOORS FOR BERNIE SANDERS 2020!

Saturday, September 7 | 12–5 p.m.
Bushrod Park, 560 59th St, Oakland ♿️
Join us as we launch our door-to-door canvassing for our Bernie 2020 campaign!

A democratic socialist is a front-runner for the presidency, and DSA is building a mass movement for socialism behind him. Bernie Sanders's 2020 run offers an unprecedented opportunity for democratic socialists to reach thousands of ordinary people with our politics, build working-class power, and make sure that California—a crucial battleground state—goes to Bernie on Super Tuesday.

This Saturday, September 7 will be our first door-to-door canvass, and we want to hit more than a thousand doors all over Oakland as we enter a new phase of our campaign. Come join us in the fight for Bernie and democratic socialism!

Accessibility: We will be outside going door-to-door.

RSVP

General MEETING: SOCIALISTS AND THE LABOR MOVEMENT

Sunday, September 8 | 1–3 p.m.
Omni Commons, 4799 Shattuck Ave, Oakland ♿️
This month's meeting will be focused on the role of socialists in the labor movement. We'll talk about the history of labor movement, how members are engaging with their unions, and how DSA can support and strengthen union activity. 

We need volunteers! From setup to sign-in to mic-running, volunteering for our meetings is easy and low-commitment. Volunteer here. Use this form, too, if you have child supervision or accessibility needs, including the need for an ASL interpreter.

Our next voting General Meeting will be in October. Member-submitted resolutions will be accepted on a rolling basis—please email them to [email protected]. The submission deadline for each meeting is three weeks in advance of the meeting itself.

The Omni Commons ballroom is wheelchair-accessible via a lift and has wheelchair-accessible restrooms, and we provide child supervision and wireless microphones with runners. It is also accessible by BART (1/2 mile walk from MacArthur Station) and by AC Transit bus lines 18, 88, and 12. See more information on Omni accessibility.

RSVP or Volunteer

BAY AREA LABOR FOR BERNIE

Sunday, September 8 | 5–7 p.m.
Sports Basement, 2727 Milvia St, Berkeley ♿️
Labor for Bernie is a national network of union activists committed to electing Bernie Sanders as president of the United States while strengthening democracy within our unions. We know that Bernie is the most pro-labor major candidate for president ever (see his incredible labor platform, the Workplace Democracy Plan), and union support for his campaign will be crucial in helping him to secure the Democratic nomination. Yet so far only one national union has endorsed him.

In 2016, over 50,000 union activists signed the Labor for Bernie pledge and helped secure major union endorsements and support from rank-and-file workers. In 2020, we plan to do the same.

Labor for Bernie is focusing on a two-pronged strategy: 1) securing union endorsements for Bernie Sanders, and 2) passing resolutions calling on our unions to have democratic endorsement processes — let the members vote on who the union should endorse! At our Bay Area Labor for Bernie meeting on Sunday, September 8, we will discuss the practical strategies of how to get started on passing one or both of these resolutions in our own unions!

RSVP

SAVE KAISER AND SANKOFA: TELL OUSD TO VOTE NO ON SCHOOL CLOSURES

Wednesday, September 11 | 5:30–9 p.m.
La Escuelita, 1052 2nd Ave, Oakland
On Wednesday, September 11, the Oakland School Board will be holding a final vote on consolidating Kaiser Elementary and Sankofa Academy. If passed, Kaiser Elementary will close and move 2.7 miles west to Sankofa Academy. The school board will also be voting on merging Frick and SOL on the Frick campus, and expanding MLA to the Sherman and Maxwell Park campuses.

The Oakland school board has consistently acted in the interests of charter schools and the billionaires that run and profit off of them instead of Oakland’s students and teachers. The board wants to close more public schools so it can either put charters in the newly emptied buildings or sell these properties to developers.

Show up to support students, parents, and teachers as the community tells OUSD to stop school closures and privatization.

RSVP

PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING

Thursday, September 12 | 6–8:30 p.m.
Niebyl Proctor Marxist Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave, Oakland
Discuss the committee's work around school closures and privatization, tuition-free public education from pre-k to university, debt forgiveness, solidarity with OEA, and more. There will be opportunities to get plugged into new and ongoing projects.

Accessibility: The bathroom is not accessible.

RSVP

RACIAL SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE MEETING

Monday, September 16 | 7–9 p.m.
Call / text 209-613-0810 for location
Our regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Racial Solidarity Committee!

Accessibility: Location and accessibility details may vary. RSVP for location!

RSVP

GREEN NEW DEAL CAMPAIGN MEETING

Tuesday, September 17 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Sports Basement, 2727 Milvia St, Berkeley ♿️
Care about climate change? Want a Green New Deal? Join us! Learn more about how to participate in the September 20 Climate Strike and week of action!

RSVP

SOCIAL HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING

Wednesday, September 18 | 7–9 p.m.
ACCE 2501 International Blvd, Oakland ♿️
Accessibility: This event is ADA-accessible.

RSVP
Upcoming Events

MEMES 4 BERNIE CONTENT PARTY!

Sunday, September 22 | 2–4 p.m.

Powderface, 3411 E. 12th St. #134, Oakland ♿️

 

Come meme with us! An electrifying afternoon of content creation awaits. We’ll be curating articles, hatching tweets and slappin' text on cat pictures for Bernie Sanders and Socialism.

We'll be using this form to collaborate on content. Feel free to use it any time and to peruse the replies!

This is a great event for new members, people curious about DSA or those who want to connect with our 2020 electoral work. Please bring a charged device!

RSVP

LABOR COMMITTEE MONTHLY MEETING

Sunday, September 29 | 6–8 p.m.

Niebyl Proctor Marxist Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave, Oakland ♿️

Please join the East Bay DSA Labor Committee for our regular monthly meeting. It's open to all DSA members who are interested in getting involved in labor work with their comrades! Learn more about how to get involved in the committee, our ongoing projects, and upcoming solidarity actions!

If you'd like to submit an item for the agenda, please email [email protected].

Accessibility: Entrance and bathroom are wheelchair-accessible.

RSVP
Not a Member Yet? Let's Fix That.
DSA recently topped 56,000 members, and we're still growing. There's never been a better time to get involved than right now! Join our national organization by clicking below and become an official socialist organizer.

Join DSA
August 24: Socialist Feminist Caucus & Medicare for All picnic mixer in full effect! With plenty of  chips, drinks, & cobbler at Snow Park.
Caucus Corner
Our caucuses also organize events! Please check the Caucus Corner of the East Bay DSA website to learn more about the activities of East Bay DSA caucuses and how to participate.
Announcements
EAST BAY DSA IN SEARCH OF OFFICE SPACE
Do you or someone you know have access to an office space that East Bay DSA could rent? Because we are a member-run organization with limited resources, we are looking for a low-cost, below market rate office space. Please contact [email protected] if you have any leads. Thank you!
To educate the masses politically does not mean, cannot mean, making a political speech. What it means is to try, relentlessly and passionately, to teach the masses that everything depends on them; that if we stagnate it is their responsibility, and that if we go forward it is due to them too, that there is no such thing as a demiurge, that there is no famous man who will take the responsibility for everything, but that the demiurge is the people themselves and the magic hands are finally only the hands of the people.
Frantz Fanon

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What the system thrives on, what the establishment hopes and prays every day, is that people fall asleep, people think they can't do anything, and they do not get involved. Our job is nothing less than to make a political revolution by revitalizing American democracy.
--Bernie Sanders

Comrades,

We know that Bernie's slogan "Not Me, Us," is not just a catchy phrase. It’s an acknowledgment that capitalist power won't yield without a struggle from millions of working-class people, and it’s an invitation to join in the political revolution ourselves. A Green New Deal, Medicare for All, tuition-free college, stronger unions, and student and medical debt cancellation — by his own admission, Bernie can't deliver on these promises by himself. We have to build a movement strong enough to wring concessions from corporate elites.

Join us in building that movement! This weekend is the official nationwide DSA for Bernie launch weekend. We'll be tabling at First Friday in Oakland, and then canvassing all day on Saturday.

It used to be that votes in the California Democratic Party primary didn’t matter much, because the election happened late in the game. But the California primary has been moved up to Super Tuesday, and suddenly what happens here is of great importance to the rest of the country. (Read this piece in our publication East Bay Majority: "Why your vote actually matters in the 2020 California primary (https://eastbaymajority.com/california-presidential-primary-2020-sanders-clinton/) .")

Therefore, the fight for a Bernie Sanders nomination is the most pressing issue for socialists in California for the next six months. But we also know we can’t drop our other organizing work. We need a movement that will outlast a single campaign cycle, which means we need to continue to build DSA's roots in the East Bay working class. Join us, also, in our labor solidarity work and in the fight against public school closures in Oakland. See below for how to get involved!


Featured Events

If you want to help build this movement, come out to the events below. RSVP for updates. You can also keep track on our Events page (http://eastbaydsa.org/events/) .


** CROWD CANVASS FOR BERNIE AT OAKLAND FIRST FRIDAY
------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, September 6 | 4:30–8:30 p.m.
Uptown Oakland, near Telegraph & Grand ♿️


Join us at Oakland First Friday to crowd canvass in support of Bernie's 2020 run and democratic socialism! A democratic socialist is a frontrunner for the presidency, and DSA is building a mass movement for socialism behind him. Bernie Sanders's 2020 run offers an unprecedented opportunity for democratic socialists to reach thousands of ordinary people with our politics, build working-class power, and make sure that California—a crucial battleground state—goes to Bernie on Super Tuesday.

August's First Friday canvass was a resounding success, and this First Friday should be even better! Join us to talk to all kinds of folks about the issues that affect their lives and empower them to join the mass, working-class movement being built by Bernie 2020 and DSA.

RSVP (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/789/2019-09-06-crowd-canvass-for-bernie-at-oakland-first-friday/)


** KNOCK DOORS FOR BERNIE SANDERS 2020!
------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, September 7 | 12–5 p.m.
Bushrod Park, 560 59th St, Oakland ♿️


Join us as we launch our door-to-door canvassing for our Bernie 2020 campaign!

A democratic socialist is a front-runner for the presidency, and DSA is building a mass movement for socialism behind him. Bernie Sanders's 2020 run offers an unprecedented opportunity for democratic socialists to reach thousands of ordinary people with our politics, build working-class power, and make sure that California—a crucial battleground state—goes to Bernie on Super Tuesday.

This Saturday, September 7 will be our first door-to-door canvass, and we want to hit more than a thousand doors all over Oakland as we enter a new phase of our campaign. Come join us in the fight for Bernie and democratic socialism!

Accessibility: We will be outside going door-to-door.

RSVP (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/799/2019-09-07-knock-doors-for-bernie-sanders-2020/)


** General MEETING: SOCIALISTS AND THE LABOR MOVEMENT
------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, September 8 | 1–3 p.m.
Omni Commons, 4799 Shattuck Ave, Oakland ♿️


This month's meeting will be focused on the role of socialists in the labor movement. We'll talk about the history of labor movement, how members are engaging with their unions, and how DSA can support and strengthen union activity.

We need volunteers! From setup to sign-in to mic-running, volunteering for our meetings is easy and low-commitment. Volunteer here (https://forms.gle/NzYMzXKQYVy1mFUC8) . Use this form, too, if you have child supervision or accessibility needs, including the need for an ASL interpreter.

Our next voting General Meeting will be in October. Member-submitted resolutions will be accepted on a rolling basis—please email them to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) . The submission deadline for each meeting is three weeks in advance of the meeting itself.

The Omni Commons ballroom is wheelchair-accessible via a lift and has wheelchair-accessible restrooms, and we provide child supervision and wireless microphones with runners. It is also accessible by BART (1/2 mile walk from MacArthur Station) and by AC Transit bus lines 18, 88, and 12. See more information on Omni accessibility (https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Accessibility) .

RSVP or Volunteer (https://forms.gle/NzYMzXKQYVy1mFUC8)


** BAY AREA LABOR FOR BERNIE
------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, September 8 | 5–7 p.m.
Sports Basement, 2727 Milvia St, Berkeley ♿️


Labor for Bernie is a national network of union activists committed to electing Bernie Sanders as president of the United States while strengthening democracy within our unions. We know that Bernie is the most pro-labor major candidate for president ever (see his incredible labor platform, the Workplace Democracy Plan), and union support for his campaign will be crucial in helping him to secure the Democratic nomination. Yet so far only one national union has endorsed him.

In 2016, over 50,000 union activists signed the Labor for Bernie pledge and helped secure major union endorsements and support from rank-and-file workers. In 2020, we plan to do the same.

Labor for Bernie is focusing on a two-pronged strategy: 1) securing union endorsements for Bernie Sanders, and 2) passing resolutions calling on our unions to have democratic endorsement processes — let the members vote on who the union should endorse! At our Bay Area Labor for Bernie meeting on Sunday, September 8, we will discuss the practical strategies of how to get started on passing one or both of these resolutions in our own unions!

RSVP (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/801/2019-09-08-bay-area-labor-for-bernie-meeting/)


** SAVE KAISER AND SANKOFA: TELL OUSD TO VOTE NO ON SCHOOL CLOSURES
------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, September 11 | 5:30–9 p.m.
La Escuelita, 1052 2nd Ave, Oakland


On Wednesday, September 11, the Oakland School Board will be holding a final vote on consolidating Kaiser Elementary and Sankofa Academy. If passed, Kaiser Elementary will close and move 2.7 miles west to Sankofa Academy. The school board will also be voting on merging Frick and SOL on the Frick campus, and expanding MLA to the Sherman and Maxwell Park campuses.

The Oakland school board has consistently acted in the interests of charter schools and the billionaires that run and profit off of them instead of Oakland’s students and teachers. The board wants to close more public schools so it can either put charters in the newly emptied buildings or sell these properties to developers.

Show up to support students, parents, and teachers as the community tells OUSD to stop school closures and privatization.

RSVP (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/794/2019-09-11-save-kaiser-and-sankofa-tell-ousd-to-vote-no-on-school-closures/)


** PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING
------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, September 12 | 6–8:30 p.m.
Niebyl Proctor Marxist Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave, Oakland


Discuss the committee's work around school closures and privatization, tuition-free public education from pre-k to university, debt forgiveness, solidarity with OEA, and more. There will be opportunities to get plugged into new and ongoing projects.

Accessibility: The bathroom is not accessible.

RSVP (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/793/2019-09-12-public-education-committee-meeting/)


** RACIAL SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE MEETING
------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, September 16 | 7–9 p.m.
Call / text 209-613-0810 for location


Our regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Racial Solidarity Committee!

Accessibility: Location and accessibility details may vary. RSVP for location!

RSVP (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/756/2019-09-16-racial-solidarity-committee-monthly-meeting/)


** GREEN NEW DEAL CAMPAIGN MEETING
------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, September 17 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Sports Basement, 2727 Milvia St, Berkeley ♿️


Care about climate change? Want a Green New Deal? Join us! Learn more about how to participate in the September 20 Climate Strike and week of action!

RSVP (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/802/2019-09-17-green-new-deal-campaign-meeting/)


** SOCIAL HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING
------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, September 18 | 7–9 p.m.
ACCE 2501 International Blvd, Oakland ♿️
Accessibility: This event is ADA-accessible.

RSVP (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/692/2019-09-18-social-housing-committee-september-meeting/)
Upcoming Events


** MEMES 4 BERNIE CONTENT PARTY!
------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, September 22 | 2–4 p.m.
Powderface, 3411 E. 12th St. #134, Oakland ♿️

Come meme with us! An electrifying afternoon of content creation awaits. We’ll be curating articles, hatching tweets and slappin' text on cat pictures for Bernie Sanders and Socialism.

We'll be using this form (https://forms.gle/tAcSKyD1PsED22iC6) to collaborate on content. Feel free to use it any time and to peruse the replies!

This is a great event for new members, people curious about DSA or those who want to connect with our 2020 electoral work. Please bring a charged device!

RSVP (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/765/2019-09-22-memes-4-bernie-content-party/)


** LABOR COMMITTEE MONTHLY MEETING
------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, September 29 | 6–8 p.m.
Niebyl Proctor Marxist Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave, Oakland ♿️

Please join the East Bay DSA Labor Committee for our regular monthly meeting. It's open to all DSA members who are interested in getting involved in labor work with their comrades! Learn more about how to get involved in the committee, our ongoing projects, and upcoming solidarity actions!

If you'd like to submit an item for the agenda, please email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

Accessibility: Entrance and bathroom are wheelchair-accessible.

RSVP (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/events/797/2019-09-29-labor-committee-monthly-meeting/)


Not a Member Yet? Let's Fix That.
DSA recently topped 56,000 members, and we're still growing. There's never been a better time to get involved than right now! Join our national organization by clicking below and become an official socialist organizer.

Join DSA (https://act.dsausa.org/donate/membership/)

Caucus Corner
Our caucuses also organize events! Please check the Caucus Corner of the East Bay DSA website (https://www.eastbaydsa.org/about/caucuses/) to learn more about the activities of East Bay DSA caucuses and how to participate.


Announcements

EAST BAY DSA IN SEARCH OF OFFICE SPACE
Do you or someone you know have access to an office space that East Bay DSA could rent? Because we are a member-run organization with limited resources, we are looking for a low-cost, below market rate office space. Please contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Office%20space) if you have any leads. Thank you!


To educate the masses politically does not mean, cannot mean, making a political speech. What it means is to try, relentlessly and passionately, to teach the masses that everything depends on them; that if we stagnate it is their responsibility, and that if we go forward it is due to them too, that there is no such thing as a demiurge, that there is no famous man who will take the responsibility for everything, but that the demiurge is the people themselves and the magic hands are finally only the hands of the people.
--Frantz Fanon

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