Protest fascists in MoCo, support the climate strikers, canvass for Bernie, organize for rent control, learn about social housing, and more!

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This week in MoCo DSA
Dear comrades,

We start with an urgent solidarity request. As you may have heard, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the Council have come under fire from the Trump regime ([link removed]) recently for County Executive Elrich's executive order banning most forms of County cooperation with ICE. As a result, a number of Trumpists calling themselves the "Concerned Citizen Coalition" are organizing a "pro-ICE" rally that will feature prominent Montgomery County Republican Party officials and infamous right-wing provocateur Michelle Malkin.

MoCo DSA is joining SURJ MoCo, Takoma Park Mobilization, Jews United for Justice, and other progressive activists in organizing a counter-protest:
MoCo Stands With Immigrants ([link removed]) will be held this Friday, September 13 at 10:30 AM in front of the Montgomery County Council Building in Rockville. If you are able to make this counter-protest, please do!

In more pleasant news, MoCo DSA spoke with many county residents at the Takoma Park Folk Festival (http:// www.tpff.org) this past weekend! We had dozens of conversations about democratic socialism and DSA's campigns for working people, including rent control and the Bernie Sanders campaign. We're optimistic our next branch meeting will have a few new faces!


Reminder: MoCo DSA will hold a special election next month. In the interim, the steering committee has appointed treasurer David Reed to the open seat. Please nominate yourself or ask any questions about the position by emailing us here (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Steering%20committee%20nomination) ! The online election will begin on October 4, and nominations must be sent to the steering committee in writing by September 20, 2019.

Upcoming DSA events:

Friday, September 13 at 10:30 AM: MoCo Stands With Immigrants (Counter-Protest against right-wing rally)
From the organizers: The forces of racism and hatred have decided to organize in Montgomery County and show their support for ICE. They’ve even invited pro-hate VIPs. Let's drown out the hate with NOISE. Please show up THIS FRIDAY AT 10:30 AM IN ROCKVILLE FOR A COUNTER-PROTEST. Let's counteract their hatred with our determination to continue to build a community that rejects racism, xenophobia, and other forms of hate! Details here. ([link removed])

Sunday, September 15 from 2:00-4:30 pm: MoCo DSA Branch Meeting at Takoma Park firehouse
Please join us to talk rent control and more as our monthly meetings resume in September - at a new location, the Takoma Park firehouse! Details here ([link removed]) .

Monday, September 23: D.C. Climate Strike with DSA
Youth climate activists from around the world have called for a global week of action from September 20-27. In response, a group of organizations in DC--including 350.org ([link removed]) , labor union activists and many others--are shutting down the city on the morning of September 23 ([link removed]) . Each group is planning a nonviolent direct action to block key infrastructure and bring DC to a gridlocked standstill. DSA is looking to block an intersection and we really need your input and participation to make it a success. To get involved, email Jake H (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Climate%20strike) (or 202-957-3761) and join the #climate-strike Slack channel. More information: [link removed] ([link removed])

Wednesday, September 25 at 7:00 PM: MoCo DSA Rent Control Meeting
We have met with County Executive Marc Elrich and a number of local organizations who are excited to partner on this campaign with us. Following the branch meeting this coming Sunday, we'll need to plan our next phase of the campaign - which will include reaching out to the many DSA members in MoCo who haven't been as active with the branch, and creating content for the new MoCo DSA website that is currently being built! (The exact meeting location is the Central Apartments, 8455 Fenton St, Apt #336.)

Saturday, September 28 at 10:00 AM: Queer Socialist Caucus - National Trans Visibility March on DC
From the organizers: MDC QSC will have a contingent in the National Trans Visibility March to show our solidarity with our trans comrades, trans women of color, one of the most marginalized groups in society, and all trans people. Details here. ([link removed])

Don't forget to check out the Metro DC DSA Meetup Events page ([link removed]) to find many DSA events throughout the Washington Metro region!

Upcoming community events:

Thursday, September 12 at 6:30 PM: Montgomery County Poor People's Campaign Monthly Meeting
From the organizers: This month from 5:30-6:30 there will be a potluck meal. We will have food & hot/cold drinks ~ feel free to bring something to share We'll be socializing and showing some National PPC videos. Details here. ([link removed])

Saturday, September 14 from 9:30-11:30 am: Social Housing Discussion at County Council Offices in Rockville
Representatives from Vienna, Austria, will discuss the city's extensive social housing ([link removed]) program with County Councilmembers, the Sierra Club, and the public. (It would appear that Councilmember Riemer is trying to beef up his left flank.) Details ([link removed]) here ([link removed]) . (There is also a symposium planned at UMD the day before - details here ([link removed]) .)

Saturday, September 14 from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm: Climate Emergency Town Hall at Silver Spring Civic Center
Join County Executive Marc Elrich, County Councilmember Tom Hucker, DSA member and climate expert Danielle Meitiv and other climate advocates for a panel discussion and town hall on Montgomery County's response to the Climate Emergency. Details here ([link removed]) .

Thursday, September 19 at 6:00 PM: People's Forum on Racial Equity in MoCo / Foro: Equidad Racial
From the organizers: What would our county be like if race and ethnicity didn't predict our opportunities, resources, or quality of life? And how can a racial equity policy get us closer to that kind of world? Right now, our elected officials are drafting a racial equity policy for Montgomery County. Join us on Thursday, September 19 at Visarts in Rockville (155 Gibbs Street) for a community-organized forum to ensure our voices are heard. Come share feedback and learn about ways to mobilize around this effort, as we envision what true racial equity can look like in MoCo. Details here. ([link removed])

Friday, September 20 at 9:00 AM: MoCo Student Striker Kickoff Rally at Silver Spring Metro Station
From the organizers: Join in support of our Montgomery County climate strikers as they head to DC to demand climate action NOW! We will surround the Metro station entrance with a #ClimateStrike human banner and hear from strikers before they board the train for the 11:00 DC Climate Strike march at Freedom Plaza. Details ([link removed]) here ([link removed]) . Details on the Global Climate Strikes are here ([link removed]) .

Saturday, September 21 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM: Maryland Trans Resilience Conference
From the organizers: The Baltimore Transgender Alliance, Trans Healthcare Maryland, and CLEAR Baltimore are partnering with local trans community to launch the Maryland Trans Resilience Conference, an annual trans-led, trans-focused gathering to foster connection, healing, and education. The conference includes workshops, panel discussions, wellness, art, resource tables, and more, all within a social, trans-affirming environment. Details ([link removed]) here ([link removed]) .

Good Reads:
From Jacobin: "What A Bernie Sanders Agenda on Affordable Housing Should Look Like" ([link removed]) by Peter Gowan. "The United States is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. We need a bold new housing agenda that includes millions of new social housing units, universal rent control, an end to speculative profiteering, the elimination of homelessness, and a federal homes guarantee."

From Commonwealth MD: "No County for Bad Landlords" ([link removed]) by Erick Online Wright. "Southern Management is one of the largest property management companies in the region. They regularly talk about their commitment to their residents’ safety when opposing renters’ rights legislation. Recent events on one of their properties in Silver Spring casts doubts over their claims."

From the Next System Project: "Medicine For All: The Case for a Public Option in the Pharmaceutical Industry" ([link removed]) by Dana Brown. "Too many Americans are suffering and dying prematurely because we have ceded control over a key part of our infrastructure for public health—the pharmaceutical industry—to unaccountable corporations, for whom the pursuit of profit trumps the needs of patients and communities. Instead of continuing to push the boulder of regulation up the hill in hopes that it one day finally proves effective, we can displace corporate power over our health and lives by moving towards a democratic, publicly-owned pharmaceutical sector, designed to respond to public health needs and deliver better health outcomes at lower costs."

From the Baltimore Sun: "In Howard County, A ‘Courageous’ Plan to Redraw School Boundaries Tests Community’s Commitment to Diversity" ([link removed]) by the Sun Staff. "In Howard County, people pride themselves on making everyone feel welcome. Bumper stickers say 'Choose Civility.' The county’s pioneering new town, Columbia, was founded on the premise that people of different races and economic status should live side by side. Now, those convictions are being tested by a proposal that seeks to redistribute some 7,400 of the school system’s 58,000 children to different schools — in part to address socioeconomic segregation that leaves children from poor families concentrated in certain schools. Signs like 'No Forced Busing' and 'Don’t Dismantle Communities' are appearing in protests in front of River Hill High School, where nearly everyone is affluent and very few are black or Hispanic.
A Facebook page called 'Howard County School Redistricting Opposition' has more than 1,900 members."

In solidarity,
Frank, Elissa, David, John, and Zach
MoCo DSA Steering Committee

Follow us on Twitter: @MoCo_DSA ([link removed])
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DSAMoCo
{MoCo DSA is a branch of the Metro DC chapter of DSA}

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