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Notice: A COVID-19 vaccination clinic is being hosted in Sac County this Saturday, Feb. 6, for those 65+ living in the county. Due to the limited vaccine supply, there will be a total of 1,000 appts available for this clinic, on a first-come first-serve basis. You must register online here. The clinic will be at Cristo Del Rey High School, 8475 Jackson Road, Sacramento.
In this newsletter:
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Message From The Executive Board:
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This week, Sac DSA mobilized to provide food and PPE to our unhoused neighbors seeking shelter from the ferocious storms battering our county. With the city of Sacramento only providing granola bars, we put out resources together to act where the city wouldn't and ensure that our neighbors had the food and protection they needed.
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We would like to continue and expand these mutual aid efforts, as the weather, Covid crisis, and ongoing austerity continue to take their toll on our community. To that end, some of our members are proposing the creation of a permanent Sac DSA Mutual Aid Working Group -- see their resolution below in this newsletter. And come to our general meeting on February 20 as we discuss that resolution and the best ways that our chapter can engage in mutual aid efforts in support of the working class. We will also be discussing our chapter's approach to the housing and homeless crisis more broadly.
It's going to take solidarity and strong leadership in order to keep these and other efforts going. So this is a good time to remind everyone that we are currently seeking a new chapter co-chair, who must be a self-identified woman. We have one member so far who is running -- thank you! -- but we would like to make this a competitive election. If you have any questions about the position, do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
Resolution to Create a Mutual Aid Working Group
In the past couple of weeks, Sacramento DSA members have come out to support our community through multiple mutual aid projects. We believe there is a strong interest in our chapter to continue this type of work and propose the formation of a Mutual Aid Working Group to meet that need.
Through this working group, we will build coalitions with local organizations to work in solidarity with our neighbors, strengthen our community ties, grow our chapter, and utilize these connections to advance our political goals.
We will be discussing and voting on this resolution at our General Meeting on February 20. Before then, we'd like to ask for input (from the chapter, racial solidarity committee, etc.) to ensure this proposal meets our (equity, housing, etc.) needs. Please let us know if you have any ideas/questions/concerns by joining our discussion on Slack or emailing [email protected].
Big update on DSA's Medicare For All campaign!
Last weekend, DSA chapters across California met to adopt a shared strategy for winning single-payer healthcare in California. DSA calls on California legislators to create a statewide Medicare For All program, which would guarantee health care as a human right in the state of California by providing comprehensive, high-quality health care for all, including our undocumented and trans neighbors. DSA is also petitioning Governor Newsom to apply for federal waivers that would allow the program to happen.
But we're not just asking nicely -- DSA vows to challenge Democrats in primary elections if they oppose single-payer healthcare, focusing its efforts on key races in order to mount a credible threat.
In addition, our own delegates from Sacramento DSA added a provision to run a state-level "Patients Over Profits" campaign, calling on all legislators to reject campaign contributions from the healthcare industry.
You can start getting involved in this campaign right now! The campaign plan includes the formation of 3 volunteer teams that folks can join, using the linked sign-up forms below:
DSA is accepting donations to the campaign (with the fund hosted by the Inland Empire DSA chapter). Money will be used for campaign tools (dialer, texting platform) and door hangers. You can donate here!
Saturday: Car Caravan for Universal Healthcare!
Our friends at the California Nurses Association (CNA) are hosting a local car caravan this Saturday, Feb. 6, to urge state legislators to pass California Guaranteed Health Care for All (CalCare), essentially a statewide Medicare For All program. CNA has been leading the fight for guaranteed health care for decades, and along with DSA is actively working to introduce a new single-payer bill in the state legislature. The event will be part of the nurses’ kickoff day of action with car caravans in 23 cities across California. Participants will practice physical distancing, wear masks, and adhere to other COVID-19 safety guidelines.
The caravan will begin with a short program, followed by a drive down an easy-to-follow route with signs on participants' vehicles demonstrating clear support for guaranteed health care for all Californians. Participants will demonstrate from within their vehicles. The organizers are asking participants to decorate their cars in advance - although some window signs will also be provided if needed. You can print out some signs to tape onto your car here, here and here.
Details: Saturday, February 6th at 1:00 p.m., West Wind Sacramento 6 Drive-In, 9616 Oates Drive, Sacramento, 95827. RSVP HERE, or check out the Facebook event page.
Please RSVP if you haven't already. . . and encourage 2-3 friends to join as well! We want a lot of cars in our caravan so that our message is loud and clear! This will be a socially distanced event!
People's Budget Update
As a member of the Sacramento People's Budget coalition, Sac DSA supported the call by Councilmembers Katie Valenzuela and Mai Vang to spend Sacramento budget surplus funds on affordable housing, homeless services, alternatives to policing such as the Office of Community Response, and an expanded participatory budgeting program in low-income neighborhoods of the city. The city was pushing to spend the funds in other ways, including the hiring of ten more police officers.
The city chose not to meaningfully fund alternatives to policing and participatory budgeting. As Councilmember Valenzuela put it, "Next time the City says we don't have enough [money] to immediately bring our unhoused neighbors inside, remember that the Council voted down funding that would have enabled us to continue doing just that."
Meanwhile, Sac DSA joins Decarcerate Sacramento and the People's Budget this week to press the county not to expand funding for the sheriff and jails.
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Students! Join Us and Councilmember Valenzuela for "What is YDSA?"
Join us this Sunday at 6:30pm for our townhall called "What is Young Democratic Socialist of America?"
We have special guests that will speak, including Sacramento DSA-endorsed/
Open to all, but especially students looking to organize for DSA at their school! Register here
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Revolutionary Black History Month Events
This event on February 10 is being hosted by DSA San Francisco, but is open to anyone! Join us for a discussion of the Fred Hampton Speech "Power Anywhere There's People" and the documentary "The First Rainbow Coalition." There will also be a "surprise" section toward the end, since a similar discussion last week turned into a 2-hour Q&A with former Black Panther and DSA East Bay member Gerald! Register here.
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Also, National DSA is hosting a two-week reading group, "The Socialist Legacy of Black Feminism" this month! In partnership with National Political Education Committee, DSA Afrosocialist Caucus, and Lux Magazine.
Since slavery, Black feminist scholars and activists have articulated a socialist vision for ending systemic oppression. Black feminism recognizes how all systems of oppression are inextricably linked while maintaining the unique circumstances of anti-blackness, misogynoir, and class oppression. Understanding this theoretical framework is essential for those interested in developing strategies to end all forms of exploitation. To quote What is to Be Done? “Working-class consciousness cannot be genuine political consciousness unless the workers are trained to respond to all cases of tyranny, oppression, violence, and abuse, no matter what class is affected.”
In this reading group, we will discuss the core tenets of Black feminist thought - the connections between race, class, gender, intersectionality, all to coincide with Black history month. Register here!
International Solidarity Updates
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DSA supports the FMLN and the Salvadoran People, denounces President Nayib Bukele’s authoritarian turn in El Salvador
This week, DSA's International Committee issued a statement in support of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) and social movements in El Salvador, that have recently come under increased attack by right-wing forces in the country, including President Nayib Bukele. You can read DSA's statement here (in English and Spanish).
Just this week, we lost two FMLN comrades to assassination and more are threatened with political violence. President Nayib Bukele has engaged in irresponsible support for hate and threats. Meanwhile, his Ministry of Labor has done nothing to protect workers who went on hunger strike to prevent the illegal closure of the Florenzi Industries facility. And last year, Bukele approved an international agreement that allows the U.S. to deport refugees to El Salvador, which currently has the highest homicide rate in the world.
As part of DSA's call to keep members informed and engaged in solidarity efforts with the Salvadoran people, our chapter is planning an educational event around these and other issues. If you would like to help us organize these solidarity efforts, please email [email protected] or log on to our Slack and let us know!
Increased Repression, But Farmer-Workers Strike Holds Firm in India
Farmer-worker protests -- endorsed by Sacramento DSA in a recent resolution -- are ongoing in India. While the movement is countrywide, attention is focused on the capitol region of Delhi. Currently, in at least four sites there, hundreds of thousands of farmer-workers and their supporters continue to camp in protest, as they have done for the past two months.
The government has used media channels and other information methods of propaganda to try to isolate farmers and workers from the rest of the populace. Due to some fairly trumped-up accusations on the part of the government, for a few days in January the momentum shifted to the right-wing Modi government. Thankfully, farmer-workers have maintained their commitment to the struggle and the campaign has been rejuvenated by tens of thousands more people joining.
The situation continues to progress, and continues to present high risks for the people who have disrupted their whole lives to sit and sleep on the road for now upwards of two months. At least 160 people have died already from cold exposure, accidents, and illness. In the context of government efforts to create an information blackout, solidarity from all avenues is a tremendous shot in the arm for the movement. It cannot be stressed enough that vast millions of people are fighting the threat to their way of life and even their lives from the damage that could be done by the farm laws, and by state sponsored violence.
Signs of Hope in Yemen
Last week, DSA joined other organizations around the world to protest the U.S. involvement in the bombing and mass starvation of Yemen. Subsequently, the Biden administration has indicated it may partially lift sanctions that have prevented necessary food and other humanitarian aid from reaching large parts of the country. And today, Biden has also announced "an end to United States support for offensive operations in Yemen."
In 2019, Bernie Sanders introduced a bill to end U.S. support for the Saudi-UAE war in Yemen -- a bill that was approved by Congress but vetoed by Trump. Now it appears that Biden is doing what Trump would not, even though the destructive U.S. policy began in 2015 while Biden was vice president. In the words of Sanders, this hard-fought reversal of U.S. policy is "a tribute to the work of so many activists over the years."
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Upcoming Meeting Announcements: |
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Muslim Organizer Mentorship Program - Apps Due Feb 5! |
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Looking to learn to organize? DSA is searching for passionate, motivated Muslims with little-to-no experience organizing to be mentored by experienced Muslim organizers.
Apps due Feb 5. No DSA membership req'd. More info + app here.
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Socialist Education Committee, 2/11/21 (Thurs) @ 7PM
Missed a Meeting? Here are the Notes!
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Upcoming National DSA Events & Programs
These events are hosted by National DSA or chapters outside Sacramento. As with all DSA events, they are free and open to anyone!
"On The Front Lines of the Philippine Labor Movement: Workers’ Struggles Amidst the Pandemic and Political Repression" Feb 4 (Thurs) @ 5PM PST, RSVP Here
Join the DSA International Committee for a webinar with "Kilusang Mayo Uno" trade union leaders on today's fights taking place between the Filipino working classes and corporate power, the ravages caused by COVID, and the government's abuse of the quarantine to crack down on dissidents, as well as the connection to US imperial power and what we can do about it. Join us virtually on February 4th, the Commemoration Day of the Philippine-American War.
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"YDSA Winter Conference: Cancel ALL Student Debt w/ Astra Taylor" Feb 5 (Friday) @ 5PM PST, RSVP Here
This is a preview event for the 2021 Young Democratic Socialists (YDSA) Online Winter Conference. (Learn more about the Winter Conference here). Biden has the power to cancel ALL student debt with a stroke of his pen, but he won't do it without a movement to force his hand. Join us for a panel on how YDSA and other organizations are building that movement on campuses and in communities across the country. Panelists: Astra Taylor, Emmaline Bennett , Luke Herrine, Melezia Figueroa.
"DSA, BDS, and Palestine Solidarity: A Panel Discussion" Feb 6 (Saturday) @ 12PM PST, RSVP Here
Join us for a discussion and Q&A with special guests, including Omar Barghouti, Marc Lamont Hill, Sumaya Awad, and Ajamu Amiri Dillahunt, to discuss the growing and vibrant global BDS Movement, Palestine solidarity, censorship, and how socialists can join the fight! Co-sponsored by the BDS and Palestine Solidarity National Working Group, the National Political Education Committee, DSA Muslim Caucus, and the Afrosocialists and Socialists of Color Caucus (AFROSOC).
"Domestic Worker Organizing in Times of Crisis: Perspectives from the US and Latin America" Feb 7 (Sunday) @ 11AM PST, RSVP Here
This webinar will feature leaders from the US and Brazilian domestic worker movements, who will talk about their experiences of organizing and empowering some of the most underrepresented and undervalued women workers to stand up and fight for their lives and livelihoods in a moment of unprecedented crisis. The featured speakers are Luiza Batista Pereira, President of the National Federation of Domestic Workers of Brazil (FENATRAD) and Gilda Blanco of the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) of the US and a member of the Executive Committee of the International Federation of Domestic Workers (IDWF). The commentator for the panel will be Professor Tithi Bhattacharya, Director of Global Studies at Purdue University and author of Social Reproduction Theory: Remapping Class, Recentering Oppression.
The event will be in English and Portuguese with simultaneous translation.
"DSA4USPS: The Postal Service and the Green New Deal" Feb 7 (Sunday) @ 1PM PST, RSVP Here
In our third educational webinar, DSA4USPS will explore the Postal Service’s potential within the Green New Deal. Join Stephen Quirke, rank-and-file member of the National Association of Letter Carriers and DSA; Julee Sanderson, 1st national VP of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers; and David Yao, VP of the Seattle-area Postal Workers' Union, as they discuss the importance of greening infrastructure writ large, and how postal services specifically can join and forward the cause.
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What We're Reading (Or Viewing, Or Listening To...)
"A Left That Matters" by Chris Maisano
"DSA has come a long way in five years. But we and the Left in general face three major challenges in where we are mostly located, the political system stacked against us, and our lack of strong broadly-based allies. How can we overcome this?"
"How Socialists Solved The Housing Crisis," Gravel Institute (video)
"Nah with that Yimbyism I want some of that Phimbyism"
"Story today on the shortcomings of SB91"
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Copyright (c) 2020 Sacramento Democratic Socialists of America, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you expressed interest in updates from Sacramento DSA. |
