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In this newsletter:
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Message From The Executive Board:
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Comrades,
After the last few weeks of events, Sacramento DSA is building up stronger relationships with community organizations and rekindling the exciting work of organizing in person. As part of this transition back to outdoors, in-person meetings, we are joining with the organizers of a solidarity action tomorrow to support Palestinian liberation and denounce the genocidal acts of the Israeli government, which we encourage all DSA members to attend.
Additionally, with two months to go, we are looking towards the highest decision making body of DSA: the delegates at the National Convention. If you would like to participate in this important process, we are electing delegates to represent the Sacramento chapter will be elected in a process announced at our last General Body Meeting. That presentation is available here.
Delegate candidates must fill out this Self-Nomination form: These responses will help members get a sense of who they are electing to represent them at the national level. After submitting this form, delegates are encouraged to present at the May GMM this weekend, although submissions will be accepted until the form is closed prior to the June GMM, which has been rescheduled for June 12th, to accommodate the national election deadline for delegate elections.
In Solidarity,
Sacramento DSA E-Board |
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TAKE OUR ORGANIZING SURVEY |
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Help us get to know our membership better by filling out this survey; this will allow us to get members in touch with campaigns and projects they are interested in, as well as find out what the priorities of members are. |
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FRIDAY: Solidarity Rally for Palestine
Join your DSA comrades tomorrow (Friday) at 3:30 at the federal building in Sacramento (5th & I Streets) for a rally in support of Palestinian liberation from occupation and Zionist apartheid. This is part of a series of national demonstrations that DSA has organized in response to this week’s events, including large demonstrations in New York and Chicago.
Also, join us this Saturday at our general membership meeting, during which our comrade Mousa will be educating our members on the background to this week’s events, and how DSA can help in the struggle.
DSA Rallies for May Day!
The fight for workers' rights here and abroad was on full display at the State Capitol on May Day, when DSA members joined the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, the Fight for $15 campaign, and the Sacramento Central Labor Council for a rally highlighting four ongoing struggles.
DSA members Andee and Sanji spoke to a crowd of over 100 people about the importance of the PRO Act and the Indian farmers' strike, respectively. Speaking from atop a truck rigged with speakers, they were joined by workers highlighting the FAST Recovery Act, which would give California fast food workers an increased ability to organize to demand better wages and working conditions, and the ongoing boycott of Driscoll's organized by farm workers.
As we reflect on these struggles around the world, it is important for us to stand in solidarity with workers and recognize every worker's fight as our own. DSA was proud to help host this event, and we thank every member who showed up to send a clear message of solidarity to the powerful and our fellow workers.
May Day marked the end of the first phase of DSA's national campaign to pass the PRO Act. Join us this Saturday at our general meeting, where we will hear an update on the campaign and what actions our chapter will be launching next. |
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Mutual Aid Opportunities This Week |
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DSA will now be doing mutual aid distribution (hot meals and additional resources as available) every other Monday at Cesar Chavez Park through our Mutual Aid Working Group!
Our next event will be this Monday, April 5th at 6:00 pm. Please join if you can! |
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International Solidarity Updates: Colombia, India
This part of the newsletter is for updates on international situations that national or Sacramento DSA has identified as priorities for our organization. If you would like to write any of these updates, please email us or consider joining our international committee!
Colombia: DSA Denounces Violent Suppression of National Strike
DSA condemns the Colombian state’s use of deadly force during the ongoing National Strike that has mobilized large sectors of Colombian society since April 28, 2021, and expresses solidarity with the popular mobilizations as they manifest the democratic right to protest. The full toll of this repression is still being verified but official sources are investigating 14 deaths between April 28 and May 1. However, human rights NGOs have tallied much higher figures, identifying nearly 1200 cases of police violence and 26 murders by the police.
The strike took place in virtually every major Colombian city and town throughout the country, with tens of thousands participating. It is a continuation of the November 2019 National Strike, called for by the “Comité de Paro Nacional,” made up of the leading movements and trade unions. The current strike carries forward some of the 2019 strike demands, but specifically added a rejection to the government’s proposal for a tax reform, which many feel would have inordinately punished the poor and weakened the middle class while protecting the rich. On May 3, due to the pressure of mass mobilizations, the tax reform was withdrawn and both the Minister and Vice-Minister of Finance resigned. This is an important partial victory but the struggle remains.
DSA stands in solidarity with the Comité de Paro Nacional, social movements and Colombian civil society. We echo their demands to immediately demilitarize the streets, to investigate the wave of violence in order to hold perpetrators and intellectual authors accountable, and to undertake a structural reform of the police in order to prevent massacres such as this one from occurring again. We call on U.S. elected officials and the Biden administration to denounce the state repression and demand accountability as well as political guarantees to protest.
India: DSA Congratulates the Left for its Electoral Victory in Kerala
DSA’s International Committee congratulates the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and its coalition partners in the Left Democratic Front on their historic victory in the Kerala state elections, with Keralites re-electing the Communist-led coalition while BJP won zero seats in the state assembly.
The LDF and CPI(M)’s reelection represents the success of the state government’s response to the COVID pandemic, its commitment to social welfare, and steadfast opposition to BJP’s Hindu Nationalist agenda. Lal Salaam (red salute) to all comrades in Kerala! |
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Upcoming Meeting Announcements:
Upcoming Sac DSA Meetings
All meetings taking place on Zoom, due to Covid. Open to all members! Some meetings require pre-registration so we can verify your DSA membership; just click the link and provide the email address you used when you joined DSA.
Socialist Education Committee meeting, Thursday, May 13 @ 7PM, Zoom link
General Membership Meeting, Saturday, May 15 @ 1:30PM, Zoom link
Healthcare Committee meeting, Thursday, May 20 @ 7PM, Zoom link
Missed a Meeting? Here are the Notes!
Executive Board meeting notes, 5/13/21
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! |
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Pre-Convention Conferences
With the 2021 national convention coming soon, DSA is hosting national pre-convention conferences to give potential delegates and other members an idea of what to expect at the convention, to meet comrades across the country, and to get the opportunity to engage in political discussion.
This year’s pre-convention conferences we will be discussing the platform, talking about what it means to be a delegate, and preparing for this year’s National Convention.
The five pre-convention conferences will be open to any member and run from May 15th to June 15. We strongly encourage those who are planning on or considering being a convention delegate to register for them.
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“Colombia from the Frontline: Fuego en el Alma” Friday, May 14 @ 4PM Pacific Time, RSVP here
Since April 28, Colombia has mobilized against the Duque administration in what started as a national strike and became a nationwide mass mobilization. The state has responded to the mobilizations with militarization of the major cities, with tanks lining up along the streets and avenues. The riot police, ESMAD are now responsible for at least 37 murders and over 1700 cases of documented police violence.
What is the historic and political background behind the massacres, intensified militarization, and unleashed state violence? How are working class people, activists, and movements organizing and resisting? What are the diverse demands being made? Join us Friday, May 14 to hear directly from Colombian activists about the unfolding situation on the ground and how we can stand in solidarity.
Spanish / English simultaneous interpretation available.
Read this Joint Statement on Colombia from AfroSoc Chicago and DSA IC. |
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What We're Reading (Or Viewing, Or Listening To...)
This is a space where we link to interesting articles, videos, podcasts -- whatever -- that our members have shared with each other on our chapter Slack. We are re-sharing them here in case others are interested; they do not necessarily represent “official” positions or endorsements of DSA.
Palestine A Socialist Introduction (book) by Sumaya Awad and Brian Bean
“Free ebook!”
Here is the social media protocol graphic we discussed in the GMM; please reach out if you have any questions!
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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. |
