Metro DC DSA Weekly Update for Friday, October 25, 2019

Comrade,    TODAY Friday Oct. 25
9:30 AM Rally & Testify For Health Equity!  -- Wilson Building,  1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC -- Tell the D.C. City Council that the city must fully fund United Medical Center and ensure high-quality healthcare East of the River. Sign up to testify at 11 AM. Find out more – read and sign our letter.

>> Friday, October 25 MDC DSA Labor Working Group, monthly meeting at 5:30 PM at 1616 P St. NW. We’ll be discussing updates on our organizing project and pitching new projects including a “salt school” and a rapid response strike solidarity system, among other things. All are welcome to attend! – Luke R

TOMORROW Saturday, Oct. 26
Washington, D.C. is in the middle of an ongoing housing crisis, but tenants are fighting back! Join MDC DSA and other members of the Reclaim Rent Control coalition at Lamont Plaza in Mount Pleasant from 3-4 PM on Saturday, October 26 for a rally to demand expanded rent control. RSVP here: https://actionnetwork.org/events/rally-to-reclaim-rent-control?source=direct_link&fbclid=IwAR3t9nOB9y2QZoKDZt2621LWAKUUpS10uP6FJ5pGTPQuQMfeBGrcY1CG-vs
Want to get involved with the Rent Control Working Group? Join the # dc-rentcontrol channel on MDC DSA Slack and get connected.
— Nathaniel S CHAPTER MATTERS: MDC DSA GBM ELECTION RESULTS:
Steering Committee vacancy: Tim Z
Endorsement in 5^th Congressional District, Maryland: McKayla Wilkes, yes; Brianna Urbina, no
See complete results here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nWcVkR0mPSCikbC2KtpUg2rO9h2WqHVeS5t-7vJYi0U/edit#gid=0 ELECTORAL MATTERS
FROM NOVA LABOR – CANVASS LANDSCAPE:
Two canvasses Wed. Oct. 23^rd  
10:30 AM:  The legendary Farmworkers Union leader Dolores Huerta will launch a canvass for Delegates Elizabeth Guzman and Danica Roem. Step off at 5557 Mapledale Plaza, Woodbridge, VA
5:00 PM:  Delegate Lee Carter canvass launch with Wisconsin Ironworkers political leader Randy Bryce Step off at Dunkin Donuts 12713 Braemar Village Pz,  Bristow, VA 20136
Sat. Oct. 26 - AFGE Pres. J. David Cox Canvass Launch - 9 AM
Join President Cox for GOTV canvass/phone bank. Come out for our labor-to-labor program. 
Breakfast and lunch are served. 4536 B John Marr Drive, Annandale  -- Ginny Diamond, NoVA Labor
◄VIRGINIA’S GENERAL ELECTION IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5►
 
Metro DC DSA has endorsed Mckayla Wilkes for Congress in Maryland's 5th District.
Mckayla is an activist & Democratic Socialist who will fight for Medicare-for-All, the Green New Deal, and working people in her community and across the country; she is running against House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, who has a massive war chest funded by the fossil fuel industry, the health insurance industry, pharmaceutical companies, and defense contractors. Want to get involved? We have a new MDC DSA Slack channel, #mckayla2020 – check it out and join.
Her campaign is completely grassroots. Donate here!  http://bit.ly/mckayla-donate  --Nathan L BRIEFS
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday Dec. 14th from 10 am to 3 pm - Free seminar taught by Rutgers University Labor center faculty on how to build a stronger union and mobilize your members to take action.
NoVA Labor -- 4536 B John Marr Drive, Annandale
RSVP to [email protected]

SAVE THE DATE Monday, December 2  Social Reproduction: Socialist Night School 6:30 PM,  Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library Large Meeting Room. What is the connection between gender and class? Why must socialists be feminists, and feminists be socialists? What does socialist feminist struggle look like? To answer these questions, we look to social reproduction theory --  the question of how workers are "reproduced" in order to keep capitalism surging along. Come study the feminist Marxist concept of social reproduction with us, in a session led by Amanda Huron, associate professor of interdisciplinary social sciences at the University of the District of Columbia, and author of Carving Out the Commons: Tenant Organizing and Housing Cooperatives in Washington, D.C.  The session will be a mix of lecture and discussion.We'll be discussing Capitalism’s Crisis of Care by Nancy Fraser; to dig a little deeper, check out Sylvia Frederici on elder care:
Join the effort to expand child care for Metro DC DSA events! We already have child care at general body meetings, but we can do more! Register for the Red Cubs Child Care orientation on Sunday, November 3, 1:30-3:30 PM, at the Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library, 3160 16th St NW!
https://forms.gle/rr9k7vceL3hYb5fn7
 
Stomp Out Slumlords Canvass Events
Saturday Nov 2 @ 1:30 PM
Sunday Nov 17 @ 1:30 PM
Location: L’Enfant Plaza Metro
We’re canvassing tenants facing eviction in DC! Come out and inform tenants of their rights in court, how to get a lawyer, and see if they’re interested in organizing their building. Join us – follow the links for details.
 
Metro DC’s MoCo branch newsletter, sent Thursday, is here https://mailchi.mp/mdcdsa.org/join-us-on-saturday-nov-1263319?e=003de9ccab
  Curious about Metro DC DSA? MDC DSA’s website has expanded resources on our chapter Campaigns, WGs and Caucuses – check it out here. Is your campaign, caucus or working group properly represented? Contact [email protected], attn: web managers.
 MDC DSA Publications Schedule for October:  The November Washington Socialist will publish Friday, Nov. 1. Article deadline for the November issue is extended to Saturday, Oct. 26. November Updates will be published Fridays Nov. 8, 15 and 22 and the December issue of the Washington Socialist will be published Friday, Nov. 29.
MDC DSA’s regular periodical publications are managed by the Publications Working Group. Indicate interest in writing or other tasks to further socialist ideas and action by messaging [email protected] or visit our Slack channel, #publications, to see what we are up to. Our activism gains support when it is explained in a socialist context and voice, so check our submission guidelines, and add your voice to the mix. What shows up in the Washington Socialist? See the Index for 2016-18 and the supplemental the Washington Socialist Index for January-August

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Follow links for details
Friday, October 25  5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Labor Working Group Meeting
1616 P St NW · Washington, DC
We’ll be having updates on our worker organizing projects, be requesting help planning for some trainings before the end of the year, and how to get plugged into other projects that are moving like Labor for Bernie. Follow link for details
 
Saturday, October 26  3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Rally to Reclaim Rent Control
3258 Mt Pleasant St NW · Washington, DC  [at Lamont Park]
The launch of the Reclaim Rent Control campaign, calling for the DC Council to use the upcoming reauthorization of the rent control laws as an opportunity to expand and strengthen rent control in order to protect the affordable housing we already have as well as drastically increase the number of units protected by rent control. Follow link for details
 
Monday, October 28  6:30-8:30 PM
Financial Capitalism: Socialist Night School 
The Festival Center  1640 Columbia Rd NW · Washington, DC
In the decade leading up to the 2008 financial crisis, booming banks, rising house prices and cheap consumer goods propped up living standards in the rich world. Thirty years of rocketing debt and financial wizardry had masked the deep underlying fragility of finance-led growth, and in 2008 we were forced to pay up.
The decade since has witnessed all kinds of morbid symptoms, as all around the rich world, wages and productivity are stagnant, inequality is rising, and ecological systems are collapsing.
In this session, Grace Blakely, author of Stolen: How to Save the World from Financialisation, will help us better understand the role of financialization in our current moment and what we can do to change course.
This session of Socialist Night School is jointly sponsored by Metro DC DSA and the Democracy Collaborative.
 
Monday OCT 28  6:30 PM
Queer Caucus Happy Hour
555 23rd St S, 555 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202
Comrades the Queer Socialist Caucus is having its monthly happy hour once again! This time it will be at Freddie’s Beach Bar at 555 23rd St Arlington VA 22202 (not a far walk from the Crystal City Metro) from 6:30 pm until 9:30 pm. This is a public event so all comrades are welcome Follow link for details
 
Wednesday OCT 30  7:00 PM
Steering Committee (remote only)
Steering Committee meetings are open to any MDC DSA member who would like to attend. You can find the Zoom link in the #steering channel in the chapter’s Slack. Follow link for details.

 Thursday OCT 31  7:00 PM
October Chapter Happy Hour: Red Scare
Red Derby, 3718 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
Join MDC DSA for a spooky monthly Happy Hour! Come dressed to scare and enjoy some drinks! Follow link for details
 
Saturday, November 2  1:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Stomp Out Slumlords Tenant Canvass
L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station 600 Maryland Ave SW · Washington, DC
We’re canvassing tenants facing eviction in DC! Come out and inform tenants of their rights in court, how to get a lawyer, and see if they’re interested in organizing their building. Meet at the L’Enfant Plaza Metro station near the 7th & Maryland exit above the escalators. If this is your first time canvassing with Stomp Out Slumlords or you want a refresher, come at 1:30 p.m. for a short training. Veteran canvassers can stop by at 2 for walksheets and to get paired with a partner. Follow link for details
 
Sunday, November 3  1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Red Cubs Child Care Volunteer Orientation
Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library  3160 16th St NW · Washington, DC
Join us for a Red Cubs Child Care orientation!  The child care working group is looking comrades to join our volunteer team. At the orientation, you can learn about our chapter’s approach to child care, engage in discussion about gender division in care work, and make new friends!
Register at the link https://forms.gle/rr9k7vceL3hYb5fn7  Follow link for details.
 
Sunday, November 3  2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
MoCo DSA 🌹General Branch Meeting
Silver Spring Library  900 Wayne Ave · Silver Spring, MD
 Please join us for our November branch meeting! Help us build our vision for equality, democracy, and socialism in Montgomery County. We will work on plans for our rent control campaign! Afterwards, we’ll adjourn to a local bar for a social hour. Follow link for details.
 
Tuesday, November 5  6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Introduction to Marxism (Socialist Night School)
Northeast Neighborhood Library  330 7th St NE · Washington, DC
“Capital is dead labor, which, vampire-like, lives only by sucking living labor, and lives the more, the more labor it sucks.” This is how Marx, in one of his more literary moments, described the relation between capital and labor. Marx was predominantly a theorist of how capitalism worked, not what a future socialist society may look like. In this introduction to Marxism, which will strive to be light on jargon, we will focus on how Marxists view capitalism, how capitalist profit is rooted in the exploitation of labor, and how the class struggle is the result of this.
The session will be led by Chip Gibbons, who is co-chair of the Metro DC DSA Political Education Working Group. He is also a journalist whose work has been published in Jacobin and the Nation. Follow link for details
 
Sunday, November 10  3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Metro DC DSA Monthly General Body Meeting
Friends Meeting of Washington  2111 Florida Ave. NW · Washington, DC
The monthly meeting of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America!
The agenda will be distributed the week before the meeting. Follow link for updates.
 
Wednesday NOV 13  7:00 PM
Steering Committee

Institute for Policy Studies, 1301 Connecticut Ave NW #600, Washington, DC 20036

Steering Committee meetings are open to any MDC DSA member who would like to attend. Please RSVP and message the hosts if you would like to join by videoconference so we can make arrangements to get you the appropriate URL. Follow link for details

Sunday NOV 17  4:00 PM
Socialist Feminism Reading Group 🌹
The Festival Center, 1640 Columbia Rd., NW, Washington, DC 20009
Please read our reading group Participation Guide and join us as we explore and discuss topics within Socialist Feminism. 🌹 Suggest readings yourself at https://goo.gl/forms/Rn7ktzvYmN2ZvEOT2 Follow link for details
 
Sunday, November 17  1:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Stomp Out Slumlords Tenant Canvass
L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station 600 Maryland Ave SW · Washington, DC
We’re canvassing tenants facing eviction in DC! Come out and inform tenants of their rights in court, how to get a lawyer, and see if they’re interested in organizing their building. Meet at the L’Enfant Plaza Metro station near the 7th & Maryland exit above the escalators. If this is your first time canvassing with Stomp Out Slumlords or you want a refresher, come at 1:30 p.m. for a short training. Veteran canvassers can stop by at 2 for walksheets and to get paired with a partner. Follow link for details
 
Monday, November 18  6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
The Korean Peace Process and The Legacy of US Imperialism in Asia
Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library  3160 16th St NW · Washington, DC
The chaotic current state of a seventy-year standoff is untangled by Tim Shorrock, a Nation correspondent and expert in the region who has been covering the intersection of national security and capitalism since the late 1970s. The bipartisan US goal of maintaining an imperialist foothold in the region conditions the narrative and complicates the efforts of a national coalition of US and Korean activists in solidarity with Korean people’s movements.  Presented by the MDC DSA Socialist Night School. Follow link for full details.

Monday NOV 18  7:00 PM
NOVA Branch DSA 🌹 Organizing Meeting
Sterling Library, 22330 S Sterling Blvd Suite A117, Sterling, VA 20164
Welcome to our monthly NOVA DSA organizing and planning meeting. Please take a minute to read our short, brief, not very long, sort-of-illustrated NOVA DSA Socialist Meeting Participation Guidelines . We will be welcoming new members and continue discussing planning for our current actions and campaigns including support for DSA endorsed candidates (including Bernie Sanders) Follow link for full details.

Thursday NOV 21  6:00 PM
Disability Justice Working Group Meeting
The Festival Center, 1640 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009
Please join us for the November Disability Justice Working Group meeting at the Festival Center at 6 PM. Follow link for full details.

Sunday NOV 24  1:00 PM
Stomp Out Slumlords Business Meeting
Shaw (Watha T. Daniel) Neighborhood Library, 1630 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Come to our monthly business meeting to get updates from the buildings we’re organizing, hear report backs from the DC Tenant Union and Reclaim Rent Control campaigns, and volunteer for our next month of work! At this meeting we will set the month’s schedule for canvasses, trainings, and social activities. Email tenants [at] mdcdsa [dot] org   Follow link for full details.
 
 

SAT, Oct. 26 It Takes A Village – A Celebration of Gary Hopkins Jr.’s Life  7 – 10 PM, The Eaton Hotel, 1201 K St NW, Washington, DC xxxxxx Sponsors include Black Lives Matter DC, Stop Police Terror Project, Coalition of Concerned Mothers and Grassroots DC. Gary Hopkins Jr., artist and college student, lost his life at police hands in 1999. There’s a cost for tickets; see the Facebook RSVP.
https://www.facebook.com/events/3282386465168427/

SAT Oct 26 Justice Revival: Nurturing the Spirit of Resistance  - 4- 6 PM  Plymouth Congregational UCC - 5301 N Capitol St NW Hosted by Empower DC & The Sanctuaries
A service to uplift and celebrate the spirit that keeps us fighting for justice, featuring performances on the themes of joy, hope, peace, restoration and healing by Osa TheHealer, Ben Lasso, Vee, Northeast Performing Arts Group and DJ Kiran. Message by Rev Graylan Hagler. Food served. FREE - donations accepted.
RSVP
SAT Oct 26  DC Co-op Day  - 1-4 PM  THEARC - 1901 Mississippi Avenue SE
Hosted by by DC Cooperative Stakeholders Group DC Co-op Day will bring together the DC co-op ecosystem - worker co-ops, limited equity housing co-ops, food co-ops, co-op technical assistance providers and co-op advocates - for a day of learning, connecting and organizing.
RSVP SAT Oct 26 21st Century Regime Change Operations: A Conversation  - 6:30 – 9 PM
St. Stephen & the Incarnation Episcopal Church - 1525 Newton St NW Co-hosted by Friends of Latin America, Popular Resistance, Code Pink, ANSWER Coalition, & CISPES  panel will discuss:
- The 2018 regime change attempt in Nicaragua (with Friends of Latin America)
- The recurring violent protests in Venezuela (with Code Pink)
- The social media campaign during the 2019 election in El Salvador (with CISPES)
- U.S. NED financing of the protest movement in Hong Kong (with Popular Resistance)
RSVP

SAT Oct 26 Lobbying the DC Council: An Intro!  1-4 PM, Mt Pleasant Neighborhood Library, 3160 16^th St NW, Washington, DC 20010 Hosted by Showing Up for Racial Justice - SURJ – DC: First in a series of trainings on tools and information you need to advocate for budgeting and legislation that supports racial justice in DC. Our first training will provide an overview of DC City Council basics and best practices for lobbying your council members.  Please RSVP here!   https://www.facebook.com/events/541878133244905/ 

MON Oct 28,Community Conversation On Safety Beyond Policing
“Meet and Eat” 6:30 - 8 PM at St Stephens Church, 1525 Newton Street NW -- Food and childcare will be provided -- Join DC Jobs with Justice, Many Languages One Voice, Law 4 Black Lives DC, and ACLU DC RSVP HERE: https://actionnetwork.org/events/meet-and-eat-on-community-safety?source=direct_link&

TUE Oct 29  Racial Equity Public Hearing  7-9 PM Montgomery County MD Council 3^rd floor hearing room, 100 Maryland Ave, Rockville, MD 20850 --  Show up for the hearings on Bill 27-19! The Montgomery County Council is holding hearings on Bill 27-19, the Racial Equity and Social Justice Act.  Hearings set at 1:30 PM and 7 PM – Meet at 6 PM in the Council Cafeteria for a pre-hearing sign making session.  Sign up here to testify. Hosted by MORE Network - Montgomery County Racial Equity Network and 3 others: https://www.facebook.com/events/451128219085644/
 
WED Oct 30  #OurNeighborhoods Anti-Displacement Toolkit Launch
- 2:30 – 5 PM  Center for Community Change - 1536 U Street NW
Hosted by National CAPACD  The event will feature a panel of national partners and local members leading anti-displacement work. Panelists will discuss organizing in AAPI neighborhoods, and how AAPIs can work with other communities of color in grassroots and national anti-displacement efforts. We look forward to seeing you there!
RSVP
 
SAT Nov 2 How to End Stop and Frisk in DC: A Teach-In  Noon-3 PM, 3224 16^th St NW, Washington, DC 20010-3356 Hosted by Stop Police Terror Project DC: Get up to speed on the context, goals, and strategy of our local campaign that aims to end one of the most pervasive tactics of racist policing. https://www.facebook.com/events/417937862249214/

 SAT Nov 2 How to End Stop and Frisk in DC: A Teach-In - 12:00 -3  PM  LAYC Career Academy PCS - 3224 16th St. NW  Hosted by Stop Police Terror Project DC
Stop-and-frisk does not keep us safe BUT happens every day in DC. Stop Police Terror Project DC invites you to learn more about stop-and-frisk in DC and our No More Stop & Frisk Campaign with tools to prepare you to take action. Lunch, childcare, and ASL will be provided.
RSVP

SUN Nov 3 Alternatives to Calling the Police 7-9 PM, UUCF-Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton, VA 22124 — Examine our reliance on police, identify the risks of involving police, and learn about resources that can be accessed or created to advance true public safety. Police don’t keep us safe. We keep us safe.  Hosted by SURJ Northern Virginia and Fairfax County NAACP: https://www.facebook.com/events/2405651732986607/
 
WED Nov 6 Police Accountability Workshop 6:30– 9:00 PM  Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veterans Pl, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Hosted by Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church and 2 others: The Together Diversity Team and Silver Spring Justice Coalition are co-sponsoring a session to get updates about police accountability in Montgomery County;  information about how state legislation impacts county law; and how you can have a voice about police accountability.
Speakers include Will Jawando, Montgomery County Council Member At-Large
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/police-accountability-workshop-tickets-73695271541
https://www.facebook.com/events/690717518109813/

THURS Nov. 7 Book Event --  A Conversation with Steven Greenhouse on his new book, Beaten Down, Worked Up , 3:30 PM at AFL-CIO • 815 16th St. NW • Washington, D.C.
Greenhouse talks to AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer Liz Shuler about his book, spanning a century of labor history in the United States, from the early 20th century to the “Fight for $15” in recent years. RSVP

THU, Nov 7 Progressive Cheverly Community Choice Energy Forum,  7 PM at Gladys Noon Spellman Elementary School multipurpose room (3324 64^thAvenue -- Del. Lorig Charkoudian (D-20) and Lily Hawkins from Food & Water Watch discuss community choice energy, a powerful tool that lets local governments bargain for cleaner, more affordable energy on behalf of residents and businesses. Maryland should join other states (including Virginia), in adopting legislation authorizing community choice energy, the speakers argue.

MON  Nov  11 Book Event: Waging Peace in Vietnam  5 – 7 PM  George Washington University, Elliott School of International Affairs, 1957 E Street, NW  Washington, DC 20052 co-sponsored by IPS; book launch and panel discussion on GI opposition to the war.
 
TUES Dec 17 End Violence Ki Ki Ball  6- 10 PM, Eastern Market North Hall located at 225 7th Street S.E. Washington DC, 20003– info and tickets at link — “International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers” is not just about ending violence against people engaging in sex work—it’s also about ending violence against Trans people, against people of color, against people who use drugs, against people living with HIV, against people experiencing homelessness, and the communities who love and support sex workers. Ki Ki Ball (as seen on T. V. hit series Pose) will raise awareness about the violence our communities face and continue funding the expansion of our support services. To SUPPORT:
endviolencekikiball.com Good Reads
>>From our comrade Jules Bernstein, The Intercept interview: https://theintercept.com/2019/10/22/full-interview-bernie-sanders-and-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-talk-politics-and-2020-with-the-intercepts-ryan-grim/
 
>>Numerous comrades, including Bernstein, have passed this NYT column along. Jamelle Bouie, like others who were at Sanders’s return to the hustings and endorsement from AOC, noted the singular call for solidarity that was Bernie’s peroration, and how like his hero Debs’s appeal it was. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/22/opinion/aoc-bernie-sanders.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
 
>>The Guardian has broken down the occupational categories of donors to Democratic candidates, with interesting and sometimes startling results (Bernie gets the most active-duty military support among Dems). The article is distinguished by the clarity of its explainer graphics https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/oct/20/bernie-sanders-pete-buttigieg-donald-trump-voters/