Metro DC DSA Weekly Update for Friday, December 6, 2019


** What's On This Week
------------------------------------------------------------
Comrade, HAPPENING NOW

The current vacancy on MDC DSA’s Steering Committee will be filled by chapter-wide special election in January 2020. First step: nominations, which will open Monday, Dec. 9 and will be announced at this Sunday’s General Body Meeting. A link to the nominations form, open through Monday, Dec. 16, will be sent to all members this Monday. Members may be nominated by others or self-nominate; five nominations are needed to be on the ballot. A Temporary Election Working Group is in formation to administer the election and any chapter member volunteers are invited to join it – indicate willingness in the # steering slack channel or at [email protected] .
------------------------------------------------------------

TODAY, Rally with the 3435 Holmead Pl NW Rent Strikers! ([link removed])
For the past three months, tenants at 3435 Holmead Place NW have been fighting their slumlord UIP Management, one of the most ruthless and politically powerful developers in DC, to make basic repairs and improve living conditions in the building. They've directly confronted the bosses, circulated petitions, strategized together, and much more, all to win what everyone deserves: safe and dignified housing. This month, they're going on rent strike, and they are calling on the community to support them in this fight.

This building is also rent-controlled, meaning that the fight has even greater stakes: letting this building deteriorate or these tenants be pushed out through constructive neglect would be another blow to our rent-controlled housing stock. Several tenants testified at last month's hearing on rent control, and some of the problems they face would be addressed by the Reclaim Rent Control coalition's platform—of which Metro D.C. DSA is a part!

If they win, it will be one of the most important blows against the displacement machine in years. YDSA organizers with Stomp Out Slumlords have been working for months with militant tenants to hold UIP accountable—let's make sure they all know we have their backs! Meet at 3435 Holmead Place NW (map at link ([link removed]) ) at 6 PM TODAY, Friday December 6th.
– Stephanie B

------------------------------------------------------------

LABOR SOLIDARITY — THE LATEST FROM THE TRANSDEV ACTION and strike support opportunities

Our comrade Todd Brogan of ATU provides the latest on the campaign against WMATA’s privatization ([link removed]) in this morning’s (Friday’s) issue of Union City. It’s Day 43 of the Cinder Bed strike and Day 1 of ATU’s fair labor practices strike of the Fairfax Connector. See in the article latest calendars for strike support and a shareable strike flyer.
------------------------------------------------------------

Come join team Janeese Lewis George for a neighborhood canvass this Sunday, meeting at 1 p.m. at Library Tavern (5420 3rd St. NW). There will also be a brief rally before we head out to knock doors to celebrate the endorsements of five incredible progressive organizations in D.C.: Working Families Party, DC for Democracy, Black Lives Matter, Jews United for Justice, and of course, MDC DSA. Child care will be available. Hope to see you there -- More details here: [link removed] ([link removed])
--Irene K

------------------------------------------------------------
ACTION REPORT: DSA 4 Bernie Working Group Update:
Do you love Bernie? Of course you do. Do you want to be part of the movement that stands up to the 1%? Then say it with me: “EVERY. BILLIONAIRE. IS. A. POLICY. FAILURE.”
And join the DSA 4 Bernie team working in metro Washington, D.C. We’re a group of volunteers that are organizing our Capitol-area neighborhoods to support Bernie in the Democratic primary and ultimately send him to the White House in 2020.
If you live, work, learn, or play in the area and want to meet some SuperAwesome people that want to change the world, send us an email to learn more and get involved: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Want to take action immediately? Join our canvass this Saturday ([link removed]) , December 7th.
DSA 4 Bernie Canvass on Saturday December 7^th from 12-3pm. Meet at the Wheaton Metro Station at noon.[link removed] ([link removed])
[link removed] ([link removed])
Email us at: [email protected] -- Join the convo on Slack:#bernie ([link removed])
--Sara BC

------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday Dec. 8, NOVA Migrant Justice Kickoff ([link removed]) at 1 PM at the Arlington Central Library (Ballston Metro stop) in the Wilson room. We are kicking off the new NOVA Branch working group based on migrant justice work, based on our recent brainstorming, votes, and discussions. Discuss how we focus on migrant justice work: what it means, how we act, and how we can fight to protect and empower our communities in NOVA. [link removed]
--Alex H

------------------------------------------------------------

BRIEFS
Sunday, December 15-- MoCo DSA welcomes two of their members who are also current members of the Maryland House of Delegates – Gabe Acevero and Vaughn Stewart – to brief MoCo members on the upcoming General Assembly session, which opens Jan. 8. They’ll meet in the Silver Spring Library. Get this and other MoCo DSA news, including a Bernie canvass this Saturday (Dec. 7) in their weekly branch newsletter here [link removed]

PREVIEW of the January 2020 Washington Socialist featured articles:
>>Andy Feeney on changes in the political and social landscape of climate activism ([link removed]) .
>>Kurt Stand on continuing struggle to get criminal justice reform in Prince George’s County ([link removed])

>> and if you missed them, our December Washington Socialist newsletter articles on the Check Your Complicity campaign ([link removed]) in NoVA, DC labor history ([link removed]) as seen in 1986, and “get on the bus” to drop petitions on management ([link removed]) of that local NFL team, demanding a non-racist name.

From the DSA National Director, the December Dispatch. You should have gotten this as an email, but if it passed you by, here’s a second shot. National committee actions including NPC statements, news on Bernie, M4All, national pubs, new chapters and organizing committees -- and swag! Read it here. ([link removed])

Wednesday, December 11 -- OUTREACH action for MDC DSA-endorsed Maryland Dist. 5 primary candidate Mckayla Wilkes ([link removed]) -- Join us for an evening of all-you-can-eat pasta* bar and phone banking for Metro DC DSA's very own Mckayla Wilkes.
Mckayla and her cadre of lovable leftists are trying to pump socialism into the hearts and minds of Maryland's 5th Congressional District. However, the evil Steny Hoyer is dead set on ruining the fun with planet-threatening climate policy and substandard healthcare. Will our heroes succeed and enjoy an evening of spreading socialism to the working class? Or will Steny extend his 40-year rule of corporate Democrat governance? Come by and find out! 6:30-8:30 PM, 5000 Sargent Rd. NE - walking distance from the Green, Red, and Yellow Lines at Fort Totten Metro Station -- Join #mckayla2020 on Slack for updates and details!

SAT January 11 Stomp Out Slumlords Know Your Rights Canvass with DCTU ([link removed]) ,
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--and help build connections with the DC Tenant Union!
Meet at the L'Enfant Plaza Metro station near the 7th & Maryland exit – train at 1:30, canvass stepoff at 2. Follow link for details.

Sunday after the GBM, interested comrades can consider the kickoff for Our Rev’s national campaign -- Sunday DEC 8 Our Revolution’s National Organize to Win 2020 Kickoff ([link removed]) 5- 7:30 PM -- Hear National Chair Larry Cohen, Jim Zogby, Jim Hightower, and Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and Occoquan Supervisor Kenny Boddye. Eaton Hotel, 1201 K St. NW, DCRSVP
([link removed])

SOCIALISM: CAN YOU FIND THE WORDS?
Attention all writers, editors, photographers, illustrators, and designers: The Washington Socialist ([link removed]) wants you! If you’re eager to contribute your talents to the Publications Working Group, fill out our contributor’s form ([link removed]) and we’ll be in touch. We need your help to spread socialist ideas and news about the chapter’s work.
Meanwhile, our publications schedule: This is the last monthly MDC DSA Washington Socialist newsletter for 2019. Weekly Updates in December will be published Fridays, Dec. 13, 20 and (maybe) 27 if urgent fresh info demands it. The January 2020 Washington Socialist will be published Friday, Jan. 3 with an article deadline of Dec. 28. An advance look at two January articles is above in BRIEFS.
Actually existing right-now socialism – This newsletter is published Friday. As the weekend and the week unfold, make sure to keep up with any changes in the events in our calendars by following links we helpfully provide here to Facebook Events pages or Meetup, where the latest information will be found.
-- The Publications Working Group edit team


** MDC DSA Events for December-January
------------------------------------------------------------
Follow links for details
Saturday DEC 7 12:00 PM
DSA for Bernie Canvass ([link removed])

Sunday DEC 8 3 PM
Metro DC DSA Monthly General Body Meeting ([link removed])

Sunday DEC 8 1:00 PM
Rally and Canvass for Janeese Lewis George ([link removed])
LIBRARY TAVERN, 5420 3rd St NW, Washington, DC 20011 Follow link for details

Monday DEC 9 7 PM
NOVA Branch DSA 🌹Organizing Meeting ([link removed])

Wednesday DEC 11 6:30 PM
Mckayla Wilkes Phone Bank ([link removed])
5000 Sargent Rd NE, 5000 Sargent Rd NE, Washington, DC 20017
“Comrades! Join us for an evening of all-you-can-eat pasta* bar and phone banking for Metro DC DSA’s very own Mckayla Wilkes… Follow link for details

Saturday DEC 14 1:30 PM
Stomp Out Slumlords Anti-Eviction Canvass ([link removed])

Sunday DEC 15 1:00 PM
Rent Control Working Group Meeting ([link removed])
Petworth Neighborhood Library, 4200 Kansas Ave NW, Washington, DC 20011
Join Metro D.C. DSA’s rent control working group for our next general business meeting ([link removed]) Follow links for details

Sunday DEC 15 2 PM
MoCo DSA 🌹General Branch Meeting ([link removed])

Sunday DEC 15 4 PM
Socialist Feminism Reading Group ([link removed]) 🌹

Tuesday DEC 17 5:30 PM
Queer Caucus Happy Hour ([link removed])
Denizens Brewing Co, 1115 E W Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Follow link for details

Thursday DEC 19 6 PM
Disability Justice Working Group Meeting ([link removed])

January 2020

Sunday JAN 5 2:00 PM
MoCo DSA 🌹General Branch Meeting ([link removed])
Connie Morella (Bethesda) Library, 7400 Arlington Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814

Sunday JAN 5 1:30 PM
Stomp Out Slumlords Anti-Eviction Canvass ([link removed])

Saturday JAN 11 1:30 PM
Stomp Out Slumlords Know Your Rights Canvass with DCTU ([link removed])
L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station, 600 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
We’re canvassing tenants with the DC Tenant Union! Follow link for details.

Sunday JAN 12 3:00 PM
Metro DC DSA Monthly General Body Meeting ([link removed]) – Winter Campaigns Fair
Follow link for details as they unfold.



** Events from Our Allies in the DMV
------------------------------------------------------------
Follow links for details
Friday DEC 6 7:30 AM
World Bank Shutdown ([link removed])
Join Extinction Rebellion DC and the #ShutdownDC ([link removed]) Coalition on December 6 as we take to the streets around the UN World Bank Headquarters in DC. We will create massive gridlock during morning rush hour and bring business-as-usual to a standstill, making the consequences of inaction real for those in power. Meet at University Yard, George Washington University, H Street NW between 20th and 21st streets NW.

Friday DEC 6 11:00 AM
#ShutDownDC: Mobilize for Climate Justice and Immigrant Rights ([link removed])
On December 6th, we’re going to shut down business-as-usual for the financial institutions that profit off of the climate crisis and immigrant detention. Meet us at 11 AM in Franklin Square (14th St. and I St. NW, Washington, DC xxxxxx) for a rally featuring Jane Fonda and Fire Drill Fridays along with Saket Soni, the Executive Director of the National Guestworker Alliance, GreenFaith, the Franciscan Action Network and other climate, faith and migrant justice organizers. At 12 noon we’ll march through the streets of DC to visit the banks and financial institutions in DC that are profiting off of the climate crisis and immigrant detention.

Saturday DEC 7 7:30 PM
DC Labor Chorus Concert ([link removed])
The chorus will share songs about the labor movement, peace, and justice at the Wesley United Methodist Church at 5312 Connecticut Ave., NW. The event is free and open to the public, is handicapped accessible, and will have sign interpretation.

Saturday DEC 7 Noon – 2:30 PM
Public De-Escalation Training ([link removed])
Hosted by DMV De-escalation Collective at Luther Place Memorial Church, 1226 Vermont Ave, NW (Thomas Circle). This public de-escalation training is open to everyone! De-escalation skills equip us to identify and interrupt potentially harmful situations. We aim to create moments of pause in which people can make choices about their own safety. We also provide resources (emotional support, companionship, money, food, etc) that increase access to safety, especially for marginalized people. “Calming people down” and ending conflicts is part of this work, but not all of it! RSVP here ([link removed]) .

Saturday DEC 7 10 AM –
ACLU of Maryland - Annual Grassroots Legislative Leadership Day ([link removed]) RSVP ([link removed]) and free ticket -- The Meeting House, 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia, Md.

Sunday DEC 8 7 – 9 PM
Talking to Friends and Family About Racism ([link removed])
In time for the holidays: join SURJ Northern Virginia at UUCF, 2709 Hunter Mill Rd., for a facilitated meeting where we will discuss and practice initiating and sustaining conversations about systemic racism. If you’ve ever struggled to help connect with friends and family while advancing anti-racist ideas, this event is for you! We will also be decorating holiday cards for incarcerated folx through Black and Pink’s ([link removed]) holiday program.

Sunday DEC 8 1:30 – 4 PM
Future of Healthcare Town Hall ([link removed])
Meeting will be held at the Miller Branch of the Howard County Library System, 9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City, 21042.

Tuesday, DEC 10 6:00 PM
ONE DC Member Orientation
614 S Street NW, ONE DC Office
We welcome all supporters of ONE DC, whether long-time members or new volunteers, to join us for our next Member Orientation, where you will learn about: ONE DC Mission, Vision, & Values; our organizing model and principles; our history, shared leadership model, and organizational structure; and what it means to be a ONE DC member.
Click here to RSVP ([link removed])

Tuesday DEC 10 DC Jobs with Justice PAY STUB CLINIC at 6:30 PM, Bread for the City @ 1525 7th St NW -- help folks spot wage theft on their pay stubs and ensure their rights at work are being respected; learn more about DC’s labor law. Join us in canvassing for the event this weekend. ([link removed]) Come learn about how to use your pay stub to protect yourself from wage theft. RSVP: [link removed] Volunteer ([link removed]) Food and interpretation will be provided

Wednesday, December 11 7 PM
Greenbelt People Power with Prince George's Peace & Justice Coalition and allies planning meeting -- Room 114 at the Greenbelt Community Center, 15 Crescent Road. Greenbelt. Immigration topics, Police accountability and transparency, Topics and goals for the 2020 Maryland and Prince George's County legislative sessions.

Thursday, DEC 12 -- Our Revolution MoCo -- Celebrate the Season, our December meeting will be a Happy Hour 4-7 PM at Bar Louie ([link removed]) ,150 Gibbs Street, Rockville, MD 20850 (Rockville Town Center). Help us continue to build a vital local progressive community!

Thursday DEC 12 Better Buses, Better Cities: a book talk | Georgetown University
from 6 -8:30 PM RSVP ([link removed]) SPONS Coalition for Smarter Growth, Georgetown University Urban & Regional Planning Program

Saturday DEC 14 10 AM — 3 PM
Build and Mobilize a Stronger Union workshop at NoVA Labor
Free seminar taught by Rutgers University Labor center faculty on how to build a stronger union and mobilize your members to take action. Workshop to be held at 4536 B John Marr Drive, Annandale, VA. RSVP to [email protected].

Saturday, DEC 14, 9 AM -4 PM, "Rebuild Maryland: Climate Action Summit", ([link removed]) Stamp Union, Univ of MD. (jointly sponsored by many environmental organizations)
[link removed] ([link removed])

Sunday DEC 15 10 AM — 5 PM
Maryland Legislative Summit ([link removed])
Legislative process, lobbying, agenda-setting and more at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) in Catonsville.

Monday DEC 16 1 – 3 PM
ROC DC Monthly Meeting!
Come together at the Restaurant Opportunities Center of Washington DC and meet other restaurant workers in DC who want to build worker power in order to improve wages and working conditions in the DC restaurant industry! Lunch is provided and children are welcome!
¡Vengan y conozcan a otros trabajadores de restaurante en DC que quieran desarrollar el poder de los trabajadores para mejorar los salarios y las condiciones de trabajo en la industria de restaurantes de DC! Se proveerá la cena y nenes son bienvenidos!

Tuesday DEC 17 6 — 10 PM
End Violence Ki Ki Ball ([link removed])
“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. Eastern Market North Hall located at 225 7th Street SE, Washington DC, 20003 – info and tickets at link.
Saturday JAN 25, 2020, 10 AM -2 PM, CCAN Polar Bear Plunge, [link removed] ([link removed])

Sun Jan 26, Medicare 4 All Town Hall in Annapolis 2-4 PM at Stanton Community Center, 92 W Washington St, Annapolis, MD 21401 among co-sponsors, Maryland Progressive Healthcare Coalition.

Good Reads

>> In advance of the UK election Dec. 12, the Labour Party Manifesto published in late November with a forward by Corbyn – thanks to our comrade Dave Richardson for passing this along – it should keep you busy.
[link removed]

>> Yesterday (Thursday) the American Prospect mag rolled out a climate crisis issue in a Capitol Hill event. Here’s the lead and table of contents of a pretty rich issue [link removed]


VIEW ALL UPCOMING DC DSA EVENTS ([link removed])

============================================================
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Website ([link removed])
** Website ([link removed])
Copyright © 2019 Metro DC DSA. All rights reserved.

You're on this list because you signed up at an event or meeting held by the
Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America | ** Email us (mailto:[email protected])

Our mailing address is:
Metro DC DSA
1301 Connecticut Ave. NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
USA

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])