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Metro DC DSA Weekly Update for Friday, January 10, 2020
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Comrade, THE WEEKEND: This Sunday, MDC DSA’s GBM/Campaigns Fair, 3:30 to 5 PM , where our campaigns, working groups and caucuses will represent, and show members the full spectrum of our chapter’s activism. It’s at the Festival Center, 1640 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009 – where you’ll find January-appropriate hot chocolate on offer. Bring cookies etc. to go with and share.
And a very full Saturday, Jan. 11: Janeese Lewis George Ward 4 Canvass , DSA 4 Bernie Canvass, January Labor Working Group Meeting and Stomp Out Slumlords Know Your Rights Canvass with DCTU -- Get details at the links.
Also see our Allies calendar below for (gulp) three more Saturday, Jan. 11 events.
MDC DSA notes that the Sunrise Movement has voted to endorse Sen. Bernie Sanders for president. The 12,000-plus member organization voted by a 75 percent margin to endorse Sanders – a move that will be formalized in an announcement Sunday.
And BTW today (Friday, Jan. 10) is Fire Drill Friday, with an expanded bunch of climate-champ luminaries gathered to see Jane Fonda off back to L.A. https://www.facebook.com/events/3141168239231624/
Also a “Climate Strike for Australia” 2 PM at Union Station, collaterally with the Fire Drill.
DSA 4 Bernie Working Group Update: BERNIE NEEDS YOU THIS JANUARY!
We have ONE MONTH left until voting begins in the 2020 Democratic primary, meaning we have limited time left to make Bernie Sanders the Democratic nominee. The DSA 4 Bernie Working Group is ramping up its efforts this month: from talking to voters about what separates Bernie from his competitors, to hosting opportunities to learn about the Senator's past and present labor efforts.
This is this time to get involved! Below are listed some ways to do so. Please try to RSVP when possible so we can anticipate attendance, especially for canvasses.
Come knock doors for Bernie in Hyattsville 12-3:30 PM! We will meet outside of the metro to get organized, distribute turfs, and pair off. If this is your first time canvassing, we’ll provide a short training and show you the ropes. Dress in layers and comfortable shoes and bring snacks and water. If you can, download the MiniVAN app ahead of the canvass and make sure your phone is fully charged. We'll meet up at a bar afterwards to debrief the day and socialize!
We'll be watching the debate at Penn Social starting at 7:30 PM! It’s the same location of the last debate watch party. The sports bar is conveniently located in Penn Quarter at 801 E St NE–two blocks from the red, green, and yellow line at Gallery Place, three blocks from the red, blue, orange, and silver lines at Metro Center. We’ll be upstairs as you walk in!
Keep the canvassing going! This time, we’ll be out 12-3:30 PM near the West Hyattsville metro, meeting right outside the metro to get organized. If you can’t make it to the canvass on the 11th, we’ll have another training session to get you ready.
ALSO, this month DSA will kick off our largest ever Week of Action for Medicare for All. The week of January 13-20, chapters across the country will be canvassing, phone banking, and hosting debate watch parties to support Bernie as he fights for healthcare as a human right. You can get involved by: canvassing on January 11 and January 18, (above) and learning about Bernie’s Workplace Democracy Act on January 15.
BRIEFS
Wednesday JAN 15 Bernie Sanders’s Workplace Democracy Act and what it will mean for workers. Presentation and discussion, 6:30-8:30 PM, Lamond-Riggs Library, 5401 S. Dakota Ave. The proposal “would dramatically increase access to unions for millions of workers, meaning a huge rise in living standards, and give workers a real voice at work.”
We hope to see everyone out at these events! Feel free to reach out with any questions: [email protected].
Thursday JAN 23 US Government Still Spying on Dissent: A People’s Briefing 6-8 PM, Institute for Policy Studies 1301 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 6th Floor Washington, DC 20036 + Google Map Throughout its history, the FBI has used its expansive powers to investigate, monitor, and surveil First Amendment-protected activity and continues apparently to this day. This “People’s Briefing” unpacks the Fall 2019 report Still Spying on Dissent by Chip Gibbons, Policy Director at Defending Rights and Dissent. (and MDC DSA member). --moderated by IPS Fellow Phyllis Bennis
Saturday JAN 11 DC Grassroots Planning Coalition January Comp Plan Meeting 1:30 PM, Union Temple Baptist Church, 1225 W Street SE, Washington, DC Join us in conversation with ANCs to learn about their stance on the Comp Plan amendments and what this process has been for them as we approach the comment period deadlines. Public deadline: Friday, January 10 ; ANC deadline: Friday, February 14
From national DSA -- An invite from our Socialist Feminist Working Group. This Saturday, 1/11/20, at 2PM ET/1PM CT 12PM MT/11AM PT, they’ll be hosting a Nationwide Reproductive Rights Strategy Session call. Read on for more information on how you can get involved!
PUBLICATIONS SCHEDULE: Updates in January Fridays, January 10, 17 and 24. The February Washington Socialist will be sent Friday, January 31 with an article deadline of Saturday, January 25.
What does the MDC DSA local chapter do, week in and week out? See our working groups, caucuses and campaigns in the DMV here.
And speaking of info: Many of our campaigns, working groups and caucuses keep the conversation going between meetings on our MDC DSA Slack platform. If you are a DSA member in good standing and aren’t on our Slack you may not be getting the full picture about the rich array of activities suggested above in the chapter structure link. To get on Slack, use the email by which DSA knows you and request access from [email protected]
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MDC DSA Calendar for January and more
Follow links for details
Saturday JAN 11 11:00 AM
Janeese Lewis George Ward 4 Canvass
6400 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20012 (campaign HQ)
Saturday JAN 11 12:00 PM
DSA 4 Bernie Canvass
Saturday JAN 11 2:00 PM
January Labor Working Group Meeting
Central Library, 1015 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA 22201
Saturday JAN 11 1:30 PM
Stomp Out Slumlords Know Your Rights Canvass with DCTU
L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station, 600 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
Sunday JAN 12 3:30 PM
Winter Campaigns Fair & January GBM
The Festival Center, 1640 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009
Tuesday JAN 14 7:00 PM
NOVA Branch DSA 🌹 Organizing Meeting
Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre Dr, Alexandria, VA 22315
Tuesday JAN 14 7 PM
Ecosocialist Caucus meeting
Southeast Neighborhood Library
Wednesday JAN 15 7:00 PM
Steering Committee Meeting
Institute for Policy Studies, 1301 Connecticut Ave NW #600,
All members are welcome to attend.
Thursday JAN 16 7:00 PM
Migrant Justice Working Group Campaign Planning Session
501 3rd St. NW DC
Thursday JAN 16 6:30 PM
Disability Justice Working Group Meeting
The Festival Center, 1640 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009
Thursday JAN 16 6:00 PM
Libertarian Socialist Reading Group
Soho Tea & Coffee, 2150 P St NW, Washington, DC 20037
Readings at link above
Saturday JAN 18 12:00 PM
DSA 4 Bernie Canvass
West Hyattsville, 2700 Hamilton St, Hyattsville, MD 20782
Meet outside the West Hyattsville Metro to get organized.
Saturday JAN 18 3:30 PM
Participatory Budgeting Planning Meeting
Mount Pleasant, Washington, DC
Tuesday JAN 21 5:30 PM
Queer Socialists Happy Hour
Red Bear Brewing Co, 209 M St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Monday JAN 27 6:30 PM
So You Want to Organize #1: Socialist Night School
Shaw (Watha T. Daniel) Neighborhood Library, 1630 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Tuesday JAN 28 7:00 PM
Participatory Budgeting Planning Meeting
Cleveland Park Bar and Grill, 3421 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Wednesday JAN 29 7:00 PM
Steering Committee Meeting
Remote-only meeting of MDC DSA Steering Committee; participate via Zoom; follow link for info.
Friday JAN 31 6:00 PM
DSA MoCo 🌹 Happy Hour
Not Your Average Joe’s, 8661 Colesville Rd Suite C-153, Silver Spring, MD 20910
FEBRUARY
Sunday FEB 2 2:00 PM
MoCo DSA 🌹General Branch Meeting
Connie Morella (Bethesda) Library, 7400 Arlington Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814
Sunday FEB 9 3:00 PM
Metro DC DSA Monthly General Body Meeting
Friends Meeting of Washington, 2111 Florida Ave. NW, Washington, DC
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Events from Our Allies in the DMV
Follow links for details
Saturday, JAN 11 DC Grassroots Planning Coalition January Comp Plan Meeting 1:30 PM, Union Temple Baptist Church, 1225 W Street SE, Washington, DC Join us in conversation with ANCs to learn about their stance on the Comp Plan amendments and what this process has been for them as we approach the comment period deadlines. Public deadline: Friday, January 10 ; ANC deadline: Friday, February 14
Saturday, JAN 11 Right to Income Freedom School from 12 to 4 PM at THEARC held by ONE DC -- take a deeper dive into understanding the exploitative system of racial capitalism, how it affects our daily lives, and what we can do to organize and fight back collectively as working class people, and challenge the systems and structures that keep us unemployed, underemployed, and paid low wages. JOIN US
Saturday, JAN 11 Rally to Close Guantanamo -- Justice for Muslims Collective, Witness Against Torture, and several other organizations are marking the 18th year of Guantanamo Bay with a Justice Now Rally to Close Guantanamo and End Torture, 1-3 PM at Lafayette Park in DC. More information is available on the Facebook Event page.
Sunday, JAN 12 OUR Revolution MoCo January meeting from 2-4 PM at the Rockville Library, 21 Maryland Avenue, Rockville MD, 20850. This will be our 2020 Kickoff & Planning meeting.
Monday JAN 13 Iran on the Brink of War: A Teach-In, 5-7 PM at The Center for Social Justice, 1419 37th Street NW, Suite 130, Poulton Hall Washington, DC 20057 + Google Map -- Backdrop of events leading to crisis and how to resist: teach-in with: Phyllis Bennis, Keyvan Shafiei, Omar Baddar, and Mark Lance (moderator)
Monday JAN 13: Coordinated banner drops for climate justice: #ShutDownDC is hanging banners over busy overpasses during rush hour to draw attention to the climate crisis. This map shows many places where it could be done. If you’d like to participate, fill out this form and specify that you want to join the DSA crew: https://www.shutdowndc.org/post/coordinated-banner-hang-action?fbclid=IwAR1zc6Wv4Ws6DUP8AkCsBTwkz1ANNR_8fXek4jnvJSCIF7Ks17wtxZlit7Q
Wednesday JAN 15: Tech & Labor Happy Hour 5-8 PM, Colada Shop, 1405 T St NW – Join discussions regarding how tech workers are collaborating with each other and with community groups to demand a more inclusive and equitable tech industry – the intersections of tech, labor and organizing.
Wednesday JAN 15 Bernie Sanders’s Workplace Democracy Act and what it will mean for workers. Presentation and discussion, 6:30-8:30 PM, Lamond-Riggs Library, 5401 S. Dakota Ave. The proposal “would dramatically increase access to unions for millions of workers, meaning a huge rise in living standards, and give workers a real voice at work.”
Thursday JAN 16 JAM WITH JUSTICE 6-11 PM Join DC JWJ for a night of karaoke, friends, and fundraising at Haydee’s, 3102 Mt Pleasant St NW DC 20010 -- kick off the new year getting a drink with labor and community activists and/or singing your heart out! All funds raised will go towards bringing a diverse group of DC activist, leaders, and organizers to the national Jobs with Justice Conference in Atlanta. https://www.facebook.com/events/594034791165333/
Thursday JAN 16 Wells Fargo Tour of Despair March: 8:30 AM, McPherson Square Park -- march to expose Wells Fargo's deadly financing of climate devastation, Indigenous rights violations, private prisons, and more including being key driver of the ongoing colonial genocide of missing and murdered Indigenous womxn. More information: https://www.facebook.com/events/2716718811750986/
Friday, JAN 17 – Sunday, JAN 19 –the 2020 AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference Capital Hilton 1001 16th Street NW RSVP Conference theme is “Give Us the Ballot,” drawn from Dr. King’s pivotal voting rights speech delivered here in 1957. we are still facing voter disenfranchisement at alarming levels [so] ensuring full voting access and a fair count of every ballot are the most important work we are doing.
Wednesday JAN 22 Film: The First Rainbow Coalition 6-8 PM Busboys & Poets – 14th & V ( 2021 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20009 + Google Map In 1969, the Chicago Black Panther Party began to form a multi-ethnic coalition with the Young Lords Organization and the Young Patriots and changed the face of 1960s Chicago politics, creating an organizing model for future activists and politicians. This event is free but please register.
Thursday JAN 23 US Government Still Spying on Dissent: A People’s Briefing 6-8 PM, Institute for Policy Studies 1301 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 6th Floor Washington, DC 20036 + Google Map Throughout its history, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has used its expansive powers to investigate, monitor, and surveil First Amendment-protected activity and continues apparently to this day. This “People’s Briefing” unpacks the Fall 2019 report Still Spying on Dissent by Chip Gibbons, Policy Director at Defending Rights and Dissent. (and MDC DSA member). --moderated by IPS Fellow Phyllis Bennis.
Saturday JAN 25, 10 AM -2 PM, CCAN Polar Bear Plunge, https://us-p2p.netdonor.net/2883/polar-bear-plunge
Sunday 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.
Saturday FEB 15 Book Event: Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents 3-4:30 PM at Sankofa Video, Books & Café, 2714 Georgia Avenue, NW Washington, DC United States + Google Map
Book talk and signing with Editor and Senior Columnist at Black Agenda Report, Margaret Kimberley.--a concise, authoritative exploration of America’s relationship with race and black Americans through the lens of the presidents who are elected to represent and govern all of its people. MC for this event will be author, activist, scholar, lecturer, and journalist, Dr. Clarence Lusane, political science professor at Howard University.
GOOD READS
>> Hyperlocal: DCist profiles and interviews our comrade Andy Feeney, who is witnessing on climate change outside the Capitol South Metro station many mornings with pithy signs and "changing them regularly in order to better tell the full scope of the climate change story." https://dcist.com/story/20/01/08/a-conversation-with-the-man-holding-up-climate-change-signs-at-capitol-south-every-day-congress-is-in-session
>> Prof. Eli Zaretsky in “To Turn the Mass into a Class” discusses the potential counterpoint to right-wing populism. “As Raymond Aron wrote, ‘every social order is one of the possible solutions to a problem that is not scientific but human, the problem of community life.’ “ Labour’s solution failed to sell socialism in this UK election against a shameless right-populist appeal. Walter Benjamin succinctly said ‘fascism attempts to organise the newly created proletarian masses without affecting the property structure which the masses strive to eliminate.’ It gives ‘these masses not their right, but instead a chance to express themselves’. But, Zaretski concludes, “Corbyn is right to insist that socialism remains the only solution to the problem of ‘community life’.” From Portside, https://portside.org/2020-01-04/turn-mass-class
>> Good Reads from our MoCo branch DSA comrades:
In Current Affairs: " How to Avoid Swallowing War Propaganda" by Nathan J. Robinson. "1) What happens in the leadup to war is that government officials make claims about the enemy, and then those claims appear in newspapers ('U.S. officials say Saddam poses an imminent threat') and then in the public consciousness, the 'U.S. officials say' part disappears, so that the claim is taken for reality without ever really being scrutinized. This happens because newspapers are incredibly irresponsible and believe that so long as you attach 'Experts say' or 'President says' to a claim, you are off the hook when people end up believing it, because all you did was relay the fact that a person said a thing, you didn’t say it was true."
In Mintpress News: " In Redux of Iraq War Run Up, Media Cheers on Assassination of Soleimani" by Alan Macleod. "With echoes of Iraq, media are once again cheering an attack against a Middle Eastern country on the grounds of a supposedly imminent strike against the United States. Assassinating foreign leaders is a major international war crime under international law, yet across the corporate spectrum, media applauded the bombing, or 'precision targeting,' as CNN described it."
In truthout: " Humans aren't inherently destroying the planet - capitalism is" by Robert Raymond. "One of the biggest ironies of the right-wing trope accusing socialists of wanting 'free stuff' is that in reality, the entire capitalist economy would immediately collapse if it couldn’t continue to rely on free stuff. Without free or artificially cheap access to things like natural resources, care work, labor and a whole array of other elements, capitalism could not stay afloat. In fact, the only way that capitalism was ever able to even emerge was through a process of 'primitive accumulation' — where things like slavery and colonialism were utilized to extract free labor and resources. "
And Newsletter from MoCo and new copy of Commonwealth both sent Tuesday.
>> George Monbiot in The Guardian-- the headline says it all: “Lab-grown food will destroy farming – and save the planet.” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/08/lab-grown-food-destroy-farming-save-planet/
>> Our comrade Chris Bangs of the MDC DSA Labor WG writes to “share a good resource on corporate campaign research, the Dirt Diggers Digest Guide. It was just updated, and has great information on how to research corporations.” https://www.corp-research.org/dddresearchguide
>> Here’s analysis we might have hoped to get from the NYT’s Tom Edsall, except he seems lately to be fixated on the gloomy part of the data. “To understand the potential ramifications of Obama-Trump voters in 2020, it’s worth understanding how they voted in 2018,” argue two proggie data-crunchers in the NYT. “[some of the large fraction of voters who switched in 2018] appeared to be drawn back toward the Democrats by some of the party’s bread-and butter-issues, and in spite of others. On issues like gun control, health care and the environment, these voters look remarkably like the Democratic Party’s base.” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/06/opinion/obama-trump-voters.html/
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