On 6/14, to more clearly articulate our political perspective within DSA & the larger left, SMC members voted to adopt a new set of Points of Unity for the caucus.
If you like what you see, join DSA and apply to join SMC!
🧵
The revolutionary spirit lives on in France! The New Popular Front brought together the left and center-left to defeat the threat of fascism and win a plurality of seats in parliament.
SMC formally adopted this strategy in our updated Points of Unity:
Vive la France, for its collective capacity to unite vs fascists. Tonight we celebrate. But we should not get carried away: the fascists are, still, at the door. And, as the only solid opposition, they will benefit from the deep EU-French crisis before the Presidential election
From the Steering Committee: AOC has used her material power to advance working-class liberation and the cause of democratic socialism.
We haven’t agreed on every vote—but in DSA, we don’t always agree with each other. We still stand together.
Tonight, Michigan sent Biden a message. Tens of thousands voted “Uncommitted” to reject genocide & demand a ceasefire in Gaza.
We're proud of the work SMC members—especially our NPC member Renée P.—did to have
@Listen2michigan
endorsed by DSA & keep the campaign running.
DSA came out of Sunday's NPC budget meeting with an unsustainable $1m deficit for 2024. SMC is committed to stabilizing DSA's budget and will continue to prioritize avoiding staff layoffs.
“Real politics is not in the thousands, it's not in the tens of thousands, it's not in the hundred thousands. It's in the millions.” —Maria Svart
Thank you for your years of service to the movement as DSA's National Director. The work to build a socialist majority continues!
In mid-February I will be leaving DSA staff but not DSA. It has been an honor serving the democratic socialist movement. I’ll post a reflection statement here soon.
Unfortunately, DSA is running a 1.6 million dollar a year deficit!
Our top priority should be to prevent layoffs of permanent staff who do crucial work and are already short-staffed.
a motion to end NPC steering committee stipends (with a financial need exception) just failed by a 8–9 vote. it could have saved DSA up to $120k a year for staff & funding convention resolutions
thank you
@DSASocMaj
@GroundworkDSA
@LuisaKnuckles
& both YDSA reps for voting yes
From the Steering Committee: Today, a majority of the NPC proposed laying off 12 staff members—nearly 40% of DSA's staff—while voting against other non-staff cuts.
We condemn this in the strongest possible terms & will vote NO on Monday.
Our statement:
AOC is the most prominent symbol for socialism in the US, an organizer for NYC-DSA, and advancing a Democratic Socialist strategy within a popular front to defeat fascism. For all these reasons DSA should re-endorse, write Sophia N. and SMC member Sam A-N.
.
@RepJeffries
and Democratic Party leaders are supporting genocide. When they attend events like this, they assume no one will call them out.
But Jeffries didn’t count on
@nycDSA
electing Zohran to the State Assembly. That’s the power we have when we elect Socialists in Office.
I was invited to an event last night where
@RepJeffries
was the chief guest.
I was given the speaking slot immediately before him.
This is how I ended my remarks.
Ceasefire now.
Thank you to all the NPC candidates and caucuses who participated in our electoral debate tonight!
We’re a little biased, but the highlight of the night has to be our very own
@GraceMausser
’s closing statement tackling what DSA’s electoral project is all about:
Last night, a majority of the NPC voted to reject cuts necessary to prevent substantial DSA staff layoffs. The NPC is now voting on a proposal introduced by members of Red Star, Bread and Roses, and Marxist Unity Group to lay off 12 staff. SMC opposes this proposal.
Our caucus is excited to share our new political orientation and perspective statement! This was drafted through a democratic discussion & voting process among caucus members and aims to guide our work through next year’s
@DemSocialists
convention. (1/3)
Socialist Majority caucus is proud to announce our slate for the National Labor Committee. We are dedicated to meeting the moment of rising labor militancy by rapidly scaling DSA’s rank-and-file approach to new organizing!
Check out our candidates and platform:
It's right there in the name: Our NPC slate is all about building a socialist majority, and we have a vision to do it.
We're excited to share our slate's platform to move DSA's work forward and build a stronger, more powerful organization. 1/9
From the Steering Committee: No one has come close to a proposal to fully close DSA’s budget gap & avoid bankruptcy without sabotaging the organization. That’s the conversation we hope to start here.
Our take on the budget ahead of Sunday's NPC meeting:
SMC is proud to endorse Ashik Siddique for DSA Co-Chair. Currently in his 2nd term on the NPC and as Steering Committee co-chair, his commitment and political maturity are exactly what we need in this moment of struggle with the whole US political establishment.
Socialists love to debate everything. But on one thing, we can all agree: it's our duty to unite the working class, fight for liberation, & win it.
I'm running for Co-Chair to do whatever it takes to build a DSA that leads collectively everywhere, every day.
#SocialistsMustLead
You should own a minimum of the following ...
20 yards of linen
1 coat
10 lb of tea
40 lb of coffee
1 quarter of corn
1/2 ton of iron
2 oz. of gold
the fruits of your labor
your surplus value
the means of production
Reports of DSA’s death have been greatly exaggerated. By flooding the streets & flooding congressmembers’ phone lines, we’ve convinced 66% of Americans to support a ceasefire.
Despite the right-wing’s efforts, DSA is more united than ever. We’ll never stop fighting for a free 🇵🇸
Many conservatives and institutional Democrats predicted the pro-Palestine left would be crushed. DSA was called "toxic" and was widely condemned.
Now, organizations critical of Israel are booming, and DSA has seen its first membership uptick in years.
Introducing: Socialist Majority Caucus's 2021 Slate of Socialist Organizers for DSA NPC.
Sabrina Chan - Chicago DSA
Kristian Hernandez - North Texas DSA
Maikiko James - Los Angeles DSA
Jose La Luz - New York City DSA
Kevin Richardson - Triangle Area DSA
Jane is right: winning matters most. There are no shortcuts to transforming our society, & no rewards for sitting on the sidelines.
Mass politics are full of contradictions, but the alternative is irrelevance. Jane has given so many the courage to win — we’re forever grateful.
@garysbroderick
So right on. Winning really matters. And how we win, with mass participation, not "gotcha" tricks. It's mass participation that leads to durable wins and is the foundation of great political education. Appreciate you, Gary, and so many for hearing "winning matters most" from me.
At tonight's meeting, the NPC will consider moving forward with mass staff layoffs, including seven bargaining unit positions.
National Labor Commission co-chair
@RyanAndrewsUTLA
writes about how this would damage DSA's capacity and labor organizing.
Thanks to heroic fundraising and difficult cuts, DSA is already below its deficit goal this year. We can find a compromise that balances the budget, but the NPC must be willing to negotiate.
Show solidarity by joining the DSA Union call on 4/29 @ 8pm EST
We are willing to compromise. We’ve offered the NPC 2 staff to lay off in addition to the 7 folks who have already left during just this NPC term. This totals more than half a million dollars of additional savings beyond the NPC’s deficit goals. Our MOU:
From the Steering Committee: On Monday, the NPC initiated the layoffs of 12 staff members.
But new numbers show that DSA is projected to raise $420k more than anticipated.
The layoffs resolution must be rescinded & non-staff cuts should be reconsidered.
DSA’s staff are central to our democracy, implementing campaigns, and many other tedious but crucial tasks, writes
@TheDuhalde
.
We should do everything we can to protect their critical roles and treat them with respect.
For months, SMC has argued that we need to approach our budget from the perspective of collective responsibility to DSA, by avoiding enormous cuts to staff that would hurt us all.
Today, we're offering a detailed list of alternatives to mass layoffs:
The NPC majority passed its resolution to lay off nearly 40% of DSA’s on Monday without updated budget numbers–since then, we’ve learned that the deficit was overestimated by $420,000–and we still don’t have updated numbers for February.
Given the long history of leaks undermining left movements, information security is a core duty of DSA leadership. For the safety of our members and our struggle for socialism, our leaders should not exempt themselves from protections against breaches.
A key principle of rank & file strategy is to aim at the bosses & catch conservative union leaders in the crossfire if they get in the way.
@SocialistAlt
amendment gets this backwards by aiming first at union leaders as a precondition for fighting the boss
Did you have plans Monday night? Not anymore!
We’re hosting an NPC candidate debate on the topic of socialism and elections, featuring nine of DSA’s largest tendencies and moderated by
@_ericblanc
.
Register at
DSA members are fighting for trans liberation on this
#TransDayOfAction
!
We must build a socialist majority to protect trans rights and win the world we deserve. From our neighborhoods, to school boards, to Congress—trans people deserve full equality and bodily autonomy 🌹✨🏳️⚧️
Israel is committing genocide. They’ve slaughtered almost 30k Palestinians & injured over 67k more—with Biden’s full support.
On February 27th, Michigan voters can send him a message. DSA’s endorsement of the
@Listen2michigan
“Vote Uncommitted” campaign is a critical step.
DSA is proud to endorse
@Listen2Michigan
’s “Vote Uncommitted” campaign to send a message to Washington: Joe Biden, stop this gruesome war. Don’t let Israel commit genocide on our dime.
UAW is meeting the moment by bringing together a militant commitment to shop floor organizing and a moral commitment to working people across the world.
This is what international working class solidarity looks like 🌹✊🏽
SMC is excited to announce our slate for Democracy Commission! We encourage you to support these 5 members, who want to modernize DSA's democratic structures in light of our enormous growth.
You can support by signing on to endorse our candidates here:
Congratulations to the new
@DsaElectoral
Steering Committee, which includes *four* extraordinary SMC members:
@JollyBenga1i
@GraceMausser
@Katie5ims
& Sam R!
We're excited to continue our work electing socialists to office at every level, from school boards to Congress 🗳️🌹
As pressure mounts on Biden to drop out, we reflect on the “Uncommitted” campaigns & the contributions made by SMC members.
In the first of 3 interviews, we talked to NPC member Renée Paradis about her experience getting
@Listen2Michigan
off the ground.
There’s been a lot of talk about cuts to YDSA’s budget at Sunday’s budget meeting. SMC’s NPC members supported almost all of the difficult cuts the NPC made to DSA priorities at that meeting, including the cuts to YDSA, and we wanted to share why.
SMC wants to thank the NPC candidates that voted for “Democratize DSA”!
Colleen Johnston
Grace Mausser
Melina Herrera
Rael Almonte Reyes
Renée Paradis
Sarah Callahan
Philip Locker
Jesse Dreyer
Alexander Hernandez
Aaron Berger
Rose DuBois
Frances Gill
Marc Krause
Jorge Rocha
SMC is proud to announce our endorsements for DSA’s post-convention elections!
Voting begins tomorrow and is open to all convention delegates. Look out for an OpaVote ballot in your email with the subject line “2023 DSA Post-Convention Elections.”
Hello! We're growing a better
@DemSocialists
through the work of our caucus. Learn more about us, what we're cultivating and join us for the long road ahead.
🌱🌞🌹
Now that Biden has dropped out (🥳) we're concluding our interview series on the “Uncommitted” campaigns & the contributions made by SMC members.
We talked to
@socialistbrett
about his work on
@uncommitted_pa
and what comes next for Lancaster DSA.
We are proud of NYC-DSA for endorsing one of Congress’s true champions for working people, from Westchester to the West Bank 🌹🇵🇸
Join a phone bank this Sunday 6pm EST to show Wall Street, AIPAC, and the Democratic establishment the power of the people:
The votes are in! We’re endorsing
@JamaalBowmanNY
for Congress in NY-16!
Jamaal has been one of the strongest voices against genocide and for peace as many of his colleagues rush to warmonger. Together, we WILL defend this seat from AIPAC and pro-war extremists!
Yesterday, Nithya Raman broke 50% in her primary race against Republican-turned-Democrat Ethan Weaver, bypassing a runoff and cementing DSA-LA as winners for the working class.
LA’s SMC members explain why they’re proud DSA-LA maintained its endorsement:
We lovingly call
@RashidaTlaib
Mama Bear, because she is loving and protective. She shows humanity to colleagues who constantly dehumanize her and those who share our faith. She loves the people she represents regardless of who they are.
I am my sister’s keeper and I will walk
"Choosing to get out from behind a computer screen to connect with comrades in shared struggle is the strongest antidote for despair" writes SMC NPC member Colleen J. Read on to learn how DSA is organizing to defend Cori Bush - and how you can help!
SMC is proud to announce our endorsements for DSA’s post-convention elections!
Voting begins tomorrow and is open to all convention delegates. Look out for an OpaVote ballot in your email with the subject line “2023 DSA Post-Convention Elections.”
The U.S. should not send another dime to Netanyahu.
The Israeli government is committing a genocide and OUR taxpayer money is funding it. Why do we have billions to send for mass murder but not enough to fund education and healthcare at home? We need a
#CeasefireNow
.
House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-WI): “Rep. Jamal Bowman pulled a fire alarm in Cannon this morning. An investigation into why it was pulled is underway.”
France has shown a popular front can avert fascist victory in the short-term. But only by rebuilding a left rooted in mass, working class organization can we dump fascism into the dumpster of history and win the world we deserve. To fight back here, join !
SMC is excited the most controversial section of ‘Defend Democracy Through Political Independence’ was removed.
We look forward to working as DSA to defeat the right in 2024 and beyond.
We are against MSR 2 for the provision that would force DSA to criticize socialist electeds who endorsing “centrist” candidates in order to defeat Trumpism
The Michigan Primary is on Tuesday.
@Listen2michigan
is turning thousands out to
#VoteUncommitted
in protest of Biden's support for genocide.
We need your help making phone calls to voters - can you make calls at 1:00 PM EST with us today?
RSVP here:
The Socialist Majority Steering Committee condemns the actions of President Biden and Congress imposing a contract on US rail workers. We stand with the workers seeking paid sick days and a fair contract.
Conservative Democrat Wesley Bell drops his race for Senate against right-wing Republican Josh Hawley to primary a moral leader in Congress, Cori Bush.
Unlike the Democratic establishment, DSA’s priority is beating the right, not the left!
Melina (SMC) says that we are doing well because we are linked with local unions in Detroit, and are able to help them in their struggles.
Melina says for future work, we need to focus on organizing the unorganized, and to "let EWOC cook".
SMC believes it is essential to build a mass socialist movement & ground ourselves in majoritarian socialist politics.
The stakes couldn't be higher: if we don't succeed at those tasks, we cannot defeat the ruling class.
Read all 12 POUs on our website:
In the spirit of a few other DSA caucuses, we're starting a monthly newsletter ✨
In our first issue, read about our new caucus Steering Committee, our report on the December NPC meeting, what we're working on this month, and more.
The anti-war movement is under attack on campuses across the country. Next week, 48,000 UC academic workers with
@uaw_4811
will vote to strike back against employer sponsored repression.
DSA stands in solidarity with UAW 4811’s decision to call a strike authorization vote in response to the University of California’s fierce repression of pro-Palestine protests, including the arrest and assault of several union members. 🧵(1/7)
More than a dozen SMC members joined tonight’s Solidarity Dues phonebank, for three very simple reasons:
1. Our urgent task is to build a socialist majority.
2. Organizing costs money.
3. Calling our comrades helps raise the funds DSA needs to succeed ✨
🧵 1/4
Tonight’s Solidarity Dues phone bank was another hit! 👏🏽
7,500 calls made tonight! 📞☎️
220+ members switched to solidarity dues ! 💸
And of the 59 members on the call, we had 13
@DSASocMaj
members on!! ✨
Make the switch ➡️
EWOC is a testament to what socialists can accomplish when we work with Unions to build working class power 🌹💪🏽
Until every worker has their Union, you can support
@organizeworkers
here ➡️
In just 3.5 years
@organizeworkers
has become one of the best places to refer someone interested in organizing at work. This worker centered project, powered by volunteers and propelled by momentum organizing, is truly amazing!
We believe YDSA should be a priority–and it still is. Hyperbolic claims on social media to the contrary, DSA’s 2024 budget still commits us to spending more than 3x more per member on YDSA than we do on DSA–an important investment in the next generation of socialist leaders.
We believe a national caucus can play an important role in putting forward a vision for the direction and work of the DSA.
A better tent is not only possible, it is on the way.
SIGN UP TO JOIN US
💕🌹✨
MONDAY:
@nycDSA
relaunches
#NotOnOurDime
to divest from Israeli settler violence with support from
@UAWRegion9A
+ all 11 NYC Socialists in Office
TUESDAY:
@atldemsoc
+
@dsa_louisville
defeat centrist Dems after knocking tens of thousands of doors
Already a great week for DSA!
10) We will strive to practice solidarity with each other, even in disagreement, in a way that transforms us as individuals and strengthens us as a collective.
To rebuild the labor movement, DSA needs to scale a comprehensive rank-and-file strategy that encompasses organizing new unions and revitalizing existing unions.
@Shaneless93
writes about how DSA is pivotal to moving toward militant majority unionism.
Our caucus thanks all the comrades who helped found
@demsocialists
or joined in the 40 years since who are continuing to build our organization and socialism today.
Socialism needs long distance runners.
Join DSA for a socialist future.
We call on the NPC to roll back layoffs and balance the budget without decimating organizing capacity. Come to the NPC meeting Sun. at 1 ET/12 CT/11 MT/10 PT, where our reso to reconsider layoffs is up in the first hour:
Jose La Luz is one of the most experienced organizers in DSA. We are lucky to have him as a part of our slate, caucus, and DSA. Learn more about Jose and why we endorse him here
Grace (she/her) is an NYC-DSA member. She has served on her branch organizing committee as treasurer and spent four years on the chapter's electoral organizing committee. She is currently the candidate recruitment chair for the chapter.
Dozens of current and former NPC members, candidates, and socialist leaders from across the country signed this statement in support of Democratize DSA 2023 at this week’s convention.
They’re encouraging delegates to vote YES on expanding the NPC!
SMC is excited to endorse these convention proposals during the signature-gathering period. Sign on to them all at the DSA convention proposal hub & stayed tuned for future endorsements!
If we don’t want to lose all the gains we’ve made in the labor movement, we need to seriously contest right wing control of our courts.
Only a majority coalition against the right can do that. Socialists, progressives, and unions must come together to win for working people.
The Federalist Society want the courts to destroy the NLRB.
A briefing from the notorious society calls the board a "special problem" and encourages stripping its power.
As the labor movement builds, conservative forces are working hard to eliminate workers' gains.
The vast majority of Democratic voters oppose Biden's support of Palestinian genocide!
The only way to avoid a Trump victory is for Biden to reverse course and call for a
#CeasefireNOW
.
Build the movement by phonebanking Michigan primary voters this week
CHRIS WALLACE: "I was talking to a top Michigan Democrat who said that. 'It's not just Arab Americans, there's young people, people of color, blacks and Hispanics who have a lot of doubts about Biden...I'm worried about uncommitted.' It's really a vote of no confidence...in
Kristian, current NPC and Steering Committee member, is running for re-election, is currently currently on a delegation trip to Venezuela for el Congreso Bicentenial de los Pueblos del Mundo with
@DSA_Intl_Comm
@kksteffany
with
@evoespueblo
. Be sure to rank her in your top 5!
Ballots are out for NYC-DSA’s Electoral Working Group elections! The deadline is Wednesday at 11:59pm; check your email for an OpaVote ballot.
We recommend ranking Sumathy Kumar
#1
for Brooklyn co-chair as well as ranking our five NEC SC Elector candidates. 🗳️🌹
As a member of Chicago DSA, Sabrina Chan has served on her chapter's executive committee, CDSA's Electoral Working Group, DSA's National Electoral Committee, and much more. Now she is ready to take her energy to the NPC. Learn more about Sabrina @