Comrades,

In the past few weeks, the chapter has been busy! We welcomed in new socialists during another Intro to DSA meeting, and our Labor Organizing Committee organized with Dandelion Chocolate workers, the ILWU, and the broader labor movement following a rally on March 31. We heard updates from Supervisor Dean Preston’s office. Lots more coming soon, too — there will be two healthcare panel discussions this Thursday and next Sunday, and a new panel discussion on the historical relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines on April 30. Read on for more information and ways you can get involved.

In solidarity,
Your DSA SF Communications Team

Join DSA Today!

Upcoming Events

New! Trivia Night

The Chapter Coordinating Committee’s Community Team is hosting another trivia night on Tuesday, April 20 at 6:00 p.m.! Hop on the DSA SF Discord server to play!

If you’re a member of DSA SF and not on Discord yet, email discord@dsasf.org to be added!

New! Impunity of an Empire: The Cost of Plunder in the Philippines

 Join us on Friday, April 30 at 5:30 p.m. to learn about the historical relationship between the United States and the Philippines. We will explore the dire consequences of its colonial dynamics and how we as individuals in the U.S. need to take an active role in foreign policy, grassroots organizing, and alliance building. The Filipino people need us to resist and challenge the imperial hold the US has on the Philippines! The San Francisco Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (SFCHRP) and Malaya Movement San Francisco, in collaboration with DSA SF, will provide an in-depth presentation diving into these themes as well as a space for attendees to participate in a thorough discussion. More details to come.

Healthcare and Labor Panel

Join us for our Healthcare and Labor Panel this Thursday, April 15 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.! This will be a panel discussion on raising class consciousness, fostering union militancy, and fighting for Medicare-for-All featuring:

  • Eunice Balancio, RN, MSN, NNU/CNA
  • Jamie Dawson, OFNHP/AFT Local 5017
  • Greg Gabrellas, Secretary-Treasurer of CIR-SEIU
  • John Pearson, ER Nurse, President of the AHS Chapter of SEIU 1021

We will discuss questions such as: how do we foster class-consciousness among our coworkers? How do we become effective workplace leaders, and how can we use our relationships to foster a militant union? How do we organize into a union where we have none, and how do we reform our unions if the leadership does not represent the rank-and-file’s interests? You can register for the Zoom meeting here!

The Future of Medicare for All: What Way Forward?


Two-thirds of American voters support Medicare for All. What are the obstacles to passing it, and how do we overcome them? Join us on Sunday, April 18 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. for a panel discussion on the way forward for Medicare for All. Speakers include Dr. Susan Rogers, president of Physicians for a National Health Program; Stephanie Nakajima, Director of Communications for Healthcare-NOW; Michael Lighty, national spokesperson for DSA’s Medicare for All campaign; and Shamus Cooke, a public union worker and member of Portland DSA, and will touch on maternal and infant mortality, life expectancy inequities, the need for mass action, and how we can bring about a multi-racial mass movement. Don’t miss it! Register here!

Join Homelessness Working Group’s Strategy Meeting!

Join the Homelessness Working Group on Monday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. to talk about strategy and how we should best navigate the current state of the pandemic and beyond to best support our unhoused neighbors. We’ll talk about the state of our current projects and how we can better engage our unhoused neighbors and involve them in the direction of the working group. No need to register – just join us on April 26 on Zoom here.

PRO Act: Phonebank & Save the Date for Bay Area Town Hall

DSA’s highest national priority is to pass the PRO Act (Protect the Right to Organize), which would strengthen unions, the power of the working class to organize on the job, and our collective capacity to win a just transition to a green economy for all. This month, DSA called 500k voters to rally support! ?? MORE phonebanks this week here.

Also, SAVE THE DATE: DSA SF, East Bay DSA, and other chapters will hold a Bay Area PRO Act Townhall, with exciting guests to be announced, on Tuesday, April 27 at 6:00 p.m.! Workers & the World Unite!

For more events, click here.

Announcements

Dean Preston Weekly Office Update

In this issue:

  • Passed the AB 20 Resolution
  • Hosted a D5 Budget Town Hall
  • Defended Plaza East Tenants

Have an idea or want to schedule a meeting with your caucus or committee with Dean’s office? Write either PrestonStaff@sfgov.org or lexvonklark@gmail.com with details, mention you’re with DSA, and we’ll schedule a day!

We Need You to Build Socialism!

We need your help with the following:

  • Help Produce the Newsletter!
    • Every week we put out the very newsletter you are reading, and we need organizers to help write, edit and produce it. Contact comms@dsasf.org or #ccc-comms on Slack to help out.
  • Help Manage Our Social Media! 
    • You already live on Instagram and Twitter, so why not help build socialism instead of just providing data to targeted advertising algorithms? Contact comms@dsasf.org or #ccc-comms on Slack to help out.
  • Help Organize Our Monthly Meetings and Other Fun Events! 
    • If you have experience or interest in organizing events, our Community team could use your help. Social events, educational events, and of course our monthly meetings; none of them happen without organizers. Fill out this form, email community@dsasf.org, or #ccc-community on Slack to join the fun.
  • Help Our Tech Team! 
    • Want to be a part of a team that is actually making a difference in the world, not just talking about it on LinkedIn? Help build the infrastructure that DSA SF uses to build socialism. Contact tech-support@dsasf.org or #ccc-tech on Slack to pitch in.

DSA SF Membership Drive

Please consider becoming a member of National DSA, or making sure your membership is current, so you can stay up to date with what the National Organization is doing and participate in the member forums. Becoming a member also counts towards DSA SF’s delegate count for the August National Convention! As always, no one is turned away for lack of funds, all you need to do is fill out the dues sponsorship form. If you have any other questions or hurdles on membership, feel free to email steering@dsasf.org and we’ll figure something out together.

Reading Groups

The Antonio Gramsci Reader

The 21st Century Socialism Reading Group takes a dip back into the 20th. There will be four sessions every other Tuesday, starting today, April 13 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.Register here!