Building Up: December 2023

Welcome to Building Up!

Welcome to the third issue of Groundwork’s Monthly Newsletter, Building Up. Here we’ll share our perspective about National DSA internal politics and the NPC, as well as highlight efforts Groundwork members are doing across the country and ways that you can get involved in our campaigns!

Want to get more involved with Groundwork? Sign up here and we’ll be in touch!

Building Out

Ashik S here. I can't imagine a greater honor than to be elected DSA’s National Co-Chair, along with Megan R! Recently, UAW President Shawn Fain said of the members he represents: "I want expectations fucking high. I want them through the roof." That's how I feel about DSA.

Because our delegates made clear, whatever kind of socialist we are, we all agree: that socialists must lead. That means building a DSA that makes our greatest peaks—from Strike Ready to Build Public Renewables to Stomp Out Slumlords to No Money for Massacres and more—just the floor. As Co-Chair, I'll do whatever it takes to take every advantage of this new chance to build DSA—to do whatever it takes to build our org to lead collectively everywhere, every day. So before you dive back into organizing, take a minute to let yourself imagine what it looks like.

Imagine a future where Democratic Socialists are the ruling class’ worst nightmare: an ever-expanding, organized, militant mass movement turning the socialist horizon into America’s reality. A future where we’re passing transformative legislation that beats back the right and makes the center look like the joke it is—each hard fought campaign and battle winning the working class more room to breathe, growing our movement, and setting the stage for bigger fights to come. A future where we’re seizing state power, kicking capitalists out of office by putting hundreds more socialists into office, who multiply our outside strength into increased reach, power, and tangible results—the kind of movement that keeps Exxon and AIPAC up at night. A future where we’re driving a revitalized, socialist labor movement, redefining what is possible in the United States. Where if you’re in a union, you’re organizing with DSA to take power back for the working class. If you’re not in a union, you’re a DSA member organizing one.

A future where, from the streets to the halls of power, we are making the anti-imperialist, anti-war movement of the past couple of months, just the beginning. And where we're running multifaceted mass campaigns that unite all this work, and more. Because in this future, DSA is a million members strong and counting. Because our propaganda machine is shattering Overton windows and making the truth of our analysis undeniable to anyone. As Marx said, it’s not enough to understand the world—the point is to change it.

So thank you for daring to believe that socialists must lead in the fight to change the world. Thank you for choosing me as a DSA National Co-Chair to make it happen, inside our org and projecting outward. I will keep doing whatever it takes to deserve it.

Ashik during his five-day hunger strike outside the White House

Besides the new co-chairs, DSA had some other important internal elections and appointments recently. We are thrilled about:

Kelsea B elected to the Steering Committee of National Labor Commission
Allison K, Sumter A, Olivia M, Lizzy O, and Nikhil P elected to the new Democracy Commission
Irene K, Derek T, and Tzara K elected to the Steering Committee of the National Electoral Commission
Kareem E appointed co-chair of the new Palestine Subcommittee of the International Committee

NPC Updates

The NPC is getting ready for important budget discussions and decisions in the coming month. You can watch a recording of the recent DSA Financial Report to Membership here to learn more about where we are at and the projections for the coming year. Being a member-funded organization not beholden to foundations or wealthy donors is a big reason that we are so unique and successful, but we cannot take this for granted.

To that end, DSA is running a dues drive to get members to commit 1% of our income to our organization. Switch to Solidarity Dues by 12/31 and get a limited-edition, union-printed Solidarity Dues bandana!

Local Groundworks

Recent DSA Chapter Accomplishments Groundwork supporters are leading, or heavily involved in. This is not an exhaustive list of actions held by these chapters, which would take too long to list!

Atlanta: Our Groundwork comrades in Atlanta DSA are running their chapter's first cadre candidate for office. Gabriel Sanchez, a long-time DSA organizer and activist, is running to be the first socialist candidate elected to Georgia's state legislature. Although Republicans have been chaotically redistricting the state, Sanchez is running against two corrupt corporate incumbents, and campaigning on a platform of Housing, Healthcare, and an Economy for all in a majority-minority and supermajority renter district. Together the chapter has already knocked 1,000 doors and is planning to aggressively campaign through the Spring for the May 21st Democratic primary and possible June 18 primary runoff. Read more in Jacobin's interview with Gabriel and contribute to the campaign.

Maine: Groundwork members helped defeat landlord-led Question A, a referendum that would have rolled back rent control in Portland. Read more about Maine DSA’s outstanding organizing in The Nation and listen to the outgoing Portland mayor call them “very real and very powerful.” (sounds pretty “ruling class’ worst nightmare” already!)

Metro Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky: Groundwork members answered a call for solidarity and support from rank and file members of Teamsters Local 100 during their historic strike at DHL CVG. Members visited the picket line, rode the Teamsters bus, and brought hand warmers and snacks for the 1,100 striking workers.

Metro Detroit: Groundwork members helped organize to force the Detroit City Council to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. At the time, it was the largest city in the country making this demand.

Metro DC: Held a successful convention and committed to electoral, labor, public power, tenant organizing, and abolition as priorities.

NYC: Launched Green New York, the next phase of the Build Public Renewables Act (BPRA) campaign, the historic GND-style public power legislation New York chapters won after a four year fight in May. What comes after unleashing public power? Making the most of it.

Mid-Hudson Valley: Won rent stabilization in the city of Newburgh, extending vital tenant protections further into the Hudson Valley.

National: Groundwork comrades have been organizing the national No Money for Massacres campaign for a ceasefire in Palestine, which has made over 350,000 calls to voters and constituents in targeted districts. Out of the 60+ Congressional reps who have called for ceasefire, DSA has been behind targeting and pressuring over 20 of them. DSA has seen ~2000 new members since this campaign launched and NMFM is currently shifting to targeting the Senate into the New Year to demand no military funding for Israel.

Groundwork in the Media

Groundwork does not necessarily endorse all views expressed by members in their own media appearances… unless they are good.

Cara T, Cihan TL, and Layla AS were quoted in In These Times about DSA’s ongoing Palestine solidarity work and how it is growing and strengthening our organization.

Claire M, Advait A, and Tom M wrote in the Washington Socialist about the state of public power in 2023 and Metro DC’s We Power DC campaign in particular.

Ashik S was interviewed by Matt H in Terrain about climate organizing, long-term thinking, and building across differences.

Michael P was quoted in The New Republic about the aforementioned BPRA campaign.

Lizzy O, Gustavo G, Soleil S, and Matt H were on a panel at the Socialism 2023 Conference called “The Longer Road to a Green New Deal” which you can now listen to in podcast form.