In the early stages of great struggles… something of this same burning wave of solidarity sweeps through vast categories of workers not directly in the fight. The dramatic struggles going on in their industry inspires them with a sense of their own wrongs, fires them to fight to redress their own grievances and those of their class brothers already in the fight. It is a strike contagion, a spreading revolt of the workers.

--William Z. Foster

Comrades,

The hardships of this pandemic are practically universal. Our individual routines, habits, and concerns are perhaps more alike than they’ve ever been. You’d think that would make it easy to relate, but for one reason or another—sad, preoccupied, embarrassed, out of practice—many of us are falling out of touch.

Your comrades in East Bay DSA believe we need to come together, both to stand against the disaster capitalists and to remind us what we stand for in the first place. And we believe we have good opportunities for that: a socially-distanced socialist social ([link removed]) and an intro to DSA ([link removed]) next week. An online training on how to organize one-on-one (with details and RSVP link to come). And most urgently, online elections for our next steering committee—members have until Saturday night to vote! (11:59 p.m. on Saturday, May 23.)

Members also have the ability to stream last weekend's candidate forum—check your email for the link! We recommend this as both an informative and an affirming experience, to hear from candidates (comrades, organizers, neighbors, flesh and blood!) who care so much about our org and our community. As socialists, we know that voting is not the end-all of democracy. But voting for democratic socialism is good for your health ([link removed]) . And it feels damn good.

Solidarity!


News and Information
Here's some of the latest news and information from East Bay Majority ([link removed]) , East Bay DSA's news source with a socialist perspective


** FOR WORKERS AND PARENTS AT HIGHLAND HOSPITAL, RACE AND GENDER DISTRIBUTE COVID-19 BURDENS UNEVENLY
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In a pandemic, the problems of working from home and finding childcare are compounded for working-class women of color.

Read more ([link removed])


** BIG TECH SHOULDN’T PROFIT OFF OF THE CORONAVIRUS
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Implementing contact tracing to limit the spread of Covid-19 could involve forking over more personal data to private tech firms. We need to make sure that corporations don’t profit off of that data at our expense.

Read more ([link removed])
Featured Events
While we are still unable to meet face-to-face, events are still going on that you can be a part of. RSVP below to stay updated. You can also keep track on our Events page ([link removed]) .


** STEERING COMMITTEE VOTING DEADLINE
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This Saturday, May 23 | by midnight ♿
Check your inboxes!


Saturday, May 23 is your last day to vote to elect your new East Bay DSA Steering Committee!

All Steering Committee members are elected for a one-year term, including two Co-Chairs, a Vice-Chair, a Recording Secretary, a Communications Secretary, a Treasurer, and seven At-Large members. You can read the role descriptions in our bylaws.

Find out more info at eastbaydsa.org/elections.

Due to the current COVID-19 crisis, all voting will take place electronically through OpaVote. Each eligible voting member will receive a unique link through the email address that corresponds to their national account. Voting started on May 17th and your deadline to vote is THIS SATURDAY, May 23 at 11:59 pm.

Eligible voting members must have joined East Bay DSA at least 1 month before the election, be current dues paying members at the time of the election, and not have been lapsed for the full year preceding the date of the election in order to vote in the Steering Committee election.

Links to vote via Opavote are sent to the e-mail address in your membership record. If you have not received a link to vote but believe you are eligible, please send an e-mail to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Steering%20Committee%20Election%20Voting) ASAP.

RSVP ([link removed])


** SOCIALLY DISTANCED SOCIALIST SOCIAL
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Monday, May 25 | 6–7:30 p.m.
Online via Zoom—RSVP for info ♿️

Let’s face it, we could all use a vacation right now, but the closest that most of us can get to a palm tree is that one Zoom background of a beach. We have the solution: dress for the vacation you want, chill down or shake up something special to drink, locate your most vacated virtual background, and join the East Bay DSA for our first virtual Socializing with Socialists.

Staying at home all day can be kind of isolating, but if we have to be isolated, let’s be isolated together! We’ll meet up to get to know each other better with games and time to socialize. Come to build relationships, meet new people, and learn about how you can get involved in organizing with DSA during times of social distancing.

RSVP for the Zoom link!

RSVP ([link removed])


** INTRO TO DSA
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Saturday, May 30 | 1–3 p.m.
Online via Zoom – RSVP for info ♿

Democratic Socialist politicians like Bernie Sanders, Rashida Tlaib, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are raising the expectations of millions of people across the United States and bringing them into a political awakening. The membership of DSA, the largest socialist organization in the United States, is rapidly growing by the thousands. Millions of everyday people are calling for Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, universal rent control, and more.

But what is democratic socialism? What does it mean to be a member of DSA?

Let's talk about it.

Join us to discuss what our political moment calls for, make new friends, and get plugged into our fight for democratic control of the things that we need for all of us to live a dignified life.

Please RSVP to get the Zoom link and other information.

RSVP ([link removed])


** LABOR COMMITTEE MEETING
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Sunday, May 31 | 6–8 p.m.
Online via Zoom – RSVP for info ♿

Please join the East Bay DSA Labor Committee for our regular monthly meeting. It's open to all DSA members who are interested in getting involved in labor work with their comrades! Learn more about how to get involved in the committee, our ongoing projects, and upcoming solidarity actions!

If you'd like to submit an item for the agenda, please email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

RSVP ([link removed])
Upcoming Events


** THE ORGANIZER’S TOOLBOX: ONE-ON-ONE ORGANIZING MEETINGS
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Sunday, June 7 | 1–3 p.m.

Online via Zoom – RSVP for info ♿️

Do you want to understand how to move that not-yet-member at night school to action? Did somebody new show up to your committee meeting and you’re not sure how best to engage with them? Did you meet a person while you were canvassing who’s fired up about Bernie but hasn’t gotten involved in politics before?

In this training, we will discuss and practice the art of the one-on-one meeting. This is a powerful and foundational skill for any organizer—it helps us form a political relationship with somebody, understand more about who they are and what motivates them, and gives us an opportunity to make a concrete ask of them.

One-on-one meetings can help us develop political relationships with other working class people, build leadership in your committee, and move people to action. Come to this training to learn the components of a one-on-one and get some real-life practice.

Note: While everybody is welcome, this training event is geared towards people who are already active in the Democratic Socialists of America or aligned organizations.

Due to social distancing, this event will happen virtually over Zoom.

Stay tuned to [link removed] for details and RSVP link. In the meantime, you can prepare for the training by reading the guide linked below.

Read the guide ([link removed])


** RACIAL SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE MONTHLY MEETING
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Monday, June 15 | 7–9 p.m.
RSVP for info ♿

Join the Racial Solidarity Committee for our monthly meeting!

The Racial Solidarity Committee (RSC) is dedicated to fighting for the rights of BIPOC communities here in the Bay Area as well as around the world. We are committed to building a multiracial democratic socialist organization that reflects the diversity of the Bay Area working class. Our work ranges from immigration justice and open borders to workers' rights and access to fully-funded public education. In our general meetings, we hold political discussions and report on upcoming RSC campaigns and events. Join us and become a part of the fight for Racial Solidarity!

Racial Solidarity Committee is open to all, and we especially welcome self-identified BIPOC folx. BIPOC facilitators take progressive stack, and we maintain community agreements.

RSVP ([link removed])

CATCH UP ON NIGHT SCHOOL
With social distancing guidelines still in place, now's as good a time as any to catch up on our Socialist Night School.

Catch up on past night school readings and videos below.

Watch past Night School videos ([link removed])

Catch up on Night School readings ([link removed])

Not a Member Yet? Let's Fix That.
DSA now has 60,000 members nationally, and we're still growing. There's never been a better time to get involved than right now! Join our national organization by clicking below and become an official socialist organizer.

Join DSA ([link removed])


Caucus Corner
Our caucuses organize events too! Check out the Caucus Corner of our website ([link removed]) to learn more about the activities of East Bay DSA caucuses and how to participate.

Announcements

STEERING COMMITTEE CANDIDATE STATEMENTS
Elections for our chapter’s steering committee are this month (online voting starts May 17), and candidate statements are now online. Get informed for this election and inspired for this crucial moment by reading up on each candidate’s goals and priorities for the chapter.

More info ([link removed])
Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral.

Paulo Freire

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