Solidarity is what we want. We do not want to find fault with each other, but to solidify our forces and say to each other: We must be together; our masters are joined together and we must do the same thing.

-- Mary Harris "Mother" Jones

Comrades,

The last time we wrote to you, Oakland was just lifting its curfew after a week of sustained community demonstrations. So much has happened since then. The events and conversations of the last two weeks have brought anti-racist, anti-colonialist, and even anti-capitalist ideas and texts to people who had never considered them before.

Defunding police has become a national demand. Monuments to slaveowners and perpetrators of genocide are being brought down. Battle lines have been drawn in organized labor. Meanwhile, police violence and white supremacy have taken more Black lives. And the compulsion to profit despite the ongoing pandemic is putting more of our country’s most vulnerable people at risk.

The sense of all these historic struggles being interconnected, in opposition to capitalism, is our foundation as socialists. Now, suddenly, it's also very close to the surface—for many more to see.

Solidarity!

P.S. Please continue to be conscientious when you go outside to demonstrate ([link removed]) , or for any reason.


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


** STUDENTS SAY IT’S TIME TO “DISRUPT” TO STOP POLICE BRUTALITY

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On June 1, student organizers drew thousands of people in Oakland to protest the murder of George Floyd by police. Youth took the stage and sent a powerful message to the world: they demand justice and they aren’t backing down.

Read more ([link removed])


** IT’S (WAY PAST) TIME TO REDISTRIBUTE OBSCENE POLICE BUDGETS TO SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, AND BUSES

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The cost of policing is exacted first and foremost in the damage to Black lives—and second in an enormous drain on public resources. Every dollar spent on police is a dollar not spent on schools and city services.

Read more ([link removed])


** SAVE THE RICHMOND PUBLIC LIBRARIES

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While the Richmond police take 40% of the city budget, libraries that were once vibrant community centers endure cut after cut. A budget vote this week could save the libraries.

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]) .


** MAKE CALLS FOR MARCELA! NYC DSA FOR THE MANY PHONEBANKING

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Today! June 18 | 3–6 p.m.
Online via Zoom – RSVP for info ♿️
Make calls to support the NYC DSA for the Many slate!

COVID-19 has laid bare the devastating impacts decades of the NY state legislature and governor disinvesting from working class New Yorkers. In the middle of a pandemic, when we need support for working class New Yorkers such as rent suspension, rent debt forgiveness, Medicare for All and more: we are left with no support. Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers will be laid off with no way to pay rent and sick with no healthcare.

We need champions for the working class like Marcela in the NY state assembly. Join NYC DSA and phone bank so we can elect Marcela together! Join us so that next time there is a crisis, our government fights for us, not the 1%.

No experience necessary, training will be provided at the start of the call. RSVP for call information.

RSVP ([link removed])


** JUNETEENTH RALLY PHONEBANK

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Tonight! June 18 | 6–9 p.m.
Online via Zoom – RSVP for info ([link removed]) ♿️
Join our virtual phone (and text) bank to turn out as many of our members as possible for tomorrow’s action. No experience is necessary to phonebank! Read below, next event, for details about this historic and momentous work stoppage and demonstration.

RSVP ([link removed])


** JUNETEENTH: OAKLAND PORT SHUTDOWN!

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Tomorrow! June 19 | 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Meeting at 3rd and Magnolia, Oakland ♿️
On June 19, 1865—two whole years after the Emancipation Proclamation became law—Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and those who were still enslaved were now free. June 19—also known as Juneteenth—commemorates the abolition of chattel slavery in the United States. However, we know the fight against racist exploitation, police brutality and white supremacy is far from over and it will take a mass movement to win true freedom.

This Friday at 9 a.m., we are joining the calls of Black Leaders in Locals 10, 34, 75, and 91 of the ILWU (International Longshore and Warehouse Union) and the Movement 4 Black Lives to shut down the port of Oakland in defense of Black Lives. This is the first time an International Union is staging a labor stoppage on Juneteenth, demanding an end to systemic racism, police terror, as well as stopping the privatization of the port of Oakland and other public services such as our schools, postal service and hospitals.

We are calling on every single one of our members and supporters who are able to attend this historic, Black-led work stoppage, caravan and march, which will cost at least 1 BILLION dollars to the capitalist corporations. In addition to the phonebank ([link removed]) (tonight! June 18, see above), here are some other roles you can play for this historic action against racism to be successful:

Outreach:
Reach out to your friends, family, coworkers, organizations, unions or any group you are a part of and encourage them to join using this outreach toolkit ([link removed]) .

Mutual Aid Volunteers:
1) Help staff the water, snacks and PPE tables at Oscar Grant Plaza during the rally.
2) Help transport any materials and leftovers to the office (must have access to a car).

Join the DSA contingent:
9 a.m. — Meetup at 3rd and Magnolia, Oakland to check in, get flags, signs, decorate cars and walk towards the port together.
10 a.m. — Arrive at the SSA Terminal to hear Angela Davis and other speakers at the port.
11ish a.m. — March to OPD and Oscar Grant Plaza as a contingent. There will be a star-studded cast of speakers at the plaza, including Danny Glover, Boots Riley, Cat Brooks, Chris Smalls of Amazonians United, and our very own Kaylah Paige Williams of DSA SF and AFROSOC.

Make sure to:
* Wear red!
* Bring comfortable shoes, water, snacks and wear a mask at all times.
* Form a small group of 2-5 trusted, healthy comrades, family or friends ahead of the action; this will be your "pod." Stick together and make sure everyone is well and has their needs met during the action.
* Download and install Signal to communicate with the contingent.
* Review and follow all of our COVID Direction Action Safety tips ([link removed]) .

Follow our social media accounts (Instagram ([link removed]) , Twitter ([link removed]) , Facebook ([link removed]) ) for more updates.

If you cannot attend, make sure to tune into 88.3FM or check out our social media for a live stream.

RSVP ([link removed])


** THE STRUGGLE AGAINST GLOBAL CAPITALISM: A CONVERSATION WITH THE MST

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Saturday, June 20 | 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Online via Zoom – RSVP for info ([link removed]) ♿️
Brazil's Landless Workers Movement (MST) is one of the largest social movements in Latin America, with over 2,500 land occupations and 900 encampments that they acquired through struggle.

In the midst of a global crisis of capitalism, the coronavirus pandemic has aggravated already existing economic and political crises around the world. Brazil now has the highest amount of deaths per day due to COVID-19. This is a direct result of the actions taken by the protofascist Bolsonaro regime. The MST is calling this a genocidal action as the Bolsonaro government, much like Trump, has minimized the pandemic, advocated for the reopening of the economy, vetoed financial support to states to face the pandemic, and incited political violence among his supporters.

As the world is held hostage by the imploding crises of global capitalism, while the U.S. is in the midst of a Black-led uprising, international solidarity is most critical. Join us as we discuss strategies of resistance, international solidarity, and how to build a global movement against capitalism and imperialism.

RSVP ([link removed])


** VIRTUAL GENERAL MEETING

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Saturday, June 20 | 1–3 p.m.
Online via Zoom – RSVP for info ([link removed]) ♿️
Join us for this month’s nonvoting General Meeting of East Bay DSA! Please RSVP and invite other comrades to hear updates on our campaigns and events.

This week's meeting will focus on the ongoing protest movement and DSA's—and your—involvement in it.,

The meeting will be conducted via Zoom. RSVP at the link below and you'll receive an email with the link.

RSVP ([link removed])


** MAKE CALLS FOR PHARA! NYC DSA FOR THE MANY SUPPORT PHONEBANKING

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Sunday, June 21 | 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Online via Zoom – RSVP for info ([link removed]) ♿️
Make calls to support the NYC DSA for the Many slate!

COVID-19 has laid bare the devastating impacts decades of the NY state legislature and governor disinvesting from working class New Yorkers. In the middle of a pandemic, when we need support for working class New Yorkers such as rent suspension, rent debt forgiveness, Medicare for All and more: we are left with no support. Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers will be laid off with no way to pay rent and sick with no healthcare.

We need champions for the working class like Phara Souffrant Forest in the NY state assembly. Join NYC DSA and phone bank so we can elect Phara together! Join us so that next time there is a crisis, our government fights for us, not the 1%.

No experience necessary, training will be provided at the start of the call. RSVP for call information.

RSVP ([link removed])


** SOCIALIST NIGHT SCHOOL: WORKERS AGAINST WHITE SUPREMACY

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Tuesday, June 23 | 7–9 p.m.
Online via Zoom ([link removed]) ♿️
The uprising against racism and police violence that erupted in the aftermath of the police murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor has been bolstered by important contributions by workers and their unions.

Bus drivers and other public transit workers have refused to move arrested protesters and police. Teachers and other public education workers have agitated to kick the police out of our schools. And longshore workers stopped work on East and West Coast ports to demonstrate opposition to racist police violence.

What role can workplace actions and organized labor play in the anti-racist struggle? What can socialists and other radicals do to contribute to further workplace action and organization in support of the ongoing movement? How can union members organize to isolate the police unions and drive them out of local and national union federations? What does the history of racism and anti-racism in the U.S. labor movement tell us about our struggle today?

Join East Bay DSA's Socialist Night School this Tuesday, June 23 as we discuss these questions and more, with a talk from featured speaker Ashley Payne.

RSVP ([link removed])
Upcoming Events


** LABOR COMMITTEE MEETING

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Sunday, June 28 | 6–8 p.m.

Online via Zoom – RSVP for info ([link removed]) ♿️
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])


** TAX THE RICH TO FUND SCHOOLS AND SERVICES: PART 1 OF 3

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Monday, June 29 | 7–9 p.m.

Online via Zoom ([link removed]) ♿️


EBDSA members have the opportunity to help pass the largest tax increase in history on California's wealthiest commercial property owners, raising $10-12 billion per year for public education and social services. With the Movement for Black Lives uprising deepening into the call for defunding the police, it will be necessary to expand revenues required to build alternative, sustainable public services, and practices. Progressive taxation—especially taxing the rich—is an essential path to accomplish that goal.

"Schools and Communities First" (SCF), on the November 3 ballot, is backed by labor and opposed by the most reactionary sectors of capital. A three-part education series will provide background for EBDSA participation in the campaign. Part I ([link removed]) reviews the story of austerity politics and increasing inequality in California with Prop 13—which SCF proposes to reform—from 1978 to the present. Part II ([link removed]) looks at the history of public-sector unionism and how a left-wing labor-community coalition won Prop 30, a 'tax the rich' ballot measure, in 2012. Part III ([link removed]) will supply an overview of the SCF campaign, and explore how EBDSA members can plug in effectively. Biweekly on Zoom, beginning
Monday, June 29, presented by labor historian Fred Glass for EBDSA Labor Committee.

RSVP ([link removed])
Catch up on Socialist Night School
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 75,000 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

JOIN THE CLASSROOM JUSTICE CAMPAIGN
📚✏️VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!📚✏️ EBDSA’s Classroom Justice Campaign has been distributing coloring books with resources and information for parents and teachers during the COVID-19 crisis MONDAY and THURSDAY mornings at OUSD food distribution sites, which have doubled this summer. We're looking for more volunteers to help with distribution and printing!

Interested? Sign up using this Google form ([link removed]) .

More info at classroomjustice.org.

Bourgeois class domination is undoubtedly an historical necessity, but, so too, the rising of the working class against it. Capital is an historical necessity, but, so too, its grave digger, the socialist proletariat.

--Rosa Luxemburg

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