Metro DC DSA Weekly Update for Friday, January 17, 2020

Comrade,    ABOUT THE WEEKEND: Saturday JAN 18  there’s the DSA 4 Bernie Canvass and Participatory Budgeting Planning Meeting; Sunday JAN 19, MDC DSA Publications Working Group General Meeting and Labor Working Group phone bank – details are at links.

LABOR UP FRONT
 
GUTS -> GLORY – the Cinder Bed Road drivers ended their extended and arduous strike against an outsourced for-profit firm earlier this week and voted yesterday (Thursday, January 16) to ratify a contract that included “regular wage increases, sick leave, paid time off and improved medical benefits,” the WaPo reported. The privatized Transdev operation in Northern Virginia was the only “outsourced” Metro work unit and Local 689 of the ATU had late last year struck an agreement with WMATA to return the operation to regular Metro employment after the contract’s single year runs out. Solidarity action from labor allies, including MDC DSA, had supported the workers through their 82-day strike. Metropolitan Labor Council’s newsletter Union City adds Friday morning (January 17): “The union credited the victory to "the tireless work of transit riders, union members, activists, and elected officials across the DMV."

"This strike was always bigger than one garage.” said Raymond Jackson, president and business agent of ATU Local 689. “This was a stand for working people against mistreatment. These workers showed what you can achieve when you fight for what you deserve. This strike should be a warning to transit systems across the country. You should reconsider privatizing public transit. This is what you risk when trying to cut costs on the backs of workers and riders."

 
AND MORE ON LABOR ISSUES -- Wednesday night (January 15) the MDC DSA Steering Committee endorsed the campaign to reverse Virginia’s long-standing “Right to Work” law. Members of the local chapter's Labor Working Group are leading our part of the effort. Here’s the background, from the Metro DC Labor Council’s Union City newsletter January 15: “Virginia was one of the first of 28 states to adopt “Right to Work” laws, back in 1947. This year, it may be the first to repeal such laws. Legislation, HB 153, has been introduced to repeal Virginia’s “Right to Work” law, and supporters are collecting signatures on an online petition which will be delivered to members of the hearing committee of the Virginia General Assembly in advance of the January 27 AFL-CIO lobby day in support of HB 153. ‘Labor worked very hard to flip the General Assembly,’ said NoVA Labor president Virginia Diamond, ‘and we expect the Democrats to repeal this anti-worker law which grew out of the state's racist Jim Crow past.’ "

More from Chris B, Labor WG
Sunday JAN 19 Labor Working Group phone bank from 1:15 to 3 PM at Shaw Library, 1630 7^th St. NW (Shaw-Howard Green Line station) to plug WG members into our ongoing work.

Related news from DC Jobs with Justice:
DC Jobs With Justice applauds the Office of the Attorney General for a record settlement on behalf of 500+ workers and the DC government. The $2.75 million settlement with Power Design, Inc is the largest recovery to date in a wage enforcement action for the OAG. This settlement is a victory for workers rights and demonstrates that DC is serious about enforcing laws that protect workers and residents in the District. We are pleased to see that the settlement included $879,056 in restitution for affected workers, penalties, an investment in apprenticeships, and additional compliance measures. DC Jobs With Justice began sounding the alarm about Power Design’s activities in DC in 2017. DC JWJ and the Just Pay Coalition have encouraged DC to take on just this kind of enforcement action in our report Making Our Laws Real.

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DSA 4 BERNIE WORKGROUP UPDATE
Dem Watch Party Smash Success: Over 100 in attendance!
Over 100 Bernie supporters gathered at Penn Social to cheer on Bernie Sanders during the last Democratic Debate before the Iowa Caucus. There was standing room only with spillover to the downstairs gaming rooms. 
Join the Next Watch Party: 
Join us for any or all the upcoming February Democratic Debates at Penn Social:

• February 7 -- February 19 -- February 25

Be sure to RSVP on Meetup or Facebook once the events are posted. 

Prince George’s County Canvass a Success
About 50 volunteers gathered to knock on doors and talk to left-leaning voters about Bernie and his revolutionary political platform. We canvassed over 1400 voters! Afterward the small crowd celebrated with food and drink at a local bar. 
January 18th Bernie Canvass in West Hyattsville this Saturday!
Is your resolution to get more steps? Participate in a revolution? Then come knock doors for Bernie!
We will be in West Hyattsville on January 18th, 12-3:30 pm. We will meet outside the West Hyattsville Metro to get organized, distribute turfs, and pair off.
If this is your first time canvassing, first of all, welcome! We will provide a short training at noon, run through the script, teach you how to use MiniVAN, and pair you up with a veteran canvasser. We’ll all gather at a bar afterwards to chat about how the canvass went and discuss future events for Bernie!
RSVP: 
https://www.meetup.com/mdcdsa/events/267687747/
https://www.facebook.com/events/835240836915550/ 

And from the NoVA effort:
With primary season fast approaching, the DSA 4 Bernie working group is swinging into full gear! Virginia votes on March 3 (Super Tuesday), and we’ll be out knocking on doors in NoVA and making calls to people in other early primary states all throughout February to get people excited about Bernie.

Join us to help plan out our schedule of events. We’ll go through the steps we take to set up a canvass and debate watch party (there are 3 debates in February!!), tell you about ways for you to get more plugged in, and brainstorm other events we’d like to host in the coming months. We’ll also do a short demo of how to use VAN, the software our campaign and others use to divide up the doors that get knocked at a canvass.
–Rachel B, NoVA

Documentary Viewing Standing Room Only: Bernie Sanders 1979 on Eugene Debs 
A room full of Bernie supporters turned out last week for the #DSA4Bernie's screening of Bernie's documentary on Eugene Debs! Afterwards, attendees engaged in meaningful discussion on leftist organizing in today’s environment and signed up for the canvassing event that Saturday.

On our knees begging you: Can you spare a dollar?
We have $80 in our Bernie workgroup bank account and we want to raise $3,000 to purchase handouts (aka ‘Lit’) for canvassing through the primary season. We’re printing both English and Spanish and we need your support. 
Can you make a donation of $5, $10, $27, or any other amount to support Metro D.C. DSA’s Bernie Working Group? Here’s the link to donate.
Reach out to us at [email protected] ECOSOCIALISM EVENTS From Sebastian R, Ecosocialist Caucus co-chair

TODAY, Friday, Jan 17, 6 PM: Solidarity Bushfire Rebellion: Join Xtinction Rebellion DC outside of the Australian Embassy this Friday, January 17th at 6 PM to support our comrades in XR Australia and around the globe demanding action on the climate crisis. More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/3756827731001918/

From ShutDownDC:
Monday, Jan 20, 11 AM: March in solidarity with Black Lives Matter in MLK Day Parade: From the event description: "Meet us at 11 am at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE and Good Hope Rd SE. The parade will step off at 12 PM and proceed south on Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE through downtown Anacostia. The parade will conclude at the campus of St. Elizabeth’s East with a Health and Community Fair at the Gateway Pavilion located at 2700 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE." More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/424638131758756/. Dress in black, dress warm, and note that we are NOT bringing our own signs or banners.

Thursday, Jan 23, 7 PM, , Room 208: #ShutDownDC spring kickoff meeting, 725 23rd St NW It's time to start planning a massive climate justice action (or series of actions) for the spring! Come out and let's make this even bigger and better than Sept 23.
Finally, shout out to the MDC DSA crew who participated in the banner drop action this past Sunday night/Monday morning! From Jake H: We hung dozens of climate justice banners on busy overpasses in DC, Maryland, and Virginia--and recruited lots of new people in the process. We landed good coverage in NBC News (#2), WTOP, and WUSA; check out the great pics and video.
--Sebastian R
 

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MoCo branch of MDC DSA’s weekly newsblast includes action for tenants rights. https://mailchi.mp/mdcdsa.org/join-us-on-saturday-nov-1263467?e=003de9ccab
 

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PUBLICATIONS SCHEDULE: Updates in January Fridays, January 17 and 24. The February Washington Socialist will be sent Friday, January 31 with an article deadline of Saturday, January 25.
The Publications Working Group meets this weekend for a workshop on how our periodical publications (Washington Socialist newsletter and Update) are assembled and sent. Learn how you can participate in the local chapter’s important silo-busting information project. All welcome, 1-3 PM, meeting room (downstairs) DCPLS Southeast Neighborhood Library, 403 7th St SE Washington, D.C. 20003
FAQ
How many newsletters and updates have we published? Check our Index here.
What does the MDC DSA local chapter do, week in and week out? See our working groups, caucuses and campaigns in the DMV here.
  How important is MDC DSA Slack and how can I get on?: Many of our campaigns, working groups and caucuses keep the conversation going between meetings on our MDC DSA Slack platform. If you are a DSA member in good standing and aren’t on our Slack you may not be getting the full picture about the rich array of activities suggested above in the chapter structure link. To get on Slack, use the email by which DSA knows you and request access from [email protected]

Saturday JAN 18  12:00 PM
DSA 4 Bernie Canvass
West Hyattsville, 2700 Hamilton St, Hyattsville, MD 20782
Is your resolution to get more steps? Participate in a revolution? Then come knock doors for Bernie! We will be in West Hyattsville on January 18th, 12-3:30 pm. We will meet outside the West Hyattsville Metro to get organized, distribute turfs, and pair off. If this is your first time canvassing follow link for reassuring details.

Saturday JAN 18  3:30 PM
Participatory Budgeting Planning Meeting
Mount Pleasant,  Washington, DC
Help plan our chapter’s participatory budgeting process! More details to come.

Sunday JAN 19  1:00 PM
MDC DSA Publications Working Group General Meeting
Southeast Neighborhood Library, 403 7th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
The Publications Working Group general meeting and periodicals workshop — learn how MDC DSA’s regular periodicals are composed and how you can participate in the local chapter’s important silo-free information project. 1-3 PM, meeting room (downstairs) DCPLS Southeast Neighborhood Library, 403 7th St SE Washington, D.C. 20003

Monday JAN 20  1:30 PM
Janeese for Ward 4 Working Group
Petworth Neighborhood Library, 4200 Kansas Ave NW, Washington, DC 20011
MDC DSA has endorsed Janeese Lewis George for the Ward 4 D.C. Council race, and we’re canvassing every single weekend from now through the primary on June 2. At this working group meeting, we’ll go over the state of the race; share ideas for building a strong campaign. Follow link for details.

Tuesday JAN 21  5:30 PM  
Queer Socialists Happy Hour
Red Bear Brewing Co, 209 M St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Comrades, DSA membership is not required. Follow link for details.

Monday JAN 27  6:30 PM
So You Want to Organize #1: Socialist Night School
Shaw (Watha T. Daniel) Neighborhood Library, 1630 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Part 1 of 5: What Is an Organizer Anyway? Follow link for details.

Tuesday JAN 28  7:00 PM
Participatory Budgeting Planning Meeting
Cleveland Park Library, 3310 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Help plan our chapter’s participatory budgeting process! Follow link for details..

Wednesday JAN 29  7:00 PM
Steering Committee Meeting
Meeting of the Metro DC DSA Steering Committee. A remote-only meeting; All members are welcome to attend via Zoom. Follow link for details.

Thursday JAN 30  6:00 PM
Labor Working Group Happy Hour
Lyman's Tavern, 3720 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20011
Join labor activists, unionists, and the generally labor-curious for a drink at Lyman’s! Follow link for details.

Friday JAN 31  6:00 PM
DSA MoCo 🌹 Happy Hour
Not Your Average Joe's, 8661 Colesville Rd Suite C-153, Silver Spring, MD 20910
In downtown Silver Spring. Follow link for details.

Sunday FEB 2  2:00 PM
MoCo DSA 🌹General Branch Meeting
Connie Morella (Bethesda) Library, 7400 Arlington Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814
Please join us for our February branch meeting! Follow link for details.

Sunday FEB 9  3:00 PM
Metro DC DSA Monthly General Body Meeting
Friends Meeting of Washington, 2111 Florida Ave. NW, Washington, DC
The monthly meeting of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America! The agenda will be distributed the week before the meeting.

Wednesday FEB 12  7:00 PM
Steering Committee Meeting
Institute for Policy Studies, 1301 Connecticut Ave NW #600, Washington, DC 20036
Meeting of the Metro DC DSA Steering Committee. All members are welcome to attend, in person or remote. Follow link for details.

Thursday FEB 20  7:00 PM
NOVA Branch DSA 🌹 Organizing Meeting
Thomas Jefferson Library, 7415 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22042
Welcome to our monthly NOVA DSA organizing and planning meeting. Follow link for details.

Wednesday FEB 26  7:00 PM
Steering Committee Meeting
Remote only meeting, All members are welcome to attend. Follow link for details.

TODAY, Friday, Jan 17, 6 PM: Solidarity Bushfire Rebellion: Join Xtinction Rebellion DC outside of the Australian Embassy this Friday, January 17th at 6 PM to support our comrades in XR Australia and around the globe demanding action on the climate crisis. More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/3756827731001918/

 Friday, JAN 17 – Sunday, JAN 19 –the 2020 AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference Capital Hilton 1001 16th Street NW RSVP  Conference theme is “Give Us the Ballot,” drawn from Dr. King’s pivotal voting rights speech delivered here in 1957. we are still facing voter disenfranchisement at alarming levels [so] ensuring full voting access and a fair count of every ballot are the most important work we are doing.

Sunday JAN 19 Sanctuary DMV Accompaniment Training 1:30 – 3:30 PM UCC Seneca Valley, 13421 Clopper Rd, Germantown, MD 20874 Hosted by Sanctuary DMV and United Church of Christ of Seneca Valley: https://www.facebook.com/events/565714753975879/ --   meet the needs of immigrants seeking accompaniment at ICE checkins, appointments etc. -- spread the word. Register here.

Monday, JAN 20, 11 AM: March in solidarity with Black Lives Matter in MLK Day Parade: From the event description: "Meet us at 11 am at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE and Good Hope Rd SE. The parade will step off at 12 PM and proceed south on Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE through downtown Anacostia. The parade will conclude at the campus of St. Elizabeth’s East with a Health and Community Fair at the Gateway Pavilion located at 2700 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE." More details: https://www.facebook.com/events/424638131758756/. Dress in black, dress warm, and note that supporters (e.g. MDC DSA) are NOT bringing our own signs or banners.

Monday, JAN 20 Reel and Meal at the New Deal film program on Native American rights in partnership with the Baha’i  Community of Greenbelt we will feature Dawnland, the story of the removal of Native American children from their homes in Maine, and the trailblazing Child Welfare Truth & Reconciliation Commission that resulted.   An optional plant-based buffet is served at 6:30 PM; screening starts at 7 PM at the New Deal Café, 113 Centerway in Roosevelt Center.

Wednesday, JAN 22 Film: The First Rainbow Coalition 6-8 PM Busboys & Poets – 14th & V (2021 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20009 + Google Map  In 1969, the Chicago Black Panther Party began to form a multi-ethnic coalition with the Young Lords Organization and the Young Patriots and changed the face of 1960s Chicago politics,  creating an organizing model for future activists and politicians. This event is free but please register.

Wednesday, JAN 22  No New Jail DC Abolition Teach-In  6 – 8:30 PM, Dorothy I. Height/Benning Library -- Hosted by Black Lives Matter DC: https://www.facebook.com/events/601026807332523/

Thursday, Jan 23, 7 PM, , Room 208: #ShutDownDC spring kickoff meeting, 725 23rd St NW It's time to start planning a massive climate justice action (or series of actions) for the spring! Come out and let's make this even bigger and better than Sept 23.

Thursday, JAN 23  US Government Still Spying on Dissent: A People’s Briefing  6-8 PM, Institute for Policy Studies 1301 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 6th Floor Washington, DC 20036 + Google Map Throughout its history, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has used its expansive powers to investigate, monitor, and surveil First Amendment-protected activity and continues apparently to this day. This “People’s Briefing” unpacks the Fall 2019 report Still Spying on Dissent by Chip Gibbons, Policy Director at Defending Rights and Dissent. (and MDC DSA member). –moderated by IPS Fellow Phyllis Bennis.

Thursday, JAN 23 Right to Housing Committee Meeting 6 – 8 PM ONE DC, 614 S St NW, Washington, DC 20001 Hosted by ONE DC: https://www.facebook.com/events/2699077136820631/ Join the Right to Housing Committee every Thursday from 6 PM to 8 PM at our Shaw Office! Come together with other ONE DC members to discuss our tenant rights, and build power to fight displacement and gain community control of land and housing for low-wage, long-standing Washingtonians.
Food, transportation, and childcare will be provided! Contact Patrick Gregoire ([email protected]) or 202-232-2915 for more information. See you then!

Thursday, JAN 23 Street Law 101: Know Your Rights When Interacting With Police, 6:30 – 9 PM, IDEA Public Charter School. Hosted By Black Lives Matter DC: https://www.facebook.com/events/601240660629535/  This training will be about what actually happens on the street. We encourage youth and young adults to attend as they are the most targeted. ASL, free childcare and food provided.

Saturday JAN 25,  10 AM -2 PM, CCAN Polar Bear Plunge,  https://us-p2p.netdonor.net/2883/polar-bear-plunge 

Saturday, JAN 25 Cop Watch Training and Orientation 1:30 – 4:30 PM Anacostia Neighborhood Library Hosted by Black Lives Matter DC: https://www.facebook.com/events/489288861704763/
Copwatch is a group who monitors the police on the streets to prevent, follow up on and expose brutality and misconduct. ASL interpretation, free childcare, and food will be provided.

Sunday JAN 26, Medicare 4 All Town Hall in Annapolis 2-4 PM at Stanton Community Center, 92 W Washington St, Annapolis, MD 21401 among co-sponsors, Maryland Progressive Healthcare Coalition.
Tuesday, JAN 28 Group Name Change Hearing Sign Up  1:30 – 4:30 PM, 500 Indiana Ave NW, Washington DC 20001 Hosted by No Justice No Pride: https://www.facebook.com/events/884866271933603/
Are you a DC resident, Trans and need help with a name change? We will be going as a group to sign up people for a hearing date (that will be held at at different date/time) to change your name. Your name will not be changed until that hearing date which can be 60-120 days. We will help you thru this process as well as help you sign up for your hearing. Bring photo ID and proof of DC residency. Application/filing costs are typically $70-75.

Thursday JAN 30 DC Tech Workers Coalition discussion: Interoperability: Breaking down the walled gardens of digital platforms 6:30 – 8:30 PM EST West End Neighborhood Library 2301 L Street Northwest Conference Room Washington, DC 20037
 
Friday, JAN 31 Prison Pipelines and Detention Centers panel discussion 6 PM St Stephen & the Incarnation Episcopal Church, 1525 Newton St NW, Washington, DC 20010. Hosted by They/Them Collective: https://www.facebook.com/events/560356228135402/   Details provisional; follow up at link or email: [email protected]

Saturday, FEB 15  Book Event: Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents 3-4:30 PM at Sankofa Video, Books & Café, 2714 Georgia Avenue, NW Washington, DC United States + Google Map 
Book talk and signing with Editor and Senior Columnist at Black Agenda Report, Margaret Kimberley.–a concise, authoritative exploration of America’s relationship with race and black Americans through the lens of the presidents who are elected to represent and govern all of its people. MC for this event will be author, activist, scholar, lecturer, and journalist, Dr. Clarence Lusane, political science professor at Howard University.

GOOD READS
Portside carries this piece on labor and M4A, subheaded “Employer-based health care is an anchor around the necks of the US working class” : https://portside.org/2020-01-12/take-my-benefits-please
(Slightly offline history; health care was a benefit that businesses could offer to attract scarce workers to sidestep WW2 wage freezes and converged with the growth in union power).
From Jules B  https://prospect.org/civil-rights/the-decade-in-11-movements/  (By our comrade Peter Dreier)