JANUARY 5, 2024
CONTENTS
UP FRONT
Socialists stand against Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza — join the march on Washington on January 13
Bowser walks back attempt to illegally raid money earmarked for SNAP benefits
- Steering Committee elects chair and other appointees, sets tentative GBM schedule
Socialists stand against Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza — join the march on Washington on January 13
Israel’s brutal, genocidal assault on Gaza continues unabated, encouraged by the full-throated consent of the United States political establishment, with horrifying results. More than 21,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7; 54,000 people are injured and 1.8 million have been displaced from their homes. Israel’s attack is starving the people in Gaza, leading to rampant famine and disease. The International Court of Justice has confirmed that it will hold public hearings at The Hague on January 11 and 12 following South Africa’s genocide charges against Israel; meanwhile, Israel has also conducted raids in the West Bank and attacks in Lebanon.
The US working class has maintained steadfast opposition to these atrocities and the United States’ role in funding them. Protestors shut down highways and airports in Los Angeles and New York to end 2023, and local activists protested at DC Mayor Bowser’s New Year’s Day 5K to call for a ceasefire. Another mass, national march on Washington for Gaza organized by the American Muslim Task Force for Palestine — which has been endorsed by Metro DC DSA — will take place on Saturday, January 13; find information on logistics here.
Bowser walks back attempt to illegally raid money earmarked for SNAP benefits
After socialists and activists crashed DC Mayor Bowser’s New Year’s Day 5K to demand the expansion of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as required by law — and after two DC mothers and (separately) the DC Council began mulling the possibility of suing Bowser over the same issue — Washington City Paper reports that “Mayor Muriel Bowser says she’s suddenly reversing course on her monthlong refusal to implement a $40 million expansion of SNAP benefits required by law, just as a pair of residents prepared to sue the city over her intransigence.”
Background: In a summer 2023 budget vote, the DC Council required that “any tax revenue to come in above prior estimates should immediately go toward increasing food assistance for low-income families.” In the fall, District Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee announced that DC would have an extra $39.6 million to bump up these SNAP benefits. But Bowser brazenly informed the Council that she intended to illegally use that money for other purposes — abandoning hundreds of thousands of District residents in need.
Steering Committee elects chair and other appointees, sets tentative GBM schedule
The 16th MDC DSA Steering Committee convened for its inaugural meeting on Tuesday, January 2. Brief updates:
- Carl R was voted chair of the Steering Committee, handed off by prior chair Aparna R.
- Bakari W was appointed to the Political Engagement Committee (PEC), which organizes our local engagement to elected officials and maintains electoral activity. The PEC is a five-person standing body, appointed by the Steering Committee, which holds recurrent meetings on political activity through the local.
- Claire M was named the Steering appointee to the Publications Board, which oversees production of this Weekly Update, the Washington Socialist monthly newsletter and other Publications infrastructure.
- The Steering Committee is beginning to settle its portfolios and scope of work for the next term.
The Steering Committee also approved a tentative schedule for general body meetings and Steering Committee meetings, with January’s GBM currently set for January 28 and the next GBM set tentatively for March 24. The January GBM will feature debate and consideration of electoral endorsements for the 2024 primaries. After the GBM, the chapter will vote on endorsements.
Members with general questions about the Steering Committee can publish a note in the #steering channel in the chapter Slack with any questions.
BRIEFS
Rental assistance program in DC (ERAP) briefly reopens, shuts back down one day later
DC’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) briefly reopened this week, but immediately shut back down after receiving over 3,500 new applications in just one day. As of the latest update, ERAP plans to reopen again for new applicants on April 1. The Mayor’s FY 2024 budget had originally proposed an $8 million (81%) cut to ERAP for this year; however, the DC Council ultimately voted to allocate $37 million in new dollars for the program — still far short of the community need. If you or someone you know needs help paying current or back rent, you can learn more about ERAP and sign up for alerts at erap.dhs.dc.gov. For questions, call 202-507-6666 or email erap.program@dc.gov.
Submit questions for electoral endorsement Q&As
From January 10 to 17, the Political Engagement Committee will be holding question and answer sessions over Zoom with all of the candidates and campaigns who are seeking the chapter’s endorsement, and we need questions from chapter members in order to do it. Please fill out this form with your questions for candidates and campaign representatives (in order to ask questions to multiple candidates/campaigns, you will need to fill out the form multiple times). Debate for and against endorsing each campaign will be held during the January General Body Meeting (GBM) on January 28, and OpaVote ballots to vote on chapter endorsements will go out one week following the GBM.
Political Engagement Committee seeks new members
The chapter’s Political Engagement Committee (PEC), which oversees our electoral organizing and legislative advocacy work, is seeking new members. The PEC works to ensure our endorsement process runs smoothly, to coordinate things like electoral canvasses and fundraisers, and to maintain relationships with our elected officials in the DMV. The body must have three current Steering members (including branch delegates and the YDSA delegate) as well as at least one member who resides in DC, MD and VA, and has five seats. The Steering Committee will consider applications and intends to vote on the new PEC members at the January 30 meeting. Please feel free to reach out to pec@mdcdsa.org with questions, to ask in #steering on Slack, or to message Bakari W about the process. Apply by January 24 at 11:59pm ET using this form.
Maryland socialists and allies demand free speech on Palestine — Sunday, January 7 in Annapolis
Join MD2Palestine, Montgomery County DSA, Baltimore DSA, Towson YDSA and other Maryland orgs on Sunday, January 7 at 12pm at Lawyer’s Mall in Annapolis to demand that Maryland institutions stop chilling free speech around Palestine. In the current climate of fear being manufactured on many levels, rally organizers demand that free speech be protected and that all continue to be allowed to speak out for Palestine. More info here.
Upcoming MoCo events: Branch General Body Meeting, informational session on leadership roles
RSVP for the first Montgomery County General Body Meeting of 2024, taking place virtually on Sunday, January 14 from 2 to 4pm. In the spirit of the new year, there will be time for reconnection with comrades new and old and discussion on the branch’s plans and goals. There will also be updates on the Steering election timeline and ways to get involved with the branch’s work on housing and renter protections, fully funding restorative justice in schools as part of the Decriminalize MoCo coalition and Palestine solidarity. RSVP here.
Branch steering elections will take place on Saturday, February 3rd. To learn more about the Steering Committee before deciding to run, please join the current branch leadership team for an interest meeting for potential candidates on Wednesday, January 10 from 8 to 9pm. Current Steering members will discuss their experiences and host a Q&A for interested candidates. There will also be discussion on other leadership opportunities for branch members, such as serving on the Political Engagement Committee or as the branch delegate. RSVP here.
Sign up and volunteer: Spies and US Imperialism Walking Tour — January 27
All are invited to sign up for the Spies and US Imperialism walking tour at 1pm on Saturday, January 27 at Gateway Park in Rosslyn. Walking tours are great ways to learn about socialism, bring friends to DSA events, start volunteering for events and get connected to local organizing. The tour will explore three sites (including two about to be demolished) connected to how imperialism and spycraft have shaped the landscape and architecture of the region over the past century — specifically, how global reactionary networks were forged in Rosslyn and Langley by the Reagan CIA, how the “Watergate Scandal” reflected larger systems of repression against the Left and the history behind why the region is a hub for the internet’s infrastructure. Hot chocolate and hand warmers will be provided — make sure to sign up in advance for weather updates and to volunteer at the tour.
MLK weekend wheatpasting — January 13 and 15
MDC DSA is hosting two outreach events this MLK Day weekend, at 1pm on both Saturday, January 13 at Farragut Square and Monday, January 15 in Rosslyn, to spread the word about DSA and its upcoming educational work. Come out to help put up posters around the area — no experience is required and it is a perfect event for new members or those trying to get more involved. The outings will put up posters related to the chapter’s upcoming walking tour and Spring 2024 reading groups — all you need to do to help is sign up in advance through either the walking tour form (for either date) or the January 13 event specifically, and then show up in light-colored clothes and shoes you do not mind getting dirty.
Spring 2024 reading group sign-ups from Metro DC DSA now open
Sign-ups are now open for Spring 2024 reading groups through Metro DC DSA. These reading groups are a great way to meet new people, learn core works connected to socialism, build our capacity to learn and debate ideas and get connected to political education in the chapter. Spring reading groups include cultural readings in Late Capitalism, a group reading through Marx’s Capital Vol. 1, Liberation Theology, the Radical Climate Fiction group reading Parable of the Sower, the If We Burn group reading about 2010s social movements, a group covering two key works related to The Nonprofit Industrial Complex, the Palestinian Liberation Film and Reading Group alternating films with readings, and groups sponsored by formations such as the Socialist Feminist section, the Migrant Justice working group and Public Power (We Power DC). Most groups will meet online but with regular in-person social meet-ups to build group camaraderie.
INFO ACCESS
MDC DSA Publications Schedule: Updates for January 2024 will appear Fridays, January 12th, 19th and 26th. The February Washington Socialist zine/newsletter appears with the Friday, February 2nd Update. Submit articles by January 27th at washingtonsocialist@mdcdsa.org.
Would you like to participate in MDC DSA’s publications? We write, we edit, we design, we do the tech — there are so many ways your hand could lighten the load in 2024 and beyond. Check us out on #publications and let us know what you would like to write, or write about, or …? If you would like to see something included in the Update, submit your suggestions to the tip line.
Quick reference links for MDC DSA:
- On MDC DSA’s public website, the DSA-curious can find:
- Our local structure — campaigns, working groups, etc.
- Capsule introduction to the chapter including our branches covering the DMV
- A home-grown history of our local chapter
- Archive of our MDC DSA Socialist Night School (recordings and some transcriptions)
- On a linked site, Archive of the Washington Socialist including current issue
- Here is National DSA’s website
- DSA Feed, an RSS feed that aggregates multiple DSA publications — including our own Washington Socialist — in one convenient place. More from the National Tech Committee here.
And, live from our studio: Wednesday, January 17th from 7 to 8pm* | Why You Should Join DSA / New Member Orientation — including Q&A! *note new, earlier time
DSA CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Wednesday, January 10
8pm | MoCo Branch Steering Interest Meeting
Thursday, January 11
6:30 – 7:45pm | NoVA Branch Monthly Organizing Meeting
Saturday, January 13
10 – 11:30am | Medicare 4 All Alexandria Petition Outreach
1 – 3pm | Wheatpasting for Spies and US Imperialism Walking Tour (Farragut Square)
Sunday, January 14
2 – 4pm | MoCo January Branch Meeting
Monday, January 15
1 – 3pm | Wheatpasting for Spies and US Imperialism Walking Tour (Rosslyn)
Tuesday, January 16
6 – 7pm | M4All Alexandria/Arlington Third Tuesday Update
Wednesday, January 17
7 – 8pm | Why You Should Join DSA / New Member Orientation
Saturday, January 20
1:30 – 4:30pm | Stomp Out Slumlords Anti-Eviction Canvass
Saturday, January 27
1 – 3pm | Spies and US Imperialism Walking Tour
COMMUNITY BULLETIN
Baba Oduno Tarik 40th Day Ascension Ceremony | Africulture
On January 13, from 11am to 3pm, DC community members will celebrate the life and work of Baba Oduno A. Tarik, a prominent Garveyite, master teacher and horticulturist who died this past November at the age of 76. For nearly 60 years, Tarik, affectionately known as Baba Oduno, maintained a significant presence in the DMV and national Pan-Africanist, agricultural and Rastafari communities. This event is free and being held at the Shaw Community Center (1701 11 Street NW). RSVP here.
Restorative Processes and Global Warfare | DC Peace Team
This January 13 online session is hosted by DC Peace Team. The event is intended as a space in which attendees can openly share how global conflict is impacting how they show up. This space will NOT be an exchange for political or religious ideology, rather a safe place for expression and how war in other areas of the world is affecting us respectively. The space will also allow for reflection on how to utilize restorative processes as a means to move towards personal and global healing. Registration is based on a sliding scale. Details here.
Issues at DC Parks can now be reported directly to 311 | Councilmember Janeese Lewis George
See something broken or an overflowing trash can at your local DC park or Recreation Center? You can now send in a request for service directly through DC’s 311 system (reports can be submitted via phone, the 311 website, or via Twitter/X @311DCgov). Previously, maintenance requests for these spaces were routed through a complex, departmental-based system. Thanks to a change facilitated by the chair of the Committee on Facilities, Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, these complaints can now be submitted and tracked like most other basic requests.
Free Palestine Cookbook Giveaway | Seeding Sovereignty
Seeding Sovereignty is running a book giveaway (while supplies last) for all who have continued to work towards the liberation of the Palestinian people. The directions for this giveaway are simple: 1) Comment on their Instagram page @seedingsovereignty with a note about how you have been supporting the Palestinian struggle; 2) Fill out their request form; 3) Wait and see which cookbook you get. Both “The Gaza Kitchen” and “Palestine on a Plate” are being shared.
Climate and Environment Summit | Maryland Legislative Coalition
Maryland comrades, as the three-month madhouse we call the General Assembly session kicks off Wednesday, January 10, get the scoop on the best environmental moves planned there at the Maryland Legislative Coalition Climate and Environment Summit two-day event starting tomorrow (Saturday, January 6).
GOOD READS / ESSENTIAL TRAFFIC
Labor Solidarity with Palestinians is Gaining
“Palestinian trade unions, including the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, have put out an international call for solidarity to unions in other countries around the world, asking that they not participate in the manufacture or transport of weapons to Israel. So, that has — that creates kind of a dilemma for the US labor movement, particularly for antiwar labor activists, whether they are opposed to Israel’s current assault on Gaza or if they’re just opposed to militarism and war and imperialism in general.” From a two-part interview with our comrade Bill Fletcher and labor historian Jeff Schuhrke on the growing advocacy of US unions against the genocidal war in Gaza and pushing for an end to hostilities. Part 1 here, and Part 2 here. Democracy Now via Portside
Debs, World War I Opponent, Saw Socialism As Road Back From Conflict
“But the day of peace is dawning. The present bloody war proclaims it. The earth rocks with the fury of the awful carnage, but out of the appalling welter of blood and desolation rises the bright star of hope. The war is the prelude to socialism, and socialism will bring enduring peace to a distracted world!” During World War I, Eugene V. Debs saw socialism as the “star of hope” that might redeem a world wracked by violence. Read his message of renewal as we leave a war-torn year behind and head into a new one. Jacobin via Portside
WaPo Union Reaches Tentative Agreement With Management After 18 Months of Negotiations
The Washington Post Guild reached a tentative agreement with the publisher, the union said in a post on X/Twitter, calling it “the best contract Washington Post employees have seen in 50 years.” The Guild also wrote that “the historic wins in this tentative agreement came as a result of relentless advocacy from hundreds of Guild members, who fought hard for contract guarantees that reflect our values: fair pay, a safer and more equitable workplace and fundamental job protections for all. Though The Post spent the past few weeks insisting they had no further movement for us, our members’ tireless organizing, and the public’s outpouring of support, forced company leaders back to the table.”
The flame of thought, the magnificence of art, the wonder of discovery, and the audacity of invention all belong to revolutionary periods when humanity, tired of the chains of its restrictions, shatters them, and stops inebriated to breathe the breeze of a vaster and freer horizon.
—Virgilia D’Andrea