DL Summer 2018
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SOCIALISTS ON THE BIG SCREEN TRADE POLICY CHAPTER ROUNDUP PUERTO RICAN RESISTANCE STUDENT PROTESTS From the National Director It’s About Power By Maria Svart hen I was a union or- your pay low, raise your rent, and deny you cover- ganizer, we periodically age. It’s time to get into politics.” Wdid something called a November 7, 2017, was a test, as was May 15, structure test. For example, we 2018, and every other election this year. These were might circulate a survey in the and will be real-world tests to fi nd out whether DSA workplace about conditions. The has the power to elect democratic socialists in lo- data from the survey were useful cal races. So far, we can be proud of our record, as, in telling us what problems were most recently, when nationally endorsed Sara In- widely and deeply felt, but so was namorato and Summer Lee joined locally endorsed the response rate and pattern, because it told us Elizabeth Fiedler and Kristin Seale in winning who was not participating. their Democratic primary races for the Pennsylva- Later in a campaign, a higher level, riskier test nia State House in May. Innamorato and Lee blew might be a “march on the boss.” Would everyone their conservative Democratic incumbent oppo- in the workplace sign a public petition, and would nents, both members of a well-entrenched political all those on a shift leave their posts and barge, to- dynasty, out of the water by huge margins. gether, into the bosses’ offi ce to confront them with A few lessons from our work so far: a demand? 1. When we win, we grow; and when we grow, With the union, bosses either felt intimidated by we win, because winning gives us hope in dark the workers united and met our demands or they times. Our state governments in many cases have did not. Workers would not plan a march on the boss been making austerity budget cuts or ratcheting up unless they believed that their co-workers were overt violence against our communities for years. In ready and that the workers could come out of the this environment, every time we feel that we have march more powerful. In other words, the march on gained some power moves more people into collec- the boss was simultaneously a test and a tactic as tive action. part of our larger strategy. 2. We aren’t going it alone. Unions, single is- Because we are in this fi ght to win, it matters sue, voter engagement, and newer ally organiza- whether we are unifi ed or not and whether our tions like Our Revolution are often with us in the strategies and tactics actually build power in mea- trenches. For example, the United Electrical Work- surable ways. It is not enough to simply feel radical. ers union was the fi rst to break ranks with labor DSA’s theory of change is that we must build and endorse Innamorato and Lee; Reclaim Philadel- power not just in the economy through workplaces, phia knocked on 50,000 doors for Fiedler; and the but also in the formal political realm. We know that Sierra Club, other environmental, and reproductive who holds state power has a profound impact on our rights organizations gave signifi cant contributions everyday lives and on the terrain of our war with to several candicates—and did the same for Lee capital. A recent popular tweet captures the essence Carter in 2017. DSA is the democratic socialist cur- of the issue: “You’re ‘just not that into politics?’ Your rent in a broader movement, and if we’re to build a boss is. Your landlord is. Your insurance company is. mass movement, we need to be where the masses And every day they use their political power to keep are. This is one reason that power mapping and co- alition work are topics in our Regional Leadership Trainings. 3. Finally, while we savor these victories and Contents build toward the next ones, let’s keep in mind that Building Electoral Power ......................................................3 electoral work as practiced by DSA is an extension DSAers in OfÀ ce .................................................................... 5 of other movement work, something we do year DSA Chapters Go for Victories ........................................... 7 round and in between elections. DSA’s three fi eld From Canvass to Campaign ............................................ 10 Kitchen Table Socialism: Trade Policy ..............................11 organizers are traveling throughout the country Student Protests: the East LA Walkouts ............................ 12 this summer to help chapters think through how to Puerto Rican Resistance Grows ........................................ 13 build a powerful grassroots base through various Marx and Debs on the Big Screen ................................... 14 campaigns confronting local targets. Elections are Art by Andrea Guinn, Aneesh Bhoopathy, and Hallie Jay Pope continued on page 9 page 2 • Democratic Left • Summer 2018 Building Electoral Power By Amelia Dornbush and Sam Lewis f working people are going to create a new demo- cialist movement that can take on the far right with cratic socialist society that works for everyone, a more inspiring vision for the future than what the Iwe need to take political power. This means tak- Democratic Party mainstream has to offer. ing electoral politics seriously—both in terms of A case in point is the New York City DSA, which winning specifi c elections and in terms of winning endorsed two candidates in 2017. In both of those democratic socialist political majorities that can campaigns, DSA members trained and managed create a new set of social and economic rules. their own canvasses, printed their own literature, Unfortunately, people may vote once or twice campaigned openly as members of DSA, kept copies a year, but capitalists vote every day through the of all data from the fi eldwork, wrote their own press stock market and the labor releases, and insisted on market. They have the pow- canvassing in the areas tar- er to threaten their oppo- geted as strategic not just nents’ livelihoods or reward for the campaign but also those who protect their priv- for DSA’s own expansion. ileges. That is why elections When DSA members joined alone are not enough. Social- the staff of campaigns, they ists must also play a role in stepped down from their organizing the working class decision-making DSA roles, through labor unions, com- to ensure that the campaign munity organizations, and would always be account- social movements. Our po- able to the organization litical candidates and cam- instead of the other way paigns must be used to in- around. spire confi dence in and build NYC-DSA’s candidates’ all forms of working-class campaigns gave members political action. a chance to work alongside But even though it isn’t working-class groups on suffi cient by itself, winning issues of concern to their elections is key. We cannot members. DSA member Aneesh Bhoopathy claim to speak for the major- Jabari Brisport’s city coun- ity and act in their interests cil campaign focused on a if we cannot win individual crucial affordable housing elections, and if we cannot win individual elections, fi ght in rapidly gentrifying Crown Heights, Brook- we certainly can’t win a majority of people to our lyn. He didn’t win the election, but he did win the vision for a new society. endorsement of New York Communities for Change, At DSA’s 2017 national convention, delegates a major tenant organization, in its fi rst-ever en- voted to make electoral work a top priority. The dorsement of an openly socialist candidate. NYC- National Electoral Strategy passed by the National DSA is taking a similar approach in 2018, as it can- Political Committee fl eshes out that mandate by vasses for Julia Salazar’s State Senate campaign in focusing on how DSA chapters can use this work the Democratic primary while organizing to form to expand their own capacities, electoral and oth- tenant associations to fi ght for universal rent con- erwise. Now is the time for every DSA chapter to trol in her district. start recruiting candidates for local offi ce. Already, When DSA-backed candidates do win elections, DSA has elected candidates across the country, they can make big changes in people’s lives. Gregorio from Montana to Virginia. These victories don’t give Cesar won a city council race in Austin, Texas, and us a governing majority anywhere, but they do help joined DSA a year later. Cesar led a huge mobiliza- us develop the skills necessary to win. By building tion to make Austin the fi rst Southern city to pass up an independent campaign apparatus capable of paid sick leave—an immediate benefi t to 200,000 putting candidates in offi ce (or removing them from workers. Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, a DSA it), we establish a fi ghting political arm of the so- member who holds elected offi ce in Chicago, Illinois, Democratic Left • Summer 2018 • page 3 uses his position to counter Immigration and Cus- In most of this country, unions and community toms Enforcement offi cials by notifying community groups do not operate within self-consciously work- members when immigration raids are happening. ing-class electoral coalitions like the RPA, which Recently, he was voted off the Chicago City Council means DSA members should have an eye to build- Latino Caucus after he used a parliamentary proce- ing such coalitions. A single victorious candidate dure to delay approval of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s expressing our values can be the catalyst for many $95 million police training academy. organizations to join a more ambitious political Having members in offi ce gives DSA opportu- project, as long as we remain committed to advanc- nities for coalition ing the material needs building and for imple- of their members.