Twin Cities
Democratic Socialists of America
Little Red Letter #99
Standing Up, Fighting Back
Our last edition started with a few recent events, ones which put the brutality of the system in sharp focus. Frustration, anger, and grief are all understandable reactions to the ruling class’s tools of oppression and goal of exploitation. Organizing in the United States of America, the uphill battle to build a better future can feel overwhelming. However, we do not fight alone.
In the face of attempts by neoliberal French President Emmanuel Macron to raise the retirement age, workers in the country have engaged in multiple strike actions over the last month. This change, which already faced uncertainty in parliament following Macron’s party losing their majority at the last election, lead to the eight main unions turning out up to 2.5 million in a single day, vows to “‘bring France to a standstill’ on March 7” if the government continued to pursue this “brutal, unfair and unjustified reform”.
This spirit is echoed across the English Channel in the United Kingdom, which last week saw its largest strike action, over half a million workers, in more than a decade, as well as the biggest strike in the history of the British National Health Service. With massive inflation and continued austerity policies by the Conservative party, which has now been in power for twelve years, demands include raises to surmount the 10.5% British inflation rate, as well as adequate staffing levels. This is in the backdrop of new government powers approved that would enforce certain minimum staffing levels, giving new opportunities to fire striking workers.
Back in the States, we are in the midst of a coordinated effort by major unions to organize Delta workers, the only mainline US carrier where flight attendants, fleet service, and mechanics are not represented by a union. This allows Delta an unchecked hand to cut full time opportunities, cut breaks, and pad its bottom line as it develops a “culture of fear” in the workplace. Amazon worker’s in Staten Island, NY continue to defend their victory, as Amazon uses the appeals process to deny its legitimacy, even as the movement spreads to our own backyard.
East Phillips neighborhood and Little Earth community members continue the fight against further pollution in their communities, including a rally last Monday at the Hennepin County courthouse demanding protection for their residents from toxic harms. And workers at Starbucks, now unionized at 285 locations, continue their efforts for a first contract, rallying yesterday ahead of the Super Bowl with the NFL Players Association and the AFL-CIO to call for an end to Starbucks union-busting tactics.
Internationally, nationally, and locally, people refuse to be steamrolled lying down. They are standing up, and fighting back.
East Phillips is a neighborhood plagued by industrial pollution, with children there suffering abnormally high rates of asthma and other respiratory ailments. Under a cloak of progressive rhetoric and talk of equity, the majority on the Minneapolis City Council steamrolls over both the the community vision and fears of increased pollution. With this 7-6 vote, we see the neoliberal project on full display. Written by Kip H.
Labor Movie Night: Teamster Rebellion
On the first weekend of February, Twin Cities DSA chapter members got together to watch a documentary about the Minneapolis Teamsters strikes in the 1930s. Minneapolis Teamsters went on strike in 1934 in what would become a turning point in the labor movement nationally. Written by Dan B.
TCDSA committees and working groups need members to get involved in order to create the multi-racial, worker-powered socialist future we’re all aiming for. Below are some opportunities to be part of the exciting work going on in our chapter right now!
- TCDSA Communications Committee
The newsletter team is looking for volunteers to help create the Little Red Letter, our chapter’s bi-weekly newsletter. There’s a variety of ways to contribute–sample tasks include editing a fellow member’s submission, creating the Big Upcoming Events and Group Meeting and Events sections, writing a submission, or posting pieces to the web, to name a few! If you’re interested in getting involved, please drop a line in the #newsletter channel on our Slack.
- East Phillips Urban Farm
TCDSA has endorsed the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute’s (EPNI) Urban Farm initiative to resist the City’s Hiawatha Campus Expansion plan. Not only would this release high levels of arsenic into the environment and further pollute the neighborhood with diesel fuel exhaust from city fleet services onsite, but it would also dash the community’s plan to develop this site as a neighborhood hub (with socialist solutions such as cooperatively owned businesses, solar energy, and jobs for East Phillips residents). Minneapolis plans to begin demolition in East Phillips as soon as February 27. Can you help defend East Phillips? If you want to build power with other comrades opposed to environmental racism, reach out to Connor S (epni@twincitiesdsa.org) to become part of TCDSA’s EPNI Working Group.
- Twin Cities DSA Street Corps Working Group
The Street Corps Working Group snow shoveling program assists neighbors and community organizations after major snow storms. Snow can be a major obstacle to community members with mobility struggles as well as to the operations of community organizations serving the community. Anyone interested in this effort can sign up here!
- Twin Cities DSA Socialists Playing Sports
Want to get together with other comrades to play sports? We’re organizing groups of people to play in the Spring/Summer Minneapolis Parks and Recreation softball league (division tbd) and to play some pickup basketball.
Join #socialists-play-sports-softball and/or #socialists-play-sports-basketballif you’re interested. If you haven’t played or aren’t “good,” it doesn’t matter! The focus here is primarily on having fun, getting some physical activity, and getting to know each other better. Softball registration begins on February 21, so kindly join ASAP if you’re interested so we can figure out if we have enough people to form a team!
- Teamster Rebellion Book Discussion – Zoom Registration
- Wednesday, 2/22, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Join Political Education and Labor Branches to discuss the content, themes, and topics surrounding Teamster Rebellion by Farrell Dobbs. It is okay if you haven’t read the book. The point is for us to talk and learn about their struggle together. The book is 258 pages, accessible, and gives some shape to where TCDSA and our union comrades are headed in the coordinated labor actions in 2024 that many have called a potential general strike. It has happened in Minneapolis before, let’s talk about their story.
- Wednesday, 2/22, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
- Twin Cities DSA February General Member Meeting – Minnesota Youth Collective
- In-Person Registration – Zoom Registration
Saturday, 2/25, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Twin Cities DSA will host our next General membership meeting on February 25 at the Minnesota Youth Collective, 2161 University Ave W #100, St Paul, MN 55114. Our general meetings include updates on chapter work, discussion of any proposals, and a chance to talk with comrades about the chapter’s direction. Keep an eye on the meeting event page for updates.
- In-Person Registration – Zoom Registration
- Twin Cities DSA New Member Hangout
- Saturday, 2/27 – Location and Time TBD
Hangout with comrades at Twin Cities DSA! All members welcome, but this is an especially good time for new members and people considering joining TCDSA to get to know each other and ask questions. Check tcdsa.org/events for updates.
- Saturday, 2/27 – Location and Time TBD
- Tech Ops Committee Meeting – Monday, 2/13, 6:30pm-8:00pm – Zoom Registration
- The Tech Ops Committee meets on the 2nd Monday of the month
- Internal Organizing Phonebank– Wednesday, 2/15, 6:00pm-7:00pm
- Join the Internal Organizing Committee for our bimonthly phonebank to call new TCDSA members.
We meet on Zoom to go over the script, mute ourselves and make phone calls to other DSA members, and then return to debrief how our calls went. A brief training is provided and no prior experience is required. These phonebanks are a chance to meet newer members to TCDSA, hear what they need from our chapter and what brings them to socialism. All are welcome to join, but new members should note that this is a group calling session where we will call you, not an event designed for new members.
IO phonebanks are held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month. For more information about joining this meeting, see the #internal-organizing Slack channel. Not on Slack? Submit tcdsa.org/slack to verify you’re on the member list.
- Join the Internal Organizing Committee for our bimonthly phonebank to call new TCDSA members.
- Office Search Committee Meeting – Wednesday, 2/15, 7:00pm-8:00pm – Zoom Registration
- The Office Search Committee is meeting to discuss progress/next steps on our search for a chapter space.
- Communications Committee Meeting – Thursday, 2/16, 6:00pm-7:30pm
- The Communications Committee meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month.
For information on joining this meeting, see the #communications channel on Slack. Not on Slack? Submit tcdsa.org/slack to verify you’re on the member list.
- The Communications Committee meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month.
- Steering Committee Meeting – Sunday, 2/19, 2:00pm-3:30pm
- Check #steeringcommittee for the zoom link and agenda. If you are a member and need access to slack, sign up at tcdsa.org/slack
- Socialist Reading Group – Sunday, 2/19, 3:00pm-4:30pm – Zoom Registration
- Check #socialistreadinggroup on slack for more information. If you are a member and need access to slack, sign up at tcdsa.org/slack
- Labor Branch Meeting– Tuesday, 2/21, 7:00pm-8:30pm – Zoom Registration
- The TCDSA Labor Branch meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. For information about this meeting, see the #labor channel on Slack. Not on Slack? Submit tcdsa.org/slack to verify you’re on the member list.
- St. Paul Branch Meeting Thursday, 2/23, 7:00pm-8:30pm
- The St. Paul Branch of TCDSA meets on the 4th Thursday of the month. Stay tuned for specific details on how to join this meeting.
Go to tcdsa.org/events to see everything!
• Reflections on Cannon Valley DSA: Part Three – In the final installment of his three-part reflection series, Revmira B. shares takeaways and final thoughts on his experience with the Cannon Valley DSA chapter.
• Review–Women Talking – Steve T. shares his thoughts on the movie Women Talking, highlighting themes in the movie that are reflected in our society more broadly.
• Dirty Break Debate Night Recap – On January 27, 2023, TCDSA’s Political Education Committee hosted their first debate, “ What should be the Democratic Socialists of America’s relationship with the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL) Party?” Written by Ethan BF.
Bad economics at the BBC enabled Tory austerity and its aftermath – and it knows as much
As conservative as the BBC is, they at least fessed up to having bad economics in their reporting. This story shows how the echo chamber works between right-wing academics, politicians, and the media. It is arguably worse in the US.
from Robbie O.
A Spectre Haunting: China Miéville on the Communist Manifesto
Updating The Communist Manifesto? How dare China Miéville attempt that? Partly because he is a socialist and you must be daring to be a socialist. Check this out on your morning commute, when escaping the winter by soaking in a hot bath, or even when you’re shoveling snow.
from Robbie O.
Documents show how a pipeline company paid Minnesota millions to police protests
From riot gear to PR to Dairy Queen, records detail every expense Enbridge reimbursed after the Line 3 protests.
from Robbie O.
Maxime Groen: Minneapolis City Council vote on Roof Depot demolition harms communities of color
Twin Cities DSA member Maxime Groen wrote this piece on the EPNI / Urban Farm / Roof Depot struggle for Sahan Journal, a local, independent online newspaper focusing on immigration justice and racial justice.
from Debra K R.
If you find something that should be shared, you can post it to the #linkroundup channel on Slack.
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