Your weekly bulletin 💌

Friend — 

It’s International Transgender Day of Visibility. Today and every day, we celebrate our trans and non-binary comrades and recognize the oppression they still face. Here in PA, Republicans attempt to pass bills banning trans athletes from womens’ sports; in Florida the Governor has signed the now-infamous “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

As socialists, we fight for gender affirming health care for all, safety and equality under the law, and mass liberation. The path to liberation from racial capitalism includes the freedom and joy of trans people everywhere.

It’s also César Chávez Day. We remember the US labor leader and Latino civil rights activist who worked with Dolores Huerta and hundreds of others to organize farm workers in California. Read a past DSA statement on his legacy.

On the calendar
Unless otherwise specified, all events are held via Zoom. 

Accessibility Committee Meeting, April 2 at 2pm
Help make our organizing as inclusive and accessible as possible with resource guides, language justice, childcare, and more!

Housing Committee Meeting, April 4 at 6:30pm
Join us for our monthly meeting to discuss housing across the city.

Ben Fletcher Campaign Meeting, April 5 at 7pm
Work with comrades across the city on a mural to commemorate Ben Fletcher and the legacy of interracial labor organizing in Philadelphia.

Member Engagement Committee Meeting, April 6 at 6pm
Help us plan social events and develop internal organizing projects!

Upcoming Paul Prescod Canvasses
Thanks to all of our hard work, Paul Prescod is on the ballot! Now we need to make sure he wins this thing. We have less than two months until the election, and every canvassing shift and conversation counts! Sign up below for one of this week’s canvasses.

• Tonight @ 6:30pm – South/Point Breeze (RSVP for address!)
• Saturday, April 2 @ 12pm – Grays Ferry (Lanier Park)
• Sunday, April 3 @ 12pm – Southwest (Connell Park)

View the full calendar.

Updates from the branches

BuxMont DSA
Political Education: No Shortcuts Reading Group, April 6 at 7pm
Discuss Jane F. McAlevey’s book. Each session will include listening live to the audiobook and open discussion. No homework necessary!

View all BuxMont events or all Delco events

This week in unions

• Please take our short survey about your work/union status. It’ll be quick, we promise, and it’ll help our work moving forward! It’s only open a few more days so if you haven’t taken it yet, now is the time.
• Our Labor Branch will canvass for our endorsed candidate Paul Prescod together on Sunday, April 10. We’ll meet at Elmwood Park (71st & Buist) at noon, canvass in Southwest Philly together, and then have a few drinks to catch up! If you’re a union member, organizing your workplace, and/or active in our Labor Branch, sign up here.
  • Elmwood Park is also home to a powerful labor monument. Read more about its background.
• Tomorrow at 5pm, we’ll join Philadelphia Museum of Art workers who are fighting for their first contract. Find more details here, and see you at the Art Museum!
• Last week, our members stood with unionizing Starbucks workers who were forced to sit through captive audience meetings. We’ll continue to support them in any way we can! Stay tuned for next steps.

To get involved: If you’re interested in supporting workers who want to organize, organizing your workplace, or building relationships with rank and file union members and leaders, email [email protected]. 

On the bulletin

• If labor unions fought and gave us the weekend, a debtor's union can bring us debt cancellation! Biden has yet to use the executive authority he has to cancel student debt. The Debt Collective is organizing a Student Debt Day of Action in DC on Monday, April 4th, with a free bus leaving from Philadelphia. Learn more and reserve your spot.
• Local housing activist Jennifer Bennetch has sadly passed away after fighting COVID. Please donate to her family.
• Join us on Slack: If you’re a Philly DSA member and you’d like to join our Slack workspace, please fill out this form.
• Harassment and Grievance Process: Read about the process to file a grievance here.

In solidarity,

Philly DSA

http://www.phillydsa.org/

“No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.” - Marsha P. Johnson