Bronx/Uptown Manhattan
Recently, the B/UM branch held a welcoming and vibrant orientation in Harlem for new members, and co-hosted a forum in The Bronx for supporting a Homes Guarantee on both state and federal levels. They also welcomed new members to the Organizing Committee in March.
The branch’s Electoral Working Group has been diligently organizing candidate forums in priority districts and facilitating the branch’s endorsement process. They not only voted to endorse Samelys López for CD-15 in The Bronx, but also helped her successfully petition to get on the ballot. Members have been out in force canvassing for both Samelys and Bernie Sanders, as well as organizing all-day voter registration drives and canvasses at Lehman College and Bronx Community College. The branch also voted overwhelmingly to re-endorse Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for CD-14.
The B/UM Political Education Working Group has held multiple reading groups, spanning the works of Kropotkin, Fanon, Malatesta, and others.
Finally, branch members in the Ecosocialist Working Group have been doing extraordinary work organizing canvasses and town halls for the Public Power NYC campaign.
Labor
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Labor Branch has been hosting weekly Zoom calls open to anyone interested in fighting for greater worker safety in the face of the pandemic. These calls will be held every Wednesday at 7pm. Please sign up for the call here. Everyone who signs up will get an update for how to register for the call each week.
Along with chapters across the nation, the Labor Branch is trying to get a picture of what employers are doing to address the pandemic, and is using that data to develop a plan for organizing workplaces to prioritize worker safety. To carry out this work, the branch is sending out surveys. Please take a moment to fill out the survey here.
Lower Manhattan
In response to COVID-19, the Lower Manhattan Branch is developing an educational program that can be streamed remotely. Contact lowermanhattandsa@gmail.com to learn more.
COVID-19 has only accelerated hardships for people facing burdensome rents, utility shutoffs, and homelessness. The branch asks all DSA members to please sign this petition to suspend rents and utility and mortgage payments and to rehouse New Yorkers.
Finally, if you need financial support to purchase groceries during the coming weeks, members of the Socialist Feminist Working Group have set up this resource.To support this effort, please donate here.
