In March 2024 at the Seattle DSA Chapter’s Local Convention, the Membership passed the following resolutions:
Resolution R1-2024: For an Anti-Zionist Seattle DSA Electoral Policy
Seattle DSA (SDSA) once again reaffirms our organization’s commitments to Palestinian liberation and the BDS movement by conveying our expectation that all candidates endorsed by SDSA at all levels hold true to the following basic commitments:
1. Publicly support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
This should allow for good-faith disagreements with certain tactics within the BDS movement, but candidates are expected to support BDS as a viable strategy;
2. Refrain from any and all affiliation with the Israeli government or Zionist lobby groups, such as, but not limited to, AIPAC, J Street, or Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI), including participating in political junkets or any event sponsored by these entities;
3. Pledge to oppose legislation that is at odds with Palestinian liberation, such
as:
A. Any official adoption of a redefinition of antisemitism to include opposition to Israel’s policies or legal system, or support for BDS (e.g., IHRA definition of antisemitism);
B. Legislative and executive efforts to penalize individuals, universities, and entities that boycott Israel;
C. Legislative and executive efforts to send any military or economic resources to the Israeli government, organizations promoting settlement in the occupied territories, or to settlers in the occupied territories;
4. Pledge to support legislation that supports Palestinian liberation, such as:
A. Legislative and executive efforts to end Israeli apartheid and ethnic cleansing
against Palestinians and promote Palestinians’ rights to return to and live
freely on the land (e.g., H.R. 2590);
B. Condemnation of Israeli apartheid and colonial practices (e.g., H.Res. 751);
C. Ending the program known as the “Deadly Exchange,” in which the SPD and Israeli
law enforcement engage in training exchanges with one another;
D. Attempts to end the spending of U.S. tax dollars on Israel and/or sanction
Israel until it ceases its practices of apartheid and colonialism;
E. Divests city, municipal, state, or federal funds from the Israeli state.
Be it further resolved, potential candidates who cannot commit to the aforementioned basic expectations will be disqualified from endorsement by the Seattle DSA;
Be it further resolved, our local chapter’s candidate questionnaires will continue to include a question that inquires about the candidate’s position on Palestinian liberation and BDS;
Be it further resolved, SDSA demands Executive Order 01.01.2017.25 be overturned, which prohibits executive agencies from entering into procurement contracts with companies that boycotted Israel;
Be it further resolved, the SDSA, in collaboration with trusted Palestine Solidarity movement partners in the grassroots (e.g., Palestinian Youth Movement) and with the National BDS and Palestinian Solidarity subcommittee of the International Committee, will provide all endorsed candidates with anti-Zionist educational materials, 1-to-1 training opportunities, and ongoing, open-door counsel as needed;
Be it further resolved, endorsed candidates or electeds who fail in the aforementioned commitments shall be urged to meet with SDSA’s Local Council (LC) to explain their actions and be given an opportunity to publicly correct their position to be in alignment with SDSA.
Candidates or electeds who fail to do so shall be subject to un-endorsement by a vote of the membership of SDSA.
Be it finally resolved, upon passage of this resolution, the resolution will be posted on the chapter blog.
Resolution R2-2024: For an Anti-Zionist Seattle DSA Membership
SDSA members – regardless of endorsement status – who are credibly shown to:
1. have consistently and publicly opposed Palestinian liberation, even after receiving fair and ample opportunity for education about the Palestinian struggle for liberation, excluding good-faith tactical disagreements with BDS (However, SDSA affirms our commitment to BDS as a viable strategy),
2. be currently directly affiliated with the Israeli government, any Zionist lobby group(s), or,
3. be voluntarily providing material aid to the Israeli government, organizations promoting settlement in the occupied territories, or to settlers in the occupied territories,
will be considered in substantial disagreement with DSA’s principles and policies;
Be it further resolved, SDSA acknowledges that Zionist propaganda is very strong, and is committed to work with those censured to help them understand anti-Zionism from a socialist perspective;
Be it finally resolved, upon passage of this resolution, the resolution will be posted on the chapter blog.