Seattle Democratic Socialists of America

National DSA Meeting on the Railroad Betrayal: Off the Rails
2023-02-05 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Volunteer Park- Amphitheater, 1139-1157 Volunteer Park Rd, Seattle, WA, 98102, United States
Join us on Sunday, February 5th, at 2:00 pm PT to hear perspectives from rail workers on the vote by Congress to force them to accept a contract agreement, and a discussion between representatives from DSA leadership. We’ll reflect on why things happened the way they did, as well as reflections on what DSA did, what DSA could have done, and what was unchangeable. As we head into the new year, we’ll discuss our vision on how we bring together our labor and electoral strategy, particularly in the context of future fights in 2023. We’ll seek to put the political moment in context to shine a light on the paths ahead for our labor organizing.

REGISTER NOW to get the Zoom link
For context, here is the 2nd letter Seattle DSA’s Local Council sent to the DSA National Political Committee about this: https://seattledsa.org/2022/12/letter-to-dsa-national-political-committee-about-railroad-town-hall/
We are allotting 30 minutes for DSA audience members to speak, priority will be given to chapter leaders and labor leaders. Please review the DSA Labor code of conduct before participating.

Organizing Within Racial Capitalism
2022-09-14 17:00 - 19:30 | Member’s Home text number above for address, Seattle, WA, United States
Join Seattle DSA comrades in viewing an event from DSA’s National Political Education Committee, in collaboration with comrades in the national Afrosocialists and Socialists of Color Caucus. This session is part two of an educational series, and will focus on what racial capitalism means for our work, and how race and class impact people’s role in the struggle.
We will gather at a comrade’s home in the University District, where we will observe social distancing with ample ventilation, drinks and snacks, and where we will be able to discuss together. Direct message Sue H in the Seattle DSA Slack for address and please bring a mask. OR, you can zoom in on your own by registering here. The national on-line event begins at 5:00 but arrive as early as 4:30 to watch it together and stay a bit to discuss after it ends.

3rd Discussion on Hiring SDSA Staff
2022-09-08 19:00 - 21:00 | Eightball Cafe in Everett, 2727 Colby Ave, Everett, WA, United States
Please join Seattle DSA for a 3rd discussion on the proposal for our chapter to hire 2 part-time organizers. The proposal is for the organizers to help with 3 priorities:

Strengthen DSA’s public and media communications (including trying to develop a Seattle Socialist publication)
Make it easier for members and supporters to plug into our activist campaigns
Get DSA better organized

This resolution has been discussed at 2-3 chapter meetings, Local Council meetings, and individual discussions. The resolution has been improved after hearing criticism and feedback, and now it will be discussed and debated at this meeting on Thursday, September 8. The resolution will then be discussed and debated again at the General Membership Meeting the following Tuesday, September 13 at 7 pm. Then the chapter will vote over email (Opavote).
Please RSVP here to get the Zoom link for this discussion on hiring staff.
Please read or re-read the resolution: Strengthening Our Chapter’s Capacity by Hiring Staff
We also wrote these answers to questions about staff that came up at the last GMM.
If the resolution and these answers do not answer any questions you may have, feel free to submit a question here. The staff resolution authors would love to hear suggestions or amendments to improve the resolution, and we will try to get back to you in writing or verbally at a meeting.

D4/D5/Ecosocialism Reading Group
2022-07-21 18:30 - 20:00 | 2000 NE 58th St, Ravenna Park Picnic Shelter #1, 2000 NE 58th St, Seattle, 98105
Join northeast Seattle comrades to talk about the article “Thoughts on How to Withstand the Neoconfederate/Neofascist Power Grab” by Kali Akuno, link here https://systemchangenotclimatechange.org/article/kali-akuno-withstand-neoconfederate-power/. Location is near Shelter #1 east of 20th Ave in Ravenna Park. All are welcome.

D4/D5/Ecosocialism Reading Group
2022-06-23 18:30 - 20:00 | 2000 NE 58th St, Ravenna Park Picnic Shelter #1, 2000 NE 58th St, Seattle, 98105
On Thursday, June 23, we will be reading Feminism for the 99% by Cinzia Arruzza, Tithi Bhattacharya, and Nancy Fraser. This manifesto makes a simple but powerful case: feminism shouldn’t start—or stop—with the drive to have women represented at the top of their professions. It must focus on those at the bottom, and fight for the world they deserve. And that means targeting capitalism. Feminism must be anti-capitalist, eco-socialist and antiracist.
Check the Slack channel for a PDF of the book, check it out of the Seattle Public Library, or order the book at https://www.versobooks.com/books/2924-feminism-for-the-99
This meeting will be held in-person for the first time in this reading group’s history! We’ll be meeting at Ravenna Park.

D4/D5/Ecosocialism Reading Group
2022-06-09 18:30 - 20:00 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
On Thursday, June 9 we will be reading Contradictions of Capital and Care by Nancy Fraser link here https://newleftreview.org/issues/ii100/articles/nancy-fraser-contradictions-of-capital-and-care. The article makes the connection between acute crises of care (‘time poverty’, ‘family-work balance’, and ‘social depletion’) and the systemic social-reproductive contradictions of financialized capitalism.
Zoom link for the meeting: https://washington.zoom.us/j/91708325322
New members are always welcome! Join us! Many areas of practice will be addressed and tied into the struggle to create an Ecosocialist society.

D4/D5/Ecosocialism Reading Group
2022-05-05 18:30 - 20:00 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
On Thursday, May 5 at 6:30 pm we will be reading the last five sections/essays of “For a Libertarian Communism”: “The French Revolution De-Jacobinized“, “Two Indictments of Communism“, “May, a Continuity, a Renewal” “Self-Management in Revolutionary Spain, 1936–1937“, and “Libertarian Communism, the Only Real Communism“. These are a collection of writings by the French revolutionary activist and historian Daniel Guerin (1904-1988), published in English for the first time in 2017. The articles explore a synthesis between Marxism and anarchism.

Here’s the link to the entire text: https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/daniel-guerin-for-a-libertarian-communism

Zoom link for the meeting: https://washington.zoom.us/j/91708325322

New members are always welcome! Join us! This is a political education series to sharpen our thinking and communication skills in our organizing for democratic socialism. Many areas of practice will be addressed and tied into the struggle to create an Ecosocialist society.

Seattle MLK Rally and Black Lives Matter Week of Action
2022-01-17 11:00 - 14:00 | Eightball Cafe in Everett, 2727 Colby Ave, Everett, WA, United States
Every year Seattle DSA members turn out and sometimes support organizing the MLK Jr. Coalition’s Rally and March on MLK Day.
Rally begins at Garfield at 11am!
Check out more information for the Rally here: https://www.seattlemlkcoalition.org/
As a part of this week, Black Lives Matter at School organizers including the NAACP Youth Council, WAESN, and SEA Union Educators will be hosting a variety of events and workshops. NOTICE: Some are cancelled due to COVID.
To march with other DSA members, we recommend wearing a red shirt, and finding the banner before the 12:30 march starts, on the hill south of the main entrance, kitty corner to Ezell’s chicken.

Seattle Socialist educators meeting and happy hour
2021-12-17 17:00 - 19:00 | Chuck’s Hop Shop (Central District), 2001 E Union St, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
Meet up with other socialist teachers and educators, and discuss organizing strategy!

RSVP Here: https://actionnetwork.org/events/seattle-socialist-educators-meeting-and-happy-hour/

District 4 Reading Group: Orientalism
2021-11-11 18:30 - 20:00 | Don Lucho’s Pisco Bar, 7919 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98115, United States
Join the District 4 reading group at Magnuson Brewery on November 11th at 6:30 pm to discuss “Orientalism” by Edward Said. The reading is Chapter 2 “Orientalist Structures and Restructures”.
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.

District 4 Reading Group: Orientalism
2021-10-28 18:30 - 20:00 | Magnuson Cafe & Brewery, 7801 62nd Ave NE, Seattle, 98115
Join the District 4 reading group at Magnuson Brewery on October 28th 6:30 pm to discuss “Orientalism” by Edward Said. The reading is the last two sections of Chapter 1 (“Projects” and “Crisis”).
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.

District 4 Reading Group: Orientalism
2021-10-07 18:30 - 20:30 | Ravenna Brewing, 5408 26th ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, United States
Join the District 4 reading group at Ravenna Brewing on October 7th 6:30 pm to read “Orientalism” by Edward Said. We will be reading the first two sections of Chapter 1 (“Knowing the Oriental” and “Imaginative Geography and Its Representations: Orientalizing the Oriental”).
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.

District 4 Reading Group: Orientalism
2021-09-23 18:30 - 20:00 | Ravenna Brewing, 5408 26th ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, United States
Join the District 4 reading group at Ravenna Brewing on September 23rd 6:30 pm to read “Orientalism” by Edward Said. We will be reading the Introduction. Here’s a pdf of the Intro and Chapter 1 https://sites.evergreen.edu/politicalshakespeares/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2014/12/Said_full.pdf
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.

Seattle DSA Socialist Night School
2021-09-20 18:00 - 19:30 | Eightball Cafe in Everett, 2727 Colby Ave, Everett, WA, United States
-> RSVP here! <-
Topic for September
The US War in Afghanistan: The Early Years
Event Description
On August 31st, the US military officially withdrew from Afghanistan, marking an end to America’s longest war. As the 20th anniversary of the US invasion draws near, it’s worth looking back at the early years of this destructive conflict.

Why did the US invade Afghanistan? What powers did Congress grant the Bush Administration in the War on Terror? Who benefitted from the war in Afghanistan—and at what cost to Afghans?
Joining us to tackle these questions and more is John Feffer, co-director of Foreign Policy in Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies and author of Splinterlands (Haymarket Books, 2016.)
This event will consist of a short lecture followed by a Q&A session. DSA members around the country are welcome to join us!

District 4 Reading Group: Orientalism
2021-08-12 18:30 - 20:30 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Join the District 4 reading group August 12th at 6:30 pm to read “Orientalism” by Edward Said. We will be reading the Introduction. Here’s a pdf of the Intro and Chapter 1 https://sites.evergreen.edu/politicalshakespeares/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2014/12/Said_full.pdf
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.
Zoom Details:
https://washington.zoom.us/j/98196028905
Meeting ID: 981 9602 8905

District 4 Reading Group: Caliban and the Witch
2021-07-29 18:30 - 20:00 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Join the District 4 reading group July 29th at 6:30 pm to read “Caliban and the Witch” by Silvia Federici — https://libcom.org/library/caliban-witch-silvia-federici. We will be reading the last Chapter “Colonization and Christianization”.
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.
Zoom Details:
https://washington.zoom.us/j/92223147165
Meeting ID: 922 2314 7165

District 4 Reading Group: Caliban and the Witch
2021-07-03 16:00 - 17:30 | Virtual, WA, United States
Join the District 4 reading group Saturday 7/3 at 4:00 pm to continue with the book “Caliban and the Witch” by Silvia Federici — https://libcom.org/library/caliban-witch-silvia-federici. We will be reading Chapter 4 “The Great Witch-Hunt in Europe” (UPDATED).
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA. If you are catching up, don’t worry. The book is amazing, focusing Marxist thought on misogyny and racist colonialism in the transition to capitalism in Europe, and the discussion is relevant and wide ranging.
Zoom link https://washington.zoom.us/j/92223147165 .

District 3 Movie Night: Power to Heal
2021-07-02 18:30 - 21:30 | Eightball Cafe in Everett, 2727 Colby Ave, Everett, WA, United States
Join District 3 comrades for our monthly movie night!
This month we’ll be watching Power to Heal, a documentary about the fight for Medicare and the desegregation of the US hospital system.
We’ll watch the film together and have a discussion afterward.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83076099147
Stream link: https://sdsa-owncast.ddns.net/

Socialist Night School
2021-06-14 18:00 - 20:00 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool [at] gmail . com

—> RSVP here! <—
Required readings:

“How Capital Strikes Yanked Barack Obama’s Presidency to the Right” – Tarun Banerjee, Michael Schwartz, Kevin Young (2020)
Levers of Power, Chapter 4 – Selected Excerpts (2020)

Optional reading:

“A Short Postmortem of Seattle’s Head Tax Repeal” – Paul Alexander (2018)

Description:

The power of workers to strike and win concessions from capitalists is familiar to many socialists. What’s less familiar is how elites use capital strikes – threats to move jobs overseas, replace workers with robots, or simply withhold their investment – to earn concessions of their own. When this happens, politicians have little recourse to fight back.
But powerful movements have defeated capital strikes before. What would it take to do this again?
This month, we’ll be reading excerpts from Levers of Power, a new book by Tarun Banerjee, Michael Schwartz, and Kevin Young. We’ll examine how both the Obama and Trump administrations bowed to the threat of capital strikes, and learn about how a powerful Civil Rights Movement beat capitalists at their own game: not just by appealing to lawmakers, but by taking on business itself.
Join us Monday, June 14th at 6PM on Zoom! A guest speaker will give a short lecture based on the assigned readings, followed by breakout sessions and a large group discussion. DSA members from around the country are welcome to come learn with us. See you then!

District 4 Reading Group: Caliban and the Witch
2021-06-12 14:00 - 15:30 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Join the District 4 reading group June 12th at 2:00 pm to read “Caliban and the Witch” by Silvia Federici — https://libcom.org/library/caliban-witch-silvia-federici. We will be reading Chapter 3 pg 133-155.
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.
Zoom Details:
https://washington.zoom.us/j/92223147165
Meeting ID: 922 2314 7165

District 3 Movie Night: 5 Broken Cameras
2021-05-30 18:30 - 21:00 | Eightball Cafe in Everett, 2727 Colby Ave, Everett, WA, United States
Join District 3 comrades for our monthly movie night!
This month we’ll be watching 5 Broken Cameras, a first-hand account of protests in Bil’in, a West Bank village affected by the Israeli West Bank barrier.
When his fourth son, Gibreel, is born in 2005, self-taught cameraman Emad Burnat, a Palestinian villager, gets his first camera. At the same time in his village of Bil’in, the Israelis begin bulldozing village olive groves to build a barrier to separate Bil’in from the Jewish settlement Modi’in Illit. The barrier’s route cuts off 60% of Bil’in farmland and the villagers resist this seizure of more of their land by the settlers.
Burnat films the army and police beating and arresting villagers and activists who come to support them. Settlers destroy Palestinian olive trees and attack Burnat when he tries to film them. The army raids the village in the middle of the night to arrest children. He, his friends, and brothers are arrested or shot; some are killed. Each camera used to document these events is shot or smashed.
We’ll watch the film together and have a discussion afterward.
Zoom link: https://dsausa.zoom.us/j/95209258862
Stream link: https://sdsa-owncast.ddns.net/

District 4 Reading Group: Caliban and the Witch
2021-05-29 14:00 - 15:30 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Join the District 4 reading group April 24th at 4:30 pm to read “Caliban and the Witch” by Silvia Federici — https://libcom.org/library/caliban-witch-silvia-federici. We will be reading the rest of Chapter 2 pg 92-115.
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.
Zoom Details:
https://washington.zoom.us/j/92223147165
Meeting ID: 922 2314 7165

Building Tenant Power & Taking on the Real Estate Lobby: Lessons from New York State’s Housing Justice Movement
2021-05-26 18:00 - 19:30 | Eightball Cafe in Everett, 2727 Colby Ave, Everett, WA, United States
Join Seattle Democratic Socialists of America and Be:Seattle in conversation with Cea Weaver of Housing Justice For All to discuss the movement behind New York’s historic wins for tenant rights in 2019.
In the last 5 years, Housing Justice for All, a statewide coalition of 100 grassroots organizations, tenants, and homeless New Yorkers, created a movement that has shocked New York’s powerful real estate lobby and is shifting the power balance at the state capital. As Washington State ends its legislative session, New York’s housing justice movement is a lesson on creating coalitions with the power to demand sweeping tenant protections that extends beyond each legislative session.
Cea Weaver is a housing organizer, community advocate, and urban planner in New York City. She currently coordinates Housing Justice for All, a statewide coalition of over 100 organizations that represent tenants and homeless New Yorkers in Albany. She coordinated the 2019 campaign to strengthen and expand tenants’ rights across the State and in 2020 worked to win an eviction moratorium during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has worked in affordable housing policy and planning in NYC for over a decade.
Bridget McGuire is a Brooklyn-based artist, educator, and tenant organizer with NYC DSA.
RSVP HERE

District 4 Reading Group: Caliban and the Witch
2021-05-15 16:30 - 18:00 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Join the District 4 reading group April 24th at 4:30 pm to read “Caliban and the Witch” by Silvia Federici — https://libcom.org/library/caliban-witch-silvia-federici. We will be reading the start of Chapter 2 pg 61-91.
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.
Zoom Details:
https://washington.zoom.us/j/92223147165
Meeting ID: 922 2314 7165

Socialist Night School
2021-05-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool [at] gmail . com

–> RSVP here! <–
Topic:
Cuba’s New Socialism: Economic Development in the 21st Century
Recommended reading:
Camila Piñeiro Harnecker, “Cuba’s New Socialism: Different Visions Shaping Current Changes”​
Description:
Since 2005, Cuba’s economy has been radically transforming its economy toward worker co-operatives. Over 500 co-ops have been created since the policy implementation began in 2011. Their strategy offers lessons for us as we consider and think about different kinds of socialist policies.
How did this economic transition come about? What do the early results say about the strategy? And, what could a co-op driven economic policy look like?
Join us for a Q&A on Cuba’s 21st century economy with a special guest speaker! You don’t need to be an expert on Cuba or socialism to join us. Check out our recommended reading ahead of this meeting to learn more.

District 4 Reading Group: Caliban and the Witch
2021-05-08 16:30 - 18:00 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Join the District 4 reading group April 24th at 4:30 pm to read “Caliban and the Witch” by Silvia Federici — https://libcom.org/library/caliban-witch-silvia-federici. We will be reading the start of Chapter 2 pg 61-82.
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.
Zoom Details:
https://washington.zoom.us/j/92026742449
Meeting ID: 920 2674 2449

District 4 Reading Group: Caliban and the Witch
2021-04-24 16:30 - 18:00 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Join the District 4 reading group April 24th at 4:30 pm to read “Caliban and the Witch” by Silvia Federici — https://libcom.org/library/caliban-witch-silvia-federici. We will be reading the rest of Chapter 1 pg 28-60.
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.
Zoom Details:
https://washington.zoom.us/j/94394817135
Meeting ID: 943 9481 7135

District 4 Reading Group: Caliban and the Witch
2021-04-10 13:00 - 14:30 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Join the District 4 reading group April 10th at 1:00 pm to read “Caliban and the Witch” by Silvia Federici — https://libcom.org/library/caliban-witch-silvia-federici. We will be reading up until the section Liberty and Social Division on page 28.
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.
Zoom Details:
https://washington.zoom.us/j/93119975752
Meeting ID: 931 1997 5752

Housing Collective (El Grupo para Organizar su Edificio) – Online Meeting
2021-04-07 17:30 - 19:00, 2021-03-03 17:30 - 19:00, 2021-02-03 17:30 - 19:00, 2021-01-06 17:30 - 19:00 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
The Housing Collective is a group of Seattle area tenants who meet every month to learn and teach each other concrete, effective organizing skills to build power at home.
If you’re worried about an eviction, maintenance issues that are going unaddressed, or general mistreatment from your landlord, this meeting is for you.
This month we will be having a presentation about eviction defense.
Can’t make this event but you’d like to discuss how to improve your housing situation? Email the event organizers at housing@seattledsa.org to set up a one-on-one appointment.
Zoom Call Info available upon signing up here.

No Charity for Cops rally (part 2!)
2021-03-30 15:00 - 18:30 | Westlake Park, 401 Pine St, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
The Seattle Foundation has contributed $870,000 to the Seattle Police Foundation in the past 20 years through community grants and donor-advised funds. Since August, Divest SPD has been pushing for them to divest from police, make amends for the harm done, and invest more in the community. On Tuesday, March 30, we’ll be delivering a sign on letter with hundreds (thousands?) of signatures to their offices and holding a rally to show them that there’s a growing number of people watching them that agree there should be NO CHARITY FOR COPS! This is a critical moment in our campaign and we’re counting on you to be there and invite folks you know to this event!
* Unfortunately, our ASL interpreters cancelled at the last minute. We are very sorry that we can not make this event accessible in this way as we’d previously advertised. *
Details:

This is a SOCIALLY DISTANCED + MASKED EVENT. We’ll have masks and hand sanitizer on hand.
Letter delivery will take place at 3:30pm, rally starts at 4pm.
This is a CELEBRATION! Bring noisemakers / party hats / etc.! We’ll bring the food + drinks.

—

More information about where the Seattle Foundation’s money is going:

Donations given to the Seattle Police Foundation (the nonprofit arm of the Seattle Police Department) cover costs like police dogs, riot gear, and training in violent crowd control techniques used to suppress recent demonstrations for Black lives.
In the past two years, only an average of 6% of community grants and less than 2% of donor-advised grants went to Black-led organizations.
The Seattle Foundation has appointed a committee to help them revise their policies around racial equity, but have not committed to any specific actions yet — a broad show of support is needed right now to make sure these demands are met. The demands listed in this letter are aligned with both community calls to stop funding violent policing as well as demands from leaders in the nonprofit sector to increase investments into BIPOC community-based organizations.
Organizations, donors, and community members, please SIGN ON TO THIS LETTER and join us in our call to the Seattle Foundation to immediately divest from police, make amends for the harm done, and invest more in the community!

Socialist Night School: Labor Lessons from the South w/Michael Goldfield
2021-03-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool [at] gmail . com
—> RSVP here! <—
Amazon, Bessemer, and Alabama Exceptionalism: Labor Lessons from the South
w/Michael Goldfield, author of The Southern Key
​Nearly six thousand Amazon warehouse workers in Bessemer, Alabama are currently voting on whether to unionize. If successful, they’ll be the first unionized Amazon workers in the United States.
​How did this effort come about? What makes Alabama such a unique backdrop for this historic effort? And what can previous efforts like Operation Dixie teach us about the challenges of labor organizing in the South?
​Join us and special guest lecturer Michael Goldfield, author of The Southern Key: Race, Class, and Radicalism in the 1930s and 1940s as we discuss these topics and more! This event will be a comprised of a short lecture followed by small breakout sessions. Check out the readings and join us!
​Readings:

The Alabama Amazon Union Drive Could Be the Most Important Labor Fight in the South in Decades​ (interview w/Michael Goldfield)
​Excerpt from “The Failure of Labor Unionism in the US South”​, Cody R. Melcher & Michael Goldfield​​

District 4 Reading Group: The Wretched of the Earth
2021-03-19 18:30 - 20:00 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Join the District 4 reading group March 19th at 6:30pm to read the classic “The Wretched of the Earth” by Frantz Fanon — https://grattoncourses.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/frantz-fanon-richard-philcox-jean-paul-sartre-homi-k.-bhabha-the-wretched-of-the-earth-grove-press-2011.pdf. We will be reading the last series of the chapter “Colonial War and Mental Disorders” and the conclusion, pages 216-239 in Richard Philcox’s translation.
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.
Zoom Details:
https://washington.zoom.us/j/93450515302
Meeting ID: 934 5051 5302

Tenants Rights Town Hall With Community Leaders & State Legislators
2021-03-17 18:30 - 20:30 | Eightball Cafe in Everett, 2727 Colby Ave, Everett, WA, United States
——RSVP HERE——
We will be joined by Sen Jamie Pederson and Reps Frank Chopp and Nicole Macri of the 43rd LD, and Sen Joe Nguyen and Rep Joe Fitzgibbon of the 34th LD
Town Hall hosted by DSA and ENDORSED BY: Tenants Union of WA, Transit Riders Union, King County Equity Now, Be:Seattle, 350 Seattle, Real Change, Share, Wheel, Nickelsville, Social Equity Educators, Hate Free Delridge, Community Acupuncture Project, Alki UCC.
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Over 225,000 households are behind in rent in Washington and facing the threat of eviction if the statewide moratorium is not extended past March 31st. Washington families need Governor Inslee to extend the moratorium, and our state legislators to pass the strongest possible tenant rights protections this month.
That includes passing bills 1236 and 5160, guaranteeing “just cause” eviction protections statewide and banning evictions for back-debt accrued during the moratorium, among other protections. While the Democratic Party controls both legislative houses, unless the party leadership prioritizes the fight for tenant rights – and unless we build strong enough grassroots pressure – there is a big danger that the landlord lobby and Republican obstruction tactics will kill or water down this vital legislation.
Join our coalition for a Tenant Rights Town Hall to demand action from our state legislators, learn about the bills we are backing, and find out how to get involved in the fight for housing justice.
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Seattle DSA believes that, at root, quality stable housing must be treated as a human right, guaranteed to all regardless of ability to pay, not as a commodity sold to the highest bidders. Unless we take the housing industry out of the private marketplace, the drive for profits by the real estate companies will block every effort to guarantee stable affordable housing to all.
Beyond the immediate emergency legislation on the table today, Seattle DSA’s Housing Justice Policy Committee is calling on our elected officials at every level to enact the following policies:
1. No Economic Evictions Until Affordable Housing is Available to All
2. Rapidly Build Enough Affordable Social Housing to Fully Meet Our Needs
3. Immediate Shelter For all – Build 5,000 tiny Homes in Seattle This Year
4. Pass Statewide Rent Control and Lift the Rent Control Ban on Local Governments
This meeting will be held over Zoom. RSVP here for Zoom info.

——RSVP HERE——

District 4 Reading Group: The Wretched of the Earth
2021-03-05 18:30 - 20:00 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Join the District 4 reading group March 5th at 6:30pm to read the classic “The Wretched of the Earth” by Frantz Fanon — https://grattoncourses.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/frantz-fanon-richard-philcox-jean-paul-sartre-homi-k.-bhabha-the-wretched-of-the-earth-grove-press-2011.pdf. We will be reading the first three series of the last chapter “Colonial War and Mental Disorders”, pages 181-216 in Richard Philcox’s translation.
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.
Zoom Details:
https://washington.zoom.us/j/92664693099
Meeting ID: 926 6469 3099

Socialist Night School
2021-02-22 18:00 - 19:30 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool [at] gmail . com

–> RSVP here! <–
Last October, after a year marked by mass protests over rising wealth inequality, Chileans voted overwhelmingly to create a new constitution—one that would replace the 1980 document drawn up by the country’s former dictator, Augusto Pinochet. It was a major step in the political revolution against Chile’s neoliberal regime.
What’s next for the creation of Chile’s new constitution? What social forces and political parties are involved? And what does Chile’s recent political history tell us about the challenges and prospects of a new road to democratic socialism?
Joining us to help make sense of all of this is Abigail Gutmann-Gonzalez. Gutmann-Gonzalez grew up in a rural community in post-dictatorial Chile and much of her early experiences there were foundational to her understanding of and belief in the working class. She has been a member of DSA since 2017 and is the former two-term Co-Chair of East Bay DSA. She currently resides in Berkeley, California.
You don’t need to be an expert on international politics or a Seattle DSA member to enjoy this lecture and the Q&A that follows. If you’d like to learn more about the past and future of the Chilean left, please join us!
Optional readings:

Noam Titelman, Allende in Chile Today
Abigail Gutmann-Gonzalez/Andrew Richner, Chile Awakens
René Rojas, Chile’s Democratic Revolution

District 4 Reading Group: The Wretched of the Earth
2021-02-19 18:30 - 20:00 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Join the District 4 reading group February 19th at 6:30pm to read the classic “The Wretched of the Earth” by Frantz Fanon — https://grattoncourses.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/frantz-fanon-richard-philcox-jean-paul-sartre-homi-k.-bhabha-the-wretched-of-the-earth-grove-press-2011.pdf. We will be reading chapter 4, which is called “On National Culture” in Richard Philcox’s translation.
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.
https://washington.zoom.us/j/99766385811

Meeting ID: 997 663 85811

District 4 Reading Group: The Wretched of the Earth
2021-02-06 13:00 - 13:30 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Join the District 4 reading group February 6th at 1pm to read the classic “The Wretched of the Earth” by Frantz Fanon — https://grattoncourses.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/frantz-fanon-richard-philcox-jean-paul-sartre-homi-k.-bhabha-the-wretched-of-the-earth-grove-press-2011.pdf. We will be reading second half of the chapter “The Trials and Tribulations of National Consciousness” pg. 120-144 in the translation by Richard Philcox.
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.
https://washington.zoom.us/j/99140327931

Meeting ID: 991 403 27931

District 2 Meeting: Trump's Gone, Now What? Fighting for What We Need During the Biden Presidency
2021-01-30 15:00 - 16:30 | Eightball Cafe in Everett, 2727 Colby Ave, Everett, WA, United States
While together we breathe a collective sigh of relief over Trump’s departure, we also know that these crises pre-date Trump and that the very conditions that led to the rise of Trumpism remain completely intact: massive wealth inequality, corporate money dominating our political system, mass incarceration, low-wage jobs, and a wholly inadequate private healthcare system that leaves 40 million uninsured. Many of these policies were created or expanded under the Obama/Biden administration, including the deportation of 2.7 million people.
Join District 2 DSA for a discussion about how we can organize for what we need under a Biden presidency. What are the challenges and opportunities for the socialist movement?
RSVP here for Zoom info.

Socialist Night School
2021-01-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool [at] gmail . com

–> RSVP here! <–
Our theme for this session is “Socialism and the Family“. We’ll be discussing the ways in which capitalism shapes family life (spoiler: it’s not good, folks!) and what an alternative might look like. We’ll also be discussing the ways in which the pandemic has further exposed the failures of capitalism to address the basic needs of working class families. RSVP for Zoom info!

Required Readings:

Parenting is a Job. During the Pandemic it’s Impossible by Hadas Thier
An excerpt from The Politics of Everybody: Feminism, Queer Theory, and Marxism at the Intersection by Holly Lewis
It’s Okay to have Children by Connor Kilpatrick

Optional Readings:

“A Blueprint for Universal Childhood” by Megan Erickson
An excerpt from “Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism”

District 4 Reading Group: The Wretched of the Earth
2021-01-23 13:00 - 14:30 | Eightball Cafe in Everett, 2727 Colby Ave, Everett, WA, United States
Join the District 4 reading group January 23rd at 1pm to read the classic “The Wretched of the Earth” by Frantz Fanon — https://grattoncourses.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/frantz-fanon-richard-philcox-jean-paul-sartre-homi-k.-bhabha-the-wretched-of-the-earth-grove-press-2011.pdf. We will be reading first half of the chapter “The Trials and Tribulations of National Consciousness” pg. 97-120 in the translation by Richard Philcox.
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.
https://washington.zoom.us/j/92480181481

Meeting ID: 924 8018 1481

District 4 Reading Group: The Wretched of the Earth
2021-01-09 15:00 - 16:30 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Join the District 4 reading group January 9th at 3pm to read the classic “The Wretched of the Earth” by Frantz Fanon — https://grattoncourses.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/frantz-fanon-richard-philcox-jean-paul-sartre-homi-k.-bhabha-the-wretched-of-the-earth-grove-press-2011.pdf. We will be reading the chapter “Grandeur and Weakness of Spontaneity”.
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.
https://washington.zoom.us/j/93280489412
Meeting ID: 932 8048 9412

D3 Reading Group: The Communist Manifesto
2021-01-03 18:30 - 20:30 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Join District 3 members for a reading and discussion group on the Communist Manifesto! It’s a classic for a reason, folks!
Who are the proletariat? Who are the bourgeoisie? What is class struggle? Why do we still read this 172-year-old text? Join us to answer all these questions and more!
We’ll be discussing Part 1 (Bourgeois and Proletarians) of the Manifesto this week. Study questions for this week are available here.
If you don’t have a physical copy (Samuel Moore’s translation is preferred), you can find a digital copy here, including links for ePub, PDF, and audiobook formats: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/index.htm
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84016589039

D3 Movie Night: Miles of Smiles, Years of Struggle
2020-12-27 18:30 - 20:30 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Join District 3 comrades for a movie night! We’ll be taking a break from our regular meetings over the holidays, but watching a movie together and discussing it is a great, low-barrier way for us to stay engaged with each other.
Miles of Smiles, Years of Struggle chronicles the organizing of the first Black trade union—the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. This inspiring story of the Pullman porters provides one of the few accounts of African American working life between the Civil War and World War II.
Miles of Smiles describes the harsh discrimination which lay behind the porters’ smiling service. Narrator Rosina Tucker, a 100 year old union organizer and porter’s widow, describes how after a 12 year struggle led by A. Philip Randolph, the porters won the first contract ever negotiated with Black workers. Miles of Smiles both recovers an important chapter in the emergence of Black America and reveals a key source of the Civil Rights movement.
Join us on Zoom to watch together: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85205647875

District 4 Reading Group: The Wretched of the Earth
2020-12-26 15:00 - 16:30 | Eightball Cafe in Everett, 2727 Colby Ave, Everett, WA, United States
Join the District 4 reading group December 26th at 3pm to read the classic “The Wretched of the Earth” by Frantz Fanon — https://grattoncourses.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/frantz-fanon-richard-philcox-jean-paul-sartre-homi-k.-bhabha-the-wretched-of-the-earth-grove-press-2011.pdf. We will be reading through to the end of the chapter “On Violence” in which Fanon writes about the inevitability of violence in the process of decolonization.
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.
https://washington.zoom.us/j/99301013240
Meeting ID: 993 0101 3240

Socialist Night School - What is Marxism (and why should I care)?
2020-12-14 18:00 - 20:00 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool [at] gmail . com
–> RSVP here! <–
What is Marxism (And Why Should I Care)? A discussion w/Ramsin Canon of Chicago DSA
The work of Karl Marx and other Marxist thinkers have been a guiding influence for socialist movements around the world for over 150 years. In the years since Capital‘s release, however, anti-capitalist movements have risen and fallen, and capitalism has grown and changed dramatically.
Why, then, is Marx still relevant for socialists? Can it inform our organizing in a tangible way? And what does it mean to call yourself a Marxist?
Join us for a special Seattle DSA Socialist Night School as we speak with Ramsin Canon, three-term political education coordinator for Chicago DSA. We’ll discuss his Midwest Socialist essay “What It Means to Be a Marxist,” what the hell “Marxism” is, why it’s not just a historical curiosity for the hyper-educated…and much more.
Recommended readings:

Ramsin Canon, “What It Means to Be a Marxist”
Ellen Meiskins Wood, “Back to Marx”

District 4 Reading Group: The Wretched of the Earth
2020-12-12 15:00 - 16:30 | Eightball Cafe in Everett, 2727 Colby Ave, Everett, WA, United States
Join the District 4 reading group December 12th at 3pm to read the classic “The Wretched of the Earth” by Frantz Fanon — https://grattoncourses.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/frantz-fanon-richard-philcox-jean-paul-sartre-homi-k.-bhabha-the-wretched-of-the-earth-grove-press-2011.pdf. We will be reading through to the end of the chapter “On Violence” in which Fanon writes about the inevitability of violence in the process of decolonization.
This event is open to DSA members and anyone curious about DSA.
https://washington.zoom.us/j/96051788790
Meeting ID: 960 5178 8790

Socialist Night School
2020-11-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool [at] gmail . com
—> RSVP here! <—
We will have a guest speaker again this month! RSVP through the link above to get the Zoom info to join the discussion on Nov 2nd.
Required Reading
Peter Camejo – Liberalism, Ultraleftism, or Mass Action

Socialist Night School - The Great Minneapolis Strikes
2020-10-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Online, Seattle, WA, United States
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool [at] gmail . com
–> RSVP here! <—
This month we will be discussing the Minneapolis Teamsters Strikes of 1934. RSVP to get the info to join us via Zoom on the 12th!
Required Reading:
The Great Minneapolis Strikes, James P. Cannon
Optional Reading:
The Forgotten Militants, Charlie Post

Socialist Night School - Civil Rights Unionism
2020-09-14 18:00 - 20:00 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool@gmail.com
The topic for September is civil rights unionism. We’ll discuss some historical examples of how civil rights and labor rights were linked in the fight for justice at work and in daily life, and explore what lessons we can learn and apply to our efforts today.
—> RSVP here! <—
Required Readings (suggested reading order)

Civil Rights Unionism and the Black Freedom Struggle, Robert Korstad
Civil Rights Unionism (excerpt), Robert Korstad
How McCarthyism and the Red Scare Hurt the Black Freedom Struggle, Paul Heideman

Critical Pedagogy Reading Group
2020-08-29 12:30 - 14:00 | Eightball Cafe in Everett, 2727 Colby Ave, Everett, WA, United States
Join the Seattle DSA Critical and Revolutionary Pedagogy Reading Group to discuss bell hooks’ Teaching to Transgress (1994.) bell hook is the pen name of Gloria Jean Watkins, a Black feminist teacher and activist deeply involved in critical pedagogy building on the work of Paulo Freire and influenced by both marxist approaches to pedagogy and Black feminist thought. Her work explores the intersection of race, capitalism, and gender within the framework of critical pedagogy. In Teaching to Transgress, hooks writes about a transgressive approach in education where educators can teach students to transgress against racial, sexual, and class boundaries in order to work toward a practice of freedom.

Please joins us on Saturday, August 29th at 12:30pm via zoom.
Reading: Chapters 4, 5, and 6 of Teaching to Transgress by bell hooks
Link to PDF of Teaching to Transgress
For more information please contact Allen
rabaros@gmail.com

Court Support Training
2020-08-23 13:00 - 15:00 | On Zoom, WA, United States
Training to support immigrants when they go to court for bond hearings. This training will be provided by members of both Seattle’s and Tacoma’s DSA chapters. The training will be similar to WAISN’s (Washington Immigration Support Network) Bond Hearing Support training, and will be set in a socialist/labor framework, and include content on working with people in trauma, and social visitation after court.
Zoom Information:
Topic: Court Support Training
Time: Aug 23, 2020 01:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Zoom Meeting Registration
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83409308608?pwd=[REDACTED]

Socialist Night School
2020-08-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Online, Seattle, WA, United States
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! Questions? Send us an e-mail at SeaNightSchool [at] gmail . com
—> RSVP here! <—
The topic for this session is mass incarceration. We will have a guest speaker who will be giving the short talk at the beginning! RSVP to get the Zoom details and stay updated.
Required reading:

Michelle Alexander, “A System of Racial and Social Control”​
Interview with Adaner Usmani, “Everything You Know About Mass Incarceration Is Wrong”​
Eli Day, “The Race Gap in US Prisons Is Glaring, and Poverty is Making it Worse”​

​​Optional reading:

​​Doran Larson, “Why Scandinavian Prisons Are Superior”​

Socialist Night School
2020-07-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool@gmail.com
—> RSVP here! <—
Required Reading:

Why are the Police Like This? by Alex Gourevitch
The answer to police violence is not ‘reform’. It’s defunding. Here’s why. by Alex S Vitale
To Break the Power of the Police, We Need to Mobilize the Power of Labor by Paul Heideman

Optional Reading:

Police Do Not Need Unions by Ramsin Canon

Socialist Night School: The Dirty Break, part 2
2020-06-15 19:00 - 20:30 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool@gmail.com
—> RSVP here! <—
This is the second in our 2 part series on The Dirty Break (chapter 4 from Bigger Than Bernie). For Part 2 we will explore the dirty break – what it is, what it isn’t, and the reasoning behind it. We’ll also discuss the role that socialist organizations (like DSA) can or should have in these struggles.
As you’re doing the reading, write down questions that come to mind – and consider sharing those with us during the discussion on the 25th. 🙂
Required Reading
Chapter 4: The Dirty Break from Bigger Than Bernie, page 19 – 33 (PDF) or page 122 – 139 (in the book).
Meeting Info
Monday, June 15th
7 PM – 8:30 PM
RSVP to get the link to join via Zoom!

Socialist Night School: The Dirty Break, part 1
2020-05-25 19:00 - 20:30 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool@gmail.com
—> RSVP here <—
This session will be the first of a 2 part series on The Dirty Break (chapter 4 from Bigger Than Bernie). For Part 1 we will focus on the democratic road to socialism, and some of the potholes and roadblocks along the way: the undemocratic nature of the Democratic Party, the strange nature of political parties in the United States, and some of the barriers to forming an independent party.
As you’re doing the reading, write down questions that come to mind – and consider sharing those with us during the discussion on the 25th. 🙂
Required Reading
Chapter 4: The Dirty Break from Bigger Than Bernie, pages 1 – 19 (PDF) or pages 99 – 121 (in the book)
Meeting Info
Monday, May 25th
7 PM – 8:30 PM
RSVP for link to join via Zoom

1-on-1 organizer training
2020-05-20 18:00 - 19:30 | 13593
This training will get you ready to speak with new members about how they can begin getting involved in the work of Seattle DSA. Some people who join are motivated enough to just start showing up to meetings, but often a more personal touch of directly reaching out to folks is really appreciated and can help people clear the initial hurdles of figuring out how to operate in an organization like DSA.
While you don’t need to be an expert that’s been a part of every working group to talk about DSA with people, if you are a brand new member (ie. you joined in the last 2-3 months), this is probably not an ideal fit for you at the moment; it will be difficult to explain how to get more involved in DSA if it’s not an experience you’ve had yet. If you aren’t sure if it makes sense for you to do, give me an email or call and we’ll talk about it!
If you are interested in attending, please email member-engagement@seattledsa.org.

Queer and Feminist Reading Group: October Song
2020-05-13 18:30 - 20:30 | Zoom link will be posted shortly, WA, United States
Join us as we read Paul LeBlanc’s account of the Russian Revolution, October Song. What lessons can the Russian Revolution give to us today? What actually happened before and after the working class took power? How do conditions in society dictate our strategies and tactics? How would we, in a modern context, wrest power from the ruling class?
This week, we’ll be discussing Chapter 7, Majority of the People, about the debate between a populist and Marxist revolutionary view of how the movement towards socialism could be accomplished, particularly in pre-Revolutionary Russia and beyond. Would a revolution occur based on the peasantry or the working class?
All are welcome to join for lively discussion and comradely community. This reading group meets every two weeks. If you haven’t been to one of our previous discussions, that’s OK! We’d love to have you. Email sdsaqueerandfeminist@gmail.com to get a copy of the reading.

Socialist Night School - Disaster Capitalism
2020-05-04 19:00 - 20:30 | Online, Seattle, WA, United States
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool@gmail.com

—> RSVP here! <—

The next Socialist Night School will meet on Monday, May 4th at 7PM. We’ll be discussing disaster capitalism. We’ve seen it in action before, and we’re watching it happen again. Things are starting to feel a bit like a bad remake of 2008, now with special guest: global pandemic. For this session we’ll explore some of how we got here, and try to figure out how it might be possible to break free of this pattern.
There were some great questions that people asked during April’s session, so definitely share your questions during the discussion on Monday. As you’re doing the readings, think of questions you’d like to ask the group! 🙂

Readings:
Naomi Klein, The Rise of Disaster Capitalism
Thomas J. Adams, How the Ruling Class Remade New Orleans
Mike Davis, The Coronavirus Crisis is a Monster Fueled by Capitalism

Video:
Naomi Klein, Coronavirus Capitalism – And How to Beat It

—> RSVP here! <—

Online New Member Orientation
2020-04-25 13:00 - 14:30 | Eightball Cafe in Everett, 2727 Colby Ave, Everett, WA, United States
Come to learn about what Democratic Socialism is all about, what we can learn about capitalism and socialism from the current pandemic, and how YOU can get involved with Seattle DSA’s efforts to engage in mutual aid and building power for a socialist future in which people come before profits. While it’s called a “New Member Orientation,” you don’t need to be an official member to attend; “DSA curious” folks are welcome!
If you’re interested in joining, please RSVP here: https://actionnetwork.org/events/sdsa-online-new-member-orientation

Socialist Night School - Online!
2020-04-06 19:00 - 20:30 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool@gmail.com
We’re making the transition to online political education! Our first Socialist Night School Zoom call will be next Monday, April 6th @ 7PM! We hope to be able to do online sessions of Socialist Night School every 2-3 weeks, and we plan for each session to be about an hour and a half.
The theme for this session is solidarity. We’ll discuss the Oakland Teachers Strike and Bread for Ed (a mutual aid effort to support educators and students during the strike), and some of the current labor actions occurring in response to the pandemic. If questions you’d like to ask come to mind while you’re doing the readings or thinking about the topic, keep those in mind and we’ll work them into the discussion.
If you would like the Zoom call info, e-mail SeaNightSchool@gmail.com
Readings:

Why Oakland’s Striking Teachers Won by Eric Blanc
Go On Strike for Your Health & Safety, by Ryan Bruckenthal
Walkouts Spread as Workers Seek Coronavirus Protections, by Dan DiMaggio & Saurav Sarkar

Optional Readings:

Chicago Teachers Won Public Support for Their Strike. Here’s How. by Jeff Shuhrke
‘Solidarity Schools’ Feed Students, Support Educators by Cirrus Wood

Online New Member Orientation
2020-04-05 12:30 - 14:00 | Online (Zoom Call), WA
Come to learn about what Democratic Socialism is all about, what we can learn about capitalism and socialism from the current pandemic, and how YOU can get involved with Seattle DSA’s efforts to engage in mutual aid and building power for a socialist future in which people come before profits. While it’s called a
“New Member Orientation,” you don’t need to be an official member to attend; “DSA curious” folks are welcome!
Link to join this meeting: https://zoom.us/j/525610042
Phone number to call into meeting: 1 253 215 8782
Meeting ID: 525 610 042
Password: [REDACTED]
If you have not used Zoom before, it’s very easy — here’s a one minute video which explains how to join a Zoom meeting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIkCmbvAHQQ

Jacobin Reading Group Discussion: Primaries Special
2020-03-14 11:00 - 13:00 | Eightball Cafe in Everett, 2727 Colby Ave, Everett, WA, United States
We’ll be discussing the following articles from the latest issue:

Blueprint for a political revolution
Our first hundred days could be a nightmare

:Edit: Due to the escalating public health crisis, this month’s reading group will be done entirely via video chat.
Also, I’ve created a Google Hangout video chat for this event, in case people want to join the discussion but aren’t comfortable meeting in person due to coronavirus: https://hangouts.google.com/hangouts/_/calendar/Y25hdGFsZUBnbWFpbC5jb20.3a7bq5kcb1lu991v9gr39rkjba?authuser=0

Socialist Night School: The ABCs of Capitalism, Part C
2020-02-24 19:00 - 21:00 | Seattle Central College, Broadway-Edison Building, 1701 Broadway, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool@gmail.com

The conclusion of our mini-series on The ABCs of Capitalism by Vivek Chibber. The first two parts of our mini-series covered some rather bleak aspects of living in a capitalist society: bosses will always put the pursuit of profit over workers, the state is far from neutral, and the system really does favor the interests of the wealthy over the working class. But we shouldn’t despair just yet! Part C is here to give us hope and point us toward a path out of the muck.
The discussion for our final session in this mini-series will be about class struggle and working class political strategy. We will examine why class struggle creates power and political leverage, and how that leverage can help us win victories in all of our battles against all forms of oppression.
—-> RSVP here! <—-

C: Capitalism and Class Struggle
Required* Reading
The ABCs of Capitalism: Capitalism and Class Struggle
*If you don’t have a copy of the pamphlet, this lecture by Vivek Chibber covers much of the same material and should adequately prepare you to take part in the discussion.
Event Info:
Monday, February 24th, 7–9 PM
Seattle Central College
Broadway-Edison Building, Room 4104

New Member 1 on 1 Training Session
2020-02-09 14:30 - 16:00 | Delridge Branch – Seattle Public Library, 5423 Delridge Way SW, Seattle, WA, 98106
Meeting with new members (and potential members) 1-on-1 is a HUGELY important part of growing DSA. There’s a lot to learn about and do within DSA and many folks entering our organization get confused, overwhelmed, or bored and drift away; connecting with these folks, helping orient them to DSA, and getting them involved in the chapter’s work is the best thing we can do to prevent this!
At this event, the Member Engagement Team will get you ready to do this important work so we can continue to grow Seattle DSA’s organizing capacity.

Socialist Night School: The ABCs of Capitalism, Part B
2020-02-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Seattle Central College, Broadway-Edison Building, 1701 Broadway, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool@gmail.com
Join us on Feb 3rd for Part 2 of our mini-series on The ABCs of Capitalism by Vivek Chibber! It’s Iowa caucus night, so we’ll check in on results periodically throughout the evening!
In Part A, we discussed the basic structures of capitalism and class. For Part B we will be discussing how capitalism influences the state, how the state tends to reinforce the power of capital, and the structural forces involved.
We’re probably all very aware of the attacks against Bernie that are starting to roll in now that the powers that be are starting to think he might actually have a chance to win this thing. This part of the ABCs will help us understand the ways that capitalism undermines democracy, and the structural reasons why the establishment Democrats + others are starting to lash out in earnest against the growing movement supporting Bernie. We hope you can join us!
—-> RSVP here! <—-
B: Capitalism and the State
Required* Reading
The ABCs of Capitalism: Capitalism and the State
*If you don’t have a copy of the pamphlets, this lecture by Vivek Chibber covers much of the same material and should adequately prepare you to take part in the discussion.

Event Info
Monday, February 3rd, 7 – 9 PM
Seattle Central College
Broadway-Edison Building, Room 4104

[cancelled] Jacobin Reading Group Discussion
2020-02-01 11:00 - 13:00 | Eightball Cafe in Everett, 2727 Colby Ave, Everett, WA, United States
Instead of our regularly scheduled Jacobin reading group we’ll be canvassing for DSA for Bernie! Join us at the Van Asselt Playground at 10:30 and knock on doors for Bernie!

More details:
https://seattledsa.org/event/dsa-for-bernie-canvass-2/

Ecosocialist Reading Group: On Fire: the (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal
2020-01-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Little Oddfellows – Elliot Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
We’ll discuss chapters 14 through the end of Naomi Klein’s On Fire: the (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal. Bring your suggestions for what you’d like to read next!
Karl Marx, 1867: “Even an entire society, a nation, or all simultaneously existing societies taken together, are not owners of the earth. They are simply its possessors, its beneficiaries, and have to bequeath it in an improved state to succeeding generations.” The Earth, 2019: “You should really listen to this guy :-(”
It’s impossible to build a socialist future without taking into account the ecological crises facing the planet. If you’re interested in learning more about the climate crisis as our opportunity and obligation to build a better world, and imagining what that world will look like, come join the Ecosocialist reading group.
Any questions or concerns, please email greennewdeal@seattledsa.org.

Socialist Night School: The ABCs of Capitalism
2020-01-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Seattle Central College, Broadway-Edison Building, 1701 Broadway, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool@gmail.com
We’re starting the year with a mini-series covering the ABCs of Capitalism by Vivek Chibber, editor of Catalyst and professor of sociology at NYU. For January we’ll cover A: Understanding Capitalism. In Part A Chibber explains why capitalism isn’t just a collection of individuals, but individuals grouped in social classes with very different interests.
These pamphlets are available in sets of three from Jacobin. We also have a decent supply on-hand for Night School use. Pick up a set at a chapter meeting or e-mail us to get one.
—-> RSVP here! <—-
A: Understanding Capitalism
Required reading
The ABCs of Capitalism: Understanding Capitalism
Optional reading
If you can’t get a copy of the pamphlet (or prefer podcasts), this lecture by Vivek Chibber covers much of the same material and should adequately prepare you to take part in the discussion.
Event Details:
Monday, January 21st, 7 – 9 PM
Seattle Central College
Broadway-Edison Building, Room 4148

Note: The date for Part A has changed to January 21st to avoid conflicting with the Kshama Sawant & Sara Nelson event on 01/13.

Ecosocialist Reading Group: On Fire: the (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal
2020-01-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Little Oddfellows – Elliot Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
Rescheduled due to snow on 1/13. We’ll discuss chapters 11-13 of Naomi Klein’s On Fire: the (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal. (The last chapter we are reading is called “Capitalism Killed Our Climate Momentum”.) We also will have time for chapters 8-10, for those who were out of town for the holidays!
Karl Marx, 1867: “Even an entire society, a nation, or all simultaneously existing societies taken together, are not owners of the earth. They are simply its possessors, its beneficiaries, and have to bequeath it in an improved state to succeeding generations.” The Earth, 2019: “You should really listen to this guy :-(”
It’s impossible to build a socialist future without taking into account the ecological crises facing the planet. If you’re interested in learning more about the climate crisis as our opportunity and obligation to build a better world, and imagining what that world will look like, come join the Ecosocialist reading group.
Any questions or concerns, please email greennewdeal@seattledsa.org.

CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW - Ecosocialist Reading Group: On Fire: the (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal
2020-01-13 18:00 - 20:00 | Little Oddfellows – Elliot Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
We’ll discuss chapters 11-13 of Naomi Klein’s On Fire: the (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal. (The last chapter we are reading is called “Capitalism Killed Our Climate Momentum”.)
Karl Marx, 1867: “Even an entire society, a nation, or all simultaneously existing societies taken together, are not owners of the earth. They are simply its possessors, its beneficiaries, and have to bequeath it in an improved state to succeeding generations.” The Earth, 2019: “You should really listen to this guy :-(”
It’s impossible to build a socialist future without taking into account the ecological crises facing the planet. If you’re interested in learning more about the climate crisis as our opportunity and obligation to build a better world, and imagining what that world will look like, come join the Ecosocialist reading group.
Any questions or concerns, please email greennewdeal@seattledsa.org.

Ecosocialist Reading Group: On Fire: the (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal
2019-12-30 18:00 - 20:00 | Little Oddfellows – Elliot Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
We’ll discuss chapters 8-10 of Naomi Klein’s On Fire: the (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal. (The last chapter we are reading is called “Hot Take on a Hot Planet”.)
Karl Marx, 1867: “Even an entire society, a nation, or all simultaneously existing societies taken together, are not owners of the earth. They are simply its possessors, its beneficiaries, and have to bequeath it in an improved state to succeeding generations.” The Earth, 2019: “You should really listen to this guy :-(”
It’s impossible to build a socialist future without taking into account the ecological crises facing the planet. If you’re interested in learning more about the climate crisis as our opportunity and obligation to build a better world, and imagining what that world will look like, come join the Ecosocialist reading group.
Any questions or concerns, please email greennewdeal@seattledsa.org.

Socialist Night School: 1999 Seattle WTO Protests
2019-12-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Seattle Central College, Broadway-Edison Building, 1701 Broadway, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or if you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool@gmail.com
Twenty years ago, thousands of people took to the streets of Seattle and shut down the World Trade Organization meetings in Seattle. Join us on December 9th to discuss the events of the ’99 WTO protests in Seattle, how the protests were organized, and what lessons we can learn. RSVP here!
Required reading:

Chris Dixon, ​Remembering for the Future​​
International Forum on Globalization, A Better World is Possible!​
Deborah James, Giant Tech Companies Join Forces with the WTO

Event Details
Monday, December 9th, 7 – 9 PM
Seattle Central College
Broadway-Edison Building, ​Room 4151

Jacobin Reading Group Discussion
2019-11-02 17:00 - 19:00 | Victrola Coffee and Art, 411 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA, 98112, United States
Hi Comrades!
Our next discussion will be this Saturday, November 2, from 5-7pm at the 15th Ave Victrola (411 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112). We’ll be meeting in the back study room.
Here are the readings:
* “Dismantling the School-to-Soldier Pipeline” An interview with the organizer of an effort to dismantle the JROTC program (https://jacobinmag.com/2019/08/dismantling-the-school-to-soldier-pipeline)
* “The Defector” by Alex N. Press profiles an Army Ranger turned war resister and educator (https://jacobinmag.com/2019/08/the-defector)

Socialist Night School
2019-10-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Seattle Central College, Broadway-Edison Building, 1701 Broadway, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool@gmail.com

For our October session, session we will be haunted by the ghost of a movement from the 1960s: Students for a Democratic Society. What we can learn from the rise and fall of SDS? What external and internal factors contributed to its collapse? We’ll also discuss the Camejo piece “Liberalism, Ultraleftism, or Mass Action” in this context. If we want to prepare for the future, we need to learn from the past.
We hope to see you there!

Socialist Night School: Lessons from the Past

Required Readings

Peter Camejo, Liberalism, Ultraleftism, or Mass Action
Paul Heideman, Half the Way with Mao Zedong
Michael Parker, SDS: Copping Out of American Life

Event Details

Monday, October 28th, 7 – 9 PM
Seattle Central College
Broadway-Edison Building, Room 4151

Socialist Manifesto Reading Group
2019-10-08 18:30 - 20:30 | 3421 Beacon Ave S, 3421 Beacon Ave S, Seattle, WA, 98114, United States
A frightful hobgoblin stalks throughout District 2. We are haunted by a ghost—the ghost of Communism! Join the District 2 Reading group, where we will be reading and discussing socialists texts from throughout our rich shared history, from Marx and Engels through contemporary writers. In this session, we will be reading part of Bhaskar Sunkara’s “Socialist Manifesto”.
Learn together by reading socialist texts!
Sharpen our politics with collective discussion!
Make new friends among comrades in District 2!
Bring your friends and your revolutionary spirit to teach and learn from one another!

Required Reading: Socialist Manifesto by Bhaskar Sunkara Chapter 7

For this meeting, we will discuss Chapter 7, Socialism in America. Feel free to bring snacks and beverages to share.
Book available at stores online: https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/bhaskar-sunkara/the-socialist-manifesto/9781541674004/
Questions? Contact the organizer at seattled2reads@gmail.com

Socialist Night School
2019-09-30 19:00 - 21:00 | Seattle Central College, 1701 Broadway, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool@gmail.com

With the primary season heating up and the local general election quickly approaching, we’re going to focus on a practical matter for this month’s session. What’s the difference between “progressive” and socialist? Why are those differences important? What is democratic socialism, anyway?
This discussion will help to prepare us for the many conversations we will have with our friends and neighbors between now and March 2020. We need to be able to articulate what makes our political vision different, and why being a “progressive” isn’t enough. Together we’ll explore what makes Bernie different than a progressive candidate like Elizabeth Warren. We’ll also try to figure out how we might be able to talk about Bernie to our progressive friends and neighbors, and hopefully win their support for socialist ideas. We hope you’ll join us!

Required Readings

Meagan Day, Democratic socialism, explained by a democratic socialist
Jonathan Martin, What Elizabeth Warren is Quietly Telling Democratic Insiders
Zaid Jilani, Why the Differences Between Sanders and Warren Matter
Stephen Maher, Accountable Capitalism or Democratic Socialism?

Optional Readings

Neal Meyer, What is Democratic Socialism
Natasha Fernández-Silber, Say it Loud, Say it Proud: Democratic Socialism is the Future

Event Details

Monday, September 30th, 7 – 9 PM
Seattle Central College
Broadway-Edison Building, Room 4151

Jacobin Reading Group Discussion - September 2019
2019-09-07 11:00 - 13:00 | Montlake Branch of Seattle Public Library, 2401 24th Ave E, Seattle, WA, 98112, United States
We’ll be doing a special reading for September: Nancy Fraser’s The Old is Dying and the New Cannot be Born!

The global political, ecological, economic, and social breakdown—symbolized by Trump’s election—has destroyed faith that neoliberal capitalism is beneficial to the majority. Nancy Fraser explores how this faith was built through the late twentieth century by balancing two central tenets: recognition (who deserves rights) and distribution (who deserves income). When these begin to fray, new forms of outsider populist politics emerge on the left and the right.
These, Fraser argues, are symptoms of the larger crisis of hegemony for neoliberalism, a moment when, as Gramsci had it, “the old is dying and the new cannot be born.”
In an accompanying interview with Jacobin publisher Bhaskar Sunkara, Fraser argues that we now have the opportunity to build progressive populism into an emancipatory social force.

The pamphlet is available for purchase here: https://www.versobooks.com/books/2937-the-old-is-dying-and-the-new-cannot-be-born. If you are not able to afford it, please contact me at cnatale+1@gmail.com and I’ll make sure you have a copy.

Summer New Member Orientation
2019-08-31 13:30 - 15:00 | Douglass-Truth Branch – Seattle Public Library, 2300 E Yesler Way, Seattle, WA, United States
Are you new to the group and interested in learning more about Seattle DSA or socialism in general?
If so, this New Member Orientation is for you! We’ll give a brief introduction to Democratic Socialism, an overview of the Seattle DSA, and a summary of the projects Seattle DSA is currently engaged in as well as ways you can get involved.

Socialist Night School: Electoral Politics
2019-08-26 19:00 - 21:00 | BPH Room 101, 1625 Broadway, 1625 Broadway, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool@gmail.com
This month we will discuss the often contentious topic of electoral politics. Bernie’s 2016 primary run helped DSA’s membership skyrocket and increased public recognition of DSA, and his 2020 campaign is generating a lot of excitement as well. However, socialists are far from united about how we should engage with electoral work. Can we win meaningful reforms at the ballot box? How can socialists avoid co-optation and neutralization of our efforts? Should socialists run for office at all?

There’s a lot to contemplate and discuss. We hope you’ll join us!

Required Readings

Chris Maisano, Electoral Politics, Class Formation, and Socialist Strategy
Seth Ackerman, A Blueprint for a New Party
Eric Blanc, Socialists, Democrats and the Dirty Break

Event Details

Monday, August 26th, 7 – 9 PM
Broadway Performance Hall, Room 101
(Note: Rm 101 is a lecture room below the main performance hall)
1625 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122

Jacobin Reading Group Discussion
2019-08-17 11:00 - 13:00 | Montlake Branch of The Seattle Public Library, 2401 24th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112, USA, 2401 24th Ave E, Seattle, WA, 98112, United States
Last month we read about a few socialist approaches to housing. This month, we’re going to take a deeper look at rent control and social housing.
So, we’ll be reading “Universal Rent Control Now” by Amee Chew and Katie Goldstein in the latest issue of Jacobin (https://jacobinmag.com/2019/06/universal-rent-control-now).
We’ll also be branching out from the magazine and taking a look at the People’s Policy Project report, “Social Housing in the United States” by Peter Gowan and Ryan Cooper (https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/SocialHousing.pdf).
We’ll be meeting at the Montlake Meeting Room at the Montlake Library from 11:00 – 1:00 on August 17th.
See you then!

Seattle Socialist Night School: Movie Night!
2019-07-29 19:00 - 21:00 | 1625 Broadway, 1625 Broadway, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool@gmail.com

Join us to watch and discuss Harlan County, USA on July 29th, from 7 – 9 PM. Watch the trailer for the film here.

The film documents a 1973 strike by coal miners in eastern Kentucky at the Brookside Mine of the Eastover Mining Company. The miners joined the United Mine Workers of America, and went on strike after the company refused to sign the labor contract. Originally released in 1976, the film is still important today for those interested in labor issues.

Event details:
Monday July 29th, 7 – 9 PM
Room 101, Broadway Performance Hall
Seattle Central College
1625 Broadway, Seattle WA 98122

July 2019 Jacobin Reading Group Discussion
2019-07-13 11:00 - 13:00 | Montlake Branch of Seattle Public Library, 2401 24th Ave E, Seattle, WA, 98112, United States
We will be discussing the following articles for this month’s Jacobin Reading Group. Please read in advance and bring your questions/thoughts:
How to Solve the Housing Problem
Ryan Cooper/Peter Gowan
The size of the housing crisis can be daunting, but with a committed political movement and a little bit of state power, it can be confronted.
https://jacobinmag.com/2019/06/how-to-solve-the-housing-problem
The Zone Defence, by Samuel Stein
What we need isn’t exclusionary zoning, inclusionary zoning, upzoning, downzoning, a zoning freeze, or no zoning at all. We need an anticapitalist planning movement.
https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/06/the-zone-defense

Socialism 101
2019-06-16 16:00 - 18:00 | Bellevue Library, 1111 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
Curious about socialism? Want to get involved advancing progressive policy and improving the lives of your family and neighbors? Join Seattle DSA Eastside for Socialism 101: Father’s Day Edition. Free to everyone, snack provided, and kids welcome!
Sunday, June 16, 2019 Meeting Room 6 Bellevue Library

Seattle Socialist Night School: Ecosocialism and the Green New Deal
2019-06-10 19:00 - 21:00 | Seattle Central College, Broadway-Edison Building, 1701 Broadway, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool@gmail.com
Since its introduction earlier this year, the Green New Deal has received a lot of attention. So far it is the only US policy proposal that honestly confronts the severity of the climate crisis, and there has been a lot of excitement about its potential. The standard criticisms from the right are well known by now, but there are also criticisms about the policy from the left that are worth examination.
For this session we will be reading several pieces that tackle the Green New Deal from various perspectives on the left. The DSA Ecosocialist Caucus guiding principles for a Green New Deal are linked to help provide an overall socialist framework on this topic. During our discussion we’ll analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each piece, and try to imagine what a socialist Green New Deal might look like.
Readings:

Plan, Mood, Battlefield – Reflections on the Green New Deal, Thea Riofrancos, Viewpoint Magazine
A Class Struggle Strategy for a Green New Deal, Multiple authors, Socialist Forum
Between the Devil and the Green New Deal, Jasper Bernes, Commune
An Ecosocialist Green New Deal: Guiding Principles, DSA Ecosocialists

Event Info:
Monday June 10th, 7 – 9 PM
Seattle Central College
Broadway-Edison Building, Room 4151

Link to map of Seattle Central Campus
Link to map of Broadway Edison Building, 4th floor

New Member Orientation
2019-05-25 13:00 - 15:00 | Fremont Branch – Seattle Public Library, 731 N 35th St, Seattle, WA, United States
Are you new to the group and interested in learning more about Seattle DSA or socialism in general? If so, this New Member Orientation is for you. We’ll give a brief introduction to Democratic Socialism, an overview of the Seattle DSA, and a summary of the projects Seattle DSA is currently engaged in as well as ways you can get involved.

District 2 Communist Manifesto Reading Group
2019-05-21 18:00 - 20:00 | Third Place Books, 5041 Wilson Ave S, Seattle, WA, 98118, United States
A frightful hobgoblin stalks throughout District 2. We are haunted by a ghost—the ghost of Communism! Join our brand-new District 2 Reading group for our first meeting. We will be reading and discussing socialists texts from throughout our rich shared history, from Marx and Engels through contemporary writers. In this session, we will be reading the rest of the Communist Manifesto (chapters 2 through the end).

Learn together by reading socialist texts!
Sharpen our politics with collective discussion!
Make new friends among comrades in District 2!
Bring your friends and your revolutionary spirit to teach and learn from one another!

Required Reading: The Communist Manifesto (Chapter 2 through 4)
Read Online: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/index.htm
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdYLRTGmQ3c
Free Audiobook: https://librivox.org/the-communist-manifesto-by-karl-marx-and-friendrich-engels/

Socialist Night School: The Strike Wave
2019-05-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Seattle Central College, 1701 Broadway, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
Socialist Night School is an open course that provides a chance to develop our politics together, regardless of background knowledge or whether you’ve attended a class before. New members and lifelong socialists, all are welcome! To sign up for our mailing list or to find out more, e-mail us at SeaNightSchool@gmail.com

From West Virginia to LA, strikes swept across the country last year in numbers not seen since the 1980s. Nearly 500,000 workers participated in major work stoppages in 2018, a stunning increase over a near record low of 25,000 the previous year. The workers won major victories, and the momentum created by their actions is continuing into this year.
For this session we will use the LA teachers strike as an example of a highly successful action, and analyze how, why, and what they were able to win. We will also discuss the rank-and-file strategy and its importance to our work as socialist organizers. We’ve included a reading with some labor history to give some context to the challenges faced by workers and organizers today.

Required Readings:

Eric Blanc, Never Trust a Billionaire’s Anti-racism
Barry Eidlin, What is the Rank-and-File Strategy, and Why Does it Matter?
Charlie Post, The Forgotten Militants

Optional Reading:

Meagan Day, Red for Higher Ed
Jane McAlevey, The Strike as the Ultimate Structure Test

Event Info
Monday May 13, 7 – 9 PM
Seattle Central College
Broadway-Edison Building, Room 4143

Link to map of Seattle Central Campus
Link to map of Broadway Edison Building, 4th floor

Dinner with Bhaskar Sunkara: Jacobin Reading Group
2019-05-11 17:00 - 19:00 | Bar Cotto, 1546 15th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
We will have a special Jacobin Reading Group this month. Editor and publisher of Jacobin Magazine, Bhaskar Sunkara, will join us for dinner! Bring plenty of questions.

Red May Event: The Return of the Strike: Red State Revolt
2019-05-11 12:00 - 13:45 | University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, United States
A Spectre is haunting the USA: the first strike wave in over four neoliberal decades. West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona, Los Angeles, teachers have walked off their jobs and shut down schools to demand better pay, more funding for students, no funding for charter schools, and an end to years of austerity. Slowdowns and a threatened strike by flight attendants and airport screeners ended the government shutdown. Eric Blanc, Kate Doyle Griffiths, and Wayne Au explore the new landscape of solidarity and Bhaskar Sunkara moderates, as Red May and Verso Books salute Eric Blanc’s new book, Red State Revolt: The Teachers’ Strike Wave and Working-Class Politics (Verso, 2019)

SDSA Political Education Working Group Monthly Meeting
2019-04-24 19:00 - 20:00 | Cafe Solstice (Capitol Hill), 925 E Thomas St, Seattle, WA, 98102, United States
Monthly meeting of the SDSA Political Education Working Group. If you’re interested in working on member political education efforts, come on by! Look for reserved table in the back or upstairs.

New Member Orientation
2019-03-09 11:30 - 14:00 | Rainier Beach Branch – Seattle Public Library, 9125 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA, 98118, United States

Kirkland/Woodinville Socialism 101
2019-03-03 15:00 - 17:00 | Kingsgate Library, 12315 NE 143rd S, Kirkland, WA, 98034, United States
Curious about socialism? Join us and we’ll talk about what exactly it means to be a democratic socialist, why America needs leftists, not just “progressives,” and why DSA is the place to be if you want to change the rules of the game.
Click here to download the flyer.

Free to everyone | Snacks provided

Issaquah Socialism 101
2019-01-19 15:00 - 17:00 | Issaquah Library, 10 West Sunset Way, Issaquah, WA, 98027, United States
Curious about socialism? Join us and we’ll talk about what exactly it means to be a democratic socialist, why America needs leftists, not just “progressives,” and why DSA is the place to be if you want to change the rules of the game.
Free to everyone | Snacks provided

Cinepraxis: Salt of the Earth
2018-11-25 17:00 - 20:00 | Grand Illusion Cinema, 101 NE 50th St, Seattle, WA, United States
Salt of the Earth, produced by the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, Local 890, in conjunction with many blacklisted Hollywood actors and crew members at the time is inspired but not based on the 1951 Empire Zinc Company strike. The film centers feminist social and economic themes. It is the only firm every blacklisted in the United States.
The presentation will be followed by a Labor Union panel discussion with Logan Swan (Ironworkers Local 86), Shaun Scott (Campaign Workers Guild), and Sharon Crowley (UAW 4121 member and organizer). Donation recommended.

[CANCELLED] Education Working Group Meeting
2018-08-29 18:30 - 19:30 | Seattle, United States
This event will be rescheduled for sometime in the near future. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Education Working Group Meeting
2018-06-03 18:00 - 19:30 | 1000 8th Avenue, 1000 8th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98104, United States
Join Seattle DSA’s Education Working Group in planning our political education offerings, including a Socialist School program and our Cinepraxis film series!
Page “Dauthier, David Q.” on the intercom when you arrive!

Jacobin Reading Group Discussion
2018-06-02 11:00 - 13:00 | Capitol Hill Library Meeting Room, 425 Harvard Ave E, Seattle, WA, 98102, 425 Harvard Ave E, Seattle, WA, United States
In June we’ll be discussing two healthcare-related articles from Jacobin issue 28:

“Do We Need Pfizer?” by Adam Gaffney, p. 58
A plan to take on Big Pharma — and create and distribute lifesaving drugs.
“Model Consumers” by Natalie Shure, p. 69
Obamacare tried to fix the health system one consumer choice at a time. No wonder it failed.
