|
|
Join DSA | Verify | Local Dues | Merch |
|
July 25, 2025 |
|
Features |
A Good Martial Artist Does Not Become Tense, But Ready - Bruce LeeWith the Supreme Court deferring to the Trump Administration's whims, the full-on grab for power is well underway barely six months into this four-year term. The machinations of this administration will increasingly expose the contradictions our society rests upon. For example, the revolutionary impulse of the working class has historically been kept in check by the middle class. However, the DOGE cuts to government jobs were not about trimming the federal budget; they were about conducting class warfare against the middle class. Obviously, some elements of the bourgeoisie think that a middle class buffer is now less important to their project. It looks like they have another plan for controlling the masses.
Enter the Imperial Boomerang, coming to the US in the form of a tripling of the ICE budget. The Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the military from acting as a civilian police force. Supercharging ICE is a way to step around that law. The Administration doesn’t need tanks and jet fighters to deal with dissents - it just needs tens of thousands of goons that can move around the country, and prison camps to hold whomever belongs to the out groups. Who will become the next out group, the next focus of government repression? And the next after that? Fascists always need an out group, and if you think you’re safe because you are not in the out group, well it might be that you’re just not in the out group for now.
The US could become a generation-long military dictatorship (à la Brazil, South Korea and Taiwan), but even before that happens, we need to prepare and act. We must develop our resources, organize our comrades, families, neighbors and friends, and call out the fascists for every fascist thing they do. We have to be smart, brave, and diligent. Talk to everyone you can about what’s happening in the country right now. This isn’t a future hypothetical; this is crisis, terror, tragedy, and death happening in our society right now.
Red Rabbits Recommendation - De-escalation TipsDe-escalation is a great way to keep others safe when events seem to be spinning out of control. Here are a few helpful tactics that can make your task easier.
First, ask questions that can cast yourself as an ally or non-party to the conflict. Ally questions include “How are you doing? Are you hurt?” The non-party approach would use questions like “What brings you to this event? What makes you say that this person is [whatever]?” Questions draw attention away from the source of the conflict. They can help identify the issues in play, so that you can steer the conversation. Answering questions activates different parts of the brain, which might deflate a growing fight-or-flight response. That is, if someone is answering a question, they probably won’t be punching anyone.
Second, as with any organizing activity, you need to listen empathetically. Give your undivided attention, validate feelings and reflect the communication by repeating back what they say to you, but in a more relaxed register. Don’t be afraid to wait them out - even someone who is very agitated and upset usually only has about 2 minutes of yelling in the tank before they get exhausted. If you can get them to yell at you instead of someone else, the problem might be solved.
Lastly, peel them away if you can do so while keeping yourself safe. You can do this by inventing a pretext like “I really want to hear more about … can you tell me more about it over here?” or “I have someone who might be able to help you, let’s go explain the situation to them.”
De-escalation is emotional labor, so after the event, allow yourself time to decompress and unwind. Don’t burn yourself out - we need you healthy and ready to act again! |
|
|
|
Bulletins |
|
Bulletins School Supply Drive with the Direct Service & Health Justice Committee We’re planning a school supply drive for the August 9 Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair. Chip in for supplies at our School Supply Drive Wishlist, or bring your own to our next General Meeting where we’ll assemble the kits.
Fundamentals of Workplace Organizing: EWOC Training Series on How to Unite and Win Come join Worker Power Louisiana for a four-part training on fundamental principles of effective shop-floor organizing. Sessions continue with The Arc of the Campaign (July 26), and Inoculation and the Boss Campaign (August 2). All sessions are from 3:00-4:30p Central. Sign up here to get started.
City Council Endorsement HQ Election Day is October 11 and New Orleans DSA has three endorsed members running for City Council. Keep up with Danyelle Christmas, Jackson Kimbrell, and Bob Murrell’s campaigns at Endorsement HQ. Volunteer, donate, follow on social media, and fill out the Campaign Outreach Survey to get involved.
We’ve Moved to Discord! New Orleans DSA members should get on our Discord server to keep up with your comrades and our efforts. We’ve phased out Slack and will migrate old conversations over. |
|
|
|
Community Calendar |
|
Friday, July 25 Free Palestine! Abolish ICE! Weekly Lunch Hour Rally 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm (every Friday) Immigration Court, 365 Canal St
Stop Starving Gaza Now Protest 1:00pm Intersection of Lapalco and Manhattan Blvd.
Critical Mass Ride Meet at 5:40pm, Roll at 6:30pm French Market (Barracks St. Side)
Saturday, July 26 New Orleans DSA General Meeting 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St Claude Av, Suite 258 - RSVP
Canvass for Bob Murrell, District A 200 pm - 4:00 pm
Fundamentals of Workplace Organizing: The Arc of the Campaign 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm Rosa F Keller Library, 4300 S Broad St - Sign Up
Sunday, July 27 Canvass for Bob Murrell, District A 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Chapter Orientation 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm (first and last Sunday)
Wednesday, July 30 Indivisible Wednesday ICE Protest 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm (every Wednesday) ICE Field Office, 1250 Poydras St
Friday, August 1 Free Palestine! Abolish ICE! Weekly Lunch Hour Rally 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm (every Friday) Immigration Court, 365 Canal St
Saturday, August 2 Canvass for Bob Murrell, District A 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Fundamentals of Workplace Organizing: Inoculation and the Boss Campaign 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm Rosa F Keller Library, 4300 S Broad St - Sign Up
Sunday, August 3 Canvass for Bob Murrell, District A 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Chapter Orientation 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm (first and last Sunday)
Down the Road August 5 Rank & File Project Meeting August 6 Health Justice and Direct Service Meeting August 8-10 DSA National Convention August 9 Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair August 14 Local Council Meeting August 19 Sports Drink Community Night: Local Politics August 21 Poli-Ed Reading Group October 11 Municipal Open Primary Election Day November 15 Municipal Runoff Election Day |
|
Solidarity Means Action is the weekly newsletter of the New Orleans Democratic Socialists of America. Subscribe for updates every Friday at 8:00 am Central. |
|
