ELECTION DAY: Vote for socialists in Greenbelt and Gaithersburg; occupation of DC escalates; canvassing for a free break light clinic in Brightwood; and more...
This is the weekly newsletter of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (MDC DSA), which is
produced by local members of the chapter's Publications Working Group. The Weekly Update publishes every
Friday at 9am. Want to fight fascism from the heart of empire? Join DSA and fight to build socialism!
Paid for by Metro DC DSA (mdcdsa.org). Not authorized by any candidate or committee.
UP FRONT
ELECTION DAY: Local left looks to socialist candidates in Greenbelt and Gaithersburg; DSA launching final GOTV operations and Election Day watch parties across DMV
For the past three months, Metro DC DSA has led a wide-spanning canvassing operation for chapter-endorsed socialists running for local office in Maryland’s capital district. If successful, the regional working class will have a stronger presence in local government than at any time in recent history. Victory could enable the expansion of rent control, police accountability, and reinvestments into public infrastructure long demanded by workers in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. Maryland voters can consult the state’s website to check registration status and voting locations. Maryland also has same day voter registration — if registering, bring an ID card, change of address card, pay check, bank statement, utility bill, or other government document.
In Greenbelt — long-time DSA organizer Frankie Santos Fritz is running for city council on a platform of expanding renter power, defending and growing Greenbelt’s housing cooperatives, and increasing Capital Bikeshare access across the city. Greenbelters will also be voting on whether to bring ranked choice voting to city council elections (Referendum 1) and to modify term limits from two to four years for city council members (Referendum 2).
In Gaithersburg — community activist Omo Williams is running for city council to expand tenant rights and public amenities, and to anchor the city’s activist, youth, and tenant networks to reclaim a local government long assumed to be captured by indolent capitalists.
Both Frankie and Omo are walking into election day with a large outreach advantage. Canvassing operations marshalled by Metro DC DSA have knocked over 18,000 doors across Gaithersburg and Greenbelt. Both campaigns, however, have no presumptions about victory and expect these elections to be won at the margins. Socialist canvassing operations are set to continue for both campaigns on November 1, 2, and 4:
Team Frankie: Rolling canvass launches will depart from Greenbelt Metro Station on Saturday, November 1 from 9:30am to 3pm, and Sunday, November 2 from 9:30am to 1pm (see RSVP links for rolling launch times). On Tuesday, November 4 from 9am to 5:30pm, canvasses will be launching from Frankie’s home (location provided upon RSVP). Volunteers are encouraged to join a launch time convenient for them. Over the weekend, organizers will have pizza (around noon) for volunteers who are out all day.
Team Omo: Canvassing will kick off Saturday, November 1 and Sunday, November 2 for an hourly, rolling launch starting at 10am from the Gateway Apartments at 925 Clopper Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. Canvasses will be launching every hour on the hour from 10am to 6pm. Car pools are also available from Ward 1 in DC at 10am on Sunday. DC recruits are encouraged to let the team know if transportation is needed. Organizers will also be staffing the polling site on election day, Tuesday, November 4, starting at 7am at the Activity Center at Bohrer Park, and going all day.
For GOTV weekend, organizers will be offering rides to comrades to help get them to the canvass launch locations. If you have a car and you can help provide rides, please fill out this form. And if you need a ride, please indicate in your RSVP.
As socialists in the DMV look to Maryland for a win, the country will be eyeing three high-profile races in a test of Trump’s influence in blue states. In New York City, democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani is on the verge of victory in the mayoral race. If successful, the socialists will have purged the audacious corruption of Eric Adams and the corporate-backed nihilism of Andrew Cuomo in one fell swoop. Victory will not only box out Trump from installing a puppet in America's largest city, but also catapult socialists into their strongest governing position in the country. Meanwhile, two gubernatorial races are acting as bellwethers for opposition to Republicans. In New Jersey, centrist Democrat Mikie Sherrill is running against Republican pharmaceutical propagandist Jack Cittarelli. In Virginia, ex-CIA operative Abigail Spanberger is running on the Democratic ticket against Republican populist Winsome Earle-Sears. Both races will test centrist Democrats’ ability to hold ground against Trump in friendly territory.
Occupation of DC escalates as Councilmember Nadeau hosts roundtable on human rights violations
Amid the ongoing takeover of DC, dozens of District residents testified at a public roundtable about the collaboration between the Metropolitan Police Department, ICE, and other federal law enforcement. The hearing came on the heels of the recent revelation that MPD covered up shots fired at a local resident by a Homeland Security agent.
Residents shared stories about MPD stopping their neighbors for what seemed like a traffic stop before handing them over to ICE, being told by agents that their First Amendment rights didn’t matter, young children witnessing abductions, and more — all of which point to clear human rights violations happening throughout DC since August. Councilmember Nadeau — who called the roundtable because her committee oversees DC’s human rights office — was the only councilmember in attendance for the entirety of the hearing. Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker briefly made an appearance once the testimonies shifted to virtual and a staffer from Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George’s office attended to take notes, but the other councilmembers were nowhere to be found. Mayor Bowser, meanwhile, dismissed the idea that District residents are upset with her during an event in Chevy Chase, implying that Councilmember Nadeau was holding a hearing on subject matter she doesn’t have jurisdiction over.
The empty chairs in the chamber became even more flagrant when an incident involving mass fare enforcement by federal agents at the Georgia Ave-Petworth Metro Station broke out in the afternoon. Comrades involved with Colectivo de Familias Migrantes’ Protect Families Not Feds campaign went from office to office in the Wilson building, begging DC’s elected officials to do something about the naked collaboration between the MPD, Metro Transit Police Department and federal officers. Staff members for Councilmembers Robert White and Lewis George — both of whom were out in the city at different events — contacted them, and both councilmembers were en route to the Metro station within minutes. Meanwhile, the chief of staff for Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto called building security on concerned constituents.
Trump’s invasion of DC is not going away; it’s escalating. Neighborhood networks organizing against fascist round-up operations in DC have reported expanded operations with more masked federal agents kidnapping DC residents, insulting locals, and intimidating working-class people who defy their illegal orders. Locals interested in being onboarded to community defense operations can sign up for MDC DSA’s rapid response group, a daily opportunity to get plugged in, and fill out this form to call on Pinto to hold a public hearing to provide transparency and accountability on MPD’s coordination with federal law enforcement agencies.
Attention socialist mechanics: Metro DC DSA organizing free brake light clinic in Brightwood on Saturday, November 8; canvassing operations taking place on Sunday, November 2
With collaboration between local police and federal officers ongoing in DC, the importance of building non-carceral systems of community safety has never been more apparent. On Saturday, November 8, Metro DC DSA is hosting a free brake light clinic in Brightwood Park as a way to build community support for getting police out of transportation enforcement. The clinic will be held from 11am to 4pm outside the AutoZone at 955 Longfellow St. NW, where volunteers will fix brake lights on cars for free. The process for fixing brake lights is simple and will help reduce community interactions with police while also being an opportunity to educate the community on legislation that activists are interested in passing in DC in the near future.
On Sunday, November 2, the Abolition Working Group will be hosting a training and canvass to build awareness of the clinic. At the training, volunteers will learn how to change a brake light (1 to 2pm). Volunteers will then embark to canvass and wheatpaste local neighborhoods (2 to 4pm) and invite residents to the brake light clinic. The meeting spot for the training and canvassing will be in the AutoZone parking lot. RSVP for Sunday using this sign-up form. Anyone interested in getting their brake light fixed at the clinic on November 8 can fill out a repair request form for the clinic.
BRIEFS
Member review and feedback of MDC DSA draft program requested
Metro DC DSA’s Program Development Commission is requesting feedback on the draft of the chapter program released at the chapter’s October General Body Meeting. Metro DC DSA’s Program Development Commission, which was approved by a vote of the chapter last year, is tasked with developing a clear political program to guide Metro DC DSA’s organizing work over the next two years. The program will be used to develop red lines in engaging with elected officials, guiding and apportioning chapter resources, and clarifying the DSA’s position across several issues for voters.
Members with feedback on the program guide draft can submit their thoughts in multiple ways: by connecting with the commission in #programdevelopmentcommission in the chapter Slack, by joining their recurring meetings on Wednesdays at 8:30pm, by submitting thoughts through their feedback form, or by submitting an amendment for chapter approval. Smaller suggestions and revisions should be submitted to the form, while substantial feedback should be submitted as an amendment. Comrades unsure of which category their feedback falls into can reach out for guidance. There will be one month for debates and proposed amendments before the program guide will be voted on by the chapter for approval at local convention.
Update on the 2026 primaries endorsement process
The Metro DC DSA Political Engagement Committee received 10 endorsement resolutions with 5 or more sponsors by the deadline of October 27, out of the 13 campaigns that sent in endorsement questionnaires. In no particular order, the campaigns that have endorsement resolutions are:
Hina Ansari, House of Representatives (Virginia District 10)
Deirdre Brown, House of Representatives (DC Delegate)
Oye Owolewa, District of Columbia Council (At-Large)
Leniqua’dominique Jenkins, District of Columbia Council (At-Large)
Aparna Raj, District of Columbia Council (Ward 1)
Raaheela Ahmed, Maryland State Senate (District 23)
Gabe Acevero, Maryland House of Delegates (District 39)
Josie Caballero, Montgomery County Council (At-Large)
Izola Shaw, Montgomery County Council (District 3)
Imara Crooms, Prince George’s County Council (District 9)
The next step in the endorsement process will be a first read of these endorsement resolutions at the MDC DSA General Body Meeting on Sunday, November 9. Members seeking more information should visit #electoral in the chapter Slack.
Trade unionists in Ashburn launch practice picket with Starbucks Workers United — TODAY, October 31 at 1pm
In Northern Virginia, workers at a Starbucks in Ashbrook are preparing to fight for a fair labor contract. To prepare for potential escalation, Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) and Metro DC DSA are planning a practice picket at the Ashbrook Union Store today, October 31 at 1pm. Those interested in joining the fight in any capacity, big or small, should fill out this intake form. The union is also calling for comrades to sign the “No Contract, No Coffee” pledge to show support to baristas in their fight for a union and a fair contract by promising not to cross the picket line.
RESCHEDULED pre-convention discussion for Metro DC DSA members — Thursday, November 6, 6pm
Leading up to the Metro DC DSA convention in December, members are convening for deeper discussions. On Thursday, November 6, from 6 to 8pm, gather at Friend’s Meeting Place in DC for the first of several town halls to discuss the political landscape, perform some conjunctural analysis, assess the chapter’s strategic tasks and overall directions, and assess reforms to help the chapter’s development. RSVP here.
Metro DC DSA Street Team Monthly Meeting — Saturday, November 8, 1pm
Join the Metro DC DSA Street Team at its next monthly meeting on Saturday, November 8 from 1 to 2:30pm at MLK Memorial Library, room 205-B, to learn how to build power and visibility for the chapter’s working groups at upcoming community events in the DMV. Organizers of all experience levels are welcome to discuss topics ranging from event coordination to talking about socialism and connecting prospective members to the chapter. The working group’s mission is to expand the chapter’s base and build a more democratic society by listening to residents talk about what’s going on in their everyday lives and connecting them to the chapter. RSVP here to attend this monthly in-person meeting.
MDC DSA’s Bodily Autonomy Working Group conducting outreach for upcoming abortion access teach-in
Metro DC DSA’s Bodily Autonomy Working Group will be embarking on Sunday, November 2 and Sunday, November 9 to wheatpaste in preparation for the working group’s DC Abortion Access Teach-In. All socialists, progressives, leftists, and allies are welcome to participate in outreach. Volunteers can RSVP for November 2 here and November 9 here to get plugged in.
The teach-in, taking place Thursday, November 20 at 7pm, will take place at the MLK Library, with virtual access also available. The event will educate attendees on the research compiled by the working group on access to abortion, birth control, and reproductive health in the DMV, which will soon be distributed publicly across the region. This event is MASK MANDATORY, with happy hour to follow at Rocket Bar at 8pm. RSVP here.
DC Spanish Club for Socialists holding weekly meetup in Adams Morgan — next session on Monday, November 3, 7pm
Spanish Club for Socialists, a project of multiple area socialist and mutual aid organizations including Metro DC DSA, is a free weekly event where organizers meet up to practice their Spanish. The event is about 90 minutes long and is split into beginner, intermediate, and advanced groups, so learners of all levels should feel welcome. The next session is scheduled for Monday, November 3 from 7 to 8:30pm at Potter’s House (1658 Columbia Rd NW). Sign up here for calendar updates and conversation guides.
Dance, dance, and revolution — Metro DC DSA organizing a Latin dance social next Thursday, November 6, 6:30pm
On Thursday, November 6, everyone is invited to attend the Metro DC DSA Latin dance social at Right Proper Brewing from 6:30 – 9pm for an introductory Bachata dance class, followed by a night of Latin music. Whether they’re taking their first dance step or have been a constant bachatero, socialists of all skill levels are encouraged to come out for great music, food, and drinks. RSVP here.
Keep up with the fight for public power: Follow We Power on social media
Socialists are organizing for a power utility that serves District residents, not corporate interests and fossil fuel capital. Follow We Power, Metro DC DSA’s public utility campaign, on social media to track current fights, discover opportunities to get involved, and spread the word to your followers.
SNAP: What’s happening and how to give or receive support
The US government is not “out of funds.” While the federal government is shut down, the Trump administration is refusing to allocate money to continue funding SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), with current funding set to expire at the end of October. The lapse on November 1 would be the first in the program’s 60-year history.
Approximately 42 million Americans rely on SNAP each month to purchase food, including infant formula. More than half of these households include children, and more than a quarter are elderly people living alone. (More data here.) Nearly one in five DC residents utilize SNAP, along with nearly 680,000 residents in Maryland; contradicting a common right-wing talking point, 77% of food-insecure individuals in Maryland are employed. Late breaking: Mayor Bowser confirmed yesterday that DC would be covering November SNAP and WIC benefits to ensure no loss of coverage for DC residents.
There are $6 billion in emergency contingency funds available for use by the Trump administration to continue funding SNAP. But in the midst of rising inflation, stagnated wages, accelerating costs for food and housing, and increasing un- and under-employment, the administration is refusing, instead opting to play games with the well-being of people in need. Letting people go hungry is part of the agenda to continue criminalizing America’s working class while more taxpayer dollars and billionaire funds go to ICE, Israel, the prison industrial complex, and capital.
The DMV continues to be under siege by militarist authoritarians. Want to fight fascism from the heart of the empire? Join DSA and fight to build socialism! We’re the alternative that works for people, not profiteers and their captive politicians. MDC DSA spans NoVA, DC and the big Maryland suburbs – yep, the “heart of empire.” Know more this way: no matter how deep your preferred dive into exploring MDC DSA, start with the next sessions of our “Why You Should Join DSA/New Member Orientation” — an in-person version on Wednesday, November 12 at 6:30pm followed the next week by a virtual version on Wednesday, November 19 at 7pm. Our anytime resources: You can learn about the Metro DC chapter — DMV branches, working groups, campaigns, current activities, and enduring values — right here. Members are encouraged to join our Slack for real-time info on working group and campaign events, strategy/tactic exchange, and inspiration. Email [email protected] with your most recent DSA dues receipt to get access.
Staying current with MDC DSA — Weekly Updates, like the one you are reading, are inboxed every Friday; current and past Updates are available anytime on our website. The MDC Dispatch is the chapter’s new video news series, published on the first and third Sunday of each month. Submit your Update or Dispatch suggestions (or DMV scandal tips) to our tip line. The Washington Socialist, published since the 1970s, offers in-depth analytical/opinion articles on a quarterly schedule; part one of the Fall 2025 issue is available now. Anyone, MDC DSA member or not, interested in contributing to the Washington Socialist can email submissions or questions to [email protected]. Members, look in on us or join at #publications on Slack.
DMV LEFT COMMUNITY BULLETIN
Pollinator Garden Demonstrations on November 1 and 8 | DC Natives
DC Natives is hosting this two-part workshop series. The first is happening tomorrow, Saturday, November 1 at 10am and will be a hands-on session on site/soil preparation and garden design. The second is happening next Saturday, November 8 at 11am and will cover everything you need to know about planting your pollinator garden. RSVP here.
Palestinian Food and Identity on November 2 | Bold Fork Books
This workshop with Jinan Deena will discuss the history of Palestinian cuisine, effects of the occupation and recent genocide on food sovereignty, reclaiming food, and boycotts and ethical consumption. Small bites and drinks will be served. Get tickets here.
Solidarity Economy Social Hour on November 6 | Beloved Community Incubator
The Solidarity Economy Social Hour is an informal space to build relationships with fellow organizers in the solidarity economy, in hopes of linking various communities and projects together. All are welcome! Join Beloved Community Incubator on Thursday, November 6 from 6 to 9pm at Hi-Lawn. RSVP here.
Celebration of life for Suzanne Crowell | Sunday, November 9, 2pm
One of the founders of Metro DC DSA, Suzanne Crowell was long active in the civil rights and labor movements, as well as serving as an advocate in the DC and federal governments. Suzanne, who died of esophageal cancer in Brunswick, Maine, on June 15, never wavered in her commitment to democratic socialism. The event will be held at the Blair East Club Room, 1220 East West Highway in Silver Spring. Parking is available in the Giant parking lot or across the highway, and at the Montgomery County parking garage near the Silver Spring Metro Station. Guests are requested to text RSVPs to 202-257-3321 or 202-262-1312.
ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVES
ESSENTIAL PERSPECTIVES are articles and opinion pieces of
interest to DMV leftists but not, generally, appearing in local media.
They should have links without paywalls. Readers are invited to submit
candidates at our tip line.
Bleak and Desolate Shelves | What Starvation Looks Like in Gaza
Starvation is not just an abstract idea; it is a kind of hell, and in Gaza it was enacted by design. From the beginning of the genocide, Israeli ministers spoke of their intent to cut off aid and food, and many families struggled to find a single meal a day. The Drift
The Age of De-skilling
“As knowledge expands, it no longer resides equally in every head. In small bands, anyone could track game, gather plants, and make fire. But as societies scaled up after the agrarian revolution, crafts and guilds proliferated—toolmakers who could forge an edge that held, masons who knew how to keep a vault from collapsing, glassblowers who refined closely guarded recipes and techniques. Skills once lodged in the body moved into tools and rose into institutions. Over time, the division of labor became, inevitably, a division of cognitive labor.” A wonderful walk-through of how we use our tools (including our latest, AI) as they, in effect, use us to make our culture. With care, humans will win. “We can’t put the [AI] genie back in the bottle; we can decide what spells to have it cast.” The Atlantic via Portside
Where have all the new jobs gone?
Job creation has come to a near halt. What explains employers’ reluctance to create new jobs in an expanding economy? Dollars and Sense via Portside
From his number-crunching, [author Luke] Kemp is able to identify certain commonalities that attend societal collapse — including an ever-widening inequity between classes and a resistance to cultural diversity. In averaging out the predictions of various scholars, he arrives at a one-in-three chance of global collapse by the conclusion of the 21st century. “Goliath’s Curse" feels something like reading the French economist Thomas Piketty filtered through “Mad Max: Fury Road.” NYT
Patron Supported Journalism Can't be the Future of News
Substack provides an outlet for left journalists in this time of media cutbacks — but it is no solution for the absence of online and print news outlets. Anna Marie Cox writes about the contradictions of the model in TPM (Talking Points Memo), concluding: "The question we need to consider is not just ‘how does good journalism survive’ but how can journalism model survival? Personally, I believe the way forward looks like collectives and worker-owned publications. To survive in late capitalism will take being anti-capitalist in practice in form and not just as a critical stance."
When we win: Stories from the frontlines of ecological resistance
It is easy to fall into despair these days, as horror after horror unfolds. Yet popular movements are still capable of winning significant victories. Winona LaDuke writes in Barnraiser of the success of the Native struggle to get rid of dams on the Klamath River. She notes that "as I stood there and looked at the land, I did not hear the sound of a big truck rumbling nearby or a tree falling. I took a big breath, because sometimes we win. Remember that the dams are gone. Remember that."
This is the weekly newsletter of the Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America (MDC DSA), which is produced by
local members of the chapter's Publications working group. The Weekly Update publishes every Friday at
9am.
Paid for by Metro DC DSA (mdcdsa.org). Not authorized by any candidate or committee.
The flame of thought, the magnificence of art, the wonder of discovery, and the audacity of invention
all belong to revolutionary periods when humanity, tired of its chains, shatters them and stops inebriated to
breathe the breeze of a vast and free horizon. - Virgilia D'Andrea
Sent via ActionNetwork.org.
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