Features

You Deserve a Union! Come Learn How to Organize for One!

Tomorrow at 3:00-4:30 pm, DSA organizers will meet at the New Orleans Nora Navra Library, 1902 St. Bernard Ave., with individuals interested in labor organizing, learning about labor organizing, and meeting with labor allies in the New Orleans area. Everyone from every experience level is welcome, whether you are newly curious about the labor movement, or you are a seasoned organizer.

Labor unions are a step toward workplace and economic democracy. The past few years have illustrated how much the US struggles with capitalist powers that control our political system. Radical change is needed at the grassroots level to save working people. In addition to challenging this power imbalance, union participation can immediately change your workplace as you know it. If you think a labor union is “not for you” or “doesn’t work” in your industry, please come anyway! The organized labor landscape is changing tremendously in the US, and we need everyone to get involved.

We are also putting on a labor organizing in-person training series starting on July 12, in which we will host an in-person showing of the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee’s (EWOC) live training seminar, along with time to discuss and exchange ideas with fellow labor organizers. We will encourage people to sign up on June 7, but if you would like to secure your spot ahead of time, please go to https://workerorganizing.org/training/.

Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair is Around the Corner!

Join us next Saturday, June 14, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at 4961 N Claiborne Ave. for our Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair. We can check and change your brake light, share food and cold drinks, take your blood pressure, connect you to community health resources, and chat about achieving socialist revolution together. We also put together gift bags and other goodies to distribute as well!

Wanna volunteer? We can teach you how to change brake lights day-of and always have other little tasks available to make the event the best it can be, so don’t be afraid to come by to lend a hand. Sign up here to volunteer.

See you next Saturday!

How Did We Become The Oddities? -Andy L

As our good friend William Gibson reminds us: “the future is already here… it’s just not evenly distributed.” The end goal of the prison abolitionists (building a world where we don’t have police) shows itself in the wealthy, well resourced neighborhoods of rich folks – you almost never see the cops there. This is what calls us to socialism. We want to build that better world for everyone, not just for those who can afford it.

As it turns out, we can all afford it, and the way we’ll build that world is through the democratic method, the method of discussion, criticism, persuasion and education, and not by the method of coercion or repression. We cannot compel people to give up idealism, any more than we can force them to embrace Marxism.* We see the injustices of homelessness, of Palestine, of people treating others in a way they wouldn’t dare treat their own mothers. This is the world that we’re fighting to change.

Society is full of seemingly good people, yet this basic extension of humanity to EVERYONE escapes them. We need to talk to them, try to get to the root of what went wrong in their lives, and get them back on track. I’m not talking about deep psychotherapy, just listening to them (mostly listening), talking to them, and helping them work through some of the contradictions they’ve internalized growing up in a capitalistic society. None of us started out as socialists; we had help getting to where we are now. To pay it back, you need to help others along the path. Socialists aren’t the oddities – we’re the ones who are still in touch with enough of our humanity that we want the whole world to become more fully human.**

* Mao

** Marx

Red Rabbits Recommendation – Don’t Feed The Trolls

When we’re out at a protest/march/event, there will sometimes be counterprotesters. It’s important not to engage with them. They are there to distract us from the purpose of our event and dissipate the energy there. Remember – gathering in groups gives power to the group: if you’re alone in the tall grass and you hear a tiger, you get afraid. If you’re there with ten of your comrades, you say, “let’s get that tiger!”

We’re social beings – it’s hardwired into us over tens of thousands of years, and you can feel that energy when you’re gathered together and focused on a task. Don’t let a bunch of ding-dongs take that away from you. Let the protest marshals take care of any counterprotesters – that’s why we have them at events. Any time you spend with the trolls is time you’re not focusing on the event speakers, the calls to action, or your fellow comrades. You can go home and argue online as much as you want, but when you’re at an event, do yourself a favor and recharge yourself on the energy flowing through the space. Don’t give the trolls a second thought.

Bulletins

Recommendation to Vote for Erica Johnson on June 14

At our May GM, the chapter voted to recommend Erica Johnson for Crescent Soil and Water Conservation District. Click the link above to find your polling place – it’s probably not the one you usually go to.

Support our Endorsed Candidates for City Council

Our chapter voted to endorse three candidates in this year’s City Council races. Now, it’s up to us to help get our members into those seats! Check out our newly launched Endorsement HQ to find up-to-date info on all of our endorsed candidates! Take a minute to follow them on social media, donate to their campaigns, and volunteer using the links provided. Also, fill out our (very brief) Campaign Outreach Survey and let us know how you can best get involved.

We’re on Bluesky!

New Orleans DSA is now on Bluesky! Give the account a follow and get the latest chapter news.

Political Education Committee Reading Group

The Political Education Committee’s book for the month is The Jakarta Method by Vincent Bevins. Whether you finish the book, only part of it, or just want to hang out for discussion, come by Oak St. Brewery, 8201 Oak St., on June 19 at 7:00 pm.

Nominations for 2025-2026 Local Council

Local Council is our democratically elected chapter leadership with responsibility for managing the overall direction of the chapter. Local Council consists of two co-chairs, one membership chair, one secretary, one treasurer, two at-large members, a steward for each of the official committees, and a representative of each administrative or currently-chartered campaign group. For a complete description, see our chapter bylaws. To nominate yourself or someone else, fill out this form.

Submissions Open for 2025 Local Convention

New Orleans DSA’s annual Local Convention will be June 28. Submissions can include proposals to amend bylaws, resolutions for new campaigns, or they can be for other chapter business. Reach out to Jack RS for information on how to write a resolution, and stay tuned for a resolution writing workshop ahead of convention. Be sure to RSVP for the Local Convention here.

Municipal Action Committee Wants You!

MAC currently has 2 vacant co-chair positions. While they aren’t strictly defined roles, we think it would be extremely useful to have one that is focused on electoral work, such as coordinating with our endorsed candidates, and one that is focused on civic engagement, such as keeping tabs on our various city governmental institutions. If either of these areas interest you, please shoot an email to hello@dsaneworleans.org or find Charlie B on Slack!

Chapter Merchandise Available Now!

Support and rep your favorite socialist organization with merch! Help us fundraise to send our delegates to DSA’s biennial National Convention, move into a new space by ordering a shirt, or just give us feedback on what items you might want to see in the future. Check it out at bit.ly/dsanola-merch.

Announcing our National Convention delegates!

Congratulations to John L, Emmanuel S, Benjamin H, Wash F, Jack RS, Amelie D, and Aspen W on their election as delegates to National Convention. They will represent our chapter at the highest decision making body of DSA in Chicago this summer. Thank you to all our candidates for running.

Community Calendar

Friday, June 6

12:00-12:45p Free Palestine! Abolish ICE! Weekly Lunch Hour Rally – NOLA ICE Field Office, 1250 Poydras St.

Saturday, June 7

10:00a-12:00p Canvassing (Danyelle Christmas, District E) – Get involved

1:00-4:00p Canvassing (Bob Murrell, District A) – Signup

3:00-4:30p You Deserve a Union! – Nora Navra Library Conference Room, 1902 St. Bernard Ave.

Sunday, June 8

10:00a-12:00p Canvassing (Danyelle Christmas, District E) – Get involved

1:00-4:00p Canvassing (Bob Murrell, District A) – Signup

Tuesday, June 10

6:00-7:00p DSA Chapter Orientation – Zoom

Thursday, June 12

5:30-6:30p Red Rabbits Working Group: Convention Prep

6:00-7:30p Local Council Meeting – Meet

Friday, June 13

12:00-12:45p Free Palestine! Abolish ICE! Weekly Lunch Hour Rally – NOLA ICE Field Office, 1250 Poydras St.

6:00-8:00p Toxic Legacies: Environmental Racism & Resistance in Louisiana – Café Istanbul, 2372 St Claude Ave., Room 252

Saturday, June 14

8:00a-6:00p Election for Crescent Soil and Water Conservation District – Find your polling place

10:00a-12:00p No Kings Counter-Parade & Protest – Lafayette Square, 550 St. Charles Ave.

11:00a-2:00p Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair – 4961 N. Claiborne Ave.

Sunday, June 15

9:00a-12:00p Canvassing (Jackson Kimbrell, District C) – Get involved

Down the Road

June 17 Sports Drink Community Night: Politics Edition – Sports Drink, 1042 Toledano Ave.

June 19 Political Education Committee Reading Group – Oak St. Brewery, 8201 Oak St.

June 28 New Orleans DSA Local Convention – New Orleans, RSVP here

August 8-10 DSA National Convention – Chicago

October 11 Municipal Election Day – Open Primary

November 15 Municipal Election Day – Runoff

Complete Calendar

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.

Features

Comrades and Canvassing – Lauren J

New Orleans DSA is endorsing three chapter members in city council races. Let’s talk about the power of canvassing and the power that our membership has to help candidates win.

Over the years, New Orleans DSA members have canvassed to build power across our city and state. Canvassing is simply going door-to-door and talking to people about the issues. For elections, that can mean informing them about ballot measures and candidates. Canvassing tends to be the most effective voter outreach – even more than phone banking, sign waving, or social media – because voters tend to remember when you show up on their porch, after walking two miles in New Orleans humidity, to ask for their vote! That effect is even greater when you apply a strategic and consistent approach, like targeting registered and chronic voters in high turn-out precincts.

Powerful, member-driven organizations canvass. Our Make Entergy Pay campaign canvasses about the importance of safe and reliable utilities, asking people to join our Entergy debt strike. Even before I joined DSA, I canvassed with my comrades in the UTNO teachers’ union for New Orleans DSA member Marguerite Green’s run for Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture.

The act of direct voter-to-voter contact has remained an important tactic for our chapter as we have ventured into more electoral work. New Orleans DSA members have canvassed for endorsed candidates Mandie Landry, Davante Lewis, Bob Murrell, Devin Davis, Gabriela Biro, and me, with many of these efforts resulting in victories. Even when they have not, our canvassing work still builds power down the line and furthers our chapter’s work. Canvassing was also successfully employed by several of our members who ran for positions on the Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC) and local Democratic Parish Executive Committees (DPECs) in spring 2024. Every time we put in the work to build a strong electoral campaign, we set the foundation for work later on.

Now it’s time for us to provide the material support we committed to for the City Council campaigns of endorsed members Danyelle Christmas (District E), Jackson Kimbrell (District C), and Bob Murrell (District A). Let’s hit the streets and empower our neighbors to build a city that works for all of us. Together, our voices are powerful.

Not All Milestones Are Good – Andy L

We passed a dubious milestone recently: the 800th flight of US weapons sent to Israel since October 2023 landed on Tuesday. Sure, there was medical equipment and personal protective gear as well, but most of the supplies were bombs and armored vehicles. 90,000 tons of them.

Stick with me here for a little math. The area of the Gaza Strip is 141 square miles. New Orleans (the land part) is 169 square miles, so we’re about 20% bigger than Gaza. 20% more weapons would be 108,000 tons. 108,000 tons divided by 169 square miles is 639 tons per square mile. As it turns out, there are 640 acres in a square mile, so let’s restate that result as one ton (2,000 lb) per acre. (Stick with me, we’re almost there). A typical plot in the city is 30’ wide by 150’ deep, which is 1/10 of an acre. So what we’ve done is given Israel the equivalent of a 200 lb bomb for every house in New Orleans.

That level of destruction still has not broken the Palestinian people. Israel has lost the war. They cannot defeat the Palestinians – they can only kill them. If you haven’t been doing it already, it’s time to talk to your friends about Palestine. Public opinion is turning against Israel, and one way we can accelerate that is by having sincere, patient, informed conversations with our peers. The Al-Aqsa Flood was 600 days ago, so there has been ample time for folks to realize what we’re doing to the Palestinians.

And I say “we” because this genocide is funded by, supplied by, and diplomatically protected by the U.S. Just as Germany will forever be tied to the Holocaust, the US will be permanently tied to the Gazan genocide.

Liberate Palestine.

Red Rabbits Recommendation – Mask Up!

Masking is one of those special activities that is good for you and good for others, which means that we should be doing more of it. We all know the public health benefits: keeping whatever’s inside you closer to you, so that you don’t spread it to others – while also slowing down anything let loose by someone else. What you might not have thought about is masking up for security reasons. Cops waste our tax dollars on security cameras, drones, facial recognition software, and all kinds of other expensive toys rather than investing in our communities with more teachers, smooth roads, and neighborhood clinics. However, something as simple as a face mask can frustrate that technology. Keep your masks simple but effective – that fully-blinged out Saints mask may be the bee’s knees, but it is also identifiable, and therefore traceable. We owe it to each other to not make anything easy for the pigs. Stay smart. Stay safe.

Bulletins

May General Membership Meeting Saturday

Our monthly GM will be this Saturday at 12:00 pm in room 204 of the Healing Center (2372 St. Claude). We will be hearing from the candidates running for delegate to August’s National Convention. We’ll also hear from members returning from a delegation to Cuba. We’ll discuss our upcoming Local Convention, the DSA Fund’s How We Win Conference, and get committee updates and more. RSVP here and request a proxy if you’re unable to attend.

Support our Endorsed Candidates for City Council

Our chapter voted to endorse three candidates in this year’s City Council races. Now, it’s up to us to help get our members into those seats! Check out our newly launched Endorsement HQ to find up-to-date info on all of our endorsed candidates! Take a minute to follow them on social media, donate to their campaigns, and volunteer using the links provided. Also, fill out our (very brief) Campaign Outreach Survey and let us know how you can best get involved.

Nominations for Delegates to National Convention

We have 10 members who are running for delegates to National Convention. DSA National Convention will be August 8-10 in Chicago. Chapter delegates and at-large delegates from across the country meet to set our course for the following two years and elect our new National Political Committee (NPC), which functions as DSA’s highest decision-making body between conventions. The nominees will be introduced at the General Membership meeting. After the General Membership meeting, everyone will receive an OpaVote link to vote over a 5-day period. You can view the candidate statements here

Nominations for 2025-2026 Local Council

Local Council is our democratically elected chapter leadership with responsibility for managing the overall direction of the chapter. Local Council consists of two co-chairs, one membership chair, one secretary, one treasurer, two at-large members, a steward for each of the official committees, and a representative of each administrative or currently-chartered campaign group. For a complete description, see our chapter bylaws. To nominate yourself or someone else, email a candidate statement to hello@dsaneworleans.org.

Submissions Open for 2025 Local Convention

New Orleans DSA’s annual Local Convention will be June 28. Submissions can include proposals to amend bylaws, resolutions for new campaigns, or they can be for other chapter business. Reach out to Jack RS for information on how to write a resolution, and stay tuned for a resolution writing workshop ahead of convention.

Municipal Action Committee Wants You! 🫵

MAC currently has 2 vacant co-chair positions. While they aren’t strictly defined roles, we think it would be extremely useful to have one that is focused on electoral work, such as coordinating with our endorsed candidates, and one that is focused on civic engagement, such as keeping tabs on our various city governmental institutions. If either of these areas interest you, please shoot an email to hello@dsaneworleans.org or find Charlie B on Slack!

Chapter Merchandise Available Now!

Support and rep your favorite socialist organization with merch! Help us fundraise to send our delegates to DSA’s biennial National Convention, move into a new space by ordering a shirt, or just give us feedback on what items you might want to see in the future. Check it out at bit.ly/dsanola-merch.

Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair

We’re co-hosting our next Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair with member and endorsed City Council District E candidate Danyelle Christmas. Join us on Saturday, June 14, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at 4961 N Claiborne Ave. Sign up here to volunteer.

Political Education Committee Reading Group

The Political Education Committee’s book for the month is The Jakarta Method by Vincent Bevins. Whether you finish the book, only part of it, or just want to hang out for discussion, come by Oak St. Brewery, 8201 Oak St., on June 19 at 7:00 pm.

Community Calendar

Friday, May 30

12:00-12:45p Free Palestine! Abolish ICE! Weekly Lunch Hour Rally – NOLA ICE Field Office, 1250 Poydras St.

Saturday, May 31

11:00a-3:00p Peace by Piece Youth and Family Wellness Day – Conrad Park, 3400 Hamilton St.

12:00-2:00p New Orleans DSA General Meeting – New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St. Claude Ave. Room 204 – RSVP

2:30-4:30p Canvassing (Bob Murrell, District A) – Signup

Sunday, June 1

9:00a-12:00p Canvassing (Jackson Kimbrell, District C)

11:00a-1:00p Listwork Session – Coffee Science, 410 S. Broad St.

1:00-4:00p Canvassing (Bob Murrell, District A) – Signup

Monday, June 2

6:00-7:30p Make Entergy Pay Campaign Meeting – Care Forgot Beercraft, 1728 St. Charles Ave.

Wednesday, June 4

5:00-6:00p Health Justice and Direct Service Meeting – Zoom

6:00-8:00p VOTE New Orleans Monthly Meeting – VOTE New Orleans, 4930 Washington Ave. Suite A

Thursday, June 5

7:00-8:30p Political Education Committee Planning Meeting – Meet

Friday, June 6

12:00-12:45p Free Palestine! Abolish ICE! Weekly Lunch Hour Rally – NOLA ICE Field Office, 1250 Poydras St.

Saturday, June 7

1:00-4:00p Canvassing (Bob Murrell, District A) – Signup

Sunday, June 8

1:00-4:00p Canvassing (Bob Murrell, District A) – Signup

Down the Road

June 12 Drinking Liberally Socially – Location TBD

June 14 Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair – 4961 N. Claiborne Ave.

June 14 No Kings Counter-Parade & Protest – Lafayette Square, 550 St. Charles Ave.

June 17 Sports Drink Community Night: Politics Edition – Sports Drink, 1042 Toledano Ave.

June 19 Political Education Committee Reading Group – Oak St. Brewery, 8201 Oak St.

June 28 New Orleans DSA Local Convention – New Orleans

August 8-10 DSA National Convention – Chicago

October 11 Municipal Election Day – Open Primary

November 15 Municipal Election Day – Runoff

Complete Calendar

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.

Features

The South United: Power in Numbers – Wash F

Yesterday, over 300 protesters trekked to the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Jena to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil. Our state is the second largest immigration detention hub in the country, and these jails are notoriously inhumane. ICE kidnapped the Columbia University student two months ago for his pro-Palestine advocacy. Since then, his wife has given birth alone. When she traveled to visit him in the hopes he could hold his newborn – something federal policy encourages – ICE refused to allow it. All of this because he dared to advocate for human rights and the end of the Palestinian genocide.

Protestors piled into buses from New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, and Austin, and more drove in from Shreveport, Alexandria, and elsewhere. They came representing the Palestinian Youth Movement, Jewish Voice for Peace, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Southeast Dignity Not Detention, and New Orleans Stop Helping Israel’s Ports (NOSHIP). You can check out more photos and videos from the march on NOLA 4 Palestine’s Instagram.

We must never stop fighting for an end to ICE’s inhumane, racist, xenophobic, and blatantly cruel actions, both for political prisoners like Mahmoud Khalil and for the immigrants facing an uptick in raids and other attacks by our current administration. Freedom for all – the people demand it!

Bulletins

Nominations for Delegates to National Convention: DEADLINE TOMORROW

If you’re interested in being one of our seven New Orleans delegates, please fill out this form by tomorrow, May 24th. DSA National Convention will be August 8-10 in Chicago. Chapter delegates and at-large delegates from across the country meet to set our course for the following two years and elect our new National Political Committee (NPC), which functions as DSA’s highest decision-making body between conventions. After nominations, everyone will receive an OpaVote link to vote.

May General Membership Meeting Next Saturday

Our monthly GM will be Saturday, May 31st, at 12:00 pm, in room 204 of the Healing Center (2372 St. Claude). We will be hearing from the candidates running for delegate to August’s National Convention. We’ll also hear from members returning from a delegation to Cuba. We’ll discuss our upcoming Local Convention, the DSA Fund’s How We Win Conference, and get committee updates and more. RSVP here and request a proxy if you’re unable to attend.

Nominations for 2025-2026 Local Council

Local Council is our democratically elected chapter leadership with responsibility for managing the overall direction of the chapter. Local Council consists of two co-chairs, one membership chair, one secretary, one treasurer, two at-large members, a steward for each of the official committees, and a representative of each administrative or currently-chartered campaign group. For a complete description, see our chapter bylaws. To nominate yourself or someone else, email a candidate statement to hello@dsaneworleans.org.

Submissions Open for 2025 Local Convention

New Orleans DSA’s annual Local Convention will be June 28. Submissions can include proposals to amend bylaws, resolutions for new campaigns, or they can be for other chapter business. Reach out to Jack RS for information on how to write a resolution, and stay tuned for a resolution writing workshop ahead of convention.

Chapter Merch Available Now!

Support and rep your favorite socialist organization with merch! Help us fundraise to send our delegates to DSA’s biennial National Convention, move into a new space by ordering a shirt, or just give us feedback on what items you might want to see in the future. Check it out at bit.ly/dsanola-merch.

Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair

We’re co-hosting our next Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair with member and endorsed City Council District E candidate Danyelle Christmas. Join us on Saturday, June 14, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at 4961 N Claiborne Ave. Sign up here to volunteer.

Community Calendar

Friday, May 23

12:00-12:45p Free Palestine! Abolish ICE! Weekly Lunch Hour Rally – NOLA ICE Field Office, 1250 Poydras St.

Saturday, May 24

1:00-4:00p Canvassing (Bob Murrell, District A) – Signup

Sunday, May 25

1:00-4:00p Canvassing (Bob Murrell, District A) – Signup

5:00p George Floyd National Day of Action March Against Executive Order 14288 – City Hall, 1300 Perdido St.

Wednesday, May 28

7:00-8:00p Municipal Action Committee Meeting – Meet

Thursday, May 29

5:30-6:30p Gaby Biro OPSB End of Year Community Town Hall – East New Orleans Regional Library, 5641 Read Blvd.

Friday, May 30

12:00-12:45p Free Palestine! Abolish ICE! Weekly Lunch Hour Rally – NOLA ICE Field Office, 1250 Poydras St.

Saturday, May 31

11:00a-3:00p Peace by Piece Youth and Family Wellness Day – Conrad Park, 3400 Hamilton St.

12:00-2:00p New Orleans DSA General Meeting – New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St. Claude Ave. Room 204 – RSVP

2:00-5:00p Canvassing (Bob Murrell, District A) – Signup

Sunday, June 1

9:00a-12:00p Canvassing (Jackson Kimbrell, District C)

11:00a-1:00p Listwork Session – Coffee Science, 410 S. Broad St.

1:00-4:00p Canvassing (Bob Murrell, District A) – Signup

Down the Road

June 14 Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair – 4961 N. Claiborne Ave.

June 28 New Orleans DSA Local Convention – New Orleans

August 8-10 DSA National Convention – Chicago

October 11 Municipal Election Day – Open Primary

November 15 Municipal Election Day – Runoff

Complete Calendar

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.

Features

Fascism Doesn’t Belong in New Orleans, and We Should Start Acting Like It – Bob M

Recently, a performer with Waka Flocka at the Ohm Lounge wore a swastika on stage. A group of Nazis yelled “white power” and threw Nazi salutes walking down Decatur. Outside of John Stanton’s Nazis FAFO article, these displays have met little to no outcry from public officials or prominent community members. If there’s a room full of people not immediately leaving or interrupting a show when a fascist symbol of hate is adorned, what does that say about our city?

We must loudly reject fascism’s presence in New Orleans. While ICE abducts a child with cancer months after they were hanging out on the St. Charles parade route, how does this make you feel? Will the people claiming it’s antisemitic to oppose the genocide in Gaza loudly condemn the owner not shutting down the performance featuring a swastika? When Nazi symbols start appearing more in our city, will you be a patron at the Kit Kat Klub in Cabaret while fascism floods all around you, letting the good times roll?

Local cyclist Eric Gabourel’s piece about punching fascists speaks about how fighting fascism isn’t just about literally fighting them. We need unions and electeds to stand against fascism, not just in word but in action. City Council releases statements about the mayor’s travel patterns but not condemning skinheads doing Nazi salutes on Decatur. At venues that allow symbols of hate, workers need to organize and shut them down until they are safe. Neighbors in the French Quarter and CBD should picket places that patronize fascists. People who are outraged should join organizations fighting fascism. Thankfully, people have been marching and rallying. If you haven’t joined them, then show up to the next one. Mass movements require a mass of people, so get your mass out there!

Resistance to fascism is in the very soil of New Orleans. We brag about fighting fascists at the WW2 Museum but hear nary a word about the club blocks away hosting a performer wearing a swastika. We honor the French and Spanish heritage of our city but dishonor their fights against fascism. When we uplift the heroes in the struggle against Jim Crow, we must continue their legacy of resistance.

Let’s do better, New Orleans. Only you can prevent fascism.

Help Public Sector Unions Defeat State Anti-Labor Bills

New Orleans City Workers Union AFSCME Local 2349, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers (LFT), and the Louisiana Association of Educators (LAE) are calling on you to denounce HB 293 at the state legislature. HB 293 has moved out of the House and has reported favorably out of the Senate Labor Committee. This is our LAST CHANCE to stop a bill that will cancel our union membership yearly, void our contracts every year or every time there is a change in cost, force us to sign up through our bosses, allow our bosses to drop our membership any time, and as a whole will make it incredibly hard for us to keep our unions. HB 293 will decimate public sector unions in our state.

As public employees in Louisiana, we have suffered enough. We do not need a bill written entirely by a political PAC and brought by a legislator who works for a union-busting law-firm. No Louisiana worker asked for this bill, and no Louisiana worker was consulted about it. Please sign this and share.

Write your senators! Defend the public! Oppose HB 293!

Red Rabbits Recommendation

When you’re heading out to a protest or a rally (for example, we hear that there is a lovely gathering planned this Saturday at 3, at Jackson Square), you might want to think about leaving your phone at home. The cops use devices called Stingrays, which act like cell towers, but aren’t really cell towers at all. Your phone doesn’t know the difference and says, “Hey there, perfectly innocent looking cell tower, I’m Citizen Q’s cell phone, and I would like to be ready to make a call.” The Stingray says, “Wonderful! Thank you for registering with us,” and then promptly ignores your phone. However, now they have a record of your phone (and thereby you) at the event.

If you don’t leave your phone at home, then you’ll want to disable your phone’s biometric security access. That means your face recognition and/or your fingerprint access. If things go pear shaped and you get rolled up by the pigs, chances are they will be very excited to copy all the information they can from your phone. If your phone is locked, they can’t easily access it. However, if your biometrics are enabled, all they have to do is hold it up to your face or put your finger on the sensor, and the phone will unlock, revealing your innermost secrets as well as your grandmother’s chocolate cake recipe. They don’t need a warrant to do that. However, they can’t read what’s in your mind, so keep your phone PIN protected if there’s any chance someone else might end up with your phone.

Bulletins

Nominations for Delegates to National Convention

DSA National Convention will be August 8-10 in Chicago. Chapter delegates and at-large delegates from across the country meet to set our course for the following two years and elect our new National Political Committee (NPC), which functions as DSA’s highest decision-making body between conventions. If you’re interested in being one of our seven New Orleans delegates, please fill out this form by May 24th. After nominations, everyone will receive an OpaVote link to vote.

Nominations for 2025-2026 Local Council

Local Council is our democratically elected chapter leadership with responsibility for managing the overall direction of the chapter. Local Council consists of two co-chairs, one membership chair, one secretary, one treasurer, two at-large members, a steward for each of the official committees, and a representative of each administrative or currently-chartered campaign group. For a complete description, see our chapter bylaws. To nominate yourself or someone else, email a candidate statement to hello@dsaneworleans.org.

Submissions Open for 2025 Local Convention

New Orleans DSA’s annual Local Convention will be June 28. Submissions can include proposals to amend bylaws, resolutions for new campaigns, or they can be for other chapter business. Reach out to Jack RS for information on how to write a resolution, and stay tuned for a resolution writing workshop ahead of convention.

Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair

Our next Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair is June 14 at A.P. Tureaud Civil Rights Memorial Park, 1800 A.P. Tureaud Ave.! Last time we changed lights in 19 vehicles and distributed 96 hot meals. If you’re interested in volunteering you can sign up here.

Community Calendar

Friday, May 16

12:00-12:45p Free Palestine! Abolish ICE! Weekly Lunch Hour Rally – NOLA ICE Field Office, 1250 Poydras St.

Saturday, May 17

1:00-4:00p Canvassing (Bob Murrell, District A) – Signup

3:00p The People Stand with Palestine: Rally and March in Commemoration of Nakba Day – Jackson Square Amphitheater, 700 block Decatur St.

Sunday, May 18

1:00-4:00p Canvassing (Bob Murrell, District A) – Signup

3:00-6:00p Vigil for Unhoused Lives – Duncan Plaza, 343 Loyola Ave.

Monday, May 19

6:00-7:30p Make Entergy Pay Campaign Meeting – Care Forgot Beercraft, 1728 St. Charles Ave.

6:00-7:30p Jewish Voice for Peace General Body Meeting – Linktree

Tuesday, May 20

7:00p Sports Drink Community Night: All About Labor – Sports Drink, 1042 Toledano Ave.

Wednesday, May 21

6:00-7:00p DSA Chapter Orientation – Zoom

Thursday, May 22

6:00a-8:00p All Out for Mahmoud Khalil Bus to Jena – Signup

6:00p Eye on Surveillance Monthly Meeting – REACH Center, 2022 St. Bernard Ave., Bldg. C, 3rd Fl.

Friday, May 23

12:00-12:45p Free Palestine! Abolish ICE! Weekly Lunch Hour Rally – NOLA ICE Field Office, 1250 Poydras St.

Saturday, May 24

1:00-4:00p Canvassing (Bob Murrell, District A) – Signup

Sunday, May 25

1:00-4:00p Canvassing (Bob Murrell, District A) – Signup

Down the Road

May 29 Gaby Biro OPSB End of Year Community Town Hall – East New Orleans Regional Library, 5641 Read Blvd.

May 31 New Orleans DSA General Meeting – New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St. Claude Ave.

June 14 Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair – A.P. Tureaud Civil Rights Memorial Park, 1800 A.P. Tureaud Ave.

June 28 New Orleans DSA Local Convention – New Orleans

August 8-10 DSA National Convention – Chicago

October 11 Municipal Election Day – Open Primary

November 15 Municipal Election Day – Runoff

Complete Calendar

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.

Features

Why I’m Running: Bob Murrell for City Council District A

I’m so honored to be on the chapter’s endorsed slate. It’s been a pleasure serving on this Local Council term, assisting with planning the org fair, writing and editing the Voter Guide, coordinating with coalition partners like Eye on Surveillance, assisting our previous endorsement campaigns, and making sure our members are able to participate in our General Membership meetings.

I believe DSA is a cohesive bond of all the fights in New Orleans for a more just society, and together we are more powerful than the sum of our parts. Whether you’re a new member or someone whose dues lapsed, I ask you to get engaged with our chapter so we can be better together. Great ideas don’t fall from the sky, they are made from us together, and I believe we have a lot to contribute in shared vision and action.

I hope you can join me on the campaign trail to talk to people in District A and see the sights. Whether it’s labor struggle, tenants’ rights, or public goods like our parks, the class conflict in District A is sharp and we need socialists to help raise our neighbors’ consciousness and organize them into the fight by joining DSA or other orgs. I’ll leave you with a quote from Friedrich Engels: “On the day the thermometer of universal suffrage registers the boiling point among the workers, both they and the capitalists will know where they stand.”

Solidarity forever.

Sign up to join Team Bob or visit Bob Murrell for District A!

Views from Membership: Louisiana Wounded by Another Round of DOGE Cuts – Wash F

On April 28th, with no warning, all Tulane AmeriCorps VISTAs received the email we had been afraid of since DOGE began its assaults: “The AmeriCorps VISTA project to which you have been assigned has been terminated.”

DOGE’s sweeping cuts included the immediate termination of nearly all VISTAs in New Orleans, myself included. At least a dozen local nonprofits suddenly lost workers they depended on for important roles, including many directly responsible for their site’s fundraising. These duties are now falling onto overworked and overwhelmed organizations, including UNITY, Dress for Success, El Centro, People’s Housing+, and Youth Run NOLA.

Over 32,000 servicemembers across the country have lost their income. Most were already living paycheck-to-paycheck, unable to save money for a rainy day like this. Terminating our service means also terminating benefits like healthcare, childcare support, loan forbearance, and a $7,500 end-of-service student loan credit. AmeriCorps members are ineligible for unemployment because we are considered volunteers.

AmeriCorps is vital to our country’s health and to its communities in times of crisis. The VISTA program was established as part of the War on Poverty, and other AmeriCorps programs assist Americans after disasters and other crises. Their positive impact is hard to quantify, but studies show a $34 return on every federal dollar invested. The programs receive bipartisan support, especially in disaster-prone and high poverty areas like ours.

Over 3,100 AmeriCorps members served more than 50,000 people at more than 400 locations across Louisiana, including schools, food banks, homeless shelters, clinics, youth centers, and veterans facilities.

We are heading into ever more tumultuous times defined by economic collapse, climate catastrophe, and unbridled fascism. With these cuts, we are doing so while weaker and more vulnerable than we have been in decades.

For action items, you can check out the America’s Service Commissions statement on the funding cuts, and contact your representatives through Voices for National Service.

Nakba Day and What It Means for Our Work

Thursday is Nakba Day, commemorating the disaster 77 years ago when Zionists created the state of Israel by ethnically cleansing their Palestinian neighbors. The challenge of the liberation of Palestine calls to us as a chapter as well as to each of us as individual socialists. We must act when we can, and we must educate who we meet. Think about active groups in our chapter:

Political Education – Although most of American society is focused on the October 7, 2023, al-Aqsa Flood, events from the 1890s (The Dreyfus Affair), the WWI era (Balfour Declaration, Sykes-Picot Agreement) and the misuse of the fledgling UN in the late 1940s are all part of this process. We must learn and tell this story.

Municipal Action – Chapter members have been in coalition with other groups to pressure City Council, institutions of higher education, and local businesses. We have three comrades running for City Council this term. Let’s keep the pressure on, including when it means demanding more from ourselves.

Mutual Aid – Our Palestinian neighbors have witnessed this ramped-up genocide of their families and destruction of their ancestral homes for 18 months now. They need psychological and material support. Mutual Aid is not charity. It is working together in coalition with others to fulfill the material needs of a liberatory struggle.

Our ongoing work is about Liberation, beyond just Freedom. The State can take away Freedom on a whim, but once you are liberated, there is no going back. The process of achieving your liberation changes how you see the world. As socialists who profess international solidarity, that means the farmer in Illinois is as valuable as the tailor in Kashmir or the cab driver in Nigeria. All children are our children. We owe it to all of us to dismantle the empire, liberate our fellow Americans, and continue this long transition from capitalism to socialism. Liberate Palestine.

Bulletins

Political Education Committee Reading Group

The Political Education Committee’s book for the month is Revolutionary Mathematics by Justin Joque. Whether you finish the book, only part of it, or just want to hang out for discussion, come by Z’otz Cafe, 8210 Oak St., on May 15 at 7:00 pm.

New Orleans DSA Launches Red Rabbits Working Group

Red Rabbits Working Group is looking to provide membership with digital safety techniques and assist with marshaling in-person events. If you’d like to get involved in digital safety please contact Aaron J, or for in-person marshaling please contact Tristan T.

Nominations for Delegates to National Convention

DSA National Convention will be August 8-10 in Chicago. Chapter delegates and at-large delegates from across the country meet to set our course for the following two years and elect our new National Political Committee (NPC), which functions as DSA’s highest decision-making body between conventions. If you’re interested in being one of our seven New Orleans delegates, please fill out this form by May 24th. After nominations, everyone will receive an OpaVote link to vote.

Nominations for 2025-2026 Local Council

Local Council is our democratically elected chapter leadership with responsibility for managing the overall direction of the chapter. Local Council consists of two co-chairs, one membership chair, one secretary, one treasurer, two at-large members, a steward for each of the official committees, and a representative of each administrative or currently-chartered campaign group. For a complete description, see our chapter bylaws. To nominate yourself or someone else, email a candidate statement to hello@dsaneworleans.org.

Submissions Open for 2025 Local Convention

New Orleans DSA’s annual Local Convention will be June 28. Submissions can include proposals to amend bylaws, resolutions for new campaigns, or they can be for other chapter business. Reach out to Jack RS for information on how to write a resolution, and stay tuned for a resolution writing workshop ahead of convention.

Labor Notes New Orleans Troublemakers School

Troublemakers School is a one-day organizing conference where workplace organizers can learn skills and share strategies for building stronger unions. Build your organizing muscle to take on bosses who are on the offensive. Hear from local workers who’ve fought back and won. Expand your toolkit for grievances, contract campaigns, and community fights. Let’s put some movement back in the labor movement! The next Troublemakers School is Saturday, May 31, 10:00a-5:00p, at IATSE Union Hall, 511 N. Hennessey St. Information and registration at Labor Notes, or contact courtney@labornotes.org.

Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair

Our next Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair is June 14 at A.P. Tureaud Civil Rights Memorial Park, 1800 A.P. Tureaud Ave.! Last time we changed lights in 19 vehicles and distributed 96 hot meals. If you’re interested in volunteering you can sign up here.

Community Calendar

Friday, May 9

8:30a Rally to Free Rümeysa Ozturk – Southern Louisiana ICE Processing Center, 3843 E. Stagg Ave., Basile, LA 70515 https://bit.ly/basileaction

Saturday, May 10

1:00-4:00p Canvassing (Bob Murrell, District A) – Signup

Sunday, May 11

3:00-7:00p Madres Sin Fronteras: A fundraiser for recently deported immigrant mothers and their American citizen children – BJ’s Lounge, 4301 Burgundy St.

Tuesday, May 13

6:00-7:00p DSA Chapter Orientation – Zoom

Wednesday, May 14

7:00-8:00p Municipal Action Committee Meeting – Zoom

7:00-9:00p DSA NPEC Childwatch Training – Virtual

7:30-9:00p DSA NEC Electoral Academy: Campaigns 101! – Virtual

Thursday, May 15

7:00-8:30p Political Education Committee Reading Series – Z’otz Cafe, 8210 Oak St.

Saturday, May 17

3:00p The People Stand with Palestine: Rally and March in Commemoration of Nakba Day – Jackson Square Amphitheater, 700 block Decatur St.

Down the Road

May 20 Sports Drink Community Night: All About Labor – Sports Drink, 1042 Toledano Ave.

May 22 Eye on Surveillance Monthly Meeting – REACH Center, 2022 St. Bernard Ave., Bldg. C, 3rd Fl.

May 31 New Orleans DSA General Meeting – New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St. Claude Ave.

May 31 Troublemakers School – IATSE Union Hall, 511 N. Hennessey St.

June 4 VOTE New Orleans Monthly Meeting – VOTE New Orleans, 4930 Washington Ave., Suite A

June 14 Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair – A.P. Tureaud Civil Rights Memorial Park, 1800 A.P. Tureaud Ave.

June 28 New Orleans DSA Local Convention – New Orleans

August 8-10 DSA National Convention – Chicago

October 11 Municipal Election Day – Open Primary

November 15 Municipal Election Day – Runoff

Complete Calendar

Solidarity Means Action is the weekly newsletter of the New Orleans Democratic Socialists of America. Subscribe to receive updates every Friday at 8:00 am Central.

Features

UMC Nurses Strike on May Day!

On International Workers Day, after more than a year at the bargaining table, unionized nurses at University Medical Center held their third strike for safe staffing, fair pay, and the ability to provide quality care for patients. Their fight is about saving lives in a system where they’re constantly being asked to do more with less: fewer nurses, fewer resources, more patients, more pressure. It’s a recipe for burnout, for harm, and for driving good nurses out of the profession entirely.

With the support of a united front of the New Orleans Rank & File Project, Step Up Louisiana, AFSCME, Unite Here, CWA, IUPAT, FRSO, and DSA, the nurses picketed from 7:00 in the morning to 7:00 at night, and they’re ready to continue so long as management refuses to sign a fair contract. UMC executives know if nurses win a strong, enforceable union contract, it sets a precedent for nurses everywhere. It proves that organizing works, that solidarity works, that workers united can beat back corporate greed. So this fight isn’t just about UMC, it’s about standing up to an entire system that treats people as costs to cut instead of lives to care for. It’s about saying no to a world where executives get bonuses while denying frontline workers basic dignity.

It’s about building power together. When nurses strike, they don’t get paid. After prior strikes, management has turned to out-of-state replacements at outrageous cost, locking nurses out of work for days. Many live paycheck to paycheck, have families to support, student loans to pay, and no safety net. A strike fund gives them a fighting chance—it helps us hold the line just a little longer.

Every dollar we donate to the Strike Fund keeps a nurse on the picket line. It’s gas in the tank, food on the table, rent paid. But more than that, it’s a declaration: you believe that workers—not CEOs—control the future of healthcare.

Views from Membership: Something For Everyone – Andy L

None of us knows what the future will hold, and watch out if someone says that they have it all worked out. We’re driving at night here – we may know where we’re headed, but the headlights will only light up so far ahead. However, there are things that we can do now, skills we can hone, relationships that we can build that will help us no matter what comes down the road.

One of the biggest challenges facing us is overcoming the atomization of our society. This rugged individualist bullshit that we’ve been fed for decades is going to be the death of us, be it by making us easy to pick off one-by-one or by intimidating us when we look at the enormity of the task ahead.

Look, I get it: when you’re alone in the tall grass and you hear a tiger, you get scared. But when you’re out there with ten of your buddies, you’re like, “Let’s get that fucking tiger!”

Humans accomplish things together. We always have, and we always will. We, as organizers, need to drive everyone we can into groups who are doing the work. Just get people active. Some will join us in DSA, others will find homes in other orgs. The important thing is that they are active with some organization, not doom scrolling alone on their couch.

Talk to your liberal friends. Heck, your conservative friends as well. Find out what they care about the most, and nudge them towards an org that is doing that kind of work. And then follow up with them. This isn’t rocket science. This is organizing, and we’re organizers. It’s OK to be a little annoying – they’re your friends, right? To change everything, we’re going to need everybody.

Bulletins

Nominations for Delegates to National Convention

DSA National Convention will be August 8-10 in Chicago. Chapter delegates and at-large delegates from across the country meet to set our course for the following two years and elect our new National Political Committee (NPC), which functions as DSA’s highest decision-making body between conventions. If you’re interested in being one of our seven New Orleans delegates, please fill out this form by May 24th. After nominations, everyone will receive an OpaVote link to vote.

Nominations for 2025-2026 Local Council

Local Council is our democratically elected chapter leadership with responsibility for managing the overall direction of the chapter. Local Council consists of two co-chairs, one membership chair, one secretary, one treasurer, two at-large members, a steward for each of the official committees, and a representative of each administrative or currently-chartered campaign group. For a complete description, see our chapter bylaws. To nominate yourself or someone else, email a candidate statement to hello@dsaneworleans.org.

Submissions Open for 2025 Local Convention

New Orleans DSA’s annual Local Convention will be June 28. Submissions can include proposals to amend bylaws, resolutions for new campaigns, or they can be for other chapter business. Reach out to Jack RS for information on how to write a resolution, and stay tuned for a resolution writing workshop ahead of convention.

New Orleans DSA Launches Red Rabbits Working Group

Red Rabbits Working Group is looking to provide membership with digital safety techniques and assist with marshaling in-person events. If you’d like to get involved in digital safety please contact Aaron J, or for in-person marshaling please contact Tristan T.

Political Education Committee Reading Group

The Political Education Committee’s book for the month is Revolutionary Mathematics by Justin Joque. Whether you finish the book, only part of it, or just want to hang out for discussion, come by Z’otz Cafe, 8210 Oak St., on May 15 at 7:00 pm.

Labor Notes New Orleans Troublemakers School

Troublemakers School is a one-day organizing conference where workplace organizers can learn skills and share strategies for building stronger unions. Build your organizing muscle to take on bosses who are on the offensive. Hear from local workers who’ve fought back and won. Expand your toolkit for grievances, contract campaigns, and community fights. Let’s put some movement back in the labor movement! The next Troublemakers School is Saturday, May 31, 10:00a-5:00p, at IATSE Union Hall, 511 N. Hennessey St. Information and registration at Labor Notes, or contact courtney@labornotes.org.

Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair

Our next Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair is June 14 at A.P. Tureaud Civil Rights Memorial Park, 1800 A.P. Tureaud Ave.! Last time we changed lights in 19 vehicles and distributed 96 hot meals. If you’re interested in volunteering you can sign up here.

Community Calendar

Saturday, May 3

7:00a-8:00p Election Day – Sample Ballot

1:00-4:00p Canvassing (Bob Murrell, District A) – Signup

Sunday, May 4

11:00a-12:00p Coffee with Comrades – Coffee Science, 410 Broad St.

1:00-4:00p Canvassing (Bob Murrell, District A) – Signup

Monday, May 5

6:00-7:30p Make Entergy Pay Campaign Meeting – Care Forgot Beercraft, 1728 St. Charles Ave.

Tuesday, May 6

6:00-8:00p Rank & File Project Meeting – REACH Center, 2022 St. Bernard Ave., Bldg. C, 3rd Fl.

Wednesday, May 7

5:00-6:00p Health Justice and Direct Service Meeting – Zoom

7:00-8:00p Municipal Action Committee Meeting – Zoom

Thursday, May 8

6:00-7:30p Local Council Meeting – Zoom

Saturday, May 10

1:00-4:00p Canvassing (Bob Murrell, District A) – Signup

Down the Road

May 20 Sports Drink Community Night: All About Labor – Sports Drink, 1042 Toledano Ave.

May 31 New Orleans DSA General Meeting – New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St. Claude Ave.

May 31 Troublemakers School – IATSE Union Hall, 511 N. Hennessey St.

June 14 Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair – A.P. Tureaud Civil Rights Memorial Park, 1800 A.P. Tureaud Ave.

June 28 New Orleans DSA Local Convention – New Orleans

August 8-10 DSA National Convention – Chicago

October 11 Municipal Election Day – Open Primary

November 15 Municipal Election Day – Runoff

Complete Calendar

Solidarity Means Action is the weekly newsletter of the New Orleans Democratic Socialists of America. 

Subscribe to receive updates every Friday at 8:00 am.

The New Orleans Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America reaffirms our ongoing opposition to violence against civilians. As an organization dedicated to advancing the well-being of working people, we respect and support the guidelines laid out by International Humanitarian Law as described by the Geneva Conventions, United Nations, and other commissions on human rights.

• A description of international law concerning the killing of civilians is detailed in Rule 89 of the International Humanitarian Law Database, which can be found at this link. 
• A summary of other injustices under international law can be found on the United Nations’ website here. 

Our chapter condemns violations of international humanitarian law and asks that these laws be upheld without exception.

Solidarity,
New Orleans DSA
Democratic Socialists of America – New Orleans Chapter

Hello Comrades,

We’ve got two big updates to close out the week for you!

FIRST: If you’re a member in good standing (i.e. have paid dues within the last 12 months) you should have received your OpaVote ballot via email from “OpaVote Voting Link” with the subject line “New Orleans DSA City Council Endorsement Votes.” Don’t forget to cast your ballot before voting closes Saturday afternoon so we can make a decision on our municipal endorsements! You can watch the candidates’ Q&As here, along with transcripts. If you have not received a ballot and believe you should have, please reach out to us at hello@dsaneworleans.org.

SECOND: Join us and our friends from the Alliance for Affordable Energy and Energy Futures New Orleans coalition members to develop a People’s Platform on electrical utility issues ahead of this years’ upcoming municipal elections in the fall! We need as much input as possible and hold candidates in the upcoming municipal elections this fall to a standard that we set: one that puts people first and profits second, and shows candidates that we’re serious about taking our power back from Entergy, at the ballot box and beyond. No expertise required, only experience necessary is being an Entergy ratepayer! Enjoy free food and help us build a people-centered future for utilities regulation in New Orleans. NEXT MONDAY, 6PM AT THE BROADSIDE, RSVP HERE!

In Solidarity,
Your Local Council