Solidarity Means Action – May 9, 2025

Posted by cochairs

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.

Solidarity Means Action – May 2, 2025

Posted by cochairs

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.

SATURDAY: Short General Meeting & Evening DSA Social! Plus an Anti-ICE Rally/March & Stop Cop City Panel!

Posted by cochairs

Hey comrades,

This month has been one of blatant fascism and ever-rising political and financial instability. Now we’re heading into a busy Easter weekend, with Saturday hosting a GM plus events you can attend to show your resistance to ICE & political deportations and learn about the methods of repression used on Stop Cop City activists. Afterwards, decompress and embrace our collective humanity at a DSA social at Skeeta Hawk Brewing.

April 19th starts with a shortened General Meeting to talk about chapter updates, next steps after endorsing members running for City Council, and running for delegate for this August’s National Convention. 

  • WHEN: 12-1pm
  • WHERE: Zoom only! Register on Action Network at bit.ly/dsa-rsvp-april19 for the agenda and Zoom link.

Afterwards, there’s a rally and march for students, immigrants, and Palestinian liberation at the NOLA ICE Field Office.

  • WHEN: 2pm
  • WHERE: Rally at the NOLA ICE Field Office (1250 Poydras), followed by a march. The route will be made available on JVP’s Instagram so that you can join at any point along the route. 
  • Please be mindful of your immigration status when deciding whether or not to attend. Masks will also be available.

There is then a panel from the Stop Cop City: Imaginary Crimes Tour, hosted in partnership with the local chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. 

  • WHAT: This cross-country tour will educate the public on the history of the Atlanta forest and resistance to Cop City, how racketeering law has been used as a means of political repression, and the ongoing legal battle. The tour will also facilitate discussions on resisting the repression of social movements, and how to adapt to evolving forms of repression by using solidarity, mutual aid, and collective action.
  • Dozens of Stop Cop City activists who had been arrested at various times and locations around Atlanta since 2021 were indicted in August 2023 under the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. More than 17 months later, none of the 61 people charged with RICO have been tried. The tour also aims to provide direct support to defendants by raising morale and much-needed funds. 
  • Read the full press release about the tour here. 
  • WHEN: 4pm
  • WHERE: VOTE Offices (4930 Washington Ave)

End the day by destressing at Skeeta Hawk Brewing with DSA comrades. We can’t survive under capitalism and do this work without the healing power of community — join us in embracing the human need for connection and building a community of support. 

  • WHEN: 5:30 pm til
  • WHERE: Skeeta Hawk Brewing (455 N Dorgenois St)
  • The Italian food pop-up Fico Cucino will also be there vending food from 2-7pm. 

ALSO! BIG NEWS!

Congratulations to our members Danyelle Christmas, Bob Murrell, and Jackson Kimbrell for their chapter endorsement! Boost our post announcing them HERE and check out their campaign websites & socials below: 

Hope to see you tomorrow!

In solidarity, 
Your Local Council

Cast your endorsement ballot & help us build a People’s Platform!

Posted by cochairs

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

TOMORROW: March General Meeting & Endorsement Votes!

Posted by cochairs

Hello Comrades,

We have a busy General Meeting planned for this Saturday, where we will begin considering endorsements for candidates running for City Council in November, discuss re-initiating a Red Rabbits program for security, and hear updates and calls to action from our committees and other local movements. After the GM, stick around to help build goodie bags for kids who come by the next Brake Light Clinic (which’ll be April 12th)!

You can read the agenda here.

  • WHEN: Sat, March 29th at 12-2pm
  • WHERE: Parish Hall (2533 Columbus) and online Masks required in person
  • Register on Action Network here for the Zoom link!

As a reminder, while we will debate endorsements and initiate voting at the GM, the vote on endorsements will take place asynchronously via OpaVote. All members in good standing will receive an OpaVote ballot shortly after the GM and have one week to cast their ballots (even abstaining). So if you can’t make the GM, you won’t need a proxy to vote on endorsements. You can watch the candidates’ Q&As here, along with transcripts.

Hope to see you there!

In solidarity,
Your Local Council

General Meeting THIS SATURDAY! (and other upcoming events)

Posted by cochairs

Hello Comrades,

Thank you to all of you who have made our latest Brake Light Clinic, the Cuba solidarity effort, and Chewbacchus subkrewe such smashing successes! 

  • Last weekend’s Brake Light Clinic in the Seventh Ward had 18 DSA members volunteering to change brake lights, distribute hot meals, and share healthy resources. In a time when politics feel demoralizing, our city is generous and uplifting. Thank you New Orleans!
  • We had a great meeting with the representative from the LA Hands Off Cuba Committee and look forward to sharing more info about getting involved in the fight to end the embargo and reunite Cuba and New Orleans!
  • And the “We’ll BeHeading into the Future” DSA Chewbacchus subkrewe got the whole French Quarter chanting “eat the rich!” 🌹

We’ll be capping off the whirlwind of early new year activity before the height of Carnival with our General Meeting this Saturday at Parish Hall (2533 Columbus St) and on Zoom starting at noon! We will be welcoming newcomers and will discuss matters relating to security in the second Trump era, potential communication platform changes, and the future of our cross-organizational work (among other things), so please make it out to show our new members how the chapter’s democratic process is done! 

NEXT MONDAY (1/17) AT 6PM @ QIQI (2021 Foucher St.): MAKE ENTERGY PAY! We’re planning our first canvass of the year and are wrapping up our power outage guide, so we need support to make 2025 Entergy’s worst year yet. Join us and get involved!

NEXT THURSDAY(1/20) AT 7PM @ PARISH HALL (2533 Columbus St.): POLI ED READING SERIES! Our incredible Poli Ed team’s latest entry is Build It Now: Socialism for the 21st Century by Michael A. Leibowitz. Read, learn, and discuss how we build socialism in our time! 

  • This meeting is hybrid — We’d love to see you in person at Parish Hall, but you can also join the meeting over Google Meet with this link: https://meet.google.com/tkr-jdis-whb 
  • If you haven’t read the book and would just like to listen to the discussion that’s okay too!

OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS:

LIBERATORY LOVE DURING THE COLLAPSE: A NEW ORLEANS SOLIDARITY STORYTELLERS EVENT ON FEBRUARY 13 AT 6PM @ CAFE ISTANBUL: “Pine with us for love of all types at a showcase of Black, Palestinian and American Indigenous writers, followed by a community conversation on love.” $5 suggested donation, bar & small bites available. Masks required & provided.

PALESTINE FILM DAY: SPECIAL SCREENING OF ANA FALASTINI WITH THE FILMMAKERS ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23 AT 6PM @ AL-QUDS HALL (1525 Lapalco Blvd): “Join filmmakers Dalia Alahmad and Rawan Ramini from Vancouver, BC to watch their documentary series which explores the Palestinian diaspora, Ana Falastini, followed by a Q/A about the series and Dalia and Rawan’s process as Palestinian women in film.” Suggested donation $10-20. Food provided

We hope to see you this Saturday (or at another event soon)!

Solidarity forever,

New Orleans DSA Local Council 🌹

Hands Off Cuba! Help us deliver $500K in medical supplies to our Caribbean comrades — and other upcoming events!

Posted by cochairs

Hey comrades,

This year is already off to a busy start, and with the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras on the way it’s only getting busier. We have some great ways to get involved over the next couple of weeks.

**THIS SUNDAY (FEB 2)!**

1PM: HANDS OFF CUBA SUPPLY CARAVAN MEETING — We’ll be welcoming a caravan coming into town from LA stocked up with half a million dollars in medical supplies en route to Cuba, where they are desperately needed due to the embargo and Trump’s unjust reinstatement of Cuba to the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. From New Orleans, their truck will be loaded onto a ship headed straight to our Caribbean comrades. Join us for a meeting discussing the effort and the history and political context of the US embargo on Cuba. 

11AM: COFFEE WITH COMRADES — Hang out with us before the Cuba Supply Caravan Meeting at Coffee Science!

  • WHEN: Sunday @ 11am-12pm
  • WHERE: Coffee Science (410 S Broad St)

THIS SATURDAY (FEB 1ST) JOIN OUR CHEWBACCHUS SUBKREWE! The theme is “We’ll Beheading Into the Future.” Think intergalactic French Revolution. 

  • WHEN: Saturday, starts rolling at 7pm
  • Get looped in by joining the #chewbacchus-krewe in the Chapter Slack. If you’re a Chapter member and need to be added to the Slack, email us at hello@dsaneworleans.com.

NEXT WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY (FEB 5-6TH): UMC NURSES ON STRIKE! JOIN THE PICKET to support the nurses striking for better working conditions at the University Medical Center. The UMC nurses pulled off the largest single unionization effort in Louisiana’s last 50 years and we need to show up to support them in pursuing their demands! Wear red and practice your sign waving!

  • WHEN: Wed/Thurs (Feb 5-6th) from 7am-7pm
  • WHERE: Corner of Canal & Galvez

NEXT SATURDAY (FEB 8TH): BRAKE LIGHT CLINIC & HEALTH FAIR — Join us for our bimonthly Brake Light Clinic & Health Fair, where we offer free brake light changes, health resources, hot food, cool beverages, and talk with folks about Medicare for All. We really need volunteers! If you’re interested in getting involved, fill out this form. 

  • WHEN: Saturday Feb 8th @ 11am-1pm
  • WHERE: AP Tureaud Park, across the street from Nora Navra Library

You can check out our upcoming events anytime at dsaneworleans.org/events. 

OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS — 

THIS FRIDAY (Jan 31st): Open Mic Benefit Night for Gazan college student — The Krewe of Maklouba and SDS UNO proudly present an open mic + art auction + raffle benefit event in order to raise funds to support Aboud M., a Gazan academic as he evacuates and completes his college education. $10-15 suggested donation at the door – no one turned away for lack of funds.

  • You’ll find exciting gifts at the raffle and art auction, from Palestinian olive oil soap to entree vouchers and beautiful pieces from local artists. Enter for a chance to win a pet portrait from Emilia Cicero, woodwork from Naqsha, vouchers to upcoming Allways Lounge shows, kuffiyehs, coffee, olive oil, Palestinian ceramics and jewelry, dates, beauty products, and more. Come hear words from Gazan writer Rabie Hussein, read by Krewe of Maklouba.
  • WHEN: Fri Jan 31st @ 5-8 pm
  • WHERE: the Midlo Center for New Orleans Studies (Earl K. Long Library, #304 — Third floor, can’t miss it!)

ALSO THIS FRIDAY: Freedom Forum – Sectarianism in Lebanon and Beyond — Sectarian violence and tensions in Lebanon have, perhaps surprisingly, shallow historical roots—and, perhaps unsurprisingly, deep colonial roots. This talk will critique sectarianism as a lens to understand the current situation in Lebanon and the region.

  • This Forum will be moderated by guest host Razan Baor, a Lebanese-American policy analyst, and will be led by guest speaker Idun Hauge, Tulane visiting professor of Middle East history.
  • WHEN: Fri Jan 31st @ 6pm (food at 6, talk starts at 6:30)
  • WHERE: John Thompson Legacy Center

NEXT FRIDAY (FEB 6TH): Palestinian Poetry & Folklore Night — Step into the world of timeless tales and evocative poetry at this Palestinian poetry & folklore fundraising night! Immerse yourself in an evening celebrating the power of Palestinian poetry, storytelling, Dabkeh, and the rich tradition of Palestinian folklore, all while supporting Gaza Soup Kitchen and UNRWA.

  • WHEN: Fri Feb 7th
  • WHERE: Al Quds Hall (1525 Lapalco Blvd, Gretna, LA)

We hope to see you soon!

In Solidarity,
Your Local Council

General Meeting TOMORROW! & Community Organizing Fair NEXT SAT!

Posted by cochairs

Hey comrades, 

We hope you’re all staying safe and warm as we enter the New Year. It was great seeing everyone who was able to come out to December’s Holiday Social, and we hope to see everyone again soon! Keep scrolling to read about upcoming events and recent news. 

TOMORROW (SATURDAY)! Join us for our January General Meeting, where we’ll be discussing:

  • City Council Strategy Resolution
  • Planning: Org Fair, events & fundraising
  • Updates: People’s Platform, sweeps & more!

WHEN: Saturday, January 18th from 12 to 2pm!
WHERE: Nora Navra Library (1902 St. Bernard) and online – RSVP here
Please mask if you’re coming in person (masks will be available for those without)!

NEXT SATURDAY (Jan 25th)! Community Organizing Fair
Get to know a range of organizations, check out helpful trainings, & build community with others fighting for a better New Orleans! 

  • WHEN: Saturday January 25th 12-7pm
  • WHERE: André Cailloux Center (2541 Bayou Rd)

Learn more >

UPCOMING COMMUNITY ACTIONS:

UPCOMING DSA COMMITTEE MEETINGS:

  • 1/20 @ 6pm – Make Entergy Pay @ QiQi (2021 Fourcher)
  • 1/21 @ 7pm – Municipal Action Committee attending Community Night at Sports Drink (1042 Toledano)
  • 1/22 @ 7pm – Municipal Action Committee on Zoom
  • 1/23 @ 7pm – Political Education Reading Group at Zotz’s

OTHER NEWS:
Our chapter has released a statement on the New Year’s Bourbon Street Attack. You can find the full statement on our website here and the abbreviated version on our Instagram here and Twitter here.

We also released a statement on Instagram here and Twitter here demanding an end to the embargo on Cuba, highlighting the need for urgent humanitarian aid to address the crises the country is currently facing, and affirming our commitment to re-establishing the historical ties between the people of New Orleans and Cuba. 

  • We are pleased that the Biden administration committed to removing Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list shortly after (influenced by our statement, no doubt). However, signs indicate the Trump administration is likely to reverse that decision once they take office and Cuba remains in desperate need of relief, so our work is not done.

Additionally, Jeff Landry and the Louisiana State Police have begun an absurdly expensive and inhumane campaign forcibly relocating those experiencing homelessness to a remote, unfinished warehouse under threat of arrest. Check out Verite’s coverage here for details and follow NOHHARRM on Instagram for more information and updates.  

Solidarity forever,
New Orleans DSA Local Council

New Orleans DSA Statement on the Bourbon Street Attack

Posted by cochairs

In the early hours of New Year’s Day, a man drove a truck into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street and opened fire, killing fourteen people and injuring over thirty others.  We mourn those killed and injured and we encourage you to donate to them directly and to donate blood if you are able. In addition to condemning this act of senseless violence, we must condemn the opportunistic and negligent government officials and media outlets. We recognize that the scale of this tragedy is a result of political decisions made by officials at every level, and we have not forgotten the lives lost in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina or in the Hard Rock Hotel Collapse. Even in the midst of this latest tragedy, our City officials chose to  center the experiences of tourists while devaluing the lives of locals lost and injured. As if devaluing our lives isn’t enough, politicians and corporate media gleefully seized on our suffering and loss .to perpetuate violent, anti-immigrant, Islamophobic, and racist rhetoric, endangering people across the country and the world because of where they’re from, what they look like, and what religion they practice.

City Officials Say it Out Loud: Tourist Money Matters More to Them than Local Lives

In the first press conference after the attack, NOPD superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick made sure to reassure the press that it appeared most of those impacted were “locals versus tourists.” She continued, “There’s so much to enjoy about New Orleans… We had this tragic event, and we’re sorry again to everyone in our community, but we do want you to go about the day.” Not even five hours after the incident, the police chief was making their priorities clear: they’re more concerned with coddling the anxieties of tourists over the lives of the locals affected. This is nothing new: New Orleans leadership decided long ago to prioritize the tourist economy over all other parts of city life, creating a feast/famine cycle that puts the needs of local workers last – we deserve better.

Government Failure to Respond Promptly to Victims’ Needs and Concerns

Meanwhile, several victims and family members of victims reported an inability to access victim advocates or other resources officials have told news that they’re offering. This includes the FBI refusing to speak with the family of an injured victim whose vital mobility equipment, accessibility devices, and wallet were confiscated—proving there is no consideration for those victimized by the incident and subsequent investigation. One victim, who was both run over by the truck and shot, told reporters that the Amazon warehouse where she works initially denied her requests for a leave of absence.

Barricades Designed and Installed to Prevent this Exact Scenario Left Unutilized and Rusting

In 2017, after similar vehicular attacks took place in Europe, the City invested in systems of protective barriers. The City is in possession of at least three types of protective systems that could have prevented this attack: (1) Bollards, (2) Archer Barriers, and (3) Wedge Barriers. 

  • First, City officials admit the bollard system has been down since November.  According to locals, law enforcement officers claimed the bollards were too heavy to close and operate. Instead of employing city workers to maintain, close, and lock the bollards each night, officials let them fall into disrepair as the mechanics of the bollards became jammed with debris. In 2019, the City was warned of the “risk of terrorism” via “vehicular ramming,” specifically as to “the most high profile target in New Orleans – Bourbon Street.” City officials apparently gave “conflicting explanations” for why they failed to use the bollards and were explicitly advised to remedy this “immediately.” 
  • Second, the City owns 38 portable vehicle barriers, known as “Archer 1200 Vehicle Impact Barriers,” valued at $250,000 and designed for placement on the sidewalks. These barriers were left collecting rust in a storage yard off the Lafitte Greenway. Law enforcement and City officials chose not to use these barriers because they did not feel like dealing with them. 
  • Lastly, the Wedge Barriers, which lay flat across the street and can be raised, were in the flat position. According to family members of victims, if these barriers had been raised, it would have prevented the truck from advancing to the block where it struck their loved ones.

Yet, the City has Capacity and Funds to Act Swiftly When it Comes to Harassing Unhoused Members of our Community, Barricading them Out of Sight of Tourists

Mere months ago, we saw city workers erect a massive metal fence around Duncan Plaza seemingly overnight. They said they were “cleaning up” the park for Taylor Swift fans. The City used the distraction of the Louisiana State Police assaults to install permanent fences and a new sign announcing park hours as a way to prevent encamping in this public park historically used as shelter by some experiencing homelessness. City and State officials have demonstrated they can move swiftly to harm unhoused people and destroy their few belongings for the sake of tourists. They apparently do not feel this same sense of urgency when it comes to protecting pedestrians and those deemed “locals.”

Learning from the Post-9/11 Rise in Islamophobic Repression and Surveillance by the State

We’re seeing the same dangerous Islamophobic rhetoric spewed by government officials and media as we saw after 9/11, which will result in increased rates of both personal hate crimes and violence from the State. ICE was established in the wake of 9/11 through the Homeland Security Act and is known for its practices violating the human rights of immigrants through violence, separation of families, and detainment in centers described as “living hell” due to their inhumane, “barbaric” conditions and rampant physical, psychological, and sexual abuse – factors which led a coalition of human rights groups to release a 107-page report detailing how ICE centers in Louisiana meet the legal definition of torture. Based on what we’ve heard from politicians, we can expect an increase in anti-immigrant violence by the State and a targeting of countries similar to Trump’s previous Muslim Ban.

The federal government invested nearly $8 trillion in the wars they waged following 9/11, and their fervent funding of slaughter in Palestine and Lebanon as well as vocal support of expanding Zionist violence across the region indicates their willingness to increase their involvement even more for the sake of “fighting terrorism.” Around $1.1 billion was spent on “preventing terrorism at home,” which manifested as launching surveillance programs focused on the Muslim community and going so far as to embed themselves in mosques, community groups, and religious student groups to surveil their actions and ask probing questions. This surveillance has increased since October 2023 and undoubtedly will continue to increase in the coming months.

Media Complicity in Imperialist Violence by Spreading Unfounded Islamophobic Conspiracies

Just as the U.S. media has been complicit in the genocide of Palestinians, they too assisted the government’s “war on terror” by parroting dubious claims around al Qaeda and ISIS even when there was no real evidence suggesting their involvement. We recommend you read Workers Voice’s statement for a more comprehensive but concise analysis of our government’s involvement with ISIS. 

Public Officials Who are Unwilling to Name and Address Root Causes are Not Serious about Preventing Violence

We also wish to highlight that the shooter had an extensive U.S. military background and appeared to have dressed in his U.S. military combat uniform for the attack. According to the AP, among extremists “the No. 1 predictor of being classified as a mass casualty offender was having a U.S. military background,” outranking mental health issues, a previous criminal history, and substance abuse issues. It’s also a worsening problem: a 2022 study revealed that the number of Americans killed by extremists with a U.S. military background quadrupled from an average of seven people per year in 1990-2010 to 29 people annually in 2010-2020. 

Despite this documented problem of growing violent radicalization, AP reported that “Defense Department researchers developed a promising approach to detect and monitor extremism [among servicemembers] that the Pentagon has chosen not to use.” This week’s attack is yet another example of a former member of the U.S. military bringing international imperialist violence home. Rather than address root causes, our government officials are already using this attack to seize greater power at home, expand their violence overseas, and stoke racial and religious hatred against our Arab and Muslim community members. We condemn this narrative and reiterate that the empire’s violence always comes home.

We recommend all read other statements released by similar organizations, including: 

  • Workers Voice Socialist Movement provides a concise analysis of our government’s involvement with ISIS.
  • Eye on Surveillance speaks to our City’s massive investment in policing and surveillance and divestment from community resources and public goods.
  • Jewish Voice for Peace highlights the heightened threats and prejudice faced by our Black, Brown, Arab, Muslim, & Palestinian communities, and selective expressions of grief by those who deem life less valuable based on skin color, religion, or citizenship status.
  • Louisiana PSL reminds us that we must remain critical of the opportunist fear-mongers in our government and corporate media who racistly rushed to blame undocumented immigrants for this attack. 

We invite you to consider how these statements are interconnected. 

Direct Donations to Victims
GoFundMe Verified Hub: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/how-to-help-attack-in-new-orleans

Blood Donations
https://www.thebloodcenter.org/bourbonstterror

Resources for Victims and Survivors
crimesurvivorsnola.org/jan-1-help

Below is the statement abbreviated for social media.

City Council wants to give you a new bill for the holidays

Posted by cochairs

Comrades,

The City Council wants to give us a new corporate leech and a new utility bill to pay, just in time for the holidays. 

Tell the Council loud and clear: No gas sale, no new bills, no more corporate leeches. Power to people, not to private equity.

Tell them in person at the next City Council meeting, THIS THURSDAY at 10AM at City Hall (1400 Perdido St.).

The Council is set to approve the sale of Entergy’s gas network to a private equity firm, Bernhard Capital, and to create an entirely new gas utility and a new bill to pay. Customers can expect to pay at least $3-$12 more per month in the immediate term, with the door open to further hikes after 2 years.

The Council also lied about how this deal would affect the city’s climate and sustainability goals. Bernhard would be exempted from the city’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, which sets a goal of net zero emissions citywide by 2050. In fact, Bernhard has openly stated they plan to expand dirty gas infrastructure to ensure profitability.  Instead of acknowledging this, the Council, and Councilmember Moreno in particular, lied and said that creating a new dirty gas utility would “allow us to invest in cleaner, more sustainable energy options.” This is a lie. The deal would lock in and increase dirty gas emissions for the foreseeable future.

If Bernhard can’t expand their infrastructure, ratepayers will see bill increases. And make no mistake: gas is dying, not expanding, no matter what Bernhard says or wants. Utilities are legally guaranteed a certain amount of profit, and the Council is obligated to ensure that utilities see that level of profit. We already know the largest gas customer in the city, the Sewerage and Water Board, will transition to full electrical power, and cut out a huge chunk of Bernhard’s potential profit. That means that the ratepayers will be forced to make up the difference and will see higher bills to ensure Bernhard profits.

The City Council is also trying to rush this through before the holidays while people are distracted. The resolution was announced on a Friday, voted on in committee Monday, and will go to the full Council Thursday. This is not enough time for the public to process and respond to the proposal.

If you are able, please attend the Council Meeting this Thursday at 10AM to voice your opposition in-person. Otherwise, you can contact the councilmembers here.

Solidarity,
Local Council
New Orleans DSA

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