Hi Roger,
Do you believe that, let's say, 5 or ten years ago, the dSA would not be
supporting the DBS movement against Israel?
It was sure nice to learn that both the DSA and Bernie Sanders support the dBS
movement. By the way, some of my friends who have been disillusioned with the
Democratic party believe that Sanders should have run as an independent in the
2016 election. I think it was better that he ran as a Democrat. IF nothing
else, his campaign and the nasty way he was treated by Democratic leadership
shone a very bright light on a terribly corrupted party.
Bob Hachey
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Roger Loran Bailey ;
(Redacted sender "rogerbailey81" for DMARC)
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2017 2:51 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] DSA votes for BDS, reparations, and out of the
Socialist International
The article below does tell me that the DSA seems to have moved to the left
since I was working with them in the West Virginia Citizen's Action Group, but
they still have not broken from the Democrat Party. The fact that a significant
faction would even propose it, though, shows some progress.
https://socialistaction.org/2017/08/07/dsa-votes-for-bds-reparations-and-out-of-the-socialist-international/
DSA votes for BDS, reparations, and out of the Socialist International
/ 2 days ago
arton1711-18b26By JUAN CRUZ FERRE
This article is reprinted from leftvoice.org.
— AUG. 5 — The National Convention of the Democratic Socialists of America is
currently under way. An estimated 700 to 800 delegates representing 25,000
members nationwide are participating in the four-day event at the University of
Illinois in Chicago. In the weeks preceding the convention, numerous
resolutions were put forward by individual members and groups, some of which
were circulated throughout the organization to be presented for discussion and
vote at the convention.
On Saturday (Day 3), the discussion centered on amendments to the DSA’s
constitution as well as the organization’s national priorities.
The delegates voted to sever relations with the Socialist International, a
conglomeration of parties that have embraced and in some cases implemented
neoliberal policies around the world (ie., the German SPD, Hollande’s Socialist
Party in France, Peña Nieto’s PRI in Mexico, the Indian Congress Party, and the
Greek PASOK).
The resolution that passed stated, “Our affiliation with the Socialist
International hinders our ability to develop stronger relationships with
parties and social movements that share our values and which, in many cases,
are bitterly opposed to their country’s SI affiliate(s),” and, “In many
countries, they have helped to lead the attack on the welfare state and on the
rights of workers and unions.”
The DSA has been affiliated with the Socialist International since its founding
in 1982. Saturday’s vote to leave the international marks a historic shift,
signaling the political leanings of the exponentially growing new membership.
At the same time, some members are putting forward proposals for building
“stronger relationships with new left parties and movements”
outside of the SI, “from Podemos (Spain) to PSOL (Brasil) to Momentum in
Britain” (from DSA Momentum Platform).
On Saturday, the assembled delegates voted to support the Boycott, Divestment,
and Sanctions movement against Israel. The bulk of the resolution is an
indictment of Israel’s occupation of Palestine:
“Israel has engaged in a program of rapacious colonization
(‘settlements’) of the Occupied Palestinian Territories…Israeli settlers in the
West Bank are given the rights of Israeli citizenship, subject to civilian law,
and are permitted to drive on roads barred to Palestinians…Palestinians in the
West Bank are not Israeli citizens, are subjected to military law, including
being tried in military courts with a 99% conviction rate, are forced to drive
on different roads…[T]here are today at least 50 laws that discriminate against
Palestinians with Israeli citizenship.
“…[A]ll of the aforementioned constitutes apartheid…”
With this vote, the DSA has taken a stance that leaves behind the Democratic
Party’s line and that of Bernie Sanders, who, when asked whether he supported
the BDS during an interview with Al Jazeera, bluntly replied, “No, I’m not a
supporter.”
The decision immediately rippled through social media and was lauded by many
inside and outside the organization.
Also on Saturday, delegates voted in favor of a resolution by members of the
NYC and North Jersey members of the Afro-Socialist and Socialists of Color
Caucus. The proposal included formal recognition of the Caucus by the National
organization. It included a statement in support of reparations in the US to
“communities descended from slaves” and the Global South “nations who have
suffered hundreds of years of economic exploitation” by “imperialist nations.”
The statement pointed out,
“Reparations won’t erase the shamefully violent history of our country, or the
irreparable damage 400+ years of free labor has caused the black community. It
is, however, a means of redistributing wealth to the communities descended from
slaves, which could ease the material burdens they face today.”
Of note, in an amendment that was eventually voted down, New York City members
proposed to replace the preamble of the “Priorities Resolution”
with language around the DSA’s relationship to the Democratic Party:
“We should recognize that the Democratic Party is not our party, even if we
sometimes run or support candidates within it. We have, therefore, no interest
in its internal battles, such as the fight between Keith Ellison and Tom Perez.
We should refrain from endorsing or supporting Democrats engaged in political
struggles within the Democratic Party.
Taking part in such internal Democratic Party fights only disorients our
members, leading them to believe that the Democratic Party can be a vehicle for
the aspirations of working people.
“We believe it is important to emphasize this point because the Democratic
Party has historically been the biggest challenge to progressive movements.”
The proposal did not advance a clear break with the Democratic Party; it was
milder in content, but was still struck down at the convention.
Although the DSA’s electoral strategy and the question of full independence
from the Democratic Party has proven difficult to resolve, the events taking
place at the DSA convention signal auspicious changes brought on by the growing
new members and influx of youth.
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August 7, 2017 in Marxist Politics and Philosophy.
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