On this day in 1919, workers at a Barcelona hydroelectric plant colloquially known as “La Canadiense” walked off their job. After over 3,000 were arrested, solidarity spread among the workers and the walkout grew into a general strike. Participants demanded and won recognition of the CNT, an 8 hour day, and the release of all prisoners. More here: bit.ly/2EfgZew
People’s History: The Seattle General Strike
“You, the workers, must take over the control of your jobs, and through them, the control over your lives instead of offering yourself up to the masters as a sacrifice six days a week, so that they may coin profits out of your sweat and toil.” -from a pamphlet distributed during the strike On 6… Read more »
People’s History: Trayvon Martin, #RestInPower
Miami native Trayvon Martin would have turned 23 today. At the age of 17, he was murdered while standing up to an armed racist vigilante who was staking him near his father’s home. Trayvon’s death sparked a movement that helped lead to the formation of organizations like Dream Defenders, Black Lives Matter, The Trayvon Martin… Read more »
People’s History: The First Rebel
On 2 February 1512, Spanish conquistadors burned Taíno Cacique Hatuey alive near Bayamo, Cuba. He was among the first indigenous people to lead organized resistance to European colonialism in the Americas. Dominican friar Bartolomé de las Casas attributed the following words to Hatuey: “They tell us, these tyrants, that they adore a God of peace and equality, and yet they usurp our land and make us their slaves. They… Read more »
Gimme a Brake (Light) Fundraiser
Broken tail lights and brake lights can be dangerous to other drivers and could get you pulled over by the police. The Miami Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) want to help. DSA chapters across the country have been hosting free brake light changing clinics for anyone with a broken light. Miami DSA wants to bring… Read more »
Resolution on ableism, passed by the NPC with no opposition
“Capitalism created, and continues to reinforce, Ableism as a socially constructed system of oppression that even more deeply links a person’s worth to their economic value. o make a better world possible, Ableism must be combatted and dismantled, both in our society and in organizations like DSA. Our movement cannot leave our disabled comrades behind. The liberation… Read more »
People’s History: Angela Davis
On this day in 1944 civil rights activist feminist, author, abolitionist & revolutionary democratic #socialist, Angela Davis was born in Birmingham, Alabama. She co-founder prison abolition group Critical Resistance and is a professor emerita at UC Santa Cruz More here: http://bit.ly/apoAD
People’s History: Light in the Darkness
On this day in 2017, Trump signed his fascist Executive Order No 13769, barring citizens of many Muslim-majority countries from entering the US. In an act of mass #resistance, thousands of Americans began to flood the nation’s airports, demanding an end to the ban and a release of those being detained. More here: bit.ly/2nirVgo
Peoples History: The Kitchenware Revolution
On this day in 2009, thousands of people in Iceland responded to the global financial crisis. Armed with pots, pans, snowballs, & fermented milk (skyr) they braved the batons, tear gas, & pepper spray of riot police and descended on parliament, forcing the right-wing government from power. Analysis available here bit.ly/2F01Jhw from Jacobin Magazine
Towards Abolition: Building a Future of Freedom
“As the movement against capitalism grows, we will confront state repression in new ways. Prisons, the police, and semi-private security contractors are all repressive. They are clear existential threats to any movement for socialism and justice. Therefore, the abolition of incarceration is an explicit goal for DSA.” Download the PDF Flyer