Come to California DSA 101 on March 30th

California DSA is running our introductory “California DSA 101” sessions every couple months. Whether you are a new member, considering DSA membership, a veteran activist or just wish to widen your worldview out to a bigger picture, this ninety-minute presentation is for you. The next session will be held on March 30 at 11 am on Zoom. 

The presentation, run by local and state DSA leaders, features a slideshow in five parts.  The first three sections address basic questions: What is capitalism? What is socialism? and What is DSA? The fourth part consists of a condensed overview of the state’s political and labor history. 

Following the election late last year we revised the presentation to reflect the changed political landscape, with a new section toward the end on what fascism looks like in twenty first century America.  Because this isn’t pretend fascism we’re facing. It’s the real thing.

We augment the slideshow with breakout rooms for small group discussion along the way and reserve time at the end for Q&A.  The participant feedback has consistently said we are on the right track. 

We have had a big jump in attendance numbers for California DSA 101 this year, reflecting an understandable dismay at the election results and a healthy desire by attendees to find an organizing space in this historical moment as the curtain descends on American democracy.  With the Democratic Party leadership mostly in confused disarray after its neoliberal election strategy’s catastrophic failure, there is a hunger for answers that make more sense than ‘doing the same thing, only better’. 

It will take a powerful mass movement to defeat the fascist forces in control of the federal government. California DSA does not have the resources to lead that mass movement, but we certainly have the ability to help build it.  Our 101 program is a part of that contribution. We look forward to seeing you at the next one on March 30.