by Vincent Lima In our September General Meeting, members of ROC DSA wisely rejected a proposal that would restrict their right to vote on certain key decisions. The rejected proposal appeared to…
Sanctuary: Borders & Belonging in 2026
by Bleu Cease, Curator
Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo) presents Sanctuary: Borders & Belonging in 2026, an exhibition bringing together national and regional artists, creatives, and documentarians in response to the current political and social landscape surrounding immigration. On view October 2 through November 14, 2026, the exhibition centers the human lives behind political rhetoric, examining how belonging is made and denied, and how care, resilience, and solidarity persist amid increasingly hostile systems and cruel public narratives.
Sanctuary for All
“Let us create a sanctuary that is not defined by borders, but by inclusion and acceptance. A sanctuary not limited to the privileged few.”
Rochester Red Star | October 2026 | (Issue 30)
Welcome to the October issue of Rochester Red Star, ROC DSA’s monthly newsletter. This month, find essays on DSA’s internal democracy, a voter guide, remarks on Marx, and more. You’ll also find upcoming events and coverage of chapter activities.
On Canadian Militarism
by Douglas Dollinger
Canada is now effectively Americanizing its approach to defence. Militarism has become the order of the day.
Narratives of Imperfection: Revisiting Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) and Go Set a Watchman (2015)
by Travis Covitz
In my experience, Mockingbird is used by liberal Americans to assuage their guilt over racism, by allowing them to reassure themselves that they’re ‘one of the good ones’.
Getting Grounded: The Rochester Community Food System Plan
by Elizabeth Henderson
If anyone had doubts, there is now irrefutable evidence that the food insecurity in Rochester’s “Crescent” neighborhoods results from decades of disinvestment, systemic racism and poverty.
Impressions
Impressions is where ROC DSA members can share what they’re reading, listening to, viewing, or otherwise experiencing. If you have two hundred words about the culture at large you’d like to share with your comrades, submit to Rich J on Slack or to the Red Star at steering@rocdsa.org.
What do we joke about when we joke about 9/11
by Jean Allen
More and more Americans do not see ourselves in the US imperial project or see it as meaningfully ours.
I Can’t Hear You: Statement on the Killing of Gregory Kase
A disproportionate amount of those killed by police have a disability. But with insufficient resources and a lack of alternatives, families are forced to make the difficult decision to call 911. They are asking for help, and we are letting them down.