Month: April 2024

ROCHESTER RED STAR (May 2024)

Posted on April 30, 2024

Welcome to the inaugural issue of ROC DSA’s monthly newsletter, Rochester Red Star. I hope this project will help to accomplish goals I announced while running for Steering Committee: Expanding our capacity for political education to develop class consciousness; improving our organizing capabilities and community structures to establish foundations for the future; and building transparency and communication between Steering Committee and membership.

May this be one step along the path to carving out a left media sphere that will form the intellectual basis for a vibrant socialist politics in our region. I encourage you to get involved by submitting articles, photos, event write-ups, and feedback. Together, a better world is possible.

University of Rochester Students Call for Reversal of Ban on Students Peacefully Protesting on Campus

Posted on April 27, 2024

Five days into our encampment, our reasonable demands to the University of Rochester Administration remain. We continue to call on UR Administration to: (1) join the City of Rochester and Universities across the country in Calling for a ceasefire, and (2) fully divest from all academic ties to the state of Israel. Until the demands are met, or we are forcibly removed, we will remain peacefully on the Eastman Quad, drawing attention to the University of Rochester’s support of apartheid and genocide. Additionally we are now calling upon the University to lift these unreasonable bans and allow us to continue our peaceful protest. 

Solidarity Is Our Greatest Weapon: On Recent ROC DSA Victories

Posted on April 21, 2024

Something powerful happened in the city council chambers when our members and supporters approached that microphone, and that’s that we united our struggles. When we spoke about the BID, we also demanded City Council sign the ceasefire resolution. When we spoke about the ceasefire resolution, we demanded City Council stop the BID. And when we talked about either, we demanded City Council launch a vacancy study that’s necessary to implement rent control. It is solidarity that won those two victories. It is solidarity that shows the working class that our struggles are united. It is solidarity that is our greatest weapon against the owner class. Solidarity Forever!

Chapter Statement: Bello, Yudelson, and Maffucci Side With Republican Caucus on Public Power, Leaving Constituents at the Mercy of RG&E’s Corporate Greed

Posted on April 12, 2024

In opposing the study, County Executive Adam Bello, along with Legislators Michael Yudelson, Howard Maffucci, and the entire Republican caucus, have sided with RG&E’s corporate lobbyists over their constituents. Instead of getting the facts, Bello has resorted to fearmongering with baseless concerns. The influence of Bello and associate Bob Duffy over the County Legislature (Duffy receives over $200,000 a year to serve on the board of RG&E’s parent company, Avangrid) has subverted the will of the people.

Engineering Genocide: The War Profiteering of L3Harris

Posted on April 6, 2024

Now, can you picture 10,000 tons of weapons on 244 cargo planes and 20 ships? 15,000 bombs; 57,000 shells; and 200 kamikaze drones. This is what was received by Israel from the US (that we know of) in just the last few months of 2023. Annually Israel receives almost $4 billion dollars in military aid from the US and now $14 billion more in aid is potentially on the way. All these funds must be spent on US made weapons; weapons like those made here at L3 Harris.