by Gregory Lebens-Higgins<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NOTE: Resolutions referenced below can be found in the Proposal Compendium available <\/em>here<\/em><\/a> (<\/em>bit.ly\/2025-proposals<\/em><\/a>). A longer account of the proceedings is available <\/em>here<\/em><\/a> (<\/em>bit.ly\/2025-con<\/em><\/a>). <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n From August 8 to 10, delegates from across the country gathered for DSA\u2019s National Convention in Chicago to chart the course of the organization for the next two years. Rochester sent seven delegates (and one alternate), including myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The convention occurred in the context of Zohran Mamdani\u2019s monumental victory on a platform<\/a> of affordable housing, free childcare, reimagining public safety, and taxing the rich. Supported by a campaign infrastructure of DSA organizers, Zohran\u2019s connection with working class voters set him on the path to become New York City\u2019s next mayor. His win \u201crepresents the culmination of eight years of work,\u201d said DSA Co-Chair Ashik S. (Wilmington) (Groundwork) in his opening remarks to the convention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also informing debate in Chicago was the ongoing Palestinian genocide tearing apart international relations and human rights, despite mass<\/a> protests and global disapproval<\/a>. Complicity in Israel\u2019s actions and failure to resist Trump has discredited the Democratic Party, while the Republican Party surfs a fascist wave to authoritarian power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These circumstances present significant challenges, but also opportunity. The working class is seeking an alternative to the status quo. As the largest socialist organization in the country, DSA is stepping into the void to offer meaningful change. With the theme \u201cRebirth and Beyond,\u201d the convention resolved internal tensions by solidifying democratic practices and refining our vision for the organization, and prepared for the fight ahead alongside labor and international allies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Centering Democracy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n DSA is a member run organization. Ninety-percent of the budget comes from member dues, as the Budget & Finance Committee describes<\/a>: \u201cOur financial health is directly tied to membership levels, dues sustainability, and retention.\u201d Developing a healthy and sustainable organization means prioritizing democratic processes and accountability among members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the matter of accountability, delegates passed a unified grievance policy for chapters and national bodies (CR08), \u201ccreating a space that is welcoming and inclusive to members of all genders, races, and classes,\u201d and \u201censur[ing] that everyone is able to organize without fear of harassment, abuse, or harm.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The convention also set minimum requirements for chapters, establishing a \u201cchapter affiliation agreement\u201d (CR01) that requires incorporating the Code of Conduct<\/a>, holding at minimum one meeting per year with voting rights for all members, and hosting a digital platform to facilitate intra-chapter communication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The chapter affiliation agreement represents the work of DSA\u2019s Democracy Commission, a body created in 2023 to consider \u201cwhat are the essential elements of chapter democracy that every member has a right to?\u201d Passing with 82% approval, the Commission\u2019s Constitution and Bylaws amendments (CB01) facilitate political exchange between chapters and National, expand DSA\u2019s National Political Committee (NPC), and set expectations for leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a member run organization, questions arise over DSA\u2019s relationship to staff. Staff play an important role in the day-to-day functions of the organization, but may lack a clear relationship to our political mission. A proposal from Bread & Roses (R27) encourages staff to become politically engaged in the organization and prioritizes hiring among members. Though Cara T. (At-Large) (Groundwork) expressed concern for retaliation, DSA\u2019s staff union affirmed that \u201cR27 does not \u2026 change our longstanding freedom to have political opinions as members of DSA,\u201d and the resolution passed with 58% support. Notably, staff are barred from becoming caucus members. Staffing is also relevant to DSA\u2019s budget\u2014in 2024, a budget crisis was resolved with staff layoffs. A resolution (R44) from Libertarian Socialist Caucus to cap staff expenditures and limit hiring failed by a mere eleven votes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Leadership decisions are currently left to delegates at convention. One of the most contested proposals, One Member, One Vote (1M1V), proposed<\/a> by Groundwork, would have expanded these decisions to the entire body. Those in favor argued that a majority of members are disenfranchised, and that the policy would overcome disconnect between members and National. Those opposed stressed the importance of in-person deliberation, and a concern for brigading by nefarious actors: \u201cIf they can find a way to ratfuck us, they will,\u201d said Peter T. (East Bay). 1M1V for federal endorsements (R06) was deemed out of order by the Chair over the inclusion of a polling method inconsistent with the bylaws, but a vote upholding this decision demonstrated an overall lack of support for the resolution, since a similar challenge to R33 was overturned. For DSA\u2019s National Leadership elections (CB02), 1M1V was voted down on the merits with only 39.8% support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DSA is a Party<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The United States is a two party system, with entrenched Democratic and Republican parties controlling ballot access and election infrastructure. DSA is often forced to use the Democratic Party line to get DSA candidates on the ballot. A future \u201cdirty break\u201d from the Democrats is core to DSA\u2019s identity\u2014will DSA remain a junior partner to the Democrats, or begin building its own party?<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the convention, DSA began building toward independence. Principles for Party Building (R07), submitted by Marxist Unity Group, commits DSA \u201cto the goal of becoming an independent mass socialist party.\u201d Avoiding the irrelevance of third parties in the United States, the resolution recognizes that \u201ca ballot line is not the primary goal or indication of political independence.\u201d (A separate proposal to run on an independent ballot line [R33-A02] failed.) Instead, DSA must bring \u201cour independent organization and program to races whether on a Democratic, independent, or third-party ballot line.\u201d This strategy centers DSA in fielding and supporting candidates who represent the organization\u2019s principles, rather than merely endorsing the most progressive Democratic candidates. \u201cThe only people that can decide what DSA does are DSA members,\u201d argued Connell H. (River Valley). The resolution passed 641 to 551. <\/p>\n\n\n\n DSA\u2019s party formation will be informed by the \u201cWorkers Deserve More\u201d program<\/a> (R34), which was renewed and amended based on commitments made at the convention. Beyond merely identifying DSA\u2019s political priorities, the Bread & Roses proposal provides an \u201cimplementation plan\u201d by committing resources to publicize and enact the program. The program passed by a vote of 900 to 291. A competing program from Marxist Unity Group and Reform & Revolution (R34-A01) failed to garner support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This party structure and program will soon be put to use. Delegates resolved to create a \u201cCongressional Subcommittee\u201d under DSA\u2019s National Electoral Commission (NEC) to identify viable races in the 2026 congressional midterms, and to \u201cidentify, recruit, and support a viable democratic socialist candidate for President\u201d in 2028 (R18; see also <\/em>CR05-A04 and R33). NEC\u2019s consensus resolution (CR05) prioritizes DSA members as candidates, and establishes a Socialists-In-Office network to \u201csupport, organize, and collaborate with DSA members who hold elected government office.\u201d Federal candidates will also be subject to a more robust endorsement process, requiring NPC to meet with candidates and consider input from NEC and members (CR05-A03). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Labor Solidarity <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another big question for DSA is our orientation toward labor. Do we focus on bread-and-butter issues, or preparing the working class for revolution? Reform existing unions, or form our own?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The National Labor Commission\u2019s (NLC) consensus resolution (CR10) lays out a labor strategy for the organization. This includes activating union members within DSA, salting workplaces to form new unions, organizing Amazon (see also <\/em>R40), solidarity with federal workers (CR10-A03), and preparing for the May Day 2028 general strike (see also <\/em>R30, as amended by R30-A01). It directs material support for the Labor Solidarity Fund and Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC), and commits to \u201cbuilding militant, class-struggle unions\u201d established on democratic principles laid out in the resolution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n How explicit should DSA make socialist politics when organizing workers? An amendment (CR10-A01) sought to organize unions toward a party program: \u201cIf we can talk about bread and butter, then we can talk about socialism too,\u201d said Sara M. (Portland) (Reform & Revolution). While this amendment failed, a resolution committing DSA to running \u201clabor candidates\u201d (R20) was clarified with an amendment (R20-A01) that would \u201ccenter socialism\u201d within these campaigns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n DSA is also organizing labor power toward ending the Palestinian genocide. A resolution from the Carnation Program<\/a>, Labor for an Arms Embargo (R42), directs the NLC to build political pressure for an arms embargo with union support. An amendment proposed by Springs of Revolution (R42-A01) would prioritize organizing workers toward a strike to achieve this purpose. Sarah A. (East Bay) pointed out that \u201cwe saw less than one-fourth of the hands in this room raised when asked if [delegates] were in a union.\u201d Palestinian liberation can\u2019t wait for us to build up union capacity for such a strike. A vote on the amendment failed with 35.4%, while the unamended resolution passed by a show of cards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n International Allies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ending the genocide was at the top of delegates\u2019 minds. Many of those present wore keffiyehs, and the convention was shadowed with news of further<\/a> escalation by Israel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n AOC\u2019s recent vote<\/a> for Iron Dome funding also played behind the scenes. Representative Rashida Tlaib, the keynote speaker, challenged those who declare themselves progressive on other issues or say they support<\/a> only \u2018defensive\u2019 weapons. \u201cA weapon is a weapon,\u201d declared Tlaib. \u201cYou either support ending funding for genocide, or you don\u2019t.\u201d The decision of whether to censure AOC will be left to the new NPC. <\/p>\n\n\n\n DSA reaffirmed \u201cour unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people in the struggle against Zionist settler colonization, Israeli apartheid, and US imperialism.\u201d A Unified Democratic Socialist Strategy for Palestinian Solidarity (R36) devotes resources toward the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, state and local pro-Palestine legislation, student activism, and union trainings. For a Fighting Anti-Zionist DSA (R22), also commits DSA to Stop Fueling Genocide<\/a>, No Appetite for Apartheid<\/a>, and Mask Off Maersk<\/a> to accentuate BDS targeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More controversial were R22\u2019s standards for DSA members and electeds\u2014affirming material support for Zionism as an expellable offense. Springs of Revolution motivated R22 to \u201cconfirm conclusively that Zionism\u2014responsible for wars and genoide\u2014has no place in the socialist movement.\u201d Fifty-seven chapters had already passed similar resolutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n DSA members from Socialist Majority Caucus and Groundwork argued that R22 is more worried about disciplining members than focusing on the actions we need to win, expressing concern that ambiguity in the resolution will be used for politically motivated expulsions. We need to win politicians and members to an anti-Zionist vision, they argued, not expel them. An amendment to remove the expulsion provisions failed. The resolution passed 675 to 524, to an eruption of \u201cFree, Free Palestine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n What happens after the genocide ends? Should DSA support a one-state solution? A commitment to a \u201cdemocratic Palestinian state in the whole of historic Palestine, with explicit and enforced protections for all ethnic and religious minorities\u201d (R01) was introduced by Libertarian Socialist Caucus. Competing visions were also proposed. From Springs of Revolution, “a commitment to al-Thawabit, the red lines of the Palestinian people adopted by the Palestinian National Council in 1977\u201d (R01-A01). Another (R01-A02), would align DSA with the \u201cOne Democratic State Campaign<\/a>.\u201d Ultimately, each failed to win support. These are questions for another day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More broadly, DSA resolved to \u201cbuild an internationalist party,\u201d passing the International Committee\u2019s Consensus Resolution (CR02), and committing to organize with Progressive International<\/a>. On Saturday afternoon, a cross-organizational exchange featured representatives from around the world, answering questions on international solidarity, confronting imperialism, and advice for DSA\u2019s internal democracy and direction. These included Patria Grande (Argentina), the Workers Party of Belgium, Partido Socialismo e Liberdade (Brazil), the Workers Party of Brazil, Democratic Socialists of Canada, La France Insoumise, Social Democratic Party (Japan), Morena (Mexico), and International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The convention closed with messages of solidarity from Cuban Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Carlos Fern\u00e1ndez de Coss\u00edo Dom\u00ednguez, and British Member of Parliament Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn is building a new organization<\/a> on DSA\u2019s model: action based, democratic, and focused on social justice and equality. The inaugural conference will be held later this year, and the organization will be working with DSA and progressive organizations all over the world, creating \u201ca new Atlantic Alliance\u201d\u2014this one based on peace and justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Socialism Beats Fascism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Following the convention, criticism<\/a> was made that not enough time was spent debating Trump. But we already agree that Trump is bad for the working class, and are aware of his encroachments on our civil rights and shared humanity. Several resolutions focused on Trump passed on the Consent Agenda, including From Palestine to Mexico: Fighting Fascist Attacks on Immigrants (R19), and Fight Fascist State Repression & ICE (R26) (by Springs of Revolution). These resolutions recognize the Trump administration as \u201can increasingly authoritarian and anti-immigrant regime that has promised and delivered increasingly cruel attacks on migrants to uphold white supremacy, capitalism, and imperialism,\u201d and call to abolish ICE and engage in solidarity with immigrants by distributing know your rights materials, expanding sanctuary city legislation, establishing a Collective Defense Fund, and \u201cprepar[ing] the organization for a national uprising against federal agents and police brutality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n How does DSA confront fascism? By building a democratic structure that promises the working class an alternative to the status quo or reactionary politics. Americans voted for Trump as the result of Democrats\u2019 political nihilism and a desire for change. But now, \u201cwe\u2019re the ones who are building an alternative to our current crisis,\u201d said Co-Chair Ashik S. (Wilmington) (Groundwork). \u201cWe\u2019re rebuilding a flame that people tried very hard to extinguish.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carrying the Fight Forward<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n DSA is a mass movement focused on programmatic unity rather than ideological dogma. The new NPC, composed (with one exception) of caucused members, demonstrates our diversity. Megan R. (At-Large) (Red Star) and Ashik S. (Wilmington) (Groundwork) were reelected as Co-Chairs. In addition, the NPC includes four of Groundwork\u2019s seven<\/a> candidates, four of Socialist Majority Caucus\u2019 seven<\/a> candidates, four of Springs of Revolution\u2019s five<\/a> candidates, Marxist Unity Group\u2019s slate of three<\/a> candidates, three of Bread & Roses\u2019 five<\/a> candidates, two of Red Star\u2019s four<\/a> candidates, one of Libertarian Socialist Caucus’ three<\/a> candidates, Reform & Revolution\u2019s candidate<\/a>, and one candidate<\/a> from Carnation Program. YDSA Co-Chairs Daniel S-C. (Florida International University) (Reform & Revolution) and Sara A. (Cornell University) (uncaucused), also hold seats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the obvious disagreements represented by these ideological groupings, delegates from the convention left as allies. \u201cLook around you,\u201d said Co-Chair Megan R. (At-Large) (Red Star), \u201cand recognize how much each person contributes to the cause.\u201d The motivation to achieve victory for the working class burned in every soul present at the convention. \u201cOur job is to carry that flame back to our chapters, workplaces, communities, social spaces\u2014and set the whole world on fire. \u2026 The future starts now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The convention closed with singing; the lyrics of the Internationale reminding us: \u201cthe international working class shall free the human race.\u201d In the words of Tlaib, \u201cOur movement isn\u2019t going anywhere, and we\u2019re just getting started.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Gregory Lebens-Higgins<\/p>\n “The working class is seeking an alternative to the status quo. As the largest socialist organization in the country, DSA is stepping into the void to offer meaningful change. With the theme \u201cRebirth and Beyond,\u201d the convention resolved internal tensions by solidifying democratic practices and refining our vision for the organization, and prepared for the fight ahead alongside labor and international allies.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1974,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[117],"tags":[374,632,70,307,18,301,69,48,487,118,122,579,631,65,282,344,29,4,633,133,604,583],"class_list":["post-1973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-dsa","tag-374","tag-caucuses","tag-ceasefire","tag-convention","tag-dsa","tag-fascism","tag-gaza","tag-labor","tag-national-convention","tag-national-dsa","tag-national-political-committee","tag-npc","tag-nyc","tag-palestine","tag-party","tag-rashida-tlaib","tag-roc-dsa","tag-rochester","tag-tlaib","tag-trump","tag-zohran","tag-zohran-mamdani"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t