Skip to content

Commit

Permalink
updated post, uploaded images
Browse files Browse the repository at this point in the history
  • Loading branch information
jasonkdsa committed Jan 2, 2025
1 parent 3f47b00 commit d5c174e
Show file tree
Hide file tree
Showing 15 changed files with 27 additions and 1 deletion.
28 changes: 27 additions & 1 deletion _posts/2025-01-01-end-of-year-review.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -15,33 +15,59 @@ Come review our 2024 with us!

Our [AfroSocialists & Socialists of Color Section (AFROSOC)](https://bhamdsa.org/our-work/#AFROSOC), alongside other chapter members, kicked off our 2024 by showing up, tabling, and speaking at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day rally with former DSA honorary chair Cornel West! AFROSOC continued the year with monthly meetings and bimonthly game nights, affirming a space for our BIPOC-identifying members to build power in Birmingham DSA and their communities.

<img src="assets/images/2025-01-01-B1.jpg" width="50%" height="50%"><img src="assets/images/2025-01-01-A.jpg" width="50%" height="50%">

In February, we approved our Save Our Libraries campaign! With our comrades at [North Alabama DSA](https://actionnetwork.org/groups/north-alabama-dsa), we pushed back against the censorship of LGBTQIA+ and racial justice materials in Alabama's public libraries, speaking in opposition to far-right groups at board meetings for North Shelby Library and the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS). We also organized “write-ins” in Shelby County and Tuscaloosa and online to overwhelm the APLS with anti-censorship letters.

<img src="assets/images/2025-01-01-C1.jpg" width="50%" height="50%">

Also in February, our [Palestine Working Group](https://bhamdsa.org/our-work/#palestineWG) gathered outside pro-IDF musician Matisyahu's show at Saturn to let him know he’s not welcome in Birmingham. Subsequent protests in the Southwest led to Matisyahu’s shows being cancelled in Arizona and New Mexico.

<img src="assets/images/2025-01-01-C2.jpg" width="50%" height="50%">

Following our March endorsement of voting “Uncommitted” in the Alabama presidential primary, a March vigil for martyr Aaron Bushnell, and a May Nakba Day rally, we joined local Palestine solidarity organizations to pack a Birmingham City Council meeting. As a result, we successfully pressured our councilpeople to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza (albeit a watered-down version of our original proposal).

<img src="assets/images/2025-01-01-D1.jpg" width="50%" height="50%">

On May Day, our [Labor Working Group](https://bhamdsa.org/our-work/#laborWG) gathered to create solidarity signs and banners for Mercedes workers unionizing in Vance. We continued our labor solidarity by supporting striking AT&T workers on their summer picket lines, and organizing “sip-ins” in support of the unionized [Midtown Birmingham Starbucks](https://www.instagram.com/sbworkersunitedbham) partners.

<img src="assets/images/2025-01-01-D2.jpg" width="50%" height="50%">

And, alongside our North Alabama DSA comrades, our members continued to develop their own workplace organizing skills at October's [Alabama Troublemakers School](https://www.alreporter.com/2024/10/21/troublemakers-school-teaches-alabamians-about-taking-on-the-boss-and-winning/).

<img src="assets/images/2025-01-01-E1.jpg" width="50%" height="50%">

We kicked off Pride Month in June with our [Queer Socialists Member Section (QueerSoc)](https://bhamdsa.org/our-work/#QUEERSOC)'s first-ever meeting! Tabling at Central Alabama Pride (CAP)'s Pridefest and marching in CAP's Pride Parade, QueerSoc and chapter members handed out literature on how Israel "[pinkwashes][(https://bdsmovement.net/pinkwashing)" their genocide of Palestinians.

<img src="assets/images/2025-01-01-E2.jpg" width="50%" height="50%">

After disrupting multiple summer town hall meetings of transphobic Alabama politicians, QueerSoc closed out the year with a November Queersgiving potluck, a December gift swap, and a reading group for David Levithan's "[Two Boys Kissing](http://www.davidlevithan.com/two-boys-kissing/)."

<img src="assets/images/2025-01-01-F1.jpg" width="50%" height="50%">

In July, our [Mutual Aid Working Group](https://bhamdsa.org/our-work/#mutualAidWG) expanded its Brake Light & Fuse Replacement Clinic program from clinics every three months to clinics every month. The program, which aims to protect working-class Birminghamians and Tuscaloosans from police violence, also began offering free oil and filter changes.

<img src="assets/images/2025-01-01-F2.jpg" width="50%" height="50%">

In August, our Mutual Aid Working Group also expanded its Street Solidarity houseless/homeless resource program from once-a-month to twice-a-month actions every 1st and 3rd Sunday in Linn Park. We also began a reading group for Deborah K. Padgett’s “[Housing First](https://global.oup.com/academic/product/housing-first-9780199989805?cc=us&lang=en&),” to continue thinking of ways we can build power for our houseless and homeless neighbors.

<img src="assets/images/2025-01-01-G1.jpg" width="50%" height="50%">

In October, we launched our “[Stop Fueling Genocide](https://www.dsausa.org/democratic-left/lets-organize-to-stop-chevron-fueling-genocide/)” priority campaign! This campaign, begun by the [Palestinian BDS National Committee](https://bdsmovement.net/bnc), aims to pressure Chevron, the largest natural gas supplier to Israel, into leaving Palestine. Our members agitated for boycotts of local Chevron and Texaco stations by canvassing local outdoor markets. They next aim to pressure local station owners into disaffiliating from Chevron.

<img src="assets/images/2025-01-01-H1.jpg" width="50%" height="50%">

Following the Democrats’ Election Day losses, our membership grew by nearly 15%, as Birmingham and Tuscaloosa socialists sought to fight back against a second Trump presidency. With our spike in membership, we moved our general meetings to Saturn to accommodate our increased attendance, restarted our “Birmingham DSA 101" orientation events, and experienced record attendance at all our chapter meetings.

<img src="assets/images/2025-01-01-J1.jpg" width="50%" height="50%">

Throughout the year, we held socialist social hours, new member happy hours, and debate and Election Night watch parties to build our camaraderie. We also created an [Electoral & Legislative Working Group](https://bhamdsa.org/our-work/#electoralWG) to continue building
working-class power through elected office.

<img src="assets/images/2025-01-01-K1.jpg" width="50%" height="50%">

And, to close out 2024, we spent our Christmas Eve on the [Midtown Birmingham Starbucks](https://www.instagram.com/sbworkersunitedbham) partners’ picket line, supporting their fight for better raises and to stop Starbucks’s union busting.

Thanks for reviewing our 2024 with us! Want to join us in 2025? Go to [bhamdsa.org/calendar](https://bhamdsa.org/calendar), and look for events with a bread 🍞 emoji. These are events we recommend for new members and those who are DSA-curious.
Thanks for reviewing our 2024 with us! <b>Want to join us in 2025?</b> Go to [bhamdsa.org/calendar](https://bhamdsa.org/calendar), and look for events with a bread 🍞 emoji. These are events we recommend for new members and those who are DSA-curious.

And join DSA! Start your monthly dues at [dsausa.org/join](https://dsausa.org/join).
Binary file added assets/images/2025-01-01-B2.jpg
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
Binary file added assets/images/2025-01-01-C1.jpg
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
Binary file added assets/images/2025-01-01-C2.png
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
Binary file added assets/images/2025-01-01-D1.jpg
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
Binary file added assets/images/2025-01-01-D2.jpg
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
Binary file added assets/images/2025-01-01-E1.jpg
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
Binary file added assets/images/2025-01-01-E2.jpg
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
Binary file added assets/images/2025-01-01-F1.jpg
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
Binary file added assets/images/2025-01-01-F2.jpg
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
Binary file added assets/images/2025-01-01-G1.jpg
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
Binary file added assets/images/2025-01-01-H1.jpg
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
Binary file added assets/images/2025-01-01-J1.jpg
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
Binary file added assets/images/2025-01-01-K1.jpg
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.
Binary file added assets/images/slideshow/2025-01-01-D1.jpg
Loading
Sorry, something went wrong. Reload?
Sorry, we cannot display this file.
Sorry, this file is invalid so it cannot be displayed.

0 comments on commit d5c174e

Please sign in to comment.