The Tidewater chapter of Democratic Socialists of America would like to sincerely thank all of those who knocked on thousands of doors, made countless phone calls, and texted millions of Americans in support of Senator Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign. Although Sanders has chosen to suspend his campaign, your hard work brought a socialist candidate within reach of the White House, a feat which would have been unimaginable only a few short years ago.
Without the help of wealthy donors or Super Pacs, you have shifted the political landscape and expanded the idea of what’s possible. The campaign may be over – but the movement has just begun. As Sanders has always said: “Not me. Us.”
The COVID-19 pandemic is sweeping the country and exposing the cracks in the capitalist system. While corporations receive generous bailouts, working people wait in line for hours at food banks. To change our world for the better, we need an organized mass movement that demands economic justice and an end to the exploitation of the working class, and we welcome you to join Tidewater DSA to continue this fight.
Tidewater DSA is just one of hundreds of branches of the Democratic Socialists of America. Sanders’ campaign has sparked an interest in democratic socialism for thousands of Americans, and his efforts have significantly contributed to the growth of the DSA. We are a big tent organization united by one simple principle: building a society that puts people before profits. We are committed to ending the oppression of marginalized people around the world.
At Tidewater DSA, we have canvassed local neighborhoods to raise support for Medicare for All. We are working with the newly formed Tidewater Workers Union, a regional solidarity union providing assistance to workers in our area. We are standing up against the latest pipeline project in Chesapeake, and we have actively protested a potential war with Iran. And with working class families through the Tidewater area struggling to put food on the table, we’re launching our first free food pantry.
There is lots of work to be done, and no matter which causes are most important to you, we invite you to participate in our chapter as we work to expand our efforts and organize within our community. If you’re interested in learning more about our chapter and how you can get involved, we’d like to welcome you to our DSA/Berner Open House at 7 pm on May 9th via Zoom call. You can register with this link: https://bit.ly/2VWCDdQ.
We have a world to win – and we would love to have you on board!
In solidarity,
Tidewater DSA