Features

The TACO Chronicles –Andy L

We’re on the precipice of bombing Iran. While we were making our way through Deep Gras, our air force and navy have been moving planes and ships to Western Asia, assembling a force roughly the size of what attacked Iraq in 2003. No troops this time though – it’s just going to be bombs and missiles.

Maybe. The future is not written yet. Trump may realize that bombing a country of 90 million people will set the whole region on fire. We’re at the stage where Marjorie Taylor Greene has to be the voice of reason, tweeting*: “Americans do not want to go to war with Iran!!! They want to be able to afford their lives and get ahead. They want to be happy and enjoy life. They want their government to put elite pedos in jail. And they voted for NO MORE FOREIGN WARS AND NO MORE REGIME CHANGE.”

In 2003, I joined 750,000 people in New York, marching against the Second Gulf War. Bush ignored us and destroyed Iraq, reaping untold profits for US defense contractors.

Our good friend Paulo Freire reminds us to ask ourselves, “what can we do today, so that tomorrow we can do what we could not do today?” Just as there are wars returning that we may not be able to stop, there will be local battles (“development” projects, City Hall, the schools, the pigs) coming our way again too. Importantly, these challenges closer to home can be fought and defeated. They have been before, and whether they will be again depends on us and what we do today, tomorrow, and the day after that.

So let’s hope that Trump chickens out. But no matter what, we all have work to do. Let this dread become fuel for the fire inside you.

*Elon deadnames his own child, so I will always call it Twitter.

Brake Light Clinic Tomorrow in Kenner

Direct Service & Health Justice will be hosting another bi-monthly Brake Light Clinic, tomorrow in Kenner! Come make friends at one of our most well attended regular gatherings, and learn a little about brake lights and car repair. It’s going to be another beautiful day for socialism.

We will be joining comrades from Below Sea Level Aid and Unstoppable Kenner. The Kenner Coalition’s slate of City Council candidates will be rallying voters for their anti-ICE platform. Engaging New Voices and Voters will be doing voter registration on site.

Join us for our largest and most cooperative Direct Service event so far this year, at 3324 Williams Blvd in the Burlington Kenner parking lot from 11:00 am – 2:30 pm. Volunteer signup link is here!

Bulletins

Queer Socialists Map Release

New Orleans DSA’s Queer Socialists Section has released its map of pro- and anti- LGBTQ+ businesses in the greater New Orleans Area! This map is an ongoing project which requires community support! If you know of a business that is pro- or anti-LGBTQ+, or if you are the owner of a business, please submit information to Queer Soc’s tip-line! It will be voted on at our next meeting.

Support Chevron Out of French Quarter Fest

Please take 2 minutes to support Chevron Out of French Quarter Fest.

1) Find French Quarter Fest on Instagram
2) Like @chevron_out ‘s and @_noship’s comments and follow them
3) Post your own comments!

Click here for a list of example comments and instructions!

Not One Dime at Starbucks

Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) baristas continue their nationwide strike against unfair labor practices. That strike includes our local unionized Starbucks in River Ridge. Please support our striking baristas here and across the country by boycotting Starbucks donating to the workers’ solidarity fund. Baristas have been fighting for over two years for a fair contract. As participants in a wage market system, every worker has a stake in seeing the SBWU fight to the end.

Meet Comrades in Your Neighborhood Circle

Organizing is about trust, and trust gets built by showing up again and again and getting to know your neighbors. Neighborhood circles are how we connect with comrades where we live, work, or otherwise spend our time. We’re using them to host gatherings, plan events, and organize around issues in our neighborhoods. Click here to join yours today! Neighborhood circles are for members only and follow the chapter’s code of conduct and guidelines for respectful discussion.

Community Calendar

Friday, February 20

Queer Soc Meeting
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Meet

Saturday, February 21

Brake Light Clinic
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
3324 Williams Blvd, Kenner

Eye on Surveillance Retreat
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
John Thompson Legacy Center, 1212 St Bernard Av – RSVP

Red Rabbits Safety Coalition Training
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Healing Center, 2372 St Claude Av #258 – RSVP

Southern Mississippi DSA Bonfire
4:00 pm
499 Front Beach Dr, Fire Pit #42, Ocean Springs, MS

Sunday, February 22

Northshore Neighborhood Social
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
St John’s Coffeehouse, 535 E Boston St, Covington

NLG Legal Observer Training
2:00 pm
VOTE, 4930 Washington Av – Register

Comms Meeting
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Healing Center, 2372 St Claude Av #258 – Meet

Chapter Orientation
8:00 pm – 9:00 pm (first and last Sunday)
Meet

Monday, February 23

Local Council Meeting
8:00 pm (Monday after General Meeting)
Meet

Tuesday, February 24

Direct Service & Health Justice Meeting
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm (first & third Tuesday)
Meet

Wednesday, February 25

Municipal Action Committee Meeting
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Healing Center, 2372 St Claude #258 – Meet

Thursday, February 26

🌹 🌹 🌹

Friday, February 27

NOLA Freedom Forum: Big Tech’s AI War on Louisiana
6:00 pm
Promise of Justice Initiative, 1024 Elysian Fields Av

Saturday, February 28

New Orleans DSA General Meeting
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Healing Center, 2372 St Claude Av #258 – RSVP

Sunday, March 1

Coffee with Comrades
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Coffee Science, 410 S Broad St

Poli-Ed Planning Meeting
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm (first Sunday)
Healing Center, 2372 St Claude Av #258 – Meet

Chapter Orientation
8:00 pm – 9:00 pm (first and last Sunday)
Meet

Down the Road

March 15 Poli-Ed Reading Group
March 28 New Orleans DSA General Meeting
March 28 No Kings
April 5 Coffee with Comrades
June 27 New Orleans DSA Local Convention