The Democratic Socialists of America’s (DSA’s) National Convention was on August 4-6 in Chicago.

The Convention was a great experience that energized and inspired me. I had the opportunity to meet many amazing and inspiring people and I had to chance to meet with Comrades I worked with on Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2016 Presidential campaign.

NPC Election

The Convention elected a new Left majority to the National Political Committee (NPC). This is a shift from the previous NPC represented by the moderate wing, represented by the Socialist Majority Caucus and Groundwork slate.

From the Left:

• Marxist Unity Group (MUG): Amy and Rashad
• Bread & Roses: Alex P, Kristin S, and Laura W
• Red Star: John L, Megan R, and Sam HF
• Anti-Zionist slate: Ahmed H
• Independent: Luisa M

From the Moderate:

• Groundwork: Ashik S, Cara T, Frances G, and Rose D
• Socialist Majority Caucus (SMC): Colleen J and Renee P

The incoming Steering Committee (SC):

• Renee (SMC)
• Ashik (Groundwork)
• John (Red Star)
• Alex (Bread & Roses)
• Amy (MUG)

Democratizing DSA

Unfortunately, the resolution from MUG and Reform and Revolution (R&R), which I also supported which would have created a National Delegates Council did not make it onto the agenda. Instead the so-called “Democratize DSA 2023” constitutional/bylaws amendment and resolution did. This proposal would have expanded the NPC to 51 members. There were amendments to it that I voted for. Only three passed. Amendment A, would have required the convention to directly elect the SC, passed with 771 yes voters and 122 no votes. Amendment C, which would have made vacancy elections to NPC by regions, failed with 34 yes votes including me to 874 no votes. Amendment D would have required the SC vacancy elections to be filled by the convention, passed with 774 yes votes and 100 no votes. The floor amendment would have reduced the NPC seats from 51 to 35, passed with 661 yes votes to 218 no votes.

Because the convention failed to reach a ⅔ majority the main motion (Democratize DSA 2023) failed with 557 yes votes or 62 percent to 342 votes no. I voted yes because I agreed with the amendments that passed making the proposal somewhat better. 

Independence from the Democratic Party

The amendment, “Act Like an Independent Party” to the National Electoral Committee (NEC) 2023 Consensus resolution passed with 79 percent of delegates’ votes. This was a shift toward the left and our need to become a political party running our own candidates. The amendment outlines this need. It outlines the need for us to run candidates as “Democratic Socialists” and to form local Socialists in Office (SIO) committees.

Unfortunately, the amendment, “Toward a Party-Like Electoral Strategy” which I thought was needed for the future of DSA, did not pass. However, this time the amendment received a 10 percent gain in support than it had in 2021. It failed with 371 yes votes or 41 percent to 541 voting no. 

Transgender Liberation and Reproductive Justice Campaign

The Convention voted to add the resolution on launching a fighting nationally coordinated campaign for reproductive justice and transgender liberation to the agenda. It was one of the first items to come before the convention. This amendment to the agenda narrowly passed with 476 yes votes or 55 percent to 415 no votes. The resolution itself passed with 527 yes votes or 62 percent.

The NPC and the Queer Socialist Working Group (WG) will work together to follow through on this resolution and develop a campaign over the next weeks and months. The campaign will launch in January 2024 and a national day of action (DOA) will be in Spring 2024. The NPC will reach out to DSA electeds to formally ask them to endorse and commit to using their platforms to aggressively promote the campaign and its actions. 

The same resolution was adopted by the Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) Convention with 88 yes votes or 92 percent. 

Recently, incoming NPC members submitted a resolution to the SC to affirm that the trans liberation and repro justice campaign will be a political task for the incoming NPC and begin the development of the said campaign. This campaign will equip local chapters with tools for fighting for trans liberation and repro justice, including labor organizing to win gender-affirming healthcare, legislative campaigns to defend access to abortion, and direct actions against so-called, “Crisis Pregnancy Centers.” Local chapters with DSA electeds will be equipped to make strides to secure rights through legislation, and local chapters will receive resources to help support local teachers and librarians in this fight to protect queer and trans youth. 

Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) and Palestinian Solidarity Work

In another power grab and way of punishment, two weeks before the convention the NPC violated its own deadline and released a recommendation resolution that would dissolve the BDS WG and absorb it into the International Committee (IC). The NPC first attempted to do this during the Representative Bowman affair. The NPC refused to censure Rep. Bowman for his violation of the DSA platform and voting to support the Israeli military. 

The BDS WG was the most vocal in opposing Rep. Bowman and the NPC for lack of action. This move was another attempt to silence the BDS WG.

The NPC did not allow any debate on this issue and our commitment to the Palestinian struggle. I support the right of oppressed peoples, including the Palestinians, to defend themselves, including with armed resistance. I believe the struggle needs a socialist perspective and strategy to defeat the Israeli state and the fascist Zionist regime. 

I believe that it is the duty of the NPC to find an agreement or explore if it’s possible to find a joint path forward. This was not the path the 2021-2023 NPC took. 

By a close vote of 472 yes votes or 52 percent and 439 no votes or 48 percent, the Convention dissolved the BDS WG and didn’t allow time to have a clarifying political debate on our position. 

Unresolved Critical Issues

Because of the rules that a ⅔ majority is necessary to extend debate and votes, several critical issues were left unresolved.

One major issue was, how does DSA respond to the 2024 Presidential election and whether DSA elected should endorse President Biden. We also did not address the decline in DSA membership. DSA now has around 78,000 members, not over 90,000 as our website declares. We didn’t address a more radical and ambitious approach to fight climate change and eco-socialism. I strongly believe that the DSA strategy should be like the radical movements in Europe, for example, Extinction Rebellion, Fridays for Future, or Letzte Generation. We need a socialist Green New Deal (GND).

Additional important issues that the convention did not address that the incoming NPC is supposed to address include:

• Member resolution (MR): End the National Harassment and Grievance Officer Contract and Make the Role a Staff Position
• MR: Accountable National Commissions
• MR: Make DSA an Anti-Zionist Organization in Principle and Praxis

After the convention, I joined the Marxist Unity Group or MUG.