Lubbock DSA

Don’t let your boss keep you and your coworkers in the dark. Salary transparency is a federally protected right. Talk to each other. Get organized. Get paid.

Recent decisions from the Lubbock City Council are local examples of capitalist politics. Instead of the people being empowered to democratically control their society, we are subject to the whims of the ruling class and their political cronies.

Our only hope of overcoming this lack of political power is through mutual solidarity.

Someone may ask, "But I'm not an artist! How do the city council's anti-arts, pro-censorship policies affect me?" Friend, you may not be an artist, but you are affected by the local art scene. Art beautifies and enhances our lives. It provides an outlet for us to be vulnerable and to connect with others. Furthermore, local art brings interest to other local businesses, helping both small business owners and workers. And it allows people with disabilities to make a living when they otherwise couldn't in capitalist society.

Another may ask, "But I'm not gay! Why should I care about the city council's queer-phobic policies?" Friend, the city council is trying to stifle unique and creative expression here in Lubbock. Why would they stop at censoring LGBTQ+ expression? Do you have an identity or even an opinion that the city council hates? You could be next on the chopping block. Do you also want to be silenced?

Another may ask, "But I don't use the public library system. Why should I care about the mayor's attempt to close a library?" Friend, you may not use the library, but many people do. The educational materials that libraries provide are indispensable. People use library resources to train for highly-skilled jobs, such as doctors, nurses, engineers, and scientists. Do you want your surgeon to have any less access to educational resources? Furthermore, the libraries are especially useful for low-income families, who may not be able to afford to buy books.

Another may ask, "But I don't use public transit. Why should I care about the council cutting funds for Citibus trolleys?" Friend, public transit provides the only means of transportation for many poor and disabled people. Most of us will be disabled at some point in our lives, and you will appreciate the option of reliable, cheap public transit then.

Comrades, as workers (which most of us are), we do not own enough resources to buy off politicians like the capitalists do. We have very little political and economic power within the current system. Our only power is in our numbers. We must unite and organize ourselves if we are to make the world better for ourselves and for future generations. If we separate into our individual cliques, only caring about issues that affect us directly, we will lose out on the power of our numbers, and receive indirect consequences for our inaction. As a united working class, we must struggle against the capitalists and their puppet politicians until we have freed everyone from exploitation and oppression.



"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me." – Martin Niemöller

If you are afraid of socialism, you are either a capitalist (unlikely) or don’t know what socialism is. Socialism is a movement for the people, by the people. It is a movement to liberate the exploited and oppressed. If you are a worker (which most of you are), the socialists are on your side. We want you to have real political and economic power, which is denied to you under capitalism.



"In what relation do the Communists stand to the proletarians as a whole? The Communists do not form a separate party opposed to the other working-class parties. They have no interests separate and apart from those of the proletariat as a whole.... The Communists, therefore, are on the one hand, practically, the most advanced and resolute section of the working-class parties of every country, that section which pushes forward all others; on the other hand, theoretically, they have over the great mass of the proletariat the advantage of clearly understanding the line of march, the conditions, and the ultimate general results of the proletarian movement. The immediate aim of the Communists is the same as that of all other proletarian parties: formation of the proletariat into a class, overthrow of the bourgeois supremacy, conquest of political power by the proletariat.” – Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels

This is our fifth reading recommendation in our weekly education series! Please let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Howdy comrades and friends!

Today is going to be another eventful day for us here in Lubbock. 🤠

We will be joining local artists and activists at the City council meeting, then going right next door to continue our monthly Feed those in need Mutual Aid program. We are all well aware of the weather we've been having lately. These temperatures are not going away. Everyone deserves a way to cool down! We are reaching out to you all, the community, for donations of any kind to help our unhoused neighbors. Anyone wanting to help us may join us at the The Salvation Army of Lubbock (1111 16th St.) at 4:30.

Thank y'all for your continuous and gracious support!

https://donorbox.org/feed-those-in-need-1

Our monthly food program for the unhoused is tomorrow at 4:30pm! We'll be distributing food, hygiene products, and educational literature.



Feed Those in Need
We'll be distributing hygiene, food, literature.
August 13, 2024 - 4:30 pm, outside the salvation army.

On Saturday, we did mutual aid work by donating school supplies to Lubbock residents. The school supplies came from DSA members and community members. We know this time of year can be expensive for parents and students who are expected to pay for supplies out of pocket. We were able to help five families and also handed out information about our work in the community.

If you are an artist or performer in Lubbock, check out the new mutual aid network for artists that we're helping to build: https://linktr.ee/lubbockartma

Thank you to Finley and Christopher Walker for the photos!

Cant stop / won’t stop

https://sahanjournal.com/education/free-school-meals-bill-minnesota-valerie-philando-castile/

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-finds-civil-rights-violations-minneapolis-police-department-and-city

“Texas prisoners are being cooked to death…. Prisoners suffer 100F-plus heat on a daily basis. On average, 14 people die of extreme heat in their cells annually…. The legal action aims to force the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to air condition all its prisons, about two-thirds of which currently lack AC. As a result, about 85,000 prisoners across dozens of correctional institutions are estimated to be at risk of heat stroke, exhaustion, nausea and other heat-related conditions, even to the point of death.”

‘It’s torture’: brutal heat broils Texas prisons, killing dozens of inmates Legal action aims to force criminal justice department to air condition prisons, where 85,000 are at risk of heat illnesses

Thank you to everyone who came to the demonstration yesterday! We want our city leaders to know that both artists and the LGBTQ+ community are here to stay. Stop trying to take away funding from the arts in Lubbock!

The working class must stick together. We will not allow bourgeois politicians to hurt any of our comrades! As workers and artisans united in solidarity, we will save ourselves.

Thank you to Noah For Texas for taking these photos!

Join us on Friday, August 9 at 4:30 pm. Let the Lubbock City Council know that you support local artists, performers, and the LGBTQ+ community!



Demonstration at Citizens Tower

The Lubbock City Council has decided to defund the First Friday Art Trail, a cornerstone of Lubbock cultural expression.

Their “culture war” hatred of the LGBTQ+ community is so intense that they’d rather hurt all local artists than show an ounce of humanity.

Let city leaders know that you support the arts!
Show solidarity with local artists and performers.
Show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.

Bring your signs, bring your voices, and bring your friends!

Friday, August 9 at 4:30 pm

Image credit: Architect Magazine

This is our fourth reading recommendation in our weekly education series! Please let us know your thoughts in the comments.

On Tuesday, we made some signs to raise awareness about the city defunding First Friday Art Trail LBK. We'll be using these during future actions around town.

All economic value is created by labor. Workers like you make our world function, not rich shareholders. It’s time to remove the greedy parasites from the top of our society.



“For those measuring up who actually creates the value in an enterprise, ask yourself what would happen in these two scenarios: 1) All the shareholders and board members don’t turn up to work; 2) All the workers don’t turn up to work. Which collapses the company?”

Capitalism is killing us, even those who would rather ignore it and lick those corporate boots...The way things are, are not the way things have to be.

This is the third reading recommendation in our education series! Apologizes that this one's release was so delayed. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments.

“War is a game played by maniacs who kill each other. Locate the man who profits by war and strip him of his profits - war will end.” - Woody Guthrie

Don’t forget how many people Kamala Harris locked up. How many lives she ruined for non-violent offenses.



Mosaic of photos, forming an image of Kamala Harris. Text reads: “Beautiful mosaic of Kamala Harris made out of black men she locked up and kept in prison past their release date for jail labor.”

Important context: