Kshama Sawant

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/24813682

Generated Summary Below:

Video Description:

#jillsteininterview #sabbysabs #kshamasawantnews #whydidkamalalose #workermovement #progressivepoliticsexplained

Generated Summary:

Introduction and Guests

• The podcast is hosted by Sabrina Salvati, who introduces the episode and its guests, former Seattle City Councilor Shama Sawant and former Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein.
• This episode marks the first time both guests appear together on the show, setting the stage for a discussion on the recent presidential election and their collaborative efforts during the campaign.

Overview of the Presidential Election

• The conversation begins with an analysis of the recent presidential election, highlighting significant events such as the incumbent president dropping out and Kamala Harris being selected as the Democratic nominee without a primary.
• Shama Sawant, known for her activism and local political experience, discusses the unusual circumstances surrounding this election, including the notable absence of a Democratic primary and the return of former president Donald Trump.
• The discussion emphasizes the low voter turnout, estimating that around eight million people did not vote, which is indicative of broader discontent among younger, working-class voters.

Voter Discontent and Political Engagement

• Both guests share insights from their campaign experiences, noting the widespread frustration among voters regarding the political system and lack of representation for marginalized communities.
• They highlight that many voters, particularly younger people and those of color, feel disenfranchised and are increasingly expressing their dissatisfaction by abstaining from voting.
• The guests argue that the low turnout reflects a demand for systemic change rather than support for Donald Trump, who they assert does not have a true mandate from the electorate.

Issues Raised by Voters

• The guests discuss specific issues raised by voters during the campaign, including the healthcare crisis, housing instability, and the general economic struggles faced by many Americans.
• They cite alarming statistics, such as a significant number of deaths linked to lack of health insurance and the overwhelming burden of healthcare debt on individuals.
• The conversation touches on the growing anger and desperation within the populace, evident in public support for extreme actions against corporate leaders and a desire for radical change in policy.

The Impact of Global Events

• Shama Sawant addresses the impact of international issues, particularly the situation in Gaza, on voter sentiment in the U.S., noting that many voters cited foreign policy as a key reason for their disengagement from the electoral process.
• Polls reveal that a significant portion of Biden voters from 2020 did not participate in the recent election, with many attributing their decision to the administration's stance on foreign conflicts.
• The guests highlight the interconnectedness of domestic and foreign issues, emphasizing that economic hardship and international crises are perceived as linked by voters.

Challenges Faced by Third Parties

• The discussion shifts to the challenges faced by third-party candidates like Jill Stein, who argue that the Democratic Party's tactics have systematically marginalized alternative voices in the political landscape.
• Jill Stein discusses the disparity in media coverage compared to her 2016 campaign, noting that the lack of visibility and resources significantly impacted her ability to connect with voters in 2024.
• The guests criticize the Democratic Party's efforts to suppress third-party candidates through legal and political maneuvers, which they argue stifles democratic engagement.

Upcoming Organizing Conference

• The podcast transitions to discussing an upcoming organizing conference scheduled for February 22, 2025, in Seattle, aimed at mobilizing grassroots efforts for progressive change.
• The conference will focus on strategies to combat corporate influence in politics, advocate for a $25 minimum wage, and push for Medicare for All at local and state levels.
• Both guests encourage participation from anyone interested in building a movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for working-class interests.

Concluding Remarks on Political Strategy

• The conversation concludes with a call to action for individuals to recognize their power and engage in organized efforts to demand systemic change, moving beyond traditional party politics.
• They emphasize the importance of local activism, solidarity with marginalized communities, and the need for a united front against corporate greed and political corruption.
• The guests express optimism about the potential for grassroots movements to effect change, urging listeners to take part in the upcoming conference and related initiatives.

About channel:

Leftist news commentary and interviews. Fighting for political and social change. Sabby Sabs podcast is a part of Revolutionary Blackout Network.

Generated Summary Below:

Video Description:

Thanks to Sonali Kolhatkar for on-the-ground video from Pasadena and Altadena.

Generated Summary:

Overview of the Wildfires

• The video begins with a dramatic portrayal of the devastating wildfires in Southern California, particularly emphasizing the destruction in Pacific Palisades.
• The fires have consumed over 40,000 acres and destroyed more than 12,000 buildings, leading to at least 16 fatalities and 13 people reported missing.
• Both affluent and working-class communities have been impacted, with significant losses reported among long-standing Black communities in Pasadena and Altadena.
• The report highlights the historical significance of these neighborhoods, where many homes have been passed down through generations.

Personal Accounts of Evacuation

• Sonali Kolhatkar shares her harrowing experience of evacuating her family due to the escalating threat of wildfires, particularly focusing on her elderly parents' needs.
• She recounts the chaos of seeking shelter, including standing in long lines at a hotel that had already run out of rooms, but they managed to secure a reservation.
• Upon waking up the next day, Sonali learned that the situation had worsened, with friends and neighbors reporting losses of their homes.
• The narrative illustrates her desperate return to her house to retrieve essential medications for her father, highlighting the apocalyptic atmosphere with an orange sky and flying embers.

Impact on Communities

• Sonali emphasizes the deep connections within her community, noting that many residents are now facing the grim reality of losing their homes and livelihoods.
• She discusses the mixed demographic of Altadena, which includes a historically Black community, immigrants, and artists, all of whom are affected by the fires.
• The challenges of rebuilding in the aftermath are compounded by the economic disparities in the community, with wealthier residents potentially having more resources to recover compared to lower-income families.
• Sonali mentions specific families in her neighborhood who have lost homes that have been in their families for decades, showcasing the personal toll of the disaster.

Climate Change and Its Role

• The discussion shifts to the broader context of climate change, with Sonali linking the wildfires to the ongoing climate crisis exacerbated by human activity.
• She cites scientific reports indicating that global temperatures have risen significantly, contributing to the severity and frequency of wildfires.
• Sonali explains that the lack of rainfall in Southern California has created a tinderbox environment, making vegetation highly susceptible to ignition.
• The conversation highlights the impact of Santa Ana winds, which have intensified due to climate change, further facilitating the spread of the fires.

Critique of Capitalism

• The dialogue critically examines capitalism's role in perpetuating the climate crisis, with Sonali arguing that profit motives hinder effective action against climate change.
• She points out that the capitalist class prioritizes profits over environmental sustainability, leading to insufficient measures to combat climate disasters.
• The conversation also touches on the failures of political leaders to address the climate crisis adequately, despite their promises.
• Sonali emphasizes the need for a revolutionary approach to tackle the systemic issues that contribute to environmental degradation and social inequality.

Insurance and Recovery Challenges

• Sonali discusses the difficulties residents face with insurance claims after the fires, highlighting the complexities and potential pitfalls in the claims process.
• She explains that many homeowners are hesitant to file claims due to fears of increased premiums or being dropped by their insurance providers altogether.
• The conversation reveals that some insurance companies are canceling policies in fire-prone areas, leaving residents vulnerable and without coverage.
• Sonali advocates for a shift toward publicly funded disaster recovery efforts instead of relying on private insurance companies, arguing that the government should prioritize the well-being of its citizens.

Call to Action

• The discussion concludes with a call for collective action among working people to demand accountability from politicians and corporations regarding climate change.
• Sonali stresses the importance of grassroots movements in pushing for systemic change and advocating for policies that prioritize people over profits.
• She emphasizes that the fight against climate change and for social justice must be intertwined, as marginalized communities are often the most affected by environmental disasters.
• The need for a united front against the capitalist structures that exacerbate climate crises is presented as essential for achieving meaningful change.

About Channel:

On Strike provides news & analysis from a working-class perspective, putting forward a strategy to take on the billionaires and their political servants, and win.

On Strike is a production of Workers Strike Back, which was launched by Kshama Sawant and other working people in 2023 to spread the lessons of her decade as a socialist City Councilmember in Seattle, where she led movements to win historic victories like the first major $15 minimum wage, the Amazon Tax for affordable housing, and landmark renters’ rights like the first-in-the-nation ban on winter evictions. Workers Strike Back is building a movement across the country to fight for things like a $25/hour minimum wage, free healthcare and quality affordable housing for all, an end U.S. military aid to the Israeli war machine, and an end the genocide and occupation in Gaza. We’re organizing to build Jill Stein’s independent, pro-worker, antiwar Presidential campaign & to begin laying the foundation for a new party for working people.

www.workersstrikeback.org/join

Generated Summary of Video Below:

Video Description:

On Strike provides news & analysis from a working-class perspective, putting forward a strategy to take on the billionaires and their political servants, and win.

Introduction to Worker Strike Back

• The broadcast welcomes viewers with a New Year greeting and introduces the purpose of Worker Strike Back, which is to build movements and provide a working-class analysis of events.
• It emphasizes the need for a clear strategy in the fight against the billionaire class and their political allies.
• The previous year included live coverage of elections, rallies, and protests, focusing on significant events in the labor and anti-war movements.

Achievements and Activism in the Past Year

• Worker Strike Back reported from various significant protests, including the Boeing machinist picket line and anti-war encampments at universities.
• The organization fought against attempts to undermine the minimum wage victory in Seattle, successfully increasing the minimum wage to $20.76 an hour.
• Interviews with prominent activists and coverage of labor struggles, including Amazon workers and UAW Auto Workers, were also highlighted.

Goals and Future Directions

• Worker Strike Back aims to end the Israeli state's actions in Gaza, establish a $25 minimum wage, and advocate for affordable housing and Medicare for all.
• The organization believes that breaking away from both major political parties is essential for building a new party that serves working people.
• There is a call to carry forward the momentum from recent electoral successes to build a truly independent anti-war working-class movement.

Upcoming Events and Call to Action

• Worker Strike Back is organizing a national conference on February 22nd in Seattle, aimed at strategizing next steps for the movement.
• The following day, a national convention will be held to elect a new steering committee and decide on priorities for the upcoming year.
• Membership is encouraged for those who align with the organization's demands and are frustrated with the corporate parties and their leadership.

Historical Context: The 1934 Minneapolis General Strike

• The meeting discusses the Minneapolis General Strike of 1934, emphasizing its significance in labor history and the lessons it offers for current struggles.
• The strike was characterized by a militant approach to labor organization and a break from ineffective union leadership.
• The strike involved broad participation from various sectors of the working class and showcased the power of collective action.

Key Strategies from the Minneapolis Strike

• The strike was led by socialists who recognized the need for industrial unionism, organizing all workers in the industry rather than by craft.
• Mass rallies and community involvement were crucial, with significant public support amplifying the strikers' demands.
• The leadership understood the necessity of shutting down production to maximize pressure on employers, a tactic that proved effective in their struggle.

The Role of Community and Solidarity

• The Minneapolis strike demonstrated the importance of forging alliances with unemployed workers and farmers, emphasizing a united front against shared economic struggles.
• Solidarity donations and support from other unions were vital in sustaining the strike and showcasing the collective strength of the working class.
• The strike's success was not merely about immediate gains but about building a movement that could achieve lasting change for workers' rights and conditions.

Lessons for Today’s Labor Movement

• The Minneapolis strike highlighted the necessity of a fighting labor movement that is not beholden to bureaucratic leadership or complacent unionism.
• Current labor struggles must learn from the past, focusing on militant tactics and community engagement to counteract corporate and political opposition.
• The importance of democratic decision-making within unions and the need for accountability among leadership were underscored as critical factors for success.

Conclusion and Call to Action

• The discussion concludes with a call for active participation in the labor movement, urging individuals to join Worker Strike Back and engage in local events.
• Upcoming events include the organizing conference and participation in protests against the incoming administration's policies.
• The necessity for solidarity among workers and the importance of building a movement that prioritizes the interests of the working class are emphasized as essential for future victories.

About Channel:

On Strike is a production of Workers Strike Back, which was launched by Kshama Sawant and other working people in 2023 to spread the lessons of her decade as a socialist City Councilmember in Seattle, where she led movements to win historic victories like the first major $15 minimum wage, the Amazon Tax for affordable housing, and landmark renters’ rights like the first-in-the-nation ban on winter evictions. Workers Strike Back is building a movement across the country to fight for things like a $25/hour minimum wage, free healthcare and quality affordable housing for all, an end U.S. military aid to the Israeli war machine, and an end the genocide and occupation in Gaza. We’re organizing to build Jill Stein’s independent, pro-worker, antiwar Presidential campaign & to begin laying the foundation for a new party for working people.

www.workersstrikeback.org/join

@wrkrsstrikeback

Workers Strike Back is joining the Chicago People's March for Justice on January 20th to protest the inauguration of Donald Trump and his administration's planned attacks on immigrants and working people. Come to Workers Strike Back's monthly meeting on Tuesday January 14th in Chicago to prepare for the protest by registering here: https://workersstrikeback.org/events/jan-chicago

The new warmonger-in-chief has promised to continue the genocide in Palestine and deport millions of working people. Trump is openly collaborating with billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, who have a long anti-union track record.

The Democratic Party itself, under Biden, led the obscene military aid to the Israeli state, broke the railroad workers' strike, and betrayed promises to working people, including the $15/hour minimum wage and canceling student debt.

Working people and union members need to organize independently of the two parties of capitalism. We need mass protests, strike actions, and civil disobedience to end military aid for Israel, the genocide in Gaza, and the brutal occupation, and to win a $25/hour minimum wage, Medicare for All, quality affordable housing, and good union jobs for all. We need a new party for the working class.

6:42 PM | Jan 2, 2025

Source: https://x.com/wrkrsstrikeback/status/1875009924721258903

@wrkrsstrikeback

Join Workers Strike Back SUN, Jan 12 @ 3 pm ET /12 PT for our January monthly meeting.

Discuss the fight to tax Amazon & big business in 2024 & lessons from our historic Amazon Tax victory in 2020 that won $250 mil/yr for affordable social housing.

RSVP: https://www.workersstrikeback.org/events/jan-national

1:53 PM | Dec 21, 2024

Source: https://x.com/wrkrsstrikeback/status/1870588454540812422

Both billionaire parties have carried out horrific attacks on immigrant workers. Barack Obama was dubbed the “Deporter-in-Chief” and continues to hold the shameful record for the most deportations in history. Trump has promised to beat that record by launching a mass deportation campaign, including the possibility of workplace raids, which would be a dangerous attack on workers and the labor movement. Both parties continue to send billions to fund endless wars and the genocide in Gaza.

Rank-and-file union members need to get organized around a fighting strategy to take on these two capitalist parties and end their anti-immigrant attacks. Sign up below to join the WSB Labor Caucus Sunday, December 1 @ 5 pm ET / 2 pm PT!^[[1] https://www.workersstrikeback.org/events/dec-2024-labor-caucus]

Link to signup: https://www.workersstrikeback.org/events/dec-2024-labor-caucus

On Strike provides news & analysis from a working-class perspective, putting forward a strategy to take on the billionaires and their political servants, and win.

We don’t run any ads and we don’t take corporate money. We rely on support from working people like you, so SUBSCRIBE NOW to On Strike and BECOME A MEMBER of Workers Strike Back: www.workersstrikeback.org/join

On Strike is a production of Workers Strike Back, which was launched by Kshama Sawant and other working people in 2023 to spread the lessons of her decade as a socialist City Councilmember in Seattle, where she led movements to win historic victories like the first major $15 minimum wage, the Amazon Tax for affordable housing, and landmark renters’ rights like the first-in-the-nation ban on winter evictions. Workers Strike Back is building a movement across the country to fight for things like a $25/hour minimum wage, free healthcare and quality affordable housing for all, an end U.S. military aid to the Israeli war machine, and an end the genocide and occupation in Gaza. We’re organizing to build Jill Stein’s independent, pro-worker, antiwar Presidential campaign & to begin laying the foundation for a new party for working people.

@cmkshama

Unofficial results show Harris LOSING in Dearborn to @DrJillStein in precincts where Biden won in a landslide & where Workers Strike Back has been campaigning with Arab & Muslim voters. To fight Trump & the right, we need a new working-class antiwar party

@OS26

Look at this final evening tally from one majority Arab American Muslim precinct in East Dearborn #Michigan

Trump sweep #Yalla

[Image of Unofficial results in Dearborn]

[Harris: 59, Trump: 203, Oliver: 3, Terry: 0, Stein: 153, Kennedy: 0,...]

Source: https://x.com/cmkshama/status/1854022001457070237

@wrkrsstrikeback

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will both continue funding the lsraeli state's genocide in Gaza. Both the Democrats and Republicans are warmongering parties of the billionaire class. 1/x

[Image to Text]

NO HARRIS, NO TRUMP

Hassan Abdel Salam | ABANDON HARRIS Co-founder

ORGANIZE TO END THE GENOCIDE

JILL STEIN | Presidential Candidate

RALLY Sunday

October 6 | 2 PM ET Bint Jebail Cultural Center 14201 Prospect St Bldg. 2 Dearborn, MI

KSHAMA SAWANT | Socialist & Former Independent City Councilmember

REGISTER & attend in person or via livestream

Harris and Trump will both continue funding the Israeli state's genocide in Gaza. Both the Democrats and Republicans are warmongering parties of the billionaire class. We need to win every possible vote for Jill Stein as a step towards building a new antiwar working-class party.

[email protected]

[Logo] ABANDON HARRIS

[Logo] Jill STEIN 2024

[Logo] WORKERS STRIKE BACK | WHEN WE FIGHT-WE CAN WIN

Poster:

Screenshot:

Source: https://x.com/wrkrsstrikeback/status/1841845190773936350

Watch our interview with Jill Stein from May, on the ground at the campus antiwar protests: https://youtu.be/NXSZUtt4kYE

• The antiwar movement has gained renewed momentum, with dozens of university campuses across the nation seeing mass encampments and protests against the Israeli state’s genocidal war on Gaza.

On Strike provides news & analysis from a working-class perspective, putting forward a strategy to take on the billionaires and their political servants, and win.

On Strike is a production of Workers Strike Back, which was launched by Kshama Sawant and other working people in 2023 to spread the lessons of her decade as a socialist City Councilmember in Seattle, where she led movements to win historic victories like the first major $15 minimum wage, the Amazon Tax for affordable housing, and landmark renters’ rights like the first-in-the-nation ban on winter evictions. Workers Strike Back is building a movement across the country to fight for things like a $25/hour minimum wage, free healthcare and quality affordable housing for all, an end U.S. military aid to the Israeli war machine, and an end the genocide and occupation in Gaza. We’re organizing to build Jill Stein’s independent, pro-worker, antiwar Presidential campaign & to begin laying the foundation for a new party for working people.

On Strike provides news & analysis from a working-class perspective, putting forward a strategy to take on the billionaires and their political servants, and win.

On Strike is a production of Workers Strike Back, which was launched by Kshama Sawant and other working people in 2023 to spread the lessons of her decade as a socialist City Councilmember in Seattle, where she led movements to win historic victories like the first major $15 minimum wage, the Amazon Tax for affordable housing, and landmark renters’ rights like the first-in-the-nation ban on winter evictions. Workers Strike Back is building a movement across the country to fight for things like a $25/hour minimum wage, free healthcare and quality affordable housing for all, an end U.S. military aid to the Israeli war machine, and an end the genocide and occupation in Gaza. We’re organizing to build Jill Stein’s independent, pro-worker, antiwar Presidential campaign & to begin laying the foundation for a new party for working people.

@cmkshama

AOC can't seem to cheerlead Harris enough.

AOC claimed Harris was working tirelessly for a ceasefire, as Harris presided over $20B more of arms to Israel.

On the other hand, AOC can't seem to attack Left antiwar proworker candidate Jill Stein enough. Why? The answer is below.

[Image of article with headline: "US elections 2024: Jill Stein leads with Muslim-American voters in three swing states, survey shows", sub-headline: "The Democratic and Green party candidates each command vlose to a third of the Muslim-American vote"]

[Image of Dr. Jill Stein below article sub-headline, information below picture says: "Jill Stein, presidential candidate, speaks in front of the 'Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine' in downtown Chicago 21 August, 2024 (John Rudoff/Reuters)]

Source: https://x.com/cmkshama/status/1834716593227808967

Abandon Harris founder Hassan Abdel Salam speaks at Workers Strike Back’s rally in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention to demand an end to the genocidal war on Gaza. Hear from Abdel Salam about his experience being arrested and imprisoned by the Israeli state in retaliation for peaceful protests in Jerusalem, and about what it will take to stop the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which is being funded and supported by Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and the Democratic Party.

Join Workers Strike Back THIS SUNDAY @ 12 pm PT / 2 pm CT / 3 pm ET for our National September Monthly Meeting to discuss next steps to build the biggest possible vote for Jill Stein and her independent, antiwar, pro-worker Presidential campaign, as a step towards building a new party for working people.

#gaza #harris #trump #kamalaharris #democrats #war #newparty #kshamasawant #jillstein #workers #labor #antiwar

Summary

1. Kid Cabella from Hard Lens Media interviews activists including Nick Cruz from RBN, Dr. Jill Stein from the Green Party, and Seattle City Councilwoman Kshama Sawant.
2. The discussion centers around the event "Disrupt the DNC" and critiques the Democratic Party's actions against third-party and independent candidates.
3. Sawant highlights a disconnect between the Democratic Party's actions and the needs of working-class Americans facing a cost of living crisis and opposition to the war in Gaza.
4. She emphasizes the need for a new political party that genuinely represents working people, criticizing both Democrats and Republicans for failing to do so.
5. The conversation points to low enthusiasm for the Democratic Party, evidenced by empty seats at the DNC convention.
6. Sawant stresses the importance of maintaining momentum for third-party movements and building an independent anti-war movement.
7. The activists call for continued advocacy for a ceasefire and challenge the two-party system to better represent ordinary people's interests.
8. They discuss the challenges facing the anti-war movement in light of Kamala Harris's nomination and her alignment with Biden's policies.
9. The speaker argues that regardless of who is in the White House, the U.S. will continue to be led by a "warmonger in chief," with both major parties supporting militaristic agendas.
10. They conclude by advocating for grassroots organization and participation in upcoming labor movements, emphasizing the need for independent leftist leadership and a militant labor movement.

Watch On Strike’s interview with Sabrina Salvati of “Sabby Sabs” podcast about what Kamala Harris’ nomination means for working, Black, and young people and how our movement can fight back against both her and Trump. We discuss the independent, pro-worker, antiwar Presidential campaign of Jill Stein and Workers Strike Back’s upcoming rally at the Democratic National Convention on August 20, featuring Jill Stein, socialist & former Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, and Nick Cruse of the Revolutionary Blackout Network.

REGISTER NOW to attend the rally in Chicago on August 20 in person or to join via Livestream: https://www.workersstrikeback.org/eve...

BECOME A MEMBER of Workers Strike Back today to help support the production of On Strike and to help us build an independent, pro-worker, antiwar alternative that can win what working people need, including an end to the genocidal war on Gaza. Apply to become a member today at www.workersstrikeback.org/join.

After being forced to dump Biden amidst a political meltdown in the Democratic Party, the Democrat establishment has quickly moved to coronate the Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s presumptive Presidential nominee. Nearly every establishment figure from Nancy Pelosi to Jim Clyburn has rallied behind Harris, along with so-called progressives like Bernie and AOC, who have shown once again that they have no strategy for working people and are utterly broken to the party elite.

Harris’ long record as Vice President, as a U.S. Senator, and as a “tough on crime” prosecutor is deeply anti-worker, anti-poor, and anti-Black just like Biden’s. And while Harris has had some outwardly progressive rhetoric, she has been lockstep with Biden in backing the genocidal war on Gaza and the continued U.S. funding for the Israeli state's war machine. She is no alternative for working people.

#KamalaHarris #DNC #Biden #Trump #KshamaSawant #JillStein #Independent #politics #worker #blackworker #gaza #ceasefirenow #labor #election2024 #sabbysabs #revolutionaryblackoutnetwork #workersstrikeback #onstrike #newparty

@cmkshama

It's dishonest & nauseating for Kamala Harris to co-opt the working-class "When We Fight, We Win" slogan.

She's backed to the hilt by billionaires, as is Trump.

She's complicit in Biden's broken promise on the $15 wage.

She criminalized poor people for children missing school.

Source: https://x.com/cmkshama/status/1815871984464699562

@cmkshama

Members of Workers Strike Back, @wrkrsstrikeback, voted almost unanimously to endorse @DrJillStein for President!

Jill is calling for $25 minimum wage, Medicare for All, free four-year college, an end to genocidal war on Gaza.

Join Workers Strike Back!

https://workersstrikeback.org

Source: https://x.com/cmkshama/status/1815176971544133966

Workers Strike Back Inaugural National Zoom Meeting

Zoom Link

Featured Speakers:

Jill Stein, Kshama Sawant, Nick Cruse

As the genocidal war on Gaza enters its tenth month, with shocking new revelations of brutality by Israeli forces, a majority of Americans now oppose the war, with just 36% supporting U.S. military aid to Israel. Major unions like UAW, SEIU, and NEA, along with countless smaller unions collectively representing millions of workers, have passed ceasefire resolutions, and students at nearly every major university have organized courageous protests against the war, facing suspension, expulsion, and police repression.

Yet as the US Presidential election draws closer, both Biden and Trump continue to give the war their unflagging support. With two warmongers being put forward by the two parties of the billionaire class, what is the next step for workers and students looking to end the war and occupation? And how can we build a strong enough antiwar movement to stop the flood of U.S. money fueling the Israeli war machine?

Join Left independent antiwar Presidential candidate Jill Stein, socialist and former Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, and Revolutionary Blackout Network founder Nick Cruse to discuss and vote on a strategy for the movement.

No Biden, No Trump!

How can we end the genocidal war on Gaza?

Speakers:

1. Nick Cruse, Revolutionary Blackout Network founder
2. Jill Stein, Left Independent Antiwar Presidential Candidate
3. Kshama Sawant, Socialist and former Seattle City Councilmember

Flyer:

The ongoing chaos of the US political system was heightened on Monday by the spectacle of Teamster President Sean O’Brien speaking at the Republican National Convention – the first Teamster President ever to do so – demonstrating the dramatic extent to which Biden and the Democrats have lost authority through their sellouts of working people. For decades, top labor leaders like O’Brien have provided cover for the Democrats’ betrayals, while pumping hundreds of millions of union workers’ money into Democratic Party campaigns. Now, O’Brien is sucking up to Trump and Republicans in a desperate attempt to escape the Democrats’ sinking ship, to which other labor leaders have already tied themselves.

O’Brien’s speech at the RNC is a shameful maneuver that hides the stark reality for working people: neither party is on our side, and we need a new party of our own.

Watch a working-class analysis of O’Brien’s RNC speech from On Strike co-hosts Kshama Sawant and Emily McArthur, and a discussion about a fighting strategy for the labor movement that you won’t find anywhere else.

And REGISTER NOW for the Inaugural National Zoom Conference of Workers Strike Back, THIS SUNDAY, JULY 21 @ 2 pm PT / 5 pm ET, featuring left independent antiwar Presidential candidate Jill Stein, socialist and former Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, and Revolutionary Backout Network co-founder Nick Cruse: https://www.workersstrikeback.org/eve...

BECOME A MEMBER of Workers Strike Back today to help support the production of On Strike and build our independent working-class organization, and so you can VOTE SUNDAY on our proposal to endorse Jill Stein’s independent Presidential campaign. Workers and young people urgently need to build an independent, pro-worker, antiwar alternative.

Be sure to subscribe to On Strike And become a member today at www.workersstrikeback.org/join.

#RNC #SeanOBrien #Biden #NewParty #KshamaSawant #Teamsters #AOC #republicannationalconvention #railstrike #sarahnelson #governmentshutdown #flightattendants #union #newparty #strike #jillstein #independentcandidate #antiwar

Mental health has spiraled into a nationwide crisis, especially for young people.

On Strike! speaks with local high school student activists Natalya, Charlotte, and Fatra, who organized alongside Kshama Sawant’s socialist City Council office and a movement of hundreds of other students, socialists, and union members to demand $20 million in funding for student mental health services in 2023 by increasing the city's Amazon Tax – and they won. We also speak with educator and union member Adam Ziemkowski, who was a lead organizer in Kshama Sawant’s socialist City Council office for a decade, and has played a crucial role in many victories, including the fight for mental health services in 2023, as well as winning the original Amazon Tax victory in 2020.

If you're inspired by these students fighting back, help us spread these ideas. REGISTER NOW to join antiwar Presidential candidate Jill Stein and Kshama for Workers Strike Back's INAUGURAL NATIONAL ZOOM CONFERENCE on Sunday, July 21, at 2 pm Pacific / 5 pm Eastern. www.workersstrikeback.org/events/july-national-mtg

Nearly 20 percent of high school students - one in five - report serious thoughts about suicide, and nearly one in ten report a suicide attempt. This has gone hand in hand with a frightening increase in gun violence affecting young people. Since 2017, gun deaths have become the leading cause of death among people under 25, with a major increase since the start of the COVID pandemic.

In Seattle, where On Strike! is filmed, young people are facing both these crises – mental health and gun violence. Just last month, a 17-year-old Garfield High School student Amarr Murphy-Paine was tragically gunned down outside during the school lunch hour. Seattle’s Democratic Party political establishment and their mouthpieces, like the Seattle Times, have been cynically trying to exploit this latest school shooting by insisting that cops need to be brought back into schools. So young people are continuing to fight back and get organized to demand action – mental health support and fully-funded public schools, NOT COPS.

Seattle’s corporate Democratic Mayor Bruce Harrell and all-Democrat City Council are refusing to hire social workers and mental health counselors for Seattle’s public school students, even though the money is already there as a result of last year's victory of increasing the annual Amazon Tax.

Watch to hear how the students are also connecting their struggles to the other urgent questions facing working people, like how to end the genocidal war on Gaza and build the strongest vote against both Biden and Trump in November and for Jill Stein.

Be sure to subscribe to On Strike!

Workers Strike Back relies on members and supporters across the country and around the world to produce On Strike! and to get the resources we need to get organized to win our demands. BECOME A MEMBER TODAY and get involved to help us build a fighting workers’ movement. As a member, you will also be eligible to vote at the July 21 Zoom Conference on our proposal to endorse Jill Stein’s independent, pro-worker, antiwar campaign for President. Become a member now at www.workersstrikeback.org/join

#mentalhealth #education #politics #gunviolence #school #Amazon #gaza #climatechange #Biden #Trump #schoolfunding #educationfunding #red4ed #teachersstrike #taxamazon #taxtherich #studentprotest #highschool #onstrike #workersstrikeback #kshamasawant #jillstein #newparty

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/17197576

About On Strike!:

News & analysis to beat the bosses. On Strike is the video broadcast of Workers Strike Back, hosted by Kshama Sawant and Bia Lacombe. We cover issues from the perspective of workers’ needs, not billionaire greed. We provide socialist analysis and strategy to build working-class movements, fight against oppression, and for a new mass party for workers and young people. These same ideas have been used by Kshama in her decade as the only socialist on the Seattle City Council, overcoming big business and Democratic Party opposition to win four elections and victories such as the $15/hour minimum wage and the Amazon Tax. Workers Strike Back is an independent, rank-and-file campaign organizing in our workplaces and on the streets against the bosses and their political servants.

#Trump #Biden #debate #JillStein #election #workers #gaza #ceasefirenow

Video description:

The Democratic Party is in panic over Joe Biden’s disastrous debate against Donald Trump. Even liberal commentators like Rachel Maddow and Van Jones have been unable to spin the debate as anything but a failure, while major publications, including the New York Times, have called on Biden to drop out of the race.

But for working people, it’s not just a question of Biden’s catastrophic performance. The content of the debate was the latest reminder that the Democratic and Republican Parties do not in any way represent working people and have no solutions to the many crises facing us–from climate change to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Biden and the Democratic Party have backed the war on Gaza to the hilt and their failure to represent working people’s interests have only emboldened Donald Trump and the right wing, who are escalating their attacks on immigrants, trans people, and other oppressed groups.

Young and working people are in urgent need of an alternative to these two anti-worker, pro-capitalist warmongers on offer from the Democratic and Republican Parties.

On Strike is joined by Jill Stein, the independent left, antiwar candidate running for President with the Green Party, to talk about the debate, what her Presidential campaign is fighting for, and how workers can build an alternative to the two capitalist parties.

And JOIN US on JULY 21 @ 2 pm Pacific / 5 pm Eastern for the Inaugural Zoom Conference of Workers Strike Back – featuring Jill Stein, socialist & former Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, and Nick Cruse of the Revolutionary Blackout Network – to discuss the strategy for the left and antiwar movement to end the genocidal war on Gaza and build a new party for working people.

Register here: www.workersstrikeback.org/events/july-national-mtg

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/17568272

Join Jill Stein this Sunday July 14th at 8pm EST for a virtual rally to Strike the Empire Back with special guests Kshama Sawant, Susan Abulhawa and Jenan Matari.

No Biden, No Trump!

How can we end the genocidal war on Gaza?

Speakers:

1. Nick Cruse, Revolutionary Blackout Network founder
2. Jill Stein, Left Independent Antiwar Presidential Candidate
3. Kshama Sawant, Socialist and former Seattle City Councilmember