A Time for Action: The Election, Gaza, and the Long-Haul

Resources for getting invovled

Friends,

We are in a moment of extreme political consequence. The Israeli military is starving Northern Gaza and committing massacres and ethnic cleansing with unparalleled speed. Last week, members of Netanyahu’s Likud party attended a conference designed to plan the Israeli resettlement of Gaza. We as an American public are faced with the need to dramatically escalate our action in solidarity with the people of Palestine and Lebanon, right now.

At the same time, we are a week away from the US presidential election. As some of you know, I believe strongly in the “Block and Build” strategy first developed by the socialist publication, Convergence, and subsequently adopted by groups like Liberation Road, North Star Socialist Organization, Showing Up for Racial Justice, Working Families Party, Seed the Vote, and many other progressive and socialist groups. This approach, similar to the left’s strategy in the recent French elections, focuses on forming a temporary and strategic united front with centrist Democrats to block Donald Trump and the far right at the polls in order to create a political terrain where we can more effectively build the power of independent left-wing political organizations and labor unions. Change comes when strong independent political power meets a political environment where it can exercise itself. And adherents to Block and Build see both of these things as essential to our capacity to challenge economic exploitation, racism, heteropatriarchy, a corporate-driven climate catastrophe, and ever-growing imperialism (including our capacity to challenge Israel’s genocidal government). See the first three links above for outlines of this approach from three different organizations who have been advancing this strategy for months now.

The atrocities in Gaza and Lebanon, financed by the Biden-Harris administration, as well as the deeply disrespectful way the Harris campaign has been conducted with regard to this issue, have created for many of us a very understandable disillusionment with electoral politics. As you know, I believe that it is both possible and necessary to do two things at once, to continue working to stop this genocide while also contributing to a tactical electoral strategy through swing-state organizing. But regardless of one’s political approach in this moment, it is incumbent upon all of us, especially as people living in the belly of the imperial beast that is the United States, to not let despair allow us to tap out or keep us from reflecting critically about that approach. It’s also important that we respectfully debate and disagree as comrades, rather than calling one another “genocide apologists” or “anti-strategic idiots” as many very online activists are doing right now.

Later this week, I’ll be sending out an essay I’ve been putting together that I hope can help us all navigate the perilous, heartbreaking, and, at times, impossible-seeming political moment we’re in. Keep an eye out for that if you think it could be supportive for you.

Calls to Action:

Below are a few calls to action related to stopping the Israeli military’s genocidal campaign, electoral organizing with Block and Build organizations, and investing ourselves in independent political organizations and the labor movement for the long-haul. It’s important to remember that no person can do everything. We can only do this together. So don’t engage from a place of guilt or worry that you have a responsibility to do it all. Do what your heart feels called to and take care of yourself along the way. Also know that joining in political community with other caring individuals is not only what our world needs, but it might be exactly the nourishment that you need right now.

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1. Get out the Vote in Swing States (Virtually or In-Person)

Sign up to Phone-bank or Canvass in Swing States this week with Seed the Vote

Join Seed the Vote, one of the most well-organized get-out-the-vote organizations that there is on the progressive left, to canvass this week (virtually or in-person) in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, or Nevada. In the days leading up to an election, these conversations are typically oriented around making a “voting plan” with known Democratic voters to make sure they get to the polls (often less overwhelming for those new to this than conversations meant to convince undecided voters). Seed the Vote is often able to provide housing and some transportation funds for those who live far away and are able to canvass in-person.

All in for Asheville: Block MAGA and Back the Recovery post-Hurricane with SURJ | A note from my friend and long-time organizer, Chris Crass:

We at Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) are looking to bring as many canvassers as we can to get out the vote and help with hurricane recovery in Western North Carolina. Buncombe County was hit hard by Hurricane Helene, early voting is way down, and this is one of the most strategically important Democratic counties in the country. When Obama won North Carolina, Buncombe County turned out in huge numbers. We want to do everything we can to support our friends in Western North Carolina to help get the vote out in their communities. We’re asking you to join us. Here’s more information about what we’re doing and how you can get involved. Bring your friends. It’s time to throw down.

Note: SURJ is providing lodging and meals for volunteers and may be able to help with travel funds for those who need it.

Watch the video below on SURJ’s Asheville effort:

If you have interest in doing electoral work this week with SURJ but can’t make it to Asheville, sign up to join a swing-state phone bank with them here.

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2. Take Action with Jewish Voice for Peace and the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights

Contact your Senators to Support an Arms Embargo

For the first time, there will be a vote in the US Senate to block weapons to Israel. Senators Bernie Sanders, Peter Welch, and Jeff Merkley have introduced Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to stop a $20 billion weapons shipment approved by the Biden administration. Though the resolution is unlikely to pass, we have a real opportunity to record greater numbers of senators in support of an arms embargo, an important step in the movement toward achieving one. Call your senators with JVP here or email them with USCPR here. If you need inspiration for your call or email, read this letter from Israeli citizens calling on the international community to “intervene immediately and implement every possible sanction towards achieving an immediate ceasefire.”

Become a JVP Member and Attend their Mass Member Meeting Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 30th, from 7:30-9pm EST

Additionally, Jewish Voice for Peace is having a virtual mass member meeting tomorrow to discuss their analysis and strategy going forward toward committing the US government to an arms embargo. You must be a member of JVP to attend and this is a great time to become one! Non-Jewish allies are welcome to become members as well. Become a member at jvp.org/join. Once you’re a member, sign up to join the zoom call at jvp.org/massmembermeeting. If you can’t attend the meeting, I still encourage you to become a member!

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3. Joining a Political Organization and Supporting the Labor Movement

The Block and Build approach emphasizes that regardless of who wins this election, we will never be able to challenge the powerful, protect those most targeted, and, ultimately, lead this country as a progressive-socialist left, if we don’t build the political power and the consciousness of working people everywhere, of the entire the 99%. This means bringing millions of people together under a coherent anti-imperialist, anti-oppressive, class-based politics of collective liberation and into organized formations within social movement organizations and labor unions—millions of people ready for large-scale strikes to halt the gears of this economy, to take escalated mass actions in the streets, and to engage in boycott and divestment until the powerful concede significant demands.

In order to do this we ourselves need to be involved in independent, membership based political organizations who are seeking to build large-scale bases of ordinary people. We also need to consider how we can build the labor movement inside or outside our workplaces, as strong unions have unparalleled potential to pressure the ruling class for both workplace and broader societal demands.

Here are two documents I created for past course participants to help folks consider how they might engage in both of these tasks. I hope they are supportive for you.

1. Joining a Political Organization

2. Building the Labor Movement Inside and Outside Your Workplace

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Sending care and strength to each of you as we navigate these difficult times together,

David