About Pensacola DSA
ByLaws
Our official bylaws may be viewed here.
Chapter range
Currently we cover Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties. We are currently active in Pensacola (Escambia) and in our Emerald Coast branch (Santa Rosa and Okaloosa). Want to organize with us? Contact us about creating a branch or Start a Chapter yourself!
Current campaigns
Pensacola Protect Abortion is our active priority campaign, an electoral initiative to expand abortion rights in Florida:
Who We Are
We are members of the greater Pensacola community who are tired of a government that doesn’t heed the demands of the People!
We are tired of an economy that only serves the wealthy elite and leaves the working class in destitution.
What We Do
Pensacola DSA seeks to build local working class power in the fight for socialism. Towards that end, we engage in struggle through Mutual Aid, Political Education, Labor Organizing, Elections, and Direct Action.
Theory of Change
The capitalist class is the problem because they enforce an undemocratic economic system which relies on exploitation. The working class is the historical agent of change because capitalism can’t function without workers. The way workers make change is by building a movement of the majority, stopping production and/or shutting down sectors of the economy and society, and remaking our economic, social, and political systems.
So what’s stopping us? Many working class people don’t see themselves as part of the working class. We’ve been conditioned into individualism. Our material conditions make us feel powerless. We don’t know how to organize. The capitalist class uses their power to keep us apart. All of these things and more.
So how do we win? We need high and growing working class participation. We must unify against capitalism's divisions. We ultimately must build a demonstrable & sustainable movement of the majority. And we do this by organizing, which grows our capacity and helps us do hard things.
About DSA
DSA is the largest socialist organization in the United States, with over 250 chapters and successful wins like elected DSA members and endorsed candidates, Green New Deal infrastructure wins like public renewables, historic expansions of housing rights and many more victories in the last few years. DSA grew in popularity around the campaigns of Bernie Sanders and has developed and matured as the organization it is today. It is a descendant of the Socialist Party of Eugene Debbs, leaving over opposition to the party's support of the Vietnam war. DSA was founded by Michael Harrington.
Read our political platform here.
FAQ
What are dues for?
Dues help DSA maintain and grow independence under the control of our members rather than corporations or NGO bureaucracy. Some organizations are run for the profit of their owners or by the noblesse oblige of government or corporate funding that could be easily taken away. We ask our members to pay 1% of their annual income to support our democratic socialist organizing locally and nationwide. More questions (including regarding dues).
What if I don't live in Pensacola?
Pensacola DSA is our DSA chapter in Northwest Florida. Currently the chapter has one regional/area Branch, Emerald Coast DSA, which covers Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. You can participate from any part of the chapter and we try to make virtual meetings geographically representative. Come to a meeting and get plugged in!
Question unanswered? Ask us! info@pensacoladsa.org