On August 3, at the 2019 national convention of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) – the largest and fastest growing socialist organization in the U.S., with two members in Congress, DSA approved a resolution establishing a national working group dedicated to organizing for BDS and Palestine Solidarity. DSA had endorsed the BDS movement at its 2017 national convention. The text of the approved 2019 DSA resolution #35, Establish a National BDS and Palestine Solidarity Working Group, follows below.
Be it resolved that the Democratic Socialists of America establish a national working group dedicated to BDS and Palestine Solidarity;
Be it resolved that the National will allow autonomous leadership and membership of said working group;
Be it resolved that the National will reaffirm BDS and Palestine solidarity as a priority for the national organization and further commit itself to organizing in solidarity with the BDS movement, which urges nonviolent pressure on Israel until it meets three demands: ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall; recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.
Whereas, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) endorsed the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement at its 2017 national convention;
Whereas, the DSA Internationalism Committee is a closed, application-based committee with a limited number of spots and thus cannot facilitate the kind of open collaboration among rank-and-file members that is necessary to advance BDS and Palestine solidarity work;
Whereas, DSA working groups help link DSA to critical social movements and provide an importantmechanism through which DSA members can mobilize around particular issues within the organization, and which anyone can become a member;
Whereas, a number of local DSA chapters are already involved in local and national level Palestine solidarity and BDS campaign organizing, in coordination with local and national Palestine solidarity organizations, and consolidation and coordination of these efforts would further develop and expand this work in DSA chapters.
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