No votes for genocide
Passed by membership: July 2024
Whereas:
Rhode Island DSA’s approach to the November election is to “criticize both Trump and Biden, explain how Democrats and Republicans harm workers here and abroad, and explicitly advocate for a new party of the working class”;
Rhode Island DSA played a significant role in the local Uncommitted campaign, and we contributed to this campaign’s principled rejection of the Democratic Party while protesting Biden’s genocide in Gaza;
Nationally, many progressive activists have shifted their attention away from the genocide, instead focusing on the “drop out Joe” demand in order to save the Democrats from electoral defeat — despite the fact that any candidate chosen by party leaders will continue the Biden administration’s unconditional support for Israel;
At the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago, R.I.’s party-appointed uncommitted delegate will claim to be fighting for Palestine, but, being a Democratic Party loyalist, will promote the party and may openly support the eventual nominee;
Rhode Island DSA needs to counter these political messages by carrying the message of the R.I. Uncommitted campaign into the general election, keeping Palestine in the spotlight and reaching those people who want an alternative to the two-party system; and
Some of our allies have expressed interest in a “no votes for genocide” campaign, which would encourage Rhode Islanders to reject the two major parties because neither offers any change to U.S. imperialist policy;
Be it resolved:
Rhode Island DSA will include “no votes for genocide” as part of our general election message, encouraging Rhode Islanders not to vote for Amo, Magaziner, Whitehouse, RFK, Trump, or the Democratic presidential nominee. We will call attention to these politicians’ unconditional support for Israel and explain why a new party of the working class is needed to end all U.S.-sponsored wars (Gaza, Ukraine, etc.).
As counter-programming to the DNC, Rhode Island DSA will host a rally, coinciding with the convention, to promote the above messages. We will also encourage rally attendees to sign and share a “no votes for genocide” pledge. Depending on capacity and interest from allies, we may turn this pledge-gathering effort into an organized campaign to get as many Rhode Islanders as possible to sign on. We will also tell these voters which of the third-party candidates on the ballot oppose U.S. funding for Israel.