Calla Walsh

Calla Walsh

Calla Walsh is a Massachusetts activist and member of Democratic Socialists of America. She is a student at McGill University.

Her father is Chris Walsh, the director of Boston University’s college writing program.

Calla Walsh is also a co-chair of the National Network on Cuba, a coalition of organizations across the United States fighting to end the U.S. war on Cuba.

CYM supports Calla Walsh

Pro-Hamas Letter

In the wake of a terror attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, Harvard University students signed an open letter blaming Israel. After the students received negative media coverage, the ANSWER Coalition jumped to their defense in an open letter titled: "Open letter against intimidation at Harvard: Defend the freedom to speak in support of Palestine!" Calla Walsh signed the letter. Excerpt:

We stand together against the racist harassment and demonization of Pro-Palestine student activists at Harvard and elsewhere across the country. These attacks are designed to intimidate, weaken, and silence people's right to speak out in support of the Palestinian people's struggle against occupation and apartheid. Their educational and professional futures are being threatened and right wing political operatives have even rented a TV truck to drive around campus displaying the students' faces. Some are even receiving death threats..."

Cuba delegation

Justine Medina, Calla Walsh

November 2022, Cuba has been the venue for an important gathering entitled, Youth Friendship Meeting “Building Our Future Today.” Young people from Cuba and the United States shared, in English and Spanish, thoughts about social justice, free public access to education and health, science and innovation in the service of life, the right to culture, sports, employment, labor unions, and the search for economic equity.

At the National Botanical Garden in Havana, the participants, including a delegation of 50 young Americans, engaged in serious discussions about the importance of respecting human rights, sexual diversity, gender equality, the fight against racism, and all forms of discrimination and violence.

The protection of the environment, the effects, and possible solutions of human activity on climate change were not left out.

“This has been one of the most intense and beautiful experiences I have lived throughout my 25 years. I am very excited. We, representatives of social, political, student organizations and community leaders, unequivocally reaffirm our solidarity with the Cuban people, who have warmly welcomed us as friends,” said Yajaira Cuapio, from the U.S. Party for Socialism and Liberation.

US-Cuba Youth Friendship Meeting

Join us to hear from 5 participants in the historic US-Cuba Youth Friendship Meeting about their experience learning from the Cuban Revolution, building solidarity between US and Cuban youth, observing Cuba’s elections, visiting science and education centers, and more!

Speakers include:

• Diana Castillo from the Cuban Young Communist League
• Kameron Hurt from the International People's Assembly
• Angie Langdon from IFCO/Pastors for Peace
• Kei Pritsker from Breakthrough News
• Calla Walsh from NNOC

DSA convention delegate

In 2021 Calla Walsh was National Convention Delegate Candidate for Boston Democratic Socialists of America.

Markeyverse

New York Times author Ellen Barry describes Markeyverse as a group of teen activists that supported Ed Markey. Calla Walsh is described as a "leader" who described "Markeyverse" in October, 2020:

The "Markeyverse" is basically an online universe of [over 100] stan accounts or niche accounts in support of Ed Markey… basically they tweet out in support of Ed, but they also turn all of their interactions online into shifting people for phone banks, dropping donation links on other people’s posts, really utilizing the digital organizing sphere to get kids in by having these fun accounts … the "Wuniverse" [in support of Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu] was created very organically in that a lot of Markey accounts wanted to shift their efforts towards supporting another progressive candidate in Massachusetts.

Calla Walsh Tweet Dated May 19, 2021

Anti-Israel Open Letter

The "Markeyverse" uses their political power to pressure Ed Markey on progressive issues. On May 13, 2021, Calla Walsh signed a letter pressuring Ed Markey to denounce Israel after the country defended themselves against rocket attacks from the U.S. designated terror group Hamas. In part, they demanded that Ed Markey "compose and promote a senate initiative" similar to that which was introduced by Reps. Marie Newman and Mark Pocan. In that case, 25 House Democrats called on US Secretary of State Antony Blinken "to condemn the looming evictions of Palestinians from homes in Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood," where private landlords in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood finally won a decades-long court battle to evict Palestinians who reneged on their promise to pay rent.

We are former staff, fellows, volunteers, donors, supporters, and endorsing organizations of Senator Ed Markey’s 2020 re-election campaign. We made hundreds of thousands of phone calls, raised millions of dollars, and dedicated years of our lives to re-elect Senator Markey because we believed justice was on the ballot in 2020, and we fought for our collective vision of a Green New Deal, Medicare for All, nuclear disarmament, and re-imagining public safety. When Senator Markey won his race on September 1st, he told us that “The age of incrementalism is over...This election is an undeniable mandate for action. And it is the young people who will lead the way.”

As the young people, organizers, and advocates who are responsible for Senator Markey’s victory, we are upset and disappointed by his recent statement on Israel’s illegal occupation and ethnic cleansing of Palestine. He followed in the footsteps of Mitt Romney and Donald Trump by saying it’s a “both sides” issue, which ignores the current and historical power imbalance between Israel and Palestine — and couldn’t be farther from the truth. Senator Markey’s refusal to support justice in Palestine is antithetical to the Green New Deal and the progressive movement that won him re-election.

We ask that Senator Markey:

Demand a serious Congressional investigation of the role of US arms and funding in the violent Israeli repression and displacement of Palestinians in Occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank, along with the long-standing siege and bombing of Gaza;

Demand application of existing US arms export regulations to stop the deployment of US weapons against civilians in Gaza and elsewhere, which constitutes a flagrant violation of human rights standards and an evident war crime contrary to US law;

Compose and promote a Senate initiative similar to the House letter circulated by Reps. Newman and Pocan opposing Israeli displacement of Palestinians from neighborhoods of Jerusalem;

Introduce a Senate version of H.R. 2590 Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act.

Senator Markey told us that young people would lead the way, and now it is time for him to listen to us and stand up for Palestinian lives.

Cambridge Forum: How to Start a Revolution

On Dec 4, 2019, high school student Calla Walsh and XR Boston Media Coordinator Mike Fogelberg were part of a panel at the Cambridge Forum entitled How to Start a Revolution. Other speakers included Lauren Duca, known for her article “Donald Trump is Gaslighting America” in Teen Vogue, and Martin Lukacs, author of The Trudeau Formula. During her remarks, Calla Walsh said that she marched with the March for Science and the Women's March.

References

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