Austin Gonzalez
Austin Gonzalez, was in 2017, contact for Richmond Democratic Socialists of America Organizing Committee.[1] He was a founding member of the Richmond DSA chapter and assisted in the foundation of other chapters around the state, culminating in the first-ever VA statewide convention.
Austin has experience as a union organizer in Virginia and is dedicated to expanding unions and workers’ rights in the South, as Virginia is often ranked ‘worst state for workers.’ He was a marshal for the DSA caravan that counterprotested the far-right in Charlottesville in 2017, witnessing the fascist attack that injured comrades and murdered Heather Heyer, and has a strong belief in upholding antifascism in part due to this direct experience. As an NPC member, Austin worked with Blanca Estevez to restructure the Democratic Socialists of America International Committee to refocus it toward principled anti-imperialism. He also acts as NPC liaison to the Mutual Aid Working Group. He is a self-taught Marxist and lifelong anti-imperialist.[2]
Austin Gonzalez is a member of DSA’s National Political Committee and International Committee from Richmond, Virginia. He is also a co-host of Machete y Mate, a “Revolutionary Marxist program for the Latinx community in La Patria Grande and the global Diaspora.” He gave a December 2020 interview with The Partisan — a magazine jointly operated by DSA’s Communist Caucus, Emerge Caucus (NYC), and Red Caucus (Portland).[3]
For a Political, Prolific and Democratic DSA Editorial Board
In May 2023 Austin Gonzalez signed a resolution "For a Political, Prolific and Democratic DSA Editorial Board" as one of the MUG and R&R's Joint Resolutions for the 2023 DSA National Convention in August in Chicago.
Venezuela
In June 2021 Blanca Estevez, Marvin Gonzalez, Carrington Morris, Luisa Martinez,Jen McKinney, Austin Gonzalez, Tom Wojcik, Kristian Hernandez, were part of a Democratic Socialists of America delegation organized by the Simon Bolivar Institute to Venezuela. Went there for 14 days. First 3 days were at Congreso. Met president Maduro and former Bolivian president Evo Morales.[4]
Peru
Carlos Rosa and Austin Gonzalez were part of a delegation to Peru to monitor the 2021 elections.
This week the Democratic Socialists of America is proud to announce the departure of our election observer delegates to the second round of Peru’s Presidential Elections on June 6th 2021.
The Democratic Socialists of America is committed to upholding democracy within our hemisphere and is excited to take part in observing an election which is critically important for the future of Peru. This delegation will be the first time that DSA has led an observer delegation.
This is an uncertain time for Peruvian politics. Peru has seen presidential resignations and impeachments that have left the country cycling through four presidents in three years. The Peruvian working class has bore the brunt of this political uncertainty, seeing a COVID-19 response that has been one of the worst in South America. These elections give the Peruvian people a chance to chart a new step forward in resolving the political gridlock that has dominated Lima.
Our delegation will be in close coordination with other observer delegations on the ground in our united commitment to uphold democracy. DSA’s delegation will also consist of members of our National Political Committee as well as Carlos Ramíirez Rosa, alderman from Chicago, and Marcela Mitaynes, member of the New York State Assembly.[5]
Other delegation members included Austin Gonzalez is a member of DSA’s National Political Committee and International Committee from Richmond, Virginia. He is also a co-host of Machete y Mate, a “Revolutionary Marxist program for the Latinx community in La Patria Grande and the global Diaspora.”[6]
Cardinal NPC Slate
The Cardinal National Political Committee Slate for the Democratic Socialists of America 2021 National Conference included Austin Gonzalez, Blanca Estevez, Fern Da Silva, Jen McKinney, Justin Charles, Jennifer Bolen, Kara Hall, Jess Newman, Ryan Mosgrove, Olivia Merrill, Sarandon Elliott.[7]
Puerto Rico’s Self-Determination: Your Voice Matters
Puerto Rico’s Self-Determination: Your Voice Matters, Saturday, October 31st, 2020.
Join the International Committee for a panel including Puerto Rican labor rights leader Jose La Luz, Justo Mendez of Vamos Puerto Rico, María J. Torres-López of Diaspora en Resistencia, Maruxa Cardenas of Our Revolution, and DSA National Political Committee member Austin Gonzalez on the conditions of Puerto Rico’s right to a fair process of self-determination as outlined in HB8113 cosponsored by DSA’s own Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Panelists will discuss why Puerto Rican decolonization is a critical issue for socialists and progressives to be supportive of and why Puerto Ricans need international solidarity now more than ever.[8]
DSA Socialist Feminists Call on Joe Biden to Drop Out
DSA Socialist Feminists Call on Joe Biden to Drop Out was a May 2020 letter to Joe Biden.
Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden stands accused of sexual assault. Members of the Democratic Socialists of America demand that he leave the race.
As socialists, we believe that the lessons of the #MeToo movement must not be forgotten. This movement challenged rape culture and upended myths about sexual violence and the credibility of survivors. For a short period, these issues were even embraced by many liberal politicians and commentators, as evidenced by the widespread support for Dr. Christine Blasey-Ford when she bravely spoke out about incumbent Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. #MeToo made previously tolerated behavior intolerable, and powerful men in numerous industries faced consequences for their misconduct....
We, the undersigned, call on Joe Biden to leave the race. We also call on elected officials endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of the Ozarks to rescind any endorsements of Joe Biden.
Signatories included Austin Gonzalez Richmond Democratic Socialists of America.
DSA 2019 National Political Committee Candidates
Democratic Socialists of America 2019 National Political Committee Candidates
• Austin Gonzalez • Sauce • Theresa Alt • Sean Estelle • Daniel Merrill • Darby Thomas • Russell Weiss-Irwin • Michelle Bruder • Zac Echola • Jen Snyder • Jennifer Bolen • Blanca Estevez • Marsha Niemeijer • Marianela D'Aprile • Tawny Tidwell • Lloyd Goldsmith • Erika Paschold • Emily Cameron • Dan Quayle • Valerie Sinclair • Natalie Midiri • Ravi Ahmad Haque • Jose G. Perez • Tim Zhu • Rachel Zibrat • Abdullah Younus • Megan Svoboda • Maikiko James • Kristian Hernandez • David Pinkham • Hannah Allison • Jen McKinney • Austin Smith[9]
DSA Immigrants Rights Committee
In September 2017 Austin Gonzalez, chair of Richmond Democratic Socialists of America was a member of the Democratic Socialists of America Immigrants Rights Committee.[10]
Harassment Working Group
In 2017, Austin Gonzalez of Richmond Democratic Socialists of America, was a signatory to a statement by the Democratic Socialists of America Harassment Working Group.