Berkshires Democratic Socialists of America

Berkshires Democratic Socialists of America is a Western Massachusetts affiliate of Democratic Socialists of America.

Berkshire Communist Party Connection

Berkshires Democratic Socialists of America advertised a pro-Palestine rally on Facebook "Organized by the Berkshire Communist Party."^[1]

Endorsing Ed Markey

August 19, 2020.

PRESS RELEASE: BERKSHIRES DSA ENDORSES SENATOR ED MARKEY, CONDEMNS CORPORATE HIJACKING OF DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM

Pittsfield, MA — The Berkshires chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America proudly announces their endorsement for Senator Ed Markey in his reelection bid.

Senator Markey has been a long time champion of progressive legislation, as he was an original cosponsor of Medicare for All, and co-author of the original Green New Deal resolution. Berkshires DSA also strongly values Markey’s belief that public colleges should be tuition-free.

“We originally organized to work on more local issues,” said Christian Kennedy, Co-Chair Berkshires DSA. “Over the last year with the Bernie campaign, and now Alex Morse and Ed Markey’s campaigns–these are fights that we want to put our weight behind for both ethical reasons and because both candidates strongly back policy in line with Berkshires DSA’s core concerns, from climate change, to corruption within the corporate hijacked Democratic party machine.”

If Morse and Markey win, Berkshires DSA and national DSA should have a better platform for advancing their demands in ecosocialism, fighting racism, defunding police, making healthcare and public school free and accessible for our community.

“At this time our chapter is fairly small, and so our coverage of issues facing working class people, the homeless, and, really everyone, is difficult to stay on top of,” says Kennedy, Co-Chair Berkshires DSA. “Of course, we aim to increase our membership, and in the meantime, we want to encourage our members and the community to canvass and phonebank for Morse and Markey.”

In the fight to save our democracy for the people, Berkshires DSA believes that reelecting Senator Markey and electing Mayor Morse to Congress allows the two to fight the progressive agenda across the nation and at home. Berkshires DSA strongly condemns interference from the state and national Democratic parties whose real benefactors continue to be the capital holders in our system, and not the people who are crying out for protection from police brutality, healthcare rip-offs, and an all around failing system that leaves millions of people behind, while not responding to climate change quick enough.

The DSA is the largest socialist organization in the United States. DSA’s members are building progressive movements for social change while establishing an openly democratic socialist presence in American communities and politics. We believe that working people should run both the economy and society democratically to meet human needs, not to make profits for a few. DSA members use a variety of tactics, from legislation to direct action, in the fight to empower working people.

For media Inquiries, please contact Amillie Coster.^[2]

Endorsing Alex Morse

January 8, 2020.

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BERKSHIRES DSA ENDORSES HOLYOKE MAYOR ALEX MORSE IN CAMPAIGN FOR US CONGRESS

Pittsfield, MA — Berkshires Democratic Socialists of America (Berkshires DSA) officially endorses Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, a Democrat, in his challenge running for Congress in Massachusetts against the state’s 1st Congressional District incumbent and Head of the Ways and Means Committee, Representative Richard Neal.

Following the Berkshires DSA executive committee meeting with Morse in 2019 the chapter member’s came to an agreement that his work in Holyoke, and his commitment to environmental justice, universal healthcare, public education, and solidarity with the working class, make him a candidate that they can enthusiastically support. Morse has refused to take money from corporate PACs and the fossil fuel industry.

In Holyoke, where he serves one of the poorest communities in the state, the mayor has addressed the need for economic growth and job creation in safe and sustainable ways, achievements and goals that we find in alignment with the Green New Deal. During his tenure he has worked toward making the city of Holyoke carbon neutral through implementing strong environmental policies, and he is a strong supporter of universal single payer healthcare, often referred to as Medicare for All.

Morse has also focused on public school education, preparing the school teachers and administration to better integrate with a more than 50 percent Hispanic population.

“Our chapter is in talks with Morse’s campaign to see how we can campaign for the Neal challenger, while we also ramp up our efforts to campaign for Presidential nominee Senator Bernie Sanders,” said Berkshires DSA Co-Chair John Prusinski.

For media Inquiries, please contact Amillie Coster (413) 854-5611, amilliedelphina@gmail.com.^[3]

Leaders

In 2019 Dan Raftery was co-chair of the Berkshires Democratic Socialists of America.

Berkshires Democratic Socialists of America July 19 2018.

The Third Thursday BDSA crew. — with Bill Laviolette and John Prusinski in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Berkshires Democratic Socialists of America· December 13 2018:

Group photo from last weekend's New England Regional DSA Leadership Training! — with Aimee J. Dupont and John Prusinski at Maine Irish Heritage Center.

Comrades

Berkshires Democratic Socialists of America · August 7, 2019 ·

Socialists Socializing and welcoming back our delegate from the 2019 National DSA Convention in Atlanta! — with Jeffrey Turner, Dan Raftery and Sonya Bykofsky.

Berkshires Democratic Socialists of America January 27 2019·

Berkshires DSA at the 4 Freedoms Democracy in Action event! — with Bill Laviolette, Judy Eddy and John Prusinski.