Bud’s Bulletin – July 2024 – Mid-Missouri Democratic Socialists of America

What We’ve Been Up To

Earlier this month, three of our members and one member of our Mizzou YDSA affiliate completed the Missouri Jobs with Justice leadership training, where they learned invaluable skills and strategies for organizing campaigns. We’re excited for them to start applying what they’ve learned in our fight to raise the minimum wage, guarantee paid sick leave, and end the abortion ban this November!

Meanwhile, a few of our other members joined some of our comrades from Mid-Missouri John Brown Gun Club to help feed our unhoused neighbors at Loaves and Fishes.

At Break the Chains on June 15, we tabled alongside Missouri Jobs with Justice and talked to folks in our community about ways to get involved with organizing and building power for working people!

Just this past weekend, some of our members joined our St. Louis DSA comrades across the state in their weekly canvas to re-elect Cori Bush, where they were greeted by Representative Bush herself! Stay tuned for future opportunities to help the Bush campaign before the August 6 primary.

What We’ll Be Doing:

Our next general meeting will take place at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, July 2 at the Daniel Boone Regional Library. At this meeting, we will be electing our new steering committee to lead the chapter in the upcoming year, as well as new Electoral, Labor, and Recruitment chairs. All dues-paying DSA members are welcome! You can use this link to join us virtually.

Join us on Sunday, July 21 from 9 AM to 2 PM at Ashland City Park to celebrate Ashland Pride! We will be tabling to talk about what we are doing here in mid-Missouri to organize for a better world and how you can get involved.

In the coming weeks we will be launching our People’s Platform Campaign, where will be knocking doors and talking about voters about the initiatives on the November ballot to raise the minimum wage, provide paid sick leave, and create a constitutional right to reproductive freedom in Missouri. Be on the lookout for volunteer opportunities very soon!

This month, LiUNA Local 955 will be hosting two town halls for their members. The first on July 13 at 1 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia will be for MU workers to discuss concerns related to parking fees and good-faith bargaining and will feature several local state legislative candidates, including Kathy Steinhoff, Adrian Plank, John Potter, David Tyson Smith, Gregg Bush and Jeff Basinger. The second on July 21 at 2PM at a venue TBA will be for Columbia city workers to discuss wage compression and the underfunding of public transit and will feature several city council members. Pleasure come show your support for the workers we rely on to keep our community running!

The Columbia Ceasefire Coalition is holding weekly marches to demand that Columbia city officials call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Those interested in attending should meet at Speaker’s Circle before 2 PM every Saturday to join the march to city hall.

Congresswoman Cori Bush, a DSA member, is facing a primary challenge from St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell. Representative Bush has been a critical voice in Congress in support of a ceasefire in Gaza, the fight to ensure housing for every American, protecting and restoring reproductive and trans rights, and so much more. We encourage anyone who is able to consider financially supporting her campaign or signing up to canvas on July 13, 20, or 27 in St. Louis!

The Boone County Community Bail Fund has resumed bailouts! As a member of the National Bail Fund Network, the Bail Fund provides essential services to low-level offenders who would otherwise be held in jail simply because they cannot afford to post bail. The Bail Fund posts bails of up to $3,000 for qualified detainees and arranges reminders and rides to help them appear at subsequent court dates. You can support them by making a one time or recurring donation or by contacting them at comobailfund@gmail.com to volunteer to answer phones, provide rides, help with fundraising, or otherwise get involved!

CoMo Mobile Aid Collective provides direct aid and immediate assistance to unsheltered friends here in Columbia. Their street teams proudly serve 200+ meals every week throughout the year, their mobile medical clinic of qualified nurses, EMTs, and medical students have a variety of assistance available, and they partner with Unchained Melodies Dog Rescue to ensure beloved pets have access to food, flea and tick treatment, first aid, vet appointments as needed, and lots of treats.

You can support their efforts by making a one-time donation, becoming a monthly donor, buying a shirt, or signing up to volunteer!

Have you been mistreated by your employer or landlord? Contact the Columbia Solidarity Network to see if they can help! Call or text (573) 246-0646 or email columbiasolidarity@gmail.com.

For over three months, Mid-Missouri Peaceworks has been holding daily peace vigils in support of the people of Gaza from 12:15-12:45 PM by the Keyhole sculpture outside City Hall. All are welcome to join any day you can!