Welcome to The Red Star-Ledger, a publication of the North New Jersey Democratic Socialists of America. There’s no better time to come together and fight for social, racial, environmental, and economic justice! Check out our coverage of our chapter’s work across North New Jersey as well as broader trends in socialist organizing nationwide.
The Red Star Ledger is a collection of individual member op-eds, educational blogs, and other thoughts from the Left. Opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) only.
All our writing is done on a volunteer basis, and we’re always looking for more help. Contact us at: rsl@dsanj.org
Summer 2023
Welcome to the summer issue of The Red Star-Ledger, the official newsletter of the North New Jersey Democratic Socialists of America (NNJDSA).
A surging labor movement has brought a historic strike to all three campuses of Rutgers University, the halting of production at many film sets due to a strike by the Writers Guild of America, and the ramping up of a potential strike this summer by UPS Teamsters. Support for unions and pro-worker legislation is stronger than it’s been in decades and our members have been out in New Jersey supporting many of these picket lines.
NNJDSA has been leading the movement for Right to Counsel in Jersey City in which renters dealing with illegal rent increases, evictions, and other problems with their landlords could get free legal representation. This grassroots work has brought together a wide coalition of renters in the city and created a basis for unity going forward. Our Health Justice campaign has also been fighting for price caps on prescription drugs and Medicaid expansion.
We find hope in our campaigns at the same time that a right wing Supreme Court eviscerates our rights and congress continues to wage a bipartisan war on the working class through the debt ceiling negotiations. Cuts to environmental protections and increasing oil drilling foretell of a harsh future for our children. It’s no surprise that the mental health of young people is deteriorating during a time of multiple crises.
Now is the time to come together to create a socialist movement that offers an alternative to the cruel, predatory system of capitalism. Join us to learn and work for a better future. All are welcome
To view a PDF copy of the print issue of this edition of the Red Star Ledger, click here
- Historic Rutgers Strike Brings a Win
- Prescription Drug Caps Medicare For All
- From Trenton to City Hall: Workers Are Demanding More
- JC Times: Hey, Jersey City! Pass Right to Counsel Law
- Police Don't Prevent Safety, They Prevent It
- Assaults on Public Libraries and Book Banning
- NNJ DSA Red All Star: An Interview With Whit Strub
Winter 2023
Welcome to the winter issue of The Red Star-Ledger, the newsletter for New Jersey Democratic Socialists of America. We’re a part of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the largest socialist organization in the USA. There’s no better time to come together and fight for social, racial, environmental, and economic justice!
As we move into 2023 it’s clear that we face many obstacles: inflation, high housing costs, increasing medical expenses, ongoing war and a bloated military budget, environmental crisis, a far right Supreme Court that has removed a basic right that had been in place for 50 years by overturning Roe v Wade. and the continued police killing of unarmed Black men. See our statement on the Murder of Tyre Nichols here.
But we are also seeing for the first time in years a growing labor movement as nurses, education, Starbucks, and Amazon workers are standing up and demanding fair treatment and better conditions.
As NNJDSA hosts it’s annual convention this January, we look forward to new leadership and new campaigns and continuing to build on our work like the Right to Counsel campaign in Jersey City, Medicare 4 All, mutual aid, electoral work and more.
All are welcome and all are needed. JOIN US! To find our more, come to a new member meeting, a chapter meeting. Follow us online or email us here: northnj@dsanj.org
To view a PDF copy of the print issue of this edition of the Red Star Ledger, click here
Fall 2022
Welcome to Red Star Ledger. We are the North New Jersey chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. We’re part of the largest socialist organization in the USA. Since our last issue, we‘ve seen the far-right Supreme Court advance their heinous agenda by overturning Roe v. Wade, weakening environmental protections, and further entrenching minoritarian rule. As corporations make record profits, we’ve seen prices for basic necessities grow. We’ve seen rents in New Jersey continue to be some of the most expensive in the country with evictions growing and little help in sight.
However, the working class is fighting back and making important gains. New workers are unionizing and gaining power at Starbucks locations across the country, in Amazon warehouses, at Trader Joe’s and more. In NJ, nurses and educators continue to fight for safety in the communities they serve. In Latin America, we see hopeful signs of a resurgent Left.
Here at NNJDSA we are fighting for housing for all, free abortion on demand, universal healthcare, environmental justice, and to put socialist candidates in positions of power. Join us to push back against a system that cares more for profit than for people. We are a community of folks committed to changing the world for a better future
To view a PDF copy of the print issue of this edition of the Red Star Ledger, click here
- The Role of Mass Organizing Around Reporductive Justice In A Blue State
- Public Abortion Campaign
- The War on Health Mixtape
- Generations Sacrificing Future Generations
- Ivy Hill Tenant Organizing
- Immigrant Justice in New Jersey
- The Right to Counsel for Tenants
- What's Wrong With Airbnb?
- No Appetite for Apartheid
- Political Education: What Is Socialism?
Spring 2022
Welcome to the renewal of The Red Star-Ledger, the newsletter for New Jersey Democratic Socialists of America. We’re a part of the Democratic Socialists in America (DSA) the largest socialist organization in the USA with 95,000 members and growing. There’s no better time to come together and fight for social, racial, environmental, and economic justice!
We’re witnessing a long overdue resurgence in labor rights and union growth.Unionizing Amazon and Starbucks and other behemoth industries is underway, as workers are demanding fair wages, hours, and dignity. In New Jersey four Starbucks have already applied. We are working to elect a New Jersey socialist in office for the first time in generations. Soon we will win! Following the pandemic and all the lives lost, the need for Medicare for All is apparent and crucial. Housing is a major problem in New Jersey and our Housing Justice group is organizing tenant unions to build power against the landlord and developer class in communities throughout our chapter. The fight for environmental justice is happening right now in Newark and exists in too many of our communities of color. We are working on many fronts as you’ll see in this issue. Time for change is now.
One thing seldom recognized about joining a socialist movement is not only do we fight for the rights of all but joining also breaks down the isolation and hopelessness of our culture. We are a community of folks committed to changing the world together.
All are welcome and all are needed. JOIN US! To find our more, come to a new member meeting, a chapter meeting. Follow us online or email us here: northnj@dsanj.org or checkout our calendar for meeting times and events.
To view a PDF copy of the print issue of this edition of the Red Star Ledger, click here
- Seizing the Moment
- I Worked at Starbucks, Here's Why They Need a Union
- Joel Brooks For Ward B, Jersey City – November 2021
- Chigozie Onyema For West Ward, Newark
- Introducing the BDS and Palestine Solidarity Working Group!
- Immigrant Justice in New Jersey
- Labor Notes
- What the heck is the C.R.E.W? (Caucus Representing Education Workers)
- NNJDSA Statement on the Overturn of Roe v. Wade
- Jersey City Profiles in Healthcare: Uninsurance, Underinsurance a Barrier to Care for those with Physical, Mental Health issues.