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Dear ZooZaps,<br>
<br>
I wanted to relay to you information about the 2025 Socialist
Speakers Series. I think it's kind of exciting! And it's been a lot
of work. The first event is <b>next week, Thursday Jan. 30</b>. We
will present Socialism and the City with Kristen Jordan and Daniel
Carlino. I hope you can come.<br>
<br>
Bitterrooters Char, Dave and Kate, you're welcome to stay over at my
house that night if it's too late to head back to the 'Root.<br>
<br>
-Robbie<br>
<br>
<a href="https://westernmtdsa.org/calendar.html"
moz-do-not-send="true"><img
src="cid:part1.ntEojhhx.q75Zxrft@Liben.net"
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alt="Western Montana Democratic Socialists of America" class=""
width="684" height="49" border="0"></a><br>
<h2 class="wsite-content-title" align="left"><strong>Western Montana
DSA Presents The 2025 Socialism Speaker Series</strong></h2>
<h2 class="wsite-content-title" align="center"><strong></strong><a
href="https://westernmtdsa.org/2025_speaker_poster.html"
moz-do-not-send="true"><img
src="cid:part2.RDOIG4BK.794XqvpS@Liben.net"
moz-do-not-send="false"
alt="2025 Socialism Speakers Series Poster"
title="2025 Socialist Speakers Series" class="" width="329"
height="329" border="0"></a></h2>
<p><a href="https://westernmtdsa.org/socialist-speakers-series.html"
moz-do-not-send="true"><img
src="cid:part3.0LwCrWU8.b9ABAKm7@Liben.net"
moz-do-not-send="false" alt="2025 Socialist Speakers Series"
title="2025 Socialist Speakers Series" class="" width="149"
height="149" border="0" align="left"></a>The Western Montana
chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is proud to
present the 2025 Socialist Speakers Series <font size="4"><b>Starting
January 30, 2025</b></font>.<br>
<br>
At a time of record inequality and repression of dissent at home
and abroad, these talks will serve to promote democratic
socialism, to empower the working class, and to advance the
concepts of a better economy for us all.<br>
<br>
Right now, we are suffering the inevitable crises of capitalism:
nobody can afford to buy a house, rents are sky high, poverty and
homelessness are rampant. Mass incarceration decimates communities
of color, predatory health insurance companies cause widespread
bankruptcy. The destructive power of climate change is ever more
apparent. The economy lurches from one financial crisis to the
next. And the only thing Congress reliably does is fund wars.<br>
<br>
Our speakers will offer both a sobering view of our current
reality and inspiring views of what the world <i>can </i>look
like.</p>
<p><b><font size="4">2025 Socialist Speakers Series Lineup</font></b><br>
</p>
<ul>
<li><b>Socialism and the City</b>, with Kristen Jordan and Daniel
Carlino<a
href="https://westernmtdsa.org/socialism-and-the-city.html"
moz-do-not-send="true"><img
src="cid:part4.fW84v2wZ.rQnEZrFg@Liben.net"
moz-do-not-send="false" alt="Socialism and the City"
class="" width="116" height="116" border="0" align="right"></a><br>
<b>Thursday January 30, 6:00pm</b>, Missoula Elks Lodge, 112
Pattee St, Missoula<br>
Hear from Western Montana DSA's two members on the Missoula City
Council, Kristen Jordan and Daniel Carlino, as they discuss
their work and what we can do to make Missoula a more livable
and equitable home. Refreshments will be served.<br>
<br>
</li>
<li><b>Socialism and Worker Politics in Montana History</b>, with
Clem Work<a
href="https://westernmtdsa.org/darkest-before-dawn.html"
moz-do-not-send="true"><img
src="cid:part5.U6B2DjZZ.YvbGhKQX@Liben.net"
moz-do-not-send="false" alt="Darkest Before Dawn" class=""
width="86" height="129" border="0" align="left"></a><br>
<b>Thursday March 6, 6:00pm</b>, Missoula Elks Lodge, 112 Pattee
St, Missoula<br>
Learn about Montana's long history of socialism from retired UM
Journalism professor Clem Work, author of Darkest Before Dawn
(2005) and the documentary Jailed for their Words (2008), and
who also led the successful campaign to expunge the sedition
convictions of World War I-era Montanans. Refreshments will be
served.<br>
<br>
</li>
<li><b>Resurgence of Unions in Missoula</b><br>
<b>May Day, Thursday May 1, 6:30pm</b>, Free Cycles, 734 S. 1st
St. W., Missoula<br>
Barbecue and May Day festivities! Unions bring true democracy
and safety to the workplace, as well as higher wages to the
community. Hear the trials and tribulations of Missoula-area
union members and learn what employers can and cannot do when
workers set out to unionize. We'll also hear a presentation on
the exciting call by the United Autoworkers (UAW) for unions to
prepare for a general strike on May Day 2028.<br>
<br>
</li>
<li><b>Building Socialism at the State Level</b><br>
<b>Thursday July 24, 6:00pm</b>, Missoula Elks Lodge, 112 Pattee
St, Missoula<br>
What would socialism look like in Montana? What are the goals?
What are the impediments? How do we get there? Refreshments will
be served.<br>
<br>
</li>
<li><b>The Fight for Bail Abolition</b><br>
<b>Thursday September 18, 6:00pm</b>, Missoula Elks Lodge, 112
Pattee St, Missoula<br>
The main function of bail is to keep poor and working-class
people in jail while awaiting trial. It doesn’t improve public
safety, and it helps drive mass incarceration. What is being
done to abolish bail? Refreshments will be served.<br>
<br>
</li>
<li><b>Envisioning The World Without Capitalism</b><br>
<b>Thursday November 6, 6:00pm</b>, Missoula Elks Lodge, 112
Pattee St, Missoula<br>
The series finale for the year will be a panel discussion about
a future beyond capitalism. When we truly imagine the future, we
have a dream to work towards. How does democracy work at the
local, state and national levels? What will freedom look like
when we no longer expend vast amounts of work keeping the
billionaire class wealthy? Refreshments will be served.</li>
</ul>
<p><b>More Information</b><br>
<br>
Working-class Montanans have come to realize how rarely the
current political system works for them. Montana is now the most
expensive state to live in based on income. How can this happen in
the wealthiest nation in the world? Is the system broken? We
believe that it is working as planned. Both parties, Republican
and Democrat alike, are more willing to serve the billionaire
donor class than their own constituents. We deserve a better
world.<br>
<br>
We are ready to build a new political system and a new economy. In
this alternate future, we the citizens, not just the billionaires,
can choose our economic system and hold it accountable. That is
true democracy.<br>
<br>
In order create this future, we must build a mass movement. And in
order to do that, we must understand how the capitalist world
works now, what the future can look like and how to get there. To
that end we offer the 2025 Socialist Speakers Series.<br>
<br>
DSA has planned six talks over the course of the year: Each one an
event in itself. The speakers will talk about socialism at the
local, state and national levels. After each talk there will be a
question-and-answer period and, we expect, a lively discussion.
Come with your ideas, visions and concerns, and learn about what
the future can hold for you, and how you can work to make it
happen.</p>
<p>All events are Free and open to the public, regardless of your
political point of view. Refreshments will be served and all talks
are on Thursday evenings.<br>
</p>
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