Democrats Abroad Germany will have stands and march in many pride events across Germany this year. If you are interested in marching with us in the parades or working at one of the stands contact: dag-lgbt@democratsabroad.org Come join us or just stop by and say hello. We need to stand together now more than ever.

Date and Location

08 July, Cologne (March and Stand)
14 July, Munich (March and Stand)
21 July, Leipzig (Stand)
28 July, Berlin (Stand)
28 July, Braunschweig (Stand)

28 July, Stuttgart (March)
04 August, Hamburg (Stand)
11 August, Mannheim (March and Stand)
25 August, Bremen (Stand)

Looking for great books to read this summer? Feed your brain while you catch some rays this summer with this assortment of great books that will be as provocative as they are entertaining.

1. The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America by Timothy Snyder

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Tim Duggan Books (April 3, 2018)
ISBN-10: 0525574468
ISBN-13: 978-0525574460

With the end of the Cold War, the victory of liberal democracy seemed final. Observers declared the end of history, confident in a peaceful, globalized future. This faith was misplaced. Authoritarianism returned to Russia, as Putin found fascist ideas that could be used to justify rule by the wealthy. In the 2010s, it has spread from east to west, aided by Russian warfare in Ukraine and cyberwar in Europe and the United States.

Russia found allies among nationalists, oligarchs, and radicals everywhere, and its drive to dissolve Western institutions, states, and values found resonance within the West itself.  The rise of populism, the British vote against the EU, and the election of Donald Trump were all Russian goals, but their achievement reveals the vulnerability of Western societies.

In this forceful and unsparing work of contemporary history, based on vast research as well as personal reporting, Snyder goes beyond the headlines to expose the true nature of the threat to democracy and law. To understand the challenge is to see, and perhaps renew, the fundamental political virtues offered by tradition and demanded by the future. By revealing the stark choices before us--between equality or oligarchy, individuality or totality, truth and falsehood--Snyder restores our understanding of the basis of our way of life, offering a way forward in a time of terrible uncertainty.

Available formats: Paperback, Hardcover, Kindle, Audiobook

JOIN Democrats Abroad to get more information about and direct invitations to our events.

Demand an end to the criminalization of immigrants and asylum seekers in the US with Democrats Abroad Germany.

Do not be fooled - although the Trump Administration promised to end family separations in their Executive Order, this is a temporary 20-day halt, and they have no plans to reunite the children with their parents. Join us to keep pressure on Trump and the Republicans until the camps are closed, the children are with their parents and receiving medical/trauma assistance. Separating children from their families, putting children in detention camps in any form, is immoral, illegal and goes against our basic human instincts.

We are demonstrating in five locations on June 30th.

Join Democrats Abroad for Independence Day celebrations across Germany. Come to meet other American Expats, have fun, get to know like-minded people and celebrate American Independence with us.

We're having 4th of July events of all types, from BBQ's to parties at restaurants, in 9 locations. We hope you join us!

JOIN Democrats Abroad to get more info about and direct invitations to our events.

It's a great time to get involved with Democrats Abroad Germany (DAG) Veterans and Military Families Caucus.

We need members and leaders! We encourage all interested Democrats Abroad Germany members to join the caucus. To join, just fill out this form. If you are interested in being on the steering committee please also indicate that on the form. 

Currently, the caucus has only two serving officers, Kirk Samson, who is leaving in August for the US, and Michael Lee, so we really need your help. A robust caucus ensures that Democrats Abroad Germany remains a key player in issues involving the U.S. military presence in Germany and helps to support veterans and family members’ issues that are unique to our overseas constituency. 

Please join us!

Also, if you are a veteran residing in Germany, we recommend that you keep an eye on the VA Benefits Bulletin

Thank you,

Kirk Samson and Michael Lee

Co-Chairs, Germany Veterans and Military Families Caucus
DA Germany

There are 158 days until the midterm elections. If you have not registered to vote or requested your ballot, now is the time. Go to Votefromabroad.org and do it today! If you are already registered, it doesn't hurt to check your registration at https://iwillvote.com/. This election is extremely important, don’t get disenfranchised by republican tricks. #VotingMatters

It looks and feels like we have quickly moved into summertime in Germany. We hope that everyone is staying cool, eating lots of ice cream, and able to still enjoy the sun (don’t forget your sunscreen)! To provide you with some cool thoughts, you can already start to think about fall and our  10th Annual Oktoberfest Extravaganza on Sunday, October 7th. If you sign-up before July 1st, tickets are only 65€ and this includes a reserved seat in the “Gallerie”, a half roasted chicken (vegetarian options are available), 2 liters of Spaten beer (there are other beverage options, too), and a 10-euro coupon for other purchases. Make sure you sign-up now because starting July 1st, tickets will go up to 75€.

June - Upcoming Election Information

California’s primary election on June 5 will be one of the most important –and bizarre - contests of the entire primary season. The Golden State is crucial to Democrats’ effort to retake the House and Republicans currently hold seven districts which Hillary Clinton won in 2016. With so many Democrats running, and because of the state’s “top two” open primary system, there is a risk that the vote will be split, allowing Republicans — who have fewer candidates — to dominate some primaries. Watch this video to learn more about the California primary system and the problem this year

If you are a California voter, make sure you have a choice in November and vote in the Primary on June 5th!

For more details about What is on the Primary Ballot for the June 12 State Primaries and June 19 and June 26 Primaries on the DA website Voting blog.

Caucuses are an important way to increase awareness of principal issues and identify legislative priorities. Joining one or more of our caucuses is a great way to get involved with Democrats Abroad.

All Democrats Abroad members are welcome to join them.  

• Members are welcome to join the Women's Caucus regardless of their gender identity.  
• Members of any sexual orientation are welcome to join the LGBT Caucus.  
• The Youth Caucus welcomes members of all ages.
• Bienvenidos to new members of the Hispanic Caucus
• And a very special welcome to new members of the newly formed Black Caucus and Progressive Caucus.

Please go to their web pages to read about them, meet their leaders and join up, or send them an email.

We need a Germany representatives for the Hispanic Caucus. If you would be interested in becoming the Hispanic Caucus leader please contact us.

If you are interested in what our caucuses are doing, please contact our caucus leaders listed below:

I’m Michelle Cummings-Koether, and I am the new Women’s Caucus Chair for Germany. I am here to help coordinate Women’s topics and events in Germany, and to try to place a focus on important Women’s topics for Democrats Abroad. I look forward to working with the various Chapters and Precincts in Germany, to help keep a bright light on topics that affect Women in the United States.

A little about myself. I was born in the US and have spent my life traveling between the US and Germany. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and now live in Munich. When I am not fighting for Women’s topics, I work as an interculturalist, consulting American and European companies on how to work together. I also teach intercultural topics at three universities in Munich and Augsburg. To help me regain footing and to help me keep focused, I hang out with my dog while she works as a therapy assistant dog with disabled kids.

I would also like to announce that the Women’s Caucus will be holding the Germany Women's Caucus Workshop (Open to Democrats Abroad Worldwide) on September 22nd in Berlin. With the theme “refocus, revisit, resist & re-empower” we will hold an all day event followed by dinner. This event will be open to all DA members worldwide. Please RSVP today. More details to follow.

I am looking forward to this new opportunity and the challenges that will arise. As my consultancy takes me all across Germany, I hope to meet with some of the Chapters personally soon. If you need to reach me, my email is dag-women@democratsabroad.org.

Hello everyone, my name is Lori-Kaye and I have been appointed the chair of the Black Caucus in Germany. I have been living in Germany near Frankfurt for 13 years and vote in New York. As an international opera singer, I have had the opportunity to do a lot of traveling and getting to know many people and cultures. That's one of the reasons why I would like to get as many people involved in racial justice issues that are not only plaguing our country but, the entire world to this day.  The only way for we as Americans to be able to live peacefully is through accepting diversity in all its forms. In my opinion, racism is a lack of knowledge of other persons and its based on willful ignorance through certain news organizations, representation through our film and music industry, or passed down through family generations, to name a few.

Any person or any race or ethnicity can join the Black Caucus. If you are a person who believes in universal and unconditional human rights, and you are not a member of the Black Caucus, please join. I would love to get to know all of you and have some real conversations to come up with real solutions to this epidemic. Please take this survey. The purpose of this survey is to find out how many people would be interested in getting together for some of these fun events once a month and how many from each chapter so that I can get an idea as to how to organize it.  Just for starters, the subjects include:

• Book Club
• Martini Night with friendly political banter
• Movie Night in a cozy living room with snacks
• Labor Day American BBQ

If you have any ideas or suggestions, please specify on the survey. You can always contact me via email at dag-blackcaucus@democratsabroad.org. Thank you for your participation and I look forward to hearing from you.

You can follow the Global Black Caucus on Facebook and Twitter

Spring has finally arrived and the 2018 primary season is in full swing. We need your help phone banking. Phone banking is the best way we have of reaching our members to remind them to get their ballots, for the primaries and/or for very important November elections.

If you sign-up for phone banking, you will be calling other members of Democrats Abroad. You have the choice to even just call members in Germany! Will you make 5 calls to fellow DAG members by the end of the summer?  And help to bring in 5 more votes, besides your own?! Phone banking is effective and fun!

Sign up or reactivate your phone banking account, and to learn how to make calls.  If you have questions or comments, please contact DA Germany phone banking coordinator Katie Solon at katie_solon@democratsabroad.org

Democrats Abroad Taxation Team is on Capitol Hill this week to talk to Congress about tax reform for Americans abroad. We need Democrats abroad to phone their Senators and Representatives to demand reform so that when we walk into Congressional offices we hear, "Yes we've been getting calls from constituents about expat tax reform". Download our guide with everything you need to call, message and write to Congress.