Sponsored by the Global Senior Caucus in formation

Come celebrate International Older Persons Day with Steven Regenstreif, Chair of the National Democratic Seniors Coordinating Council of the DNC, and Democrats Abroad.

In these turbulent times, Democrats Abroad needs a special caucus representing those in our organization who are retired or aged 65+. Some Seniors living abroad experience particular problems which are unfair. Our in-formation Seniors Caucus will provide a forum to better understand the issues and concerns affecting Seniors. This webinar will look at fairness in retirement, with the aim of undertanding how some, if not many, Seniors living abroad experience partial and unjust treatment or behaviour with favouritism or discrimination. With this in mind, we look particularly at the need for Medicare Portability and the injustice of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), a provision in United States law that changes the way your U.S. Social Security benefits are calculated.

We have a panel of speakers, and will add more details on our other speakers as we get closer to the date, so stay tuned!

Showcase An evening of poetry with a Global Black Caucus Poet Laureate

Learn about the life and work of literary genius, Octavia Butler.

Diane Johnson with Alan Riding 

Writers on Writing: Carla Power w/ Anne Kraatz

Grab a pen and paper and get in touch with your inner writer.

Showcase An evening of poetry with a Global Black Caucus Poet Laureate

Connie Borde and Sheila Malovany-Chavallier present the life and work of the feminist icon.

Cocktail recipes and your favorite book recommendations in one night!

Grab a pen and paper and get in touch with your inner writer.

Save the Date! 

Date: Monday, September 27, 2021 at 12:00 pm ET (Washington DC) time
Location: Zoom
Event Title: Left of Karl Marx: The Political Life of Black Communist Claudia Jones by Carole Boyce Davies - - Global Progressive Caucus Book Discussion

All are welcome to attend. Join us!  

“Left of Karl Marx by Carol Boyce Davies is an engaging and long overdue scholarly treatment of the life of one of the most important and yet obscure Black radicals—Claudia Jones. . . . Overall, Left of Karl Marx is a fascinating study of a political figure that deserves recognition. Carol Boyce Davies has done a service to Black Studies and Women and Gender Studies by resurrecting this champion of justice. Now that this difficult work has been done, it is our job to engage it.” — Rashad Shabazz, Wagadu

“[I]t is a must-have for activists and academics alike.” — Brittany Shoot, Feminist Review

“[W]hat Boyce Davies offers to her readers with this book, is a masterful piece of scholarship, made accessible by the author’s skilful presentation of facts, narrative and analysis.” — Madeleine Kennedy-Macfoy, European Journal of Women's Studies

“Carole Boyce Davies offers a critical intervention for understanding how the life and work of black communist, activist and intellectual, Claudia Jones illuminates the interlocking trans-Atlantic histories of leftist politics, feminism, anti-colonialism and black internationalism in the twentieth century. . . . much like Claudia Jones, Davies reminds us that the history of twentieth-century Britain is indeed a history that encompasses the Caribbean, the Atlantic and the African Diaspora.” — Kennetta Hammond Perry, Twentieth Century British History

“Davies conducted extensive ethnographic and archival research to write Left of Karl Marx and her work successfully situates this Caribbean black radical intellectual and activist within a history of black radical thought. . . . The most important lesson we learn after reading Left of Karl Marx is that black women’s writings are fundamental to our discussions on black diasporic formation and political radicalism. How many other Claudia Joneses are in need of scholarly recovery?” — Keisha-Khan Y. Perry, International Feminist Journal of Politics

“Davies makes a strong case for taking Jones seriously as a militant intellectual whose work shaped radical thought in her lifetime and prefigured the currents of change in the decades after her death in 1964.” — Marian B. Mollin, Journal of American History

Participants need to know that if there are access, affordability, etc. problems for a book/books, they should contact co-leaders, John Esteban Rodriguez and Betsy Ettorre ([email protected]) who will help them with the listed books. Learn more about the proDA Book Club.

Location Local Event Start Time

Our nation was conceived in the minds of men, who felt that tyranny was the greatest threat to liberty. But the self-evident truth of equality they wrote about did not include all.

And thus, was born a divided and unequal nation.

A nation bathed in the blood of Indigenous people, built on the backs of black posterity, and sustained by women seen only as the lesser sex.

So, they marched.

They marched a tear-stained trail to a desolate and now seemingly forgotten refuge. They marched through showers of bullets, bombs, and cannons. They marched against the wills of people who were undermining their worth.

This nation owes a debt.

It owes of the promise of freedom for our bravery. It owes citizens the protection each amendment provides. It owes all of us the opportunity to forge any path we want.

So we vote!

We vote to ensure that our history is included and thus not repeated. We vote to create a system that works for us instead of against us. We vote to guarantee our voice is always there.

We vote to be heard.

We vote to be seen.

We vote to be equal.

Because this land is our land, too. And we will never stop fighting for our right to be a part of it.

"Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year; it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”

      ~John Lewis

At the 2021 DPCA Annual Global Meeting in May, Democrats Abroad adopted Resolution #1 -  Rename the Historic Edmund Pettus Bridge for Congressman John R. Lewis. From this resolution, the Democrats Abroad John Lewis Global Voting Rights Day action committee was formed. Together we have planned a series of events and actions in July to celebrate the life and work of the late Georgia Congressman and Civil Rights leader, John Lewis. Often described as the conscience of the Congress, he was a friend to Democrats Abroad. July 17th marks the first anniversary of his passing and the first annual John Lewis Global Voting Rights Day.

Below are three scripts to call or write your senators. Please feel free to personalize these scripts to better make your point. Whether you call or write your Senator, you will need to have your voting address handy.

Calling Script Sample 1:

Hi, my name is name is __________ and I’m a constituent from _______ [CITY, ZIP].

I'm calling to recommend [SEN NAME] support abolishing the Senate filibuster so Congress can break free from obstruction and gridlock and enact important legislation needed to secure our democracy.

Calling Script Sample 2:

 My name is __________. I am a constituent, and my zip code is _______. 

For far too long the Senate filibuster has been used to block essential legislation and civil rights laws that serve and protect We the People. I urge you to eliminate the filibuster entirely. If that proves politically impossible, then at a minimum you must prevent the filibuster from being used to block emergency pandemic economic relief, healthcare expansion, climate catastrophe, racial equity, and voting-rights legislation. And also prevent it from being used to block statehood for the District of Columbia. If the filibuster has to be retained for some matters, its operation must be returned to the original requirement that filibustering senators have to hold the floor in a public display of their obstruction so that their sabotage is no longer done in the darkness of a Senate backroom. 

Calling Script Sample 3, if your Senator has indicated support for reforming the filibuster:

Hi, my name is name is __________ and I’m a constituent from _______ [CITY, ZIP]. “The Senator has indicated that they’d be open to reforming the filibuster in the past, and I’m calling today to ask: Is the Senator planning to support eliminating the filibuster to pass the For the People Act?”

[If they say YES!] That’s great! Please let them know I’m glad they’re supporting HR1 & eliminating the filibuster, and I hope they can encourage their colleagues to do the same.

Writing Script:

I'm writing to urge you to eliminate or reform the filibuster and protect the future of our democracy and our right to vote.

The crisis facing our democracy couldn’t be more real and addressing it couldn’t be more urgent. Legislation is being passed all over the country to prevent people from voting. Nothing could be more undemocratic or dangerous to the ideals of this country.

Our ability to fight back against this voter suppression is restricted by the filibuster, an outdated Senate tool that gives veto power to Republican senators who represent 41 million fewer people than Senate Democrats. Whatever value we may have seen in the filibuster in the past, Sen. McConnell is using it and will continue to use it to allow a partisan minority to block overwhelmingly popular legislation and to advance his partisan and ideological interests.

As your constituent, I urge you to protect the future of our democracy not a procedural relic from the past. Eliminate or reform the filibuster.

Please let me know how you intend to address this issue.

Tools and tips to contact your Senators

• You can call 1.888.453.3211 to get connected to your U.S. Senator.
• Look up your Senators' phone numbers and contact forms here.
• If you contact your senators by webform, use your US voting address in the contact address field.
• If the phone number field in the webform* is sensitive, try adding 011 at the start of your abroad number.

• You can use this too from Vote Save Americal to make calls: https://votesaveamerica.com/calltool/

• Or you can call Congress for free from France at +33 7 555 3 6446 - this connects callers automatically to the US Capitol Switchboard, where you follow the prompts to be connected to your House Rep or Senators.

• IF LEAVING VOICEMAIL: Please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied.

Write Your Senators using Resistbot:

Resistbot is the fastest and easiest way to contact your representatives, get ready to vote, and be civically engaged. https://votesaveamerica.com/calltool/

You can access Resistbot from their website, on Facebook,  iMessage, or Telegram. To start, just text or message the word “resist” to Resistbot. Then type your message or the script above into your message.

Resistbot will turn your texts into a letter and deliver it to the elected officials you choose: from your mayor to the President. There are dozens of other keywords for contacting other officials, voting, finding vaccines, and much more.

Here is a quick video explanation of how to use Resist.bot https://youtu.be/4xGZQ3v9Y28

No matter how you do it, the most important thing is to contact your Senator and make “Good Trouble” and Save Our Democracy!

On the morning of May 30, 1921, a young black man named Dick Rowland was riding in the elevator in the Drexel Building at Third and Main with a white woman named Sarah Page. The details of what followed vary from person to person. Accounts of an incident circulated among the city’s white community during the day and became more exaggerated with each telling.

Tulsa police arrested Rowland the following day and began an investigation. An inflammatory report in the May 31 edition of the Tulsa Tribune spurred a confrontation between black and white-armed mobs around the courthouse where the sheriff and his men had barricaded the top floor to protect Rowland. Shots were fired and the outnumbered African Americans began retreating to the Greenwood District.

In the early morning hours of June 1, 1921, Greenwood was looted and burned by white rioters. Governor Robertson declared martial law, and National Guard troops arrived in Tulsa. Guardsmen assisted firemen in putting out fires, took African Americans out of the hands of vigilantes, and imprisoned all black Tulsans not already interned. Over 6,000 people were held at the Convention Hall and the Fairgrounds, some for as long as eight days.

Twenty-four hours after the violence erupted, it ceased. In the wake of the violence, 35 city blocks lay in charred ruins, more than 800 people were treated for injuries and contemporary reports of deaths began at 36. Historians now believe as many as 300 people may have died.

Watch our event commemorating the Tulsa Race Massacre.

Download the slides from the presentation

Listed below are some resources you can use to learn more about this tragedy and make sure nothing like this happens again.

2021 Global Annual Meeting

Democrats Abroad Global Meetings are only possible thanks to participant donations. Our meetings are not sponsored by donations from corporations, PACs, other organizations within the Democratic party, etc. Suggested Donation for participating in our 2021 virtual global meeting is only $46 USD.

Got extra cash from your travel savings by attending this year's meeting "virtually"? – Use some of those savings to add to your donation and Click on the box with the amount you wish to donate or enter a different amount under "Other $" –  and hit that donate button.

Thank YOU for your generous support!!!

Donations are made to Democrats Abroad (Democratic Party Committee Abroad) and not to any candidate for Federal Office.

Donations to Democrats Abroad are not tax-deductible.

National elections were held online during the 2021 DA Germany Annual General Meeting on March 20, 2021. 

2021-2023 Executive Committee

Chair: Kenton Barnes

Vice-Chair: Emily Lines

Secretary: Jennifer von Estorff

Treasurer: Powen Shiah

Chapter Development Coordinator: Matt LeMieux

Communications Coordinator: Kaitlyn Kennedy

Events & Fundraising Coord: Courtney Newman

GOTV Coordinator: Teresa Ritterhoff

Membership/IT Coordinator: Shari Temple

Press Coordinator: Anya Leonhard

DPCA Voting Reps Delegation:

Candice Kerestan

Shari Temple

Aileen Dinin

Anya Leonhard

Matt LeMieux

Powen Shiah

Quaide Williams

Antar Rashiq Keith

Vincienzo Cabrera

Robert Scott

Angela Fobbs

Diego Rivas

Pat Klipp

I live in Germany, but I spent most of my life in the country of my birth, the United States of America. In Germany, I have equal rights, and it has improved the quality of my life. It's taken too long for women in America to have equal rights, and it's unfair. When I was a girl, people told me I could be anything I wanted, but it's not true.

Employers can pay women less than men for the same job. The first time I realized I wasn't getting paid as much as a recently hired man, I immediately went to my boss. My boss told me the man had a family and need to make more. My family's needs were the same as his family's. Why is this okay? It is acceptable because women don't have equal rights under the Constitution, so we don't have equal protection under the law. Having women in Congress, as the Vice-President, and in other positions of "power" is a hollow victory if the average woman faces legal discrimination in so many areas of her life.

My mother, my sisters, and I have been waiting all our lives for equality under the law. There is no reason for us to keep us waiting. Equality must be enshrined in our Constitution.

Eighty-four percent of countries, including Afghanistan, Japan, and Tunisia, explicitly guarantee equality in their Constitution. It's about time American women also have equal rights.

Angela Fobbs, Florida voter, living in Germany

Global Black Caucus For The Win

Help Democrats Abroad Global Black Caucus fight for our democracy in 2021 and beyond.

Donations of any size will help us "Get Out the Vote" and support the Biden/Harris Administration in the mid-term elections.

#BlackLivesMatter

Donations are to Democrats Abroad (Democratic Party Committee Abroad) and not to any candidate for Federal Office.