NY-8 Revival Petition (Chi Ossé Branch Forums)
Standing Members of NYC DSA
https://www.geesemag.com/articles/dsa-should-re-open-the-vote-to-endorse-chi-osse
Last month, our movement stepped back. When Chi Ossé, a DSA member and City Councilmember, launched a primary challenge to Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House Minority Leader, our organization declined to endorse him. The reason given was deference to the political calculations of a single elected official.
This was a mistake.
Hakeem Jeffries is not just another incumbent. He is the embodiment of a Democratic leadership that asks us to be silent while Trump and the GOP run rampant. His strategy of "silent defiance" in the face of fascism is an insult to the working class. If we are serious about building a socialist alternative, we cannot outsource our strategy to the very establishment we were built to fight.
Chi Ossé is a DSA member willing to take on that establishment. A primary challenge against Jefferies is about not just about one seat, but sending a message that the era of donor-aligned, do-nothing incrementalism is over.
The DSA was not built to be a support group for elected officials. It was built to contest power. By refusing to endorse in this race, we are signaling that our ambitions shrink when they become inconvenient for those at the top.
We are calling on the DSA to reopen the vote and endorse Chi Ossé for Congress.
Sign now to demand our organization act like the fighting force it claims to be. Let’s prove that we are still willing to take on the powerful, even when it’s hard.
Petition by
To:
Standing Members of NYC DSA
From:
[Your Name]
Thank you for stepping up.
By signing this petition, you’ve made it clear that you believe the DSA should be a force for confrontation, not accommodation. You’ve rejected the idea that our strategy should be dictated by the preservation of access for a few, and you’ve stood with the principle that we must be willing to challenge the leadership of the Democratic Party directly.
Your signature matters. It tells the organization that there is a base of members who refuse to let our ambitions shrink. It puts pressure on decision-makers to remember why they joined this movement in the first place.
Here’s how you can help take the next step:
Share the petition with your local chapter or DSA comrades. We need to show this isn't just a few voices—it's a substantial current within the organization.
Get involved If you’re in New York, find out how you can support the ground campaign for Chi Ossé directly. A strong challenge needs people on the streets, not just names on a screen.
We built this organization to wield power, not just get close to it. Let’s get back to work.