by On Monday, August 2, on the third day of the DSA National Convention, three of the candidates of the Renewal slate for the National Political Committee (NPC) were accused of undemocratic, bullying, and abusive behavior. All the allegations deserve a serious and thorough investigation, and all comrades who raised accusations absolutely deserve to be heard. Survivors have the right to speak up and to be heard. Those facing allegations also have the right to respond and the right to a democratic investigation. We appreciate the announcement of the outgoing NPC that they’re initiating an investigation into these allegations.
Given the way these revelations were brought to the convention, we can also understand those comrades who feel that the timing with which this was made public could point in the direction of a political instrumentalization of grievances. (Comrades currently raising allegations already knew about them months earlier. It was widely known for months beforehand that the three comrades accused were NPC candidates. Despite that, these allegations came to light in the middle of the convention.)
We are not currently in a position to know or judge what happened, and we say this with full respect to the comrades raising their voices to allege abuse. Given the timeline on which these allegations were brought forward – for whatever reasons (and we again want to refrain from judgement) – there is no way for a respectful, thorough, fair, and objective investigation (which the complainants, the respondents, and DSA as a whole all deserve) to be conducted and concluded before this convention is over.
We believe that these issues cannot and should not be dealt with via social media and would hope that comrades refrain from that. Despite the best intentions of comrade we fear that an atmosphere is developing on social media of an unconstructive dynamic of allegations and counter-allegations.
It’s understandable (and most of us have done it) to read the material that is now suddenly available, to try to figure out the truth, and to discuss these issues. However, let’s be aware that all of us are doing this in the middle of an intense convention, without the proper tools of a grievance process and without grievance officers talking to people personally, carefully, and respectfully. In this context and with these limitations, we have no realistic way to succeed in uncovering the truth, no matter how earnestly we may want to.
As a convention and as delegates, we believe that comrades have a duty to put this aside and not to succumb to the temptation to convict or acquit comrades in the court of public opinion, but to organize a proper investigation.
Before these allegations came to light, we had already not intended to vote for the comrades from the Renewal slate, simply because we don’t agree with the political positions they are currently running on. Nonetheless, we believe they have the democratic right to run for the NPC. DSA’s harassment and grievance officers can remove comrades from the NPC if that’s needed on the basis of their findings after a full investigation.
On Thursday, we therefore voted with the vast majority of the convention to restore comrades’ right to be candidates and overturn the outgoing NPC’s ruling otherwise.
