Denver DSA is a local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, the largest socialist organization in the United States. We seek to build a mass movement and transfer power from the ruling elite to the working class, gaining democratic control over every part of our society.
We are a democratically run, volunteer organization led by members like you. While we endorse candidates and campaigns, we are not a formal political party.
What We Believe
We believe that our government and our workplaces should be run democratically by workers like us to meet the needs of our community, not to enrich billionaires, millionaires, and those who do their bidding.
We oppose all forms of oppression and believe everyone has a right to healthcare, housing, a living wage, and more. We know the rich and powerful manipulate politicians, the law, and the economy to their benefit, and that only an organized movement of millions of working class people can create a society that works for all of us. You can find our full political platform here.
What We Do
Why the Pika?
Pikas are small, furry mammals with round bodies, short legs, round ears, and no visible tails. They are native to the Rocky Mountains where they live at or above the timberline. Though they belong to the same order as rabbits and hares, adult pikas are no larger than a tennis ball. More often heard than seen, these tiny creatures emit a loud, sharp squeak that can be hard to locate. When danger is near, a pika will whistle to other pikas in the colony, then disappear to the safety of nearby rocks.
In the spring and summer months, pikas spend their days gathering flowers or grasses into “haypiles” which will sustain them during the cold harsh winter. They use both their furry bodies and the snow pack to insulate them from the brutal winds and cold. However, as the planet grows warmer, their habitats are disappearing. If the spring and summer temperatures climb above 75° F, Pikas will overheat and may die within hours. If the winter is too dry, there won’t be enough snow pack to shelter them. As the Earth warms, they are pushed to ever higher altitudes, but they will eventually run out of places to go.
Denver DSA adopted the Pika for its logo in 2016 because of its Rocky Mountain habitat and dependence on flowers for survival. Suffragette and labor reformer Helen Todd coined the phrase that James Oppenheim’s 1911 poem recorded, “Hearts starve as well as bodies: Give us Bread, but give us Roses.”