/lit/ - Literature

STATEMENT FROM JOSH ANDROSKY
I’d like to apologize. I caused people pain and suffering, and for that I am truly sorry. Regardless of any intentions, my actions minimized the pain and suffering of victims of sexual assault, and that is unacceptable.

We’re in a unique position in the DSA, both existing within the parameters of the normal two-party political discourse, and organizing centers of power outside of it. Similarly, I am straddling two different worlds, that of comedy and political leadership. Throughout my comedy career, I’ve made my fair share of stupid jokes and dumb mistakes, and am used to being the only person on the hook for it. When I’ve fucked up in the past, I’ve always been able to learn from it and move forward with an eye towards being a better and more aware comedian. In navigating my relatively-new position as elected leader of a political organization, I didn’t think about the effect my mistakes as a comedian could have on our organizing work, and as a leader I should be held more accountable than a rank-and-file member.

DSA-LA has nine people on our Steering Committee, and together my comrades do incredible work. Though not unaware of the pain and hurt caused to others, I don’t want my actions to contribute to the complete erasure of them and all of their heroic efforts in shepherding DSA-LA from an organization with 15 active people to one with closer to 1500. Over the past months, I’ve watched in awe as Anne, Francisco, Graham, Jose, Kelsey, Leann, Tal, and Willie have created organizational processes and transformative policies out of whole cloth. The last thing I want to do is diminish their unceasing, inspiring labor, which has done so much to strengthen DSA-LA.

So as to not distract from the stellar work of my comrades and chapter, I will be voluntarily resigning from the DSA-LA Steering Committee effective immediately, and temporarily stepping back from all DSA work. Further, to commit to DSA’s principles of restorative justice, I’ll be voluntarily undergoing sensitivity / anti-oppression training offered by an external third party before I consider returning to DSA organizing. I will also be checking-in and publicly reporting on my experiences in an effort to rebuild trust and comradeship.

In solidarity,

Josh

www.dsa-la.org/statements_from_josh_androsky_and_the_dsa_la_steering_committee

>"Yeah we're not your typical socialists. We don't play by the rules, and we are NOT afraid to say 'FUCK Paul Ryan".

>"We are truly sorry for posing by the Bill Cosby star. It is deeply offensive to women and we will certainly be donating to a number of rape charities. Thank you for checking our privileges, comrades".