Women Of Westby tabling at The Revolution Will Be Amplified. - Staff Writer / Lily Miller
On Friday, April 18, the Rowan chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America hosted an event in Robinson Circle from noon to 6:00 p.m. The event, complete with live music, catering, and various tables run by Rowan artists, political groups, and clubs, was intended to bring awareness to YDSA.
Amity Briggs, an upperclassman history ed major, is a member of Rowan YDSA and assisted in putting on “The Revolution Will Be Amplified.”
“It’s very much a collaborative effort. We put this on with the collaboration of everyone here. There are student artists, local bands. So, it really is just a community effort to put this on,” said Briggs.
According to Briggs, putting together a collaborative event such as this was no small feat.
“It’s a lot of work putting this on. We have a whole spreadsheet of a list of organizations both here in Rowan and Glassboro, and in the Glassboro area, so as far as Philly, that we send invites to to see if they’re interested in tabling,” said Briggs.
The event’s name, “The Revolution Will Be Amplified,” refers to YDSA’s goals, which for the day included highlighting art and artists as a political tool and spreading the political message of the DSA.
Ryan Clare and Casey Stefanski, co-chairs of the South Jersey Democratic Socialists of America, were tabling on Friday in tandem with the Rowan chapter of YDSA.
“We came out to support our youth division of DSA here in Rowan […] because they’re doing something really important, with putting on this music and arts festival, showing how political movements have been tied with the arts for all of history,” said Clare.
“A lot of people right now are feeling very disillusioned with our status quo, and don’t really know how to approach it; maybe even feel powerless in the grand scheme of what’s going on. We’re here to show people that there is a path to get organized and fight for better things in our community,” said Clare.
Many Rowan students and community members were checking in with Rowan YDSA, entering a raffle, and grabbing catering before heading over to the live music set up in the grassy outdoor amphitheater outside Wilson, or to the various tables in Robinson Circle.
These tables were run by groups including the Women of Westby, the Rowan Communists, and the Educators for Diversity and Social Equity.
“We wanted to join this event because their values align with ours with women’s liberation, intersectional feminism, and fundraising for good causes that help push progress forward instead of backwards,” said Leah Riley, a senior fine arts major and president of the Women of Westby.
The event also featured various tables dedicated to selling artwork or wearables. While not every vendor was there as an endorsement of YDSA, the Rowan Communists showed up with their materials for sale out of solidarity with YDSA.
People in attendance were there for the tables, food, and even live music.
Jillian To, a senior electrical and computer engineering major said, “I just came out here for good music.”
“I’ve been to one other Progressives meeting with my friend. I go out to support the community in a public way,” said To.
“The Revolution Will Be Amplified” was just one of the events that Rowan’s Young Democratic Socialists of America hosts. YDSA, as well as the other clubs represented at the event, meet and host activities regularly. To keep up with these events, you can search for them on ProfLink.
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