About Us

The Pittsburgh Democratic Socialists of America (PGHDSA) is a member chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. Pittsburgh DSA is a 501(c)(4) organization. We have over 1,000 members across our chapter's turf in Southwestern PA.

A member of Pittsburgh DSA is constituted as a member in good standing with the National DSA who lives within our chapter turf. To become a member, please register with National DSA.

What Do We Do?

Pittsburgh DSA is member-run and member-led. "What we do" is deliberated and voted on by our members using our chapter democracy. We are independent and member-funded by the thousands of dues-paying members across the United States, the only ones who can control our organization is ourselves!

Pittsburgh DSA's variety of work includes political education, electing socialists to office, mutual aid with our neighbors, organizing our coworkers and our neighbors into unions, and running strong campaigns against American imperialism. Much of this work is facilitated by our committees. Our chapter also decide its own priorities for organizing.

Our Purpose

Pittsburgh DSA seeks to facilitate the transition to a truly democratic and socialist society, one in which the means of production are democratically and socially controlled.

DSA rejects an economic order based solely on private profit, alienated labor, gross inequalities of wealth and power, discrimination based on race and sex, and brutality and violence in defense of the status quo.

DSA envisions a humane social order based on popular control of resources and production, economic planning, equitable distribution, gender and racial equality, and non-oppressive relationships.

Our conception of socialism is a profoundly democratic one. It is rooted in the belief that human beings should be free to develop to their fullest potential, that public policies should be determined not by wealth but by popular participation, and that individual liberties should be carefully safeguarded. It is committed to a freedom of speech that does not recoil from dissent, to a freedom to organize independent trade unions, women’s groups, political parties, and other formations—recognizing these as essential bulwarks against the dangers of an intrusive state. It is committed to a freedom of religion that acknowledges the rights of those for whom spiritual concerns are central.

We are socialists because we are developing a concrete strategy for achieving that vision. In the present, we are building a visible socialist presence within the broad democratic left. In the long run, we hope to build a majority movement capable of making democratic socialism a reality in the United States. Our strategy acknowledges the class structure of the U.S. society. This class structure means that there is a basic conflict of interest between those sectors with enormous economic power and the vast majority of the population.