Author: Steering Committee of DSA San Diego

In October, San Diego Harassment Grievance Officers (HGOs) were notified by the Sacramento HGO of a potential harassment grievance against Ricky Marin, under Resolution 33. Three separate individuals eventually filed grievances against Ricky Marin. with the San Diego HGOs alleging verbal and physical abusive behavior, inappropriate sexualized comments, emotional manipulation, dishonesty, and intimidation. Due to strict confidentiality commitments made to the reporting parties and Ricky Marin, further details of the harassment will not be shared publicly, but the parties reported that the harassment occurred at various points between 2017 and 2021 and caused them harm which led to filing these grievances.

Based upon the evidence and testimony presented to the HGOs by the three reporting parties, Ricky Marin, and witness accounts as selected by each party, the San Diego DSA Leadership Council has determined that Ricky Marin engaged in harassment as defined by Resolution 33. The Leadership Council has therefore taken the following actions in regards to Ricky Marin.:

Lifetime ban on political endorsements from the DSA San Diego chapter
Lifetime ban on leadership roles within the DSA San Diego chapter
One year suspension from DSA

These actions have been taken with consideration to the safety of the filers, the integrity and reputation of DSA chapters in San Diego and Sacramento, and the ongoing efforts of DSA to keep its members free of harassment in a safe, inclusive environment to conduct whatever business they feel necessary at all DSA meetings, events, and activities. The Leadership Council believes these actions are appropriate given the seriousness of the harassment committed by Ricky Marin.

In order to promote the safety of our community and perform the hard work of unwinding colonization and patriarchy, DSA San Diego appoints two harassment grievance officers (HGOs) each year. This year, we also ask that our HGOs act to distinguish and advise on the resolution of intramember conflicts unrelated to identity.

If you are a member in good standing and willing to serve in this essential role, please email sandiegodsa@gmail.com no later than Wednesday, June 12 with a one-page statement on your qualifications and interest in the position. Please self-disclose any facets of your identity distinguishing you from the cishet male hegemony prevailing in our culture.

Members are invited to convene to select two new HGOs to serve one-year terms. A meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 19 at the Point Loma Library. To center marginalized voices, our HGO policy requires a majority of non-cis male/people of color to constitute the ad hoc selection committee. Femmes/members of color are encouraged to participate in this vital meeting. If the major portion of attendees are cis white men, those members will be asked to organize a smaller subset to continue with the meeting.

Due to the sensitive nature of this incident, We, the Steering Committee, felt it important to release a statement to our membership, for transparency, and accountability. We would like to alert those reading this document, and those linked therein, that they contain mentions of assault and abuse. We would also like to remind our membership that our Harassment Grievance Officers (HGOs) are available, should you need them; you may email them at sandiegohgo@gmail.com.

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DSA San Diego chapter members in good standing are encouraged to participate in a special meeting convened by the Socialist Feminist Working Group on Thursday, May 3 at 7:00 p.m. at the Brown Building (4133 Poplar Street). The meeting’s focus will be appointment of two Harassment Grievance Officers, key positions required by DSA national and defined by our imminent DSA San Diego Grievance Procedure.

Deciding votes will be cast by a majority woman-identifying/non-cisgender body, with representation by members of color and non-cisgender members mandatory for a quorum.

DSA San Diego is seeking two members in good standing to serve one-year terms as Harassment Grievance Officers (HGOs). HGOs will take responsibility for facilitating grievances filed by DSA San Diego members related to all forms of identity-based oppression perpetrated by fellow members, a process crafted with the intent of preserving our chapter as a safe, fair space modeling the world we’re trying to build through socialism. Further, HGOs will survey members and document their willingness to participate in ad hoc grievance proceedings.

Interested candidates are asked to notify the DSA Steering Committee at sandiegodsa@gmail.com and to participate in an appointment meeting convened by the Socialist Feminist Working Group at the Brown Building (4133 Poplar Street), May 3 at 7:00 p.m.