Few things capture the tension of anti-capitalist politics quite like charging admission to a party.
The Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America is hosting a Y2K-themed prom on Friday night, offering a nostalgic throwback to the era of low-rise denim, frosted gloss and early-2000s club anthems.
The event also has a clear goal: raising money for the chapter’s political work.
Set for Friday from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Friendship Auditorium in Los Feliz, the fundraiser is billed as a glitter-heavy night featuring 2000s R&B and pop-punk, a photo booth, DIY glitter tattoos and a prom king and queen ceremony.
Still, organizers are not leaving the politics in the background.
The promotional pitch gets straight to the point, asking: “Do you hate capitalism but love to dress up?”
For those who say yes, the next step is buying a ticket.
Admission is listed as pay-what-you-can, with community event pages suggesting a $15 starting tier and additional ticket levels climbing to $40 and higher.
The tickets are identical aside from the amount attendees choose to pay.
And the money goes toward the group’s political campaigns.
The organizers are also leaning heavily into the crowd’s shared political stances to draw people in.
In one promotional video, a voice asks: ‘Do you want to shake it like a Polaroid picture with your girls? But all your girls believe in a free Palestine? Come to prom.’
“Proceeds support our chapter’s work fighting ICE, protecting tenants and workers, electing socialists to office, and building a city that works for the people.”
The chapter is also keeping its costs down by relying on volunteers.
Members are handling organizing, coordination, decorations and bartending without pay. DJs and the event’s “celebrity chaperones” are being recruited internally or from allied local performers who will work for free or reduced community rates.
Members are also helping foot the bill for supplies such as the photo booth backdrop, glitter-tattoo stations and punch through small chapter allotments or out-of-pocket donations.
Even the venue helps keep expenses under control.
The prom is being held at Friendship Auditorium, a city-owned facility operated by the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.
Municipal facilities are significantly cheaper to rent than private Hollywood clubs, which can cost between $10,000 and $35,000.
The lower overhead means more of the money collected through the pay-what-you-can tickets can flow into DSA-LA’s political funds.
Those funds support causes including worker protections, tenant rights and efforts to elect socialist candidates.
The political connections run deep.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, who represents District 1, is an active DSA-LA member.
District 13 Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez previously served as an elected steering leader within the chapter.
DSA-LA is also backing Marissa Roy in her campaign for Los Angeles city attorney and plans to hold canvassing events for her the morning after the prom.
Other candidates tied to the chapter’s political efforts include democratic socialist Estuardo Mazariegos, who is running for City Council District 9, and community-backed District 11 candidate Faizah Malik.
Nithya Raman’s relationship with DSA-LA is described as more complicated, but she is a DSA member and is running for Los Angeles mayor against incumbent Karen Bass.
Organizers are pitching the night as a mashup of political activism and high-school nostalgia.
“Do you believe that the government should work for the people? And also miss the days of grinding with your crush at the school dance to Lil Jon? Come to prom.”
