Progressive Democrats of America National Strategy Day

Progressive Democrats of America National Strategy Day
By Mike Hersh, Sep 28, 2005

In the wake of the march that seized the streets of our Nation's Capitol Saturday the 24th, Progressive Democrats of America activated and trained hundreds of members and guests at a National Strategy Conference Sunday September 25th. We began with an Interfaith Service led by Dr. James A. Nelson, Rev. Gerry Straatemeier, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Rabbi Michael Lerner, and Nicoli Bailey. Participants enjoyed a Continental Breakfast Honoring PDA's Grassroots Leadership hosted by Mimi Kennedy, Star of Dharma and Greg and the Chair of PDA's Board.

Cindy Sheehan electrified us with her demands for peace and report of her discussions with top Democrats demanding they start leading the U.S. out of Iraq. Incredible speakers followed, including key members of the House Progressive Caucus, Tim Carpenter, Executive Director of PDA, Rev. Yearwood, Founder of the Hip Hop Caucus, PDA Board Member and best-selling author William Rivers Pitt, Medea Benjamin of Code Pink and Global Exchange, and Jeff Cohen, Founder of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR). Then we broke into regional and state caucuses to prepare for our lobbying day and plan our ongoing organization.

Mimi Kennedy moderated a panel on Chapter Development, Alliance Building, Precinct Development, Networking our Chapters, Campus Mobilization, Birthing a State Caucus, and Grassroots Support of PDA through our Sustainer Program featuring Sherry Bohlen, PDA Field Director, Mervis Reissigm, Laura Bonham, Daniel Lewkowicz, Gerry Straatemeier, Patrick Carano, Marcy Winograd, and yours truly.

We worked right through lunch with a tremendous panel on Building the Progressive Wing of the Democratic Party, the PDA Electoral Blueprint for the Upcoming 2006 Elections Moderated by Joel Segal, Vice Chair of the PDA Board and Senior Legislative Assistant to Rep John Conyers (D-MI). Panelists included Steve Cobble, Senior PDA Political Advisor, Kevin Spidel, the PDA Political Director, Bill Goold, Executive Director of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Greg Moore Executive Director of the NAACP National Voter Fund, former Chief of Staff for Rep. Conyers and former Deputy Political Director for the DNC. Jay Winter Nightwolf, a Native American progressive heard Sundays, 8 PM ET on DC Progressive Radio Pacifica WPFW 89.3 FM.

After informative, important workshops, Bruce Taub PDA Peace Taskforce Leader, Acie L. Byrd: Vice President, Veterans Institute for Security and Democracy and I drafted - and the assembly passed - the following Resolution:

Progressive Democrats of America, meeting in Washington, D.C. on September 25, 2005, at our National Strategy Day conclave, in solidarity with evacuees and residents of New Orleans and the Gulf states, particularly the poor, African American, and Native American communities of that city and region, do hereby resolve that:

Reconstruction of the areas effected by Hurricane Katrina shall be complete and must include respect for the culture and heritage of the city of New Orleans and of the region.
The evacuees must have meaningful, complete, and respected participation in the planning, execution, and decision making regarding reconstruction of the city of New Orleans and of the region.
The Reconstruction shall uphold, respect, and follow current labor and other laws, specifically the Davis Bacon Act, affirmative action laws, civil rights laws, environmental regulations and laws, fair employment and houisng laws, and act in all ways in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act.
All evacuees must retain the right to full voting participation in the areas affected.

Our conference reached a rousing climax as Constitutional Lawyer John Bonifaz and Tim Carpenter energized the assembled activists with a ringing indictment of the Bush Administration and a call to action. This set the stage for the next day when PDA, United for Peace and Justice, and a host of progressive allies unleashed a battalion of citizen lobbyists upon the halls of Congress.

We met with Senators, Congress People and staff demanding total, rapid withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq. We had the support of hundreds of thousands of protesters - many of whom gathered for civil disobedience at the White House led by Cindy Sheehan, Code Pink, and the emerging "Religious Left." More on that next article.

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