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In March, after millions of people across the country began losing their jobs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemics, the federal government stepped in with a critical lifeline that we knew then was inadequate—unemployed workers would receive an additional $600 per week in extra unemployment benefits. Now, while the pandemic continues to rage on and with more than more than 30 million unemployed workers and their families lives on the line, President Trump and Senate Majority Leader McConnell are pushing to cut that money off tomorrow. They want to force workers back to work before it is safe by taking away their benefits.
The Center for Popular Democracy’s (CPD) Unemployed Action campaign is helping unemployed workers fight back against these proposed cuts. We’re demanding immediate relief, good jobs, and to fix a fundamentally broken and rigged economy that works for all of us, not just the super-rich and corporations. Together with more than 12,000 unemployed workers in our Facebook group and CPD affiliates from across our network, we have organized dozens of virtual town halls with elected officials to sound the alarm on this impending disaster, helped thousands of workers call their congressional representatives, and amplified the testimony of people who will be pushed into poverty if Congress cuts off this critical lifeline.
For millions of families across the country, $600 per week will make a world of difference to whether they are able to cover rent, pay utility bills, see a doctor when they’re sick, or put food on the table. Failure to extend unemployment benefits would also widen our country’s racial wealth gap: Black and Brown workers are more likely than white workers to face unemployment and have fewer savings. Join the workers of Unemployed Action’s calls to extend this $600 life preserver by calling your Senator today.
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Across the country, local governments are beginning to reimagine and redefine what public safety looks like in our society. Through Local Progress—a CPD project and movement of local elected officials advancing a racial and economic justice agenda through all levels of local government—our team is working directly with local elected officials. In the last month, the Baltimore City Council approved $22.4 million in cuts to the police department budget, the Portland City Council is on track to shift $4.8 million from police to a new community-based street response program, and the Denver School Board and the Minneapolis School Board voted to end their contract with their local police departments. All the while, CPD affiliates are creating the conditions necessary for winning change by catalyzing people into direct action to defund police, remove police from our schools and invest in communities.
And when the Movement for Black Lives put out a call ahead of Juneteenth to honor Black freedom and resistance by taking to the streets, CPD affiliates and staff joined millions of people around the country for a weekend of action in defense of Black life. Nearly half of CPD’s staff stepped into key roles to support these efforts, from designing turn out scripts, sending thousands of turn out texts, creating popular education learning communities, moving grants to Black-led affiliates on the frontlines around the country, and getting our message out via the media, to coordinating direct actions. And from North Carolina to Arkansas, Maine to Nevada, 34 CPD Network affiliates led beautiful and powerful actions with calls to defund police, invest in black communities, and for Trump to resign.
Action NC Action NC participated in the Juneteenth Youth Experience with other local Charlotte organizations. They highlighted investing in Black youth, including free food, live music and performances. Action NC also held a Juneteenth virtual event to discuss Black history and highlight the importance of this moment in history.
Action Now Institute Action Now occupied the corner of 63rd & Halsted “Englewood” and worked to uplift their Black community. They called for all elected officials to work on their behalf. They fed the community, gave away care packages, drummed in the spirit of ancestors and called for the mayor to put Black people first.
Arkansas Community Organizations (ACO) ACO and other organizations in Little Rock marched from MacArthur Park, where the city had removed a confederate statue a day earlier, to the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center which includes a museum that celebrates the lives of Black people in Arkansas.
CASA CASA supported the Washington, D.C. action led by SPACES, they showed up in solidarity with the demands of M4BL. CASA PA also supported actions in York, PA and Baltimore, MD to defund the police and invest in community solutions.
Center for Coalfield Justice (CCJ) CCJ held a legislative town hall with participation from their state senator and three state house members. The young black leaders they have been supporting all asked them questions around criminal and racial justice. All of the legislators committed to taking action and CCJ’s new, young leaders are excited to push them to be accountable to those commitments. CCJ also supported them in organizing a BLM march and rally in Canonsburg, PA. There were about 350 people who attended. This is one of the largest actions in this town for at least a decade. The last action that weekend was a BLM picket in Waynesburg, PA where about 70 people showed up.
Center on Policy Initiatives Staff actively supported other actions locally and built support for their ongoing county-level budget work in California.
Churches United for Fair Housing (CUFFH) CUFFH Action played a role in supporting the Celebrating Black Life event on Juneteenth in NYC Foley Square. They had a youth organizer named Asaur Burke join then as the first speaker to talk about his experience with NYPD in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and also demanding to #DefundThePolice in front of Speaker Corey Johnson's residence. There was a mural painted to pay respect to the Black lives lost and a band to remind us that revolution is joyful.
Communities Creating Opportunity (CCO) The day after Juneteenth, CCO held a day of action in Kansas City to honor the holiday and to consider the ways in which society must be transformed. CCO wants to ensure that there will never again be a question of whether Black Lives Matter and that this fight for equality, dignity, and full freedom will finally be realized in Kansas City and throughout the nation.
Delaware Alliance for Community Advancement (DelACA) DelACA spent much of the Juneteenth week in negotiations to get charges dropped on protests from a couple of weeks prior and ultimately won. DelACA was then asked by the Attorney General to help train police on how to interact with protesters and started work with protesters to understand how to properly plan protests and civil disobedience. The organization also began working on a youth and adult re-education program to help build power in Black and Brown communities as well as poor white communities.
Detroit Action Detroit Action held a Juneteenth Tele-Town Hall with guest speakers and a dynamic presentation on the history of Juneteenth.
Flint Rising Flint Rising helped coordinate a socially-distant motorcade that stretched for more than a mile to uplift Juneteenth, demand reparations for water warriors, and call for investments in Black communities.
Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT) Since their establishment in 2018, LIT has been advocating tirelessly for the decriminalization of Black and Brown youth in Milwaukee Public Schools. LIT has mobilized hundreds of students to share their stories, take direct action and demand an investment into their success. On June 18th, LIT surpassed their previous biggest victory and succeeded in terminating all contracts between MPS and the Milwaukee Police Department.
Maine People's Alliance (MPA) MPA staff and volunteer leaders have worked to support the incredible organizing that has been happening across Maine, led largely by young Black Mainers, in response to George Floyd’s murder. In Lewiston, MPA organizer Mohamed Ali Ibrahim worked to provide support to Shukri Abdirahman, one of the organizers of a rally that drew nearly 1,000 people to the city. Local members and staff led a de-escalation team for the event. MPA Legislative Director Mohamed Nur joined a webinar for young Black leaders organized by Maine Youth Network to talk about opportunities for advancing racial justice priorities in the Maine legislature. MPA loaned staff to the national campaign working to organize coordinated events on Juneteenth. Additionally, MPA organizer Gen Lysen organized a Zoom training on direct action and de-escalation tactics that was attended by 40 people.
Make the Road Nevada (MRNV) Through unity and outreach with local partners, supporting Black-led actions, Juneteenth was not just a day, it was an action-filled week all leading up to a day filled with love and celebration! There were over 200 people at the Family BBQ on Juneteenth MRNV organized, and their staff played a critical role in pulling off the event, working behind the scenes to support the leadership of Black allies.
Make the Road New York (MRNY) MRNY participated in the Urban Youth Collaborative’s (UYC) virtual and in-person action on Juneteenth which centered policing issues. Members of their Youth Power project and the Parents in Action committee joined in to ask to defund NYPD.
Make the Road Pennsylvania (MRPA) MRPA led three actions during the week of Juneteenth. They led a protest and march on Juneteenth to #DefundThePolice in Philly. They also held two more actions over the weekend on Saturday demanding to defund the police and invest in Black communities.
Maryland Communities United The Baltimore Juneteenth Freedom Fest took place on Friday, June 19 starting with a march against police brutality from PennNorth (location in middle of Baltimore's 2015 uprising) and ending with a rally at Druid Hill Park, featuring youth poets, entertainers and speakers. The event was live streamed on Facebook and Instagram. Black-owned vendors joined us in Druid Hill Park, volunteers helped with the event and donated money for food, water and rental of a flatbed truck and sound equipment.
New Florida Majority (NFM) NFM collaborated with groups across the state to hold events all over Florida. Some of their events included a Defund the Police Juneteenth Rally in Fort Lauderdale, and a Melanin Mama’s Second Line March in Jacksonville to celebrate Black women, Black freedom, Black excellence and Black liberation.
New Virginia Majority (NVM) NVM participated in the "Speak Out in Defense of Black Lives" event in Virginia. This was a virtual rally held by organizations in Virginia which included music, calls to action, and personal stories and testimonies about what solidarity in Defense of Black Lives means at the moment.
New York Communities for Change (NYCC) NYCC supported many efforts on the week of Juneteenth. They marched to State Senator Todd Kaminsky’s office because he has taken over $100k from police unions and has been a barrier to passing criminal legal system reform. They also supported a Unity March and had members attend the Celebration of Black Life #DefundThePolice March in NYC.
Ohio Organizing Collaborative (OOC) OOC held a day of action on Juneteenth at the Cincinnati Police Departments’ shooting range. Community leaders led the crowd through protest and a mobile march where residents shared their stories and testimonies. Protestors then drove from the range to a nearby basketball court, where refreshments were served.
One Pennsylvania (OnePA) In the lead up to Juneteenth OnePA hosted popular education meetings with their members about the holiday and the demands. On June 20, One PA participated in the Say Her Name march in West Philadelphia to demand justice for Black women and femmes who are murdered and abused and walking through this world without the protections they deserve, specifically lifting up Remmie Fells, a Black Trans woman who was found murdered in Philly the week before. On Monday, June 22 One PA hosted a rally to demand #policefreeschools in Pittsburgh with about 275-300 folks in attendance.
Organization United for Respect (OUR) OUR amplified the M4BL demands on the social media platform, and organized to turn folks in their network out to actions within their cities across the country.
Organize Florida (OFL) The ENTIRE weekend was amazing with Juneteenth events for OFL. Throughout all our events and the state, we had thousands of folks show up (and show out). This was in deep collaboration with other groups as well.
Organizers in the Land of Enchantment (OLE) OLE worked with Building Power for Black NM and the All African Peoples’ Revolution Party to lift up the events they had planned. They also sent out an email blast with the demands and lifted up both the M4BL events and local events.
Our Future West Virginia (OFWV) Members of OFWV gathered in Charleston on Magic Island to celebrate their ancestors' liberation by calling for accountability and action from city leaders. Kanawha County youth spoke about Keep Us Safe (WV's 5-point plan) and to call for Mayor Goodwin's cooperation in the community's fight for true and complete liberation. OFWV also sent a group of organizers to the SPACES in Action DC protest to support and speak on the need for liberation.
Rights and Democracy 200 people marched through downtown Keene, NH to honor the history of Juneteenth. Organizers from Rights and Democracy have made several demands, including a call for Trump to resign, for the local government to divest from police departments, and to invest into social programs, housing, and education. The protest was described as peaceful and safe.
Safe Places for the Advancement of Community and Equity (SPACES) SPACES joined with other community based organizations to coordinate an action on the Trump Hotel. The action called for the Trump Hotel to pay for the MPD officers and sergeants guarding the building, as well as the use of police cars. An invoice was created and delivered to the hotel manager. The more than $4 million of taxpayer funds would be better used in community programs that benefit the low income families that live in the DC.
Step Up Louisiana Step Up Louisiana led "The Black Joy Experience" on Juneteenth by acknowledging the contributions of Black Americans to the social, economic, and political well being of the great state of Louisiana. They also held an event that weekend demanding to defund the police, invest in Black communities and demand the resignation of Donald Trump.
Sunflower Community Action Sunflower Community Action held a day of celebration in Kansas. In a joint action, Sunflower celebrated the history of Juneteenth while also celebrating the Supreme Court's most recent decision to uphold the DACA program.
Workers Defense Project/ Action Fund (WDP) The Workers Defense Project worked to support several actions on Juneteenth across the state of Texas. WDP supported actions led by local leaders on the ground (and online) in Austin, Houston, and Dallas.
Working Washington Working Washington supported and celebrated Juneteenth - they joined King County Equity Now Coalition to march in solidarity. This included a black graduation procession, a teach in, singers, dancers, performances and more.
In the last two months, we have seen historic movement towards police-free schools across the country. Minneapolis, Oakland, Denver, Seattle, Portland, Rochester, Milwaukee and other towns and cities around the country are on the path to ending policing in schools, and several CPD affiliates have been on the frontlines of the fight including Leaders Igniting Transformation in Milwaukee, WI, Urban Youth Collaborative in New York City, Latinos Unidos Siempre in Salem, Oregon, OnePennsylvania in Pittsburgh, PA, Make the Road Nevada in Las Vegas, and the Florida Student Power Network in Orange County, Florida.
At the same time, Trump and Betsy DeVos, the U.S. Secretary of Education, have been ramping up pressure in an attempt to force schools to open in the fall despite there being clear evidence that school districts are not adequately equipped to do so safely.
We are clear: for schools to safely reopen they must be police-free, adequately and equitably funded, and community centered. Below are snapshots of some of the incredible work being done across the CPD network, including a week of action for police-free schools last month. We are also gearing up for a national day of action on August 3rd, to demand nothing less than a safe return to schools. We hope all of you will join us in the fight for safe, equitable public education.
Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT) (Milwaukee, WI): On June 18th, Leaders Igniting Transformation in Milwaukee made history! The Milwaukee Public School Board unanimously passed a resolution which ends all contracts between the Milwaukee Police Department and Milwaukee Public Schools. It also ends any contracts to buy or maintain criminalizing equipment, including metal detectors. The Board’s vote is a victory by and for Black and Brown students. This resolution is the culmination of 2.5 years of work by LIT youth leaders to defund police at MPS. Congratulations, LIT!
Urban Youth Collaborative (UYC) (New York, NY): Young people with UYC waged a powerful battle in the largest school district in the country, which spends $451 million per year policing students. For weeks leading up to the city council’s vote on the budget they held actions including: a plane fly over with the banner #POLICEFREESCHOOLS NOW, twitter series explaining policing in NYC Schools, call ins to city council members, illuminated near the City Hall encampment (#OccupyCityHall), banner dropped “Police Free Schools” at the Department of Education, and more. New York City failed its young people and passed a budget that will continue the rampant policing of Black and Brown young people. But, UYC will continue the fight until all schools are police-free.
Latinos Unidos Siempre (LUS), Salem, OR: The Black and Brown young people with LUS have been fighting hard. A video surfaced of one of the school board members wearing a blackface mask during an official school board meeting, which LUS publicised to draw attention to the racist behaviour of its school board members. LUS’s fight got national attention in VICE, and the video went viral. At a school board hearing, LUS turned out dozens of young people and more than 100 people submitted testimony, overwhelming against police in schools. Unfortunately, the board voted to keep funding police for now, but with a commitment to make a final decision on the presence of police in schools before the end of August. The young people have drawn their line: “We have been asked what would make us feel safe returning to schools...Black & Brown young people will not feel safe returning to school with police in schools and a racist school board.” Support them by sharing this twitter thread calling out the racist actions of the school board and sign their petition. They are close to winning this fight!
OnePennsylvania (OnePA), Pittsburgh, PA: OnePA hosted an amazing rally with more than 300 community members dancing, chanting and singing in the rain. See coverage here, here, here. Their call for police-free schools is beginning to echo loudly in Pittsburgh. After the rally, 73 people testified at the school board meeting demanding police-free schools. There were so many testimonies, the board had to split their meeting into two days! They also launched a petition, which currently has about 2,000 signatures. Sign their petition to show your support! Over the next few weeks, OnePA will be keeping up the pressure to win this fight, including during a school board hearing this coming Monday.
Make the Road Nevada’s Youth Power Project (MRNV), Las Vegas, NV: MRNV launched their police-free schools campaign! They held a rally (video) and turned out with forced to the School Board meeting. Clark County School District Police Department costs the district nearly $18.5 Million each year with 161 sworn law enforcement officers and 41 civilian officers. Young people demand an immediate removal of police from schools and for the district to dissolve its police department. Support Black and Brown young people in Nevada by signing their petition (bit.ly/policefree-ccsd) as their fight continues.
Florida Student Power Network (FLSPN), Orange County, FL: On June 20th, Florida Student Power Network members young people, parents, & community members joined The People 4oh7 to shut down the i4 Millenia Mall for 8 minutes 46 seconds - commemorating the amount of time George Floyd's neck was knelt upon by the MPD. FLSPN attended the Orange County Public School Board virtual meeting and made public comments demanding an end to police in schools. They’re launching a petition soon to build towards their July school board meeting. Keep an eye out for more!
We know that Make the Road New Jersey, Detroit Action, Make the Road Pennsylvania, and other affiliates are in this movement for police-free schools. The fight towards police free-schools will need all of us—our young people’s safety and futures depend on it.
COVID-19 is poised to cause major disruptions to American elections in 2020. We need to be ready for an election, held during a pandemic, where social distancing and quarantine upend the current election administration assumptions and infrastructure. And, we must develop new strategies for voter registration, engagement and voter turnout. Ensuring that the 2020 election runs smoothly and safely in the context of COVID-19 will require adjusting, adapting and rethinking of our election infrastructure in every state.
It is imperative that we protect ballot access, and reduce registration and participation disparities faced by communities of color, new Americans, low-income people, young people and people with disabilities. That’s why, as the primary season winds down in August, CPD/A’s team is gearing up to support our affiliates’ election and voter protection work in seven key states that could make or break this election—Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, Arizona, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. CPD/A is working with affiliates to ensure that poor and working class Black and Brown communities are centered in both the response to the global pandemic, and in efforts to maximize access and participation in the election later this year.
We believe every state needs to do 3 things to start:
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Quickly assess their current infrastructure.
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Get input from impacted communities to inform any changes to their elections to ensure these policies will work for every voter.
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Prioritize the evidence-based changes to policy and practice that are urgently needed.
Read more about CPD’s fight for an inclusive democracy here.
Experts predicted the 2020 general election would shatter voter turnout records. Now, with COVID-19, it’s clear the U.S. electoral system is not prepared to support achieving that goal unless we make it easier and safer to vote. In response to this pressing need, CPD and Local Progress are equipping local elected officials and advocates with the knowledge they need to expand and safeguard voting rights in their jurisdictions.
Our new toolkit, Protecting Elections from the Ground Up: How Local Elected Leaders Can Make it Easier and Safer to Vote During COVID-19, highlights the power that local jurisdictions in expanding voting, especially for underrepresented groups. From expanding voter registration online, offering vote from home options, and incentivizing public employees and students to serve as poll workers on election day, there’s a whole lot our local representatives can do to make it easier and safer for everyone to vote.
While many people think of voting rights and election administration as an issue for federal, state and judicial actors, local officials are closest to the actual administration of elections, and in some cities, counties, and school districts wield significant powers when it comes to election policy decisions. The toolkit highlights proven ways that local elected officials have used their power to successfully make voting more accessible in several cities.
Essential to our vision of building a more dynamic and vibrant democracy, is making sure that all voters can cast their ballots safely. This is why we’ve shared these practical insights with local decision-makers and advocates who hold the power to help get us there. Click here to download and read the toolkit.
We may be staying at home, but this is no time to retreat. The COVID-19 crisis is devastating many of our communities, and at the same time presenting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fight for, and win, massive structural change.
Democracy isn’t a spectator sport—it’s about friends, families, and coworkers making progress together. Building the movement our communities need takes resources and a network of partners. That is why we have released a new peer-to-peer fundraising campaign to Power the Movement by giving you all the tools you need to build and sustain your own fundraising campaign!
If you believe that another world is possible—and necessary—help bring your family and friends into the movement by launching your own fundraising campaign. Together, we can take this moment and power a movement.
Click here to start your own campaign!
Live stream begins at 1PM, Tuesday April 14th 2020.
Please check back here or the Facebook event page.
https://www.facebook.com/events/671361576758232/
Last year, legendary singer, songwriter, and activist, Mr. Harry Belafonte, joined the Board of Directors of The Popular Democracy Movement Center, CPD’s groundbreaking retreat and strategy center in Ossining, New York. Mr. Belafonte announced that The Popular Democracy Movement Center will be the home for his Arts & Social Justice Initiative. In joining its Board of Directors, The Popular Democracy Movement Center refocused its mission as a place where activists, members from our communities, and artists, can gather to plan, reflect, and recharge for our continued fights. Mr. Belafonte stated, “ The Popular Democracy Movement Center will give leaders, from the artist to the activist community, the forum to discuss, debate, and come to concrete actions that will direct national mobilization efforts.”
In honor of this 93rd birthday, we’re joining Mr. Belafonte on March 1 at the Apollo Theatre in New York City to celebrate his life and legacy, and you’re invited! Proceeds will benefit The Popular Democracy Movement Center and various artists will come together to celebrate and perform including Aloe Blacc, Alice Smith, Talib Kweli, John Forté, Gael Faye, The Resistance Revival Chorus and more! You can purchase general admissions tickets by clicking here.
At the start of 2020, CPD affiliate West Virginia Healthy Kids & Families Coalition launched their new name, Our Future West Virginia (OFWV)! OFWV envisions a West Virginia where every child, youth and adult has the justice, dignity and equity needed to thrive. To work towards this vision, we must support West Virginians in tackling a variety of issues on both a local and state-wide level. OFWV is building a grassroots movement to to create and execute plans that address issues of housing, child care, public education, discrimination, voter engagement and 2020 Census participation.
Most recently, OFWV Northern Organizer, Amy Jo Hutschinson testified at a House Oversight Subcommittee hearing on poverty to speak about Trump's detrimental policies on children and families, reiterating her community’s support of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez's Recognizing Poverty Act. At the end of her testimony, Congressman Mark Meadows asked that Hutschinson return to the sub-committee with three recommendations on what they need from this policy. Amy Jo's video has over 1 million views and is viral on Reddit and Twitter.
Community leaders are coming forth in droves to address poverty in West Virginia. OSWV Housing Justice Organizer, Charkera Ervin, developed a nuisance ordinance toolkit in coalition with other state partners including the West Virginia Coalition to end Homelessness, West Virginia Coalition against Domestic Violence, ACLU and West Virginia’s Landlords Association. The toolkit guides and informs community leaders, renters, magistrates and landlords on how to combat these racist and classist ordinances as they permeate themselves into their local communities. Further, OSWV Eastern Organizer, Liira Raines, organized Morgantown's homeless population, folks in recovery, faith community, domestic violence survivors and city council to overturn the Morgantown nuisance ordinance viciously targeting their homeless and people with substance use disorder. Learn more and get involved with OSWV here.
On Wednesday, January 29, our sister organization CPD Action (CPDA) joined the Poor People's Campaign, Remove Trump, By the People, Demand Justice, and other allies in a mass demonstration in the Capitol demanding a fair trial in the impeachment of President Trump. Over 1,500 people participated in the action, shining a bright light on the corruption and cowardice of this administration and its enablers. The action was covered by The Hill, Common Dreams, and Public Citizen.
The day started with a training at the Episcopal Church, where CPDA Network President & Co-Executive Director Jennifer Epps-Addison led an impassioned discussion on the history and need for civil disobedience at these moments of crisis. Protesters then marched to the Capitol and flooded the atrium of the Hart Senate Office building, where they staged a silent protest to bare witness to the injustice of this sham trial. Afterwards, we marched to the steps of the Capitol, where Reverend William Barber spoke on the importance of this moment in history. Finally, a subset of our group took the steps of the Capitol beyond the police line and engaged in civil disobedience. In total, 44 people were arrested.
Just as the Kavanaugh protests galvanized the country and sparked people to take action, the energy coming from this moment is strengthening our movement to bring people to the ballot box to vote with their values this year. While the Senate ultimately dismissed the trial, the witnesses in the impeachment trial demonstrated the corruption of this administration to the rest of the world.
