Inspired by Bernie, Organizers Fight on For ‘Real Democracy’ at People’s Convention in Philadelphia
Hundreds are expected to attend The People’s Convention this Saturday, July 23rd in Philadelphia. Just two days before the corporate-powered spectacle of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), organizers say they’re creating space for real, people-powered democracy. They’re also hosting Green party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein and former state senator Nina Turner, who will address the convention as Keynote speakers.
Participants will vote to ratify a People’s Platform, a document crowdsourced from over 800 people, that addresses issues including creating real democracy, racial justice, climate justice, economic justice and healthcare as a human right.
You can watch The People’s Convention live, starting at 10:30 AM on Saturday, July 23 at: https://thepeoplesrevolution.org
Bernie Sanders campaigners and delegates say they’re going to keep pushing for revolutionary change and are playing key roles in both organizing The People’s Convention and, hopefully, presenting the ratified People’s Platform at the DNC.
“The grassroots army that pushed Bernie to the top of the polls isn’t stopping now,” says Sharon Sanders, a pledged, voted Bernie Sanders delegate from Illinois’ 9th Congressional District. “We’re building on Bernie’s vision to send a strong message to politicians of both parties: you are accountable to the people!”
Sharon Sanders has endorsed The People’s Platform, expected to be ratified at The People’s Convention. “I would like to bring the platform ratified at The People’s Convention to the DNC but I’m not sure if it’s possible” now that Bernie Sanders does not plan to present a minority report. Still, she says she will try to make it happen.
The People’s Convention is about more than ratifying a platform. It’s also the first time many dedicated Bernie campaigners, who have mainly organized online or in their communities, will meet and network face-to-face. The event features a World Cafe, where facilitators will encourage folks from around the country to engage in conversation. Participants can also attend a series of workshops on topics ranging from establishing community organizations, building power in the environmental justice movement and working to get big money out of politics.
Some of the people planning to attend The People’s Convention had no interest in the 2016 presidential race until Bernie Sanders came on the candidate scene. Now, they’re ready to continue their revolution without him.
Nino Torres of West New York, New Jersey is a child of immigrants who attended John Hopkins University and graduated with a degree in Psychology. She is still struggling with her education debt, an issue high in the minds of many attending The People’s Convention.
Nino says she had no intention of voting in the 2016 elections. “I knew Hillary Clinton but I wasn’t excited by her and didn’t like that she’s pro-war. I wasn’t informed and had no passion to learn more.” When Nino’s friends and Facebook wall started buzzing about Bernie, Nino says she became increasingly interested and looked for ways to join the movement. Now, she says, “I’m helping out with this revolution. I’m involved.”
During the primaries, Nino and her husband offered up their home on Bernie B&B to Bernie supporters who wanted to aid the campaign’s efforts in New Jersey. Her small apartment was transformed into a staging ground for Bernie campaigners, filled with volunteers, signs and pamphlets.
“At some point I decided I had to be at the Democratic National Convention,” Nino says. She searched the internet and learned about The People’s Convention, then joined a national conference call led by organizers of the event. The call brought together people who would be in Philadelphia during the DNC who were “committed to the revolution,” says Nino.
Nino is coordinating volunteer operations for The People’s Convention. It’s a big job: “There are an astonishing amount of volunteers” for The People’s Convention, says Nino. “Over 300 people have signed up to volunteer” and there are at least 50 core organizers working day and night to make the event a success.
Like Nino, Anoa Changa didn’t plan to vote in 2016, let alone campaign for a candidate. Anoa was raised in New York and Chicago and now lives in Atlanta.
Anoa became active in 2014 when a chemical spill in Charleston, West Virginia directly affected her. “We didn’t have clean water for days,” says Anoa. The spill wasn’t being covered by the media, so Anoa started blogging and going to community meetings.
Despite her community activism, this year, Anoa told her father she didn’t plan on voting because she could not support Hillary and would not vote for a Republican. Her dad has been a Bernie supporter for years and encouraged Anoa to check out his campaign.
Anoa joined the Women for Bernie group on Facebook. The group needed volunteers to admin the page. Anoa took on that role, eventually becoming a research team and state admin coordinator for 48 states. Anoa has also worked with African Americans for Bernie, volunteering to help with media interviews, outreach and messaging, and blog articles.
Anoa Changa says she is attending The People’s Convention because “Government accountability is important to me.” Anoa is attending to take part in “what I think is the most valuable thing to be in, a democratic space with people working on the same issues.”
The massive grassroots campaign for Bernie Sanders “built these online communities but we have not been in the same room,” says Anoa. That momentum will be harnessed at The People’s Convention, where “we will produce an actual template of action items and steps that will move us into the future.”
“The People’s Convention is an opportunity to define what happens next,” says Anoa. “How do we engage and hold people accountable? People feel emboldened through this process and empowered to take charge of the process themselves.”
Learn more about The People’s Convention on their website and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
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May 8, In These Times: The Political Revolution Will Continue Long After Bernie Sanders’ Campaign. Here’s How.
