Do you believe in people power in Oakland?

This is what I often ask people on the street as I gather signatures.

Do you believe in people power?

standwithcatbrooksWhat is people power? For me, it means democracy: government of, by, and for we the people. (Indeed, from the Greek: demos = the people, kratia = power/rule.) The significance of people power here in Oakland is deeply enriched by our history of social justice and civil rights movements, for example the Black Panthers: All power to the people!

Today, in practical and immediate terms, people power means we the people have a direct say in how our government works, in particular by deciding where our tax money is spent. This is what the community budgeting initiative (aka democratic budgeting, aka people’s budget) is all about.

If we the people don’t control how our government spends our money, then we the people don’t control our government. Period.

Today in Oakland, in California, in the U.S., in the world, we are facing a fundamental choice: between government that respects and uplifts the people and government that ignores and represses the people.

This why we stand in solidarity with community leaders like Cat Brooks and Jahmese Myres: They and others are putting their comfort and their bodies on the line to stand up for our First Amendment rights, in the face of the at best misguided attempt to ban night-time protests.

Do you believe in people power?

The vast majority of people, when they stop to hear us, say yes. This is why we know the time has come to make democracy real.

Do you believe in people power?

Then join us!

Here is how you can help:

Thanks for your support and for all you do to make a better world =)

Shawn and the CDP Team

Categories: Blog

0 Comments

Leave a Reply

Avatar placeholder

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *