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Democratic Party, Others Endorse Rebecca Kaplan for Alameda County Board of Supervisors Seat

Obtaining the endorsement of the Alameda County Democratic Party in this race was a major accomplishment for Rebecca Kaplan’s campaign, as all four candidates running were included for consideration and presented at the Democratic Party’s forum and to receive the endorsement, candidates must obtain over 60% of the vote.

Published

2 years ago

April 21, 2022

Oakland Post

Rebecca Kaplan has worked closely with IAFF Local 55 on a variety of important issues such as wildfire prevention, implementation of the MACRO program in Oakland, halting the fire station closures, and responding in a timely manner to medical calls.

Rebecca Kaplan’s campaign announced that she had received the endorsements of the Alameda County Democratic Party, former California state Assemblyman Sandre Swanson and local firefighters unions in her bid for election to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.

Obtaining the endorsement of the Alameda County Democratic Party in this race was a major accomplishment for Kaplan, as all four candidates running were included for consideration and presented at the Democratic Party’s forum and to receive the endorsement, candidates must obtain over 60% of the vote.

Swanson praised Kaplan for her decades of service and her accomplishments.

“I have worked with Rebecca for over two decades, and experienced her thoughtful and effective leadership,” Swanson said. “Together we have worked for social justice, against human traffickers of our children, for racial equity in economic opportunity, LGBTQ+ rights, for quality jobs and affordable housing for our community, and to prevent closures of our public schools. I look forward to continuing our work together with Rebecca Kaplan on the Board of Supervisors, and I enthusiastically endorse her election.”

Rebecca Kapland, left, with former State Assemblyman Sandre Swanson. Photo courtesy of Kaplan’s campaign.

The two firefighters’ unions supporting Kaplan are IAFF Local 55, which includes Oakland and Alameda County Firefighters and IAFF Local 689 in Alameda.

Kaplan has worked closely with IAFF Local 55 on a variety of important issues such as wildfire prevention, implementation of the MACRO program in Oakland, halting the fire station closures, and responding in a timely manner to medical calls.

“Rebecca has been a tireless advocate for the Fire Service and for the rights of the working people who undertake these dangerous jobs. We look forward to working with her on the Board of Supervisors,” said Zac Unger, president of the Oakland Firefighters Local 55.

Kaplan was grateful for the endorsements.

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of our firefighters,” Kaplan said of the April 8 announcement. “Our first responders provide vital services protecting the health and safety of the public. I look forward to continuing our work together on public safety, wildfire prevention, and other important issues affecting our community on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.”

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Alameda County Democratic Party and from Sandre Swanson,” Kaplan said on April 12. “I look forward to continuing to work together toward solutions to the urgent and important issues affecting our community on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.”

For more endorsement information please visit: https://www.supervisorkaplan.org/endorsements

This announcement is courtesy of Julie Wedge, campaign manager – Rebecca Kaplan for Supervisor 2022.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

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6 days ago

April 26, 2024

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Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

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2 weeks ago

April 19, 2024

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Oakland Schools Honor Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties

Every Jan. 30, OUSD commemorates the legacy of Fred Korematsu, an Oakland native, a Castlemont High School graduate, and a national symbol of resistance, resilience, and justice. His defiant stand against racial injustice and his unwavering commitment to civil rights continue to inspire the local community and the nation. Tuesday was “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in the state of California and a growing number of states across the country.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

Fred Korematsu. Courtesy of OUSD.

By Post Staff

Every Jan. 30, OUSD commemorates the legacy of Fred Korematsu, an Oakland native, a Castlemont High School graduate, and a national symbol of resistance, resilience, and justice.

His defiant stand against racial injustice and his unwavering commitment to civil rights continue to inspire the local community and the nation. Tuesday was “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in the state of California and a growing number of states across the country.
One OUSD school is named in his honor: Fred T. Korematsu Discovery Academy (KDA) elementary in East Oakland.

Several years ago, founding KDA Principal Charles Wilson, in a video interview with anti-hate organization “Not In Our Town,” said, “We chose the name Fred Korematsu because we really felt like the attributes that he showed in his work are things that the children need to learn … that common people can stand up and make differences in a large number of people’s lives.”

Fred Korematsu was born in Oakland on Jan. 30, 1919. His parents ran a floral nursery business, and his upbringing in Oakland shaped his worldview. His belief in the importance of standing up for your rights and the rights of others, regardless of race or background, was the foundation for his activism against racial prejudice and for the rights of Japanese Americans during World War II.

At the start of the war, Korematsu was turned away from enlisting in the National Guard and the Coast Guard because of his race. He trained as a welder, working at the docks in Oakland, but was fired after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Fear and prejudice led to federal Executive Order 9066, which forced more than 120,000 Japanese Americans out of their homes and neighborhoods and into remote internment camps.

The 23-year-old Korematsu resisted the order. He underwent cosmetic surgery and assumed a false identity, choosing freedom over unjust imprisonment. His later arrest and conviction sparked a legal battle that would challenge the foundation of civil liberties in America.

Korematsu’s fight culminated in the Supreme Court’s initial ruling against him in 1944. He spent years in a Utah internment camp with his family, followed by time living in Salt Lake City where he was dogged by racism.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford overturned Executive Order 9066. Seven years later, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco vacated Korematsu’s conviction. He said in court, “I would like to see the government admit that they were wrong and do something about it so this will never happen again to any American citizen of any race, creed, or color.”

Korematsu’s dedication and determination established him as a national icon of civil rights and social justice. He advocated for justice with Rosa Parks. In 1998, President Bill Clinton gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom saying, “In the long history of our country’s constant search for justice, some names of ordinary citizens stand for millions of souls … To that distinguished list, today we add the name of Fred Korematsu.”

After Sept. 11, 2001, Korematsu spoke out against hatred and discrimination, saying what happened to Japanese Americans should not happen to people of Middle Eastern descent.
Korematsu’s roots in Oakland and his education in OUSD are a source of great pride for the city, according to the school district. His most famous quote, which is on the Korematsu elementary school mural, is as relevant now as ever, “If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don’t be afraid to speak up.”