Barbara Lee

Rep. Barbara Lee Reflects on Pres. Biden’s First 100 Days in Office

Lee noted that Black and Brown folks are dealing with what Carey calls “vaccine wisdom” in light of medical experiments in Tuskegee and others.

Published

3 years ago

April 29, 2021

Mia Lane

Dr. Donna Carey

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden addressed a joint session of Congress for the first time and said: “Madam Speaker, Madam Vice President. No president has ever said those words from this podium . . . and it’s about time.”

Biden, on his 99th day in office, noted the historic moment by acknowledging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (representing San Francisco in California’s 12th District) and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Prior to Biden’s speech, the Post spoke with Congresswoman Barbara Lee (representing the 13th District (Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Piedmont, and San Leandro) of California.

Lee was in person during the speech and virtually welcomed her guest, Dr. Donna Carey of Alameda Alliance for Health and first lady of True Vine Ministries.

Carey through her work has been responsible for vaccinating 7,000 folks to date in Oakland.

Lee noted that Black and Brown folks are dealing with what Carey calls “vaccine wisdom” in light of medical experiments in Tuskegee and others.

Lee praised Governor Gavin Newsom and the collaboration between the federal, state, and county government entities to allow the federal funds to flow and provide COVID-19 vaccines for Carey and others to save lives.

After Biden’s address, Lee issued the following statement:

“. . . President Biden laid out his vision for our future that builds back bolder after some of the most challenging years in our history. The multitude of crises facing our country—from racial injustice, to police brutality, to the climate crisis– require bold action, and President Biden is seizing the moment.

“It gave me great pride to watch two women and daughters of the Bay Area, Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, seated behind the president on the dais. It was reflective of the price so many people, so many women especially, paid to get to this point. While this was a historic moment, as Vice President Harris pointed out, it is past time that it becomes ‘normal.’

“President Biden unequivocally condemned white supremacy and reaffirmed his commitment to fighting poverty, advancing racial equity, crushing this virus around the globe, and restoring faith and trust in our government. I remain committed to being a partner in Congress on his policy prescriptions for police reform, immigration, gun safety, tackling climate change, and his ongoing work to get the pandemic under control and put Americans back to work.”

“President Biden also made clear that he understands the need to end ‘forever wars’ and withdraw from Afghanistan. It’s time to reallocate our investment from weapons of war to human need. He also unveiled the American Families Plan, a sorely needed, once-in-a-generation investment in the foundations of middle-class prosperity: education, health care, and childcare.

“President Biden’s first 100 days are marked by a stronger economy, more resilient pandemic response, and a unified mission of building back better and bolder. I will continue working in Congress to fulfill the promise of a government ‘by the people and for the people.’”

Biden encouraged all Americans to get vaccinated.

Everyone 16 years and older is eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine now. True Vine Ministries will be hosting a clinic for the Pfizer vaccine on May 1, 2021.

Preference will be given to residents in zip codes 94607, 94608, 94609, 94601, 94606 & 94621.

Call (510) 208-4573 to schedule an appointment. True Vine Ministries is located at 896 Newton Carey Jr. Way (formerly known as Isabella Street).

Mia Lane

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Barbara Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Deaths of Humanitarian Aid Volunteers in Gaza 

On April 2, a day after an Israeli airstrike erroneously killed seven employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian organization delivering aid in the Gaza Strip, a statement was release by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12). “This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

Published

1 week ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

By California Black Media

“This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

The same day, it was confirmed by the organization that the humanitarian aid volunteers were killed in a strike carried out by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Prior to the incident, members of the team had been travelling in two armored vehicles marked with the WCF logo and they had been coordinating their movements with the IDF. The group had successfully delivered 10 tons of humanitarian food in a deconflicted zone when its convoy was struck.

“This is not only an attack against WCK. This is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the direst situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” said Erin Gore, chief executive officer of World Central Kitchen.

The seven victims included a U.S. citizen as well as others from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Palestine.

Lee has been a vocal advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and has supported actions by President Joe Biden to airdrop humanitarian aid in the area.

“Far too many civilians have lost their lives as a result of Benjamin Netanyahu’s reprehensible military offensive. The U.S. must join with our allies and demand an immediate, permanent ceasefire – it’s long overdue,” Lee said.

Oakland Post

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Rep. Barbara Lee, CBC Members, Raise Concerns Over Layoffs of Black Tech Workersi2s

In 2015, the CBC launched Tech 2020 to ensure that Black Americans would be better represented in the industry by 2020. However, Lee says those tech companies that pledged to be more inclusive are falling short of their promise.

Published

4 months ago

December 26, 2023

Oakland Post

Rep. Barbara Lee

By Post Staff

Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee and several other Congressional Black Caucus members have written a letter to Julie Su, the acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, addressing the disproportionate layoffs of Black tech employees.

“We write to express our concerns with recent reports highlighting the impacts of widespread layoffs within the tech industry and its disproportionate impacts on the African American community and women,” the letter stated.

“Tech companies who previously agreed to address bias and discrimination and create greater opportunities in the workforce are now quietly defunding diversity pledges,” the letter continued.

Lee told the Grio, “We’ve been fighting for justice and for economic parity and security as part of the mission of the CBC,” she said, “and so when we established Tech 2020, it was about equity and inclusion.”

“Now with all the Supreme Court decisions and with all of the backsliding, especially by Republicans, it’s very important that we be very assertive in our fight for equity and justice within the private sector and public sector,” she said.

According to the letter, since the beginning of 2023, more than 240,000 tech workers have been laid off, more than 50% increase from 2022.

Lee found that minorities and women make up most of the tech layoffs that have occurred this year.

“If you don’t have African Americans developing content,” Lee said, “then we’re going to have Black people, Brown people [and] women disproportionately impacted.”

“This country is supposed to be a representative democracy where you include people, and you don’t discriminate against them,” she added. “When you see the disproportionate numbers of people being laid off, then that is a red flag that it could be discrimination occurring against these workers and employees.”

Oakland Post

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Congresswoman Lee Releases Statement on Vandalism of Lake Merritt Menorah

Published

4 months ago

December 15, 2023

Oakland Post

Chabad of Oakland’s menorah at Lake Merritt on Dec. 10, before it was vandalized (right) and graffiti left where the menorah stood before it was pulled down. (Photos/Courtesy Chabad of Oakland)

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) released the following statement on the destruction of the large Menorah on display at Lake Merritt in Oakland:

“I’m deeply saddened and disheartened that the Lake Merritt Menorah was destroyed earlier this week. My heart and prayers go out to the Jewish community in Oakland, and I strongly condemn this vile act of antisemitism.”

“Oaklanders salvaged the menorah and gathered together (Wednesday evening) to celebrate its re-lighting, spreading love and support in the way only Oakland does. I’m proud of my constituents. We will not let hate win.”