Connect with us

Barbara Lee

The People, United, Will Never Be Divided

Published

on

Last week, the House passed the historic Dream and Promise Act to provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of Dreamers and other immigrants.

These young people were brought to the United States as children — for many, this country is the only home they’ve ever known. They’re our neighbors, our friends, our children’s classmates. They want and deserve a life as citizens of this great nation.

It’s easy to think of immigrants as just numbers, especially when Trump’s hateful rhetoric demonizes immigrants as a whole.

But immigrants are people with very real unique stories. I wanted to share this beautiful letter I received from a DACA recipient after the House passed the Dream Act:

The letter starts with, “The people united, will never be divided.”

That’s right. Together, our voices are more powerful than Trump’s xenophobic agenda determined to paralyze immigrants with his harsh policies and deportation force.

Together, our voices are more powerful than Trump’s henchmen, like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who has said the Senate won’t vote on this legislation.

Undocumented young people and their families are every bit American as Trump and McConnell. It’s time we say so on paper.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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

Barbara Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Reflects on Historic Moment Less Than One Week from Election Day

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) today released a piece on Medium reflecting on Vice President Kamala Harris’ historic presidential campaign 50 years after Lee worked on the presidential campaign of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm.

Published

on

Congresswoman Barbara Lee
Congresswoman Barbara Lee.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) today released a piece on Medium reflecting on Vice President Kamala Harris’ historic presidential campaign 50 years after Lee worked on the presidential campaign of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm: 

“As Election Day approaches, I’m reflecting on a few dates and numbers that mean something to me.

Zero: the number of Black members in Congress 56 years ago. Next Congress, we hope to swear in over 60 members in the Congressional Black Caucus. 

Three: The number of Black women to ever serve in the United States Senate since the first Congress in 1789.

Two: The number of Black women that will be elected to the Senate this year alone if we do our job.

1972: The first time a Black woman, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, ran for president in one of the major political parties of the United States.

Zero: the number of Black women to ever serve as president of the United States. 

IF we do the work, we can change that with President Kamala Harris.

As I reflect on what would be Congresswoman Chisholm’s 100th birthday next month, I could not help but remember that my first official involvement in U.S. politics was working for her presidential campaign in 1972.

Over 50 years later, I have been involved in every single campaign since. Shirley was my mentor — she was a bold visionary, a progressive woman who understood that working together in coalitions was the only way to make life better for everyone, to build an equitable society and democracy that lived up to the creed of “liberty and justice for all.”

The historic moment we are in today is not lost on me. I have had the privilege to have known Vice President Kamala Harris for over three decades. She, after all, is a daughter of the East Bay. She, like Shirley, truly is a fighter for the people.

And I know she can move our country forward in a new way. As a member of her National Advisory Board, I have campaigned across our country to help take her message, her legacy of service, and her “to-do list,” as she says, to voters who were almost starting to feel hopeless, but are now feeling hopeful once again, captured by the politics joy and the bright possibilities brought upon by a possible Harris-Walz administration.

Recently, I visited churches in North Carolina with members of the Congressional Black Caucus. The chair of our CBC political action committee, Chairman Gregory Meeks from New York’s fifth district, eloquently and powerfully presented a vision of what Dr. Maya Angelou wrote in her famous poem, “And Still I Rise:” “I am the dream and the hope of the slave.”

Meeks remarked that on Jan. 20, 2025, we will observe the birthday of our drum major for justice, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

He also described that on Jan. 20, IF we do the work — if we knock on doors, if we make those phone calls, if we spread our message — standing on the podium at the U.S. Capitol will be the first Black speaker of the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries.

In the wings will be over 60 members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Holding Frederick Douglass’ Bible will be the first African American woman appointed to the highest court of the land, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

She will be swearing-in the first Black woman to serve as president, Kamala Harris, in front of the shining white dome of the United States Capitol, built by enslaved Black people.

In front of her and beyond, the tens of millions of Black men and women who voted for her. The world will witness the hope and the dreams of our ancestors ushering in a new way forward.

As I sat in front of the stage this week at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., as Vice President Harris delivered remarks with the Oval Office behind her, I could not help but feel that our country was ready for this historic moment.

We are not only voting for a Black woman as Commander in Chief of the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world. We are definitively stating that we will not allow the clocks of freedom and justice to be turned back.

We are voting for our ancestors’ hopes and dreams. We are voting for the generations that will come after us, long after we are gone. We are voting for Vice President Kamala Harris.

Let’s get this done.

Continue Reading

Activism

Surge of Support for Vote ‘No’ on Recall of Mayor Sheng Thao

Prominent local political leaders have issued strong statements urging voters to oppose the recalls, including Rep. Barbara Lee, State Senator Nancy Skinner, Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, and Sandré R. Swanson, a former member of the California State Assembly (see their statements elsewhere in this issue of the newspaper).

Published

on

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao,
Mayor Sheng Thao spoke Sunday, Oct. 6 at a campaign rally to reject the billionaire-backed recall on the Nov. 5 ballot. Photo courtesy of Oaklanders Defending Democracy.

By Post Staff

Since its official launch on Sunday, Oct. 6, the campaign to reject the recall of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao has received a surge of support.  Many local organizations with deep roots in Oakland and very prominent elected officials are getting the word out, saying Oakland is not for sale.

Prominent local political leaders have issued strong statements urging voters to oppose the recalls, including Rep. Barbara Lee, State Senator Nancy Skinner, Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, and Sandré R. Swanson, a former member of the California State Assembly (see their statements elsewhere in this issue of the newspaper).

Oakland City Councilmember Carroll Fife also condemned the recalls. “The financial and morale cost of these recalls is more than our city can bear. In the face of a budget deficit, a $10-million-special election would be painful in more ways than one. Ten million (dollars) could go a long way to addressing some of the issues in Oakland people care about.”

Said William Fitzgerald, campaign spokesman of Oaklanders Defending Democracy, which opposes the mayor’s recall, “One rich guy in Piedmont thinks he could buy himself a mayor of Oakland. What we’re seeing this week is a tidal wave of support rejecting the premise that the ultra-wealthy can hijack the democratic process. The facts are clear: Mayor Sheng Thao has massively reduced crime in Oakland and is bringing business opportunities to the Town.”

Pastor Servant BK Woodson, a steering committee member of the “Respect Our Vote – No Recalls!” coalition, said, “It is entirely reasonable to fear the continuing accumulating of power into fewer and fewer hands. History is replete with examples of the despotism, destruction and harms that oligarchs, dictators and demigods bring into the lives of ordinary people.

“The privilege to struggle to make these United States of America a more perfect union has taken the form of this consequential election. In Alameda County we must reject the recalls and elect our forward-thinking and progressive candidates,” Pastor Woodson said.

Oakland Rising Action wrote on its website, “(The) recent recalls have been led by a small group of millionaires and conservatives, and their agenda is to undermine our democracy.”

The Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club wrote on its Facebook page, “Deny the Lies.”

“Crime increased during the pandemic, and Oakland and Alameda County were not spared. Both recalls have claimed otherwise and placed the blame on District Attorney Pamela Price and Mayor Sheng Thao, even while crime is on the decline,” the club wrote.

Other organizations opposing the recall of Thao include the Alameda County Democratic Party, SEIU 2021, Alameda Labor Council, Oakland Tenants Union, Nor Cal Carpenters, East Bay for Everyone, Local 21, Oakland Firefighters 55, eVolve California, National Union of Healthcare Workers, John George Democratic Club, Latine Young Democrats of the East Bay, APEN Action, Block by Block Organizing Network and East Bay Young Democrats.

Continue Reading

Activism

Rep. Barbara Lee Hosts Roundtable on Public Safety, Congratulates AASEG on Oakland Coliseum Deal

Congresswoman Lee’s roundtable united community leaders across her district and strengthened relationships while fostering collaborative solutions to their common challenges. Attendees were city leaders from Alameda, Communities United Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ), the Peralta Community College District, Kingmakers of Oakland (KOO), Live Free USA, and numerous Oakland community and nonprofit leaders.

Published

on

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), left, and Jonathan Paul Jones, African American Sport & Entertainment Group (AASEG). Photo by Conway Jones.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), left, and Jonathan Paul Jones, African American Sport & Entertainment Group (AASEG). Photo by Conway Jones.

By Post Staff

On Wednesday, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) hosted a transformative community roundtable at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center on Ninth street. The gathering brought together leaders from various sectors to unite around a shared mission: to address public safety, gun violence prevention, and social justice in the East Bay.

Congresswoman Lee’s roundtable united community leaders across her district and strengthened relationships while fostering collaborative solutions to their common challenges. Attendees were city leaders from Alameda, Communities United Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ), the Peralta Community College District, Kingmakers of Oakland (KOO), Live Free USA, and numerous Oakland community and nonprofit leaders.

By connecting leaders from across the East Bay, the roundtable facilitated meaningful dialogue on combating crime and promoting public safety. The event underscored a collective commitment to addressing violence and fostering social justice in the region. The event was hosted by Francis Lan, president of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce (OCCC) and Carl Chan, president of Oakland Chinatown Chamber Foundation.

After the roundtable, Congresswoman Lee set up some time to talk to Jonathan Paul Jones from AASEG to congratulate them on the Coliseum deal and express her excitement saying “It’s a major deal and I am excited to see African Americans leading this deal. It’s been long overdue!”

The AASEG Coliseum purchase and development initiative has garnered support from leaders including OCCC and has inspired optimism about the potential for homegrown entrepreneurs and businesspeople to create opportunities and restore the community.

As the momentum for change builds, Oakland stands on the brink of a new era of community empowerment and revitalization. The city’s leaders and citizens are coming together, exemplified by initiatives like Congresswoman Lee’s roundtable and the efforts of AASEG.

It’s time for Oakland to rise above its challenges, embrace its potential, and become a beacon of hope and progress. With unity and determination, Oakland can transform its future and inspire communities everywhere.

Continue Reading

Subscribe to receive news and updates from the Oakland Post

* indicates required

CHECK OUT THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE OAKLAND POST

ADVERTISEMENT

WORK FROM HOME

Home-based business with potential monthly income of $10K+ per month. A proven training system and website provided to maximize business effectiveness. Perfect job to earn side and primary income. Contact Lynne for more details: Lynne4npusa@gmail.com 800-334-0540

Facebook

Activism5 days ago

Oakland Post: Week of November 27 – December 3, 2024

#NNPA BlackPress6 days ago

Giving Birth Shouldn’t Be a Nightmare for Black Women

#NNPA BlackPress6 days ago

Odessa Woolfolk Honored at Reception with 2024 Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award

#NNPA BlackPress6 days ago

In the Classroom: How Educators are Teaching Thanksgiving Lessons to the Next Generation

#NNPA BlackPress6 days ago

Jonathan India Traded, Power Bat Needed

#NNPA BlackPress6 days ago

Local, State and Federal Officials Announce Takedown of Four Criminal Organizations in Drug Bust

#NNPA BlackPress1 week ago

Mayor Harold Washington’s Enduring Legacy Honored at Annual Wreath-Laying Ceremony

#NNPA BlackPress1 week ago

National Action Network Announces 2025 Inauguration Day Rally

Gov. Newsom visits the White House on Nov. 14. Photo courtesy of Gov.Ca. Gov
California Black Media1 week ago

Gov. Newsom Goes to Washington to Advocate for California Priorities

iStock
California Black Media1 week ago

California to Offer $43.7 Million in Federal Grants to Combat Hate Crimes

iStock
California Black Media1 week ago

California Reports First Case of Mpox in the United States

iStock
California Black Media1 week ago

California Department of Aging Offers Free Resources for Family Caregivers in November

Shutterstock
Community1 week ago

Advocates: Calif.’s Maternal Health Blueprint Ignores Systemic Racism, Community Solutions

Transportation designer Emeline King. Photo courtesy of Emeline King.
Black History1 week ago

Emeline King: A Trailblazer in the Automotive Industry

#NNPA BlackPress1 week ago

Kyrie Irving and His Dallas Mavericks Overcome Injuries to Secure 129-119 Victory Over the Atlanta Hawks

iStock.
Alameda County1 month ago

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price Announces $7.5 Million Settlement Agreement with Walmart

Exclusive interview with County D.A. Price days before recall election. Photo by Ken Epstein.
Activism1 month ago

‘Jim Crow Was and Remains Real in Alameda County (and) It Is What We Are Challenging and Trying to Fix Every Day,’ Says D.A. Pamela Price

Members of Oaklanders Defending Democracy political action committee with Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, center. Courtesy photo.
Bay Area1 month ago

In the City Attorney Race, Ryan Richardson Is Better for Oakland

Activism1 month ago

Oakland Post: Week of October 30 – November 5, 2024

Alameda County courthouse. Courtesy photo.
Alameda County1 month ago

D.A. Price Charges Coliseum Flea Market Vendors in Organized Retail Theft Case

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said the loans would be in amounts up to $20,000. Official photo.
Business1 month ago

Harris Promises 1 Million Forgivable Loans for Black Businesses

“People have no idea what the vision is for the next district attorney, or where the office will go if I am, in fact, recalled, she continued. “I'm just running against a billionaire,” who does not show his face in public, she said. Courtesy photo.
Activism1 month ago

‘Criminal Justice Reform Is the Signature Civil Rights Issue of Our Time,’ says D.A. Pamela Price

Activism3 weeks ago

LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao,
Bay Area1 month ago

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s Open Letter to Philip Dreyfuss, Recall Election’s Primary Funder

Keyanna Ortiz-Cedeño at her graduation from UC Berkeley after receiving her master’s degree in City Regional Planning. Alongside her, are her parents holding a Puerto Rican flag. Courtesy photo.
Activism1 month ago

“Two things can be true at once.” An Afro-Latina Voter Weighs in on Identity and Politics

iStock
Business1 month ago

Study Confirms California’s $20/Hour Fast Food Wage Raises Pay Without Job Losses

Jericho Brown currently works as the director of the Creative Writing Program at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo courtesy MacArthur Foundation.
Arts and Culture1 month ago

MacArthur Fellow Jericho Brown’s Poetry Reflects Contemporary Culture and Identity

iStock
Bay Area1 month ago

Poll Shows Strong Support for California’s Controversial Prop 36 Crime Initiative

Activism1 month ago

Oakland Post: Week of October 23 – 29, 2024

Zimbabwean dance and music group performs at COSAS' 31 Year Celebration at the East Bay Church of Religious Science. Photo By Carla Thomas.
Activism1 month ago

South African Solidarity Committee Hosts 31st Annual Celebration

Trending

Copyright ©2021 Post News Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.