I traveled to Asheville last weekend for the sake of hearing Rev. Barber and strategizing with some of the most active and progressive Kossacks on the site. As much as I looked forward to the meetup, it exceeded my expectations.
(If you haven't already done so, I implore you to check out the diary that navajo posted on Monday about Rev. Barber's speech: Reverend Barber suggests Daily Kos team up with Moral Monday Movement and go national. There have been several other fabulous diaries about the weekend's events, with more to come, but hers has the YouTube of his address plus a transcript. Plus, hers is a direct call to action for the entire site.)
But now the important work begins. One of Rev. Barber's key messages in his address was this, the very first of the fourteen steps fundamental to the creation of a Third Reconstruction:
1. We must engage in indigenously-led grass roots organizing across states. There is no shortcut around this. We must build relationship at a state level. Helicopter leadership by so-called national leaders will not sustain a moral movement. [applause] What you need is to make local movements national! The nation didn’t change from DC down! It changed from Selma and Birmingham and Greensboro up! [applause] People say to me, Rev. Barber, we like the work you’re doing in North Carolina, but you need to go national, you’re not national. I say: by whose standard? You do not have an address in DC to be national, all you’ve got to do is have a movement that begins to touch the heart and the mind and the imagination of people across the nation. You don’t have try to be everywhere. They say, Rev. Barber: come here lead us. I say: nope. But I will slip in and teach you what we have learned so you can lead it yourself. What they need are indigenous…. So what we need indigenously-led, state based, state government-focused, this is because the worst stuff that is happening to us is the place where we have the least amount of attention, and it’s in these state capitals! You need to have C-SPAN and blogs inside these state capitals, listening to these debates on the floor of the capital, so people can hear exactly what’s being said--and done! State-based, deeply moral, deeply constitutional, anti-racist, anti-poverty, pro-justice, pro-labor, transformative fusion movement. [emphasis added] WE need to be the change we are looking for, right here in our own beloved and beleaguered state of Michigan.So what do we need to do?
I can think of several actions that we, collectively, are already taking. Many if not most of us reading here are already participating in other progressive groups. We have many, focusing on an important array of topics. Environment. Public Education. Labor. Women's Rights. LGTBQ Rights. Immigrant Rights. Civil Liberties. Criminal Justice. Economic Inequality. (I could go on, but I figure you understand.) I know that we cover a lot of ground with our various affiliations.
Of course, political activism is also important. You know I'm deeply involved in local party politics, and I'm interested in fostering communication with other county party activists who would like to increase horizontal communication across counties and districts, as well as bring more community voices into the party. I believe in small d democracy first and foremost, and I believe that the Democratic Party needs to be attentive and accessible to everyone in our communities. While electing Democrats is often a worthy goal, I believe it is only insofar as Democratic officeholders help us create a more equitable and just society for all. The real point is not simply to be elected and leave it at that.
Actions in our topic-focused groups are important and essential. But how do we take this to the next level?
Please join me below the stylized orange handclasp for more.