Staying Woke, Getting Civic, & Building Peace at the CA Dem Statewide Meeting Nov. 17-19

We have a moral obligation to ‘stay woke’, take a stand and be active; challenging injustices and racism in our communities and fighting hatred and discrimination wherever it rises,” says Rep. Barbara Lee.

The CA Department of Peacebuilding Campaign (DoP) and the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center “got civic” together at the CA Democratic Party (CDP) Executive Board meeting in Millbrae from November 17-19, 2017. The two groups highlighted the importance of staying woke, civic engagement and building peace. The CA DoP Campaign also submitted peacebuilding/ restorative practice language to the Platform Committee for inclusion in the CDP 2018 Platform, which will be finalized in February 2018. Approximately 300 elected officials and candidates, CDP officials and active CA Democrats, and community members attended.

The CA DoP group:

• advocated for 7 pieces of legislation including establishment of a U.S. Department of Peacebuilding (DoP/ HR 1111, legislation to restrict the first use of nuclear weapons (HR 669, S 200), genocide and atrocities prevention bills (HR 3030, S 1158), and bills to restructure the system of money bail which disproportionately impacts the poor (HR 1437, S 1593)
• supported “The Global Resolution for the Establishment of Infrastructures to Support the Culture of Peace” (You can read the resolution and sign the petition here)

Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center students and staffers advocated: “‘VOTE. TO US, YOU MATTER!  #GETCivic” and the students did an A+ job gathering petition signatures urging member of Congress to cosponsor HR 1111. For more information, visit mlkfreedomcenter.org.

It was a joy combining the experience and energies of the two groups. More details about the CA Democratic Statewide meeting, issues, advocacy and attendees can be found here.

This Holiday season, our goal is to expand our #PeacePartners by 200 and more, thus expanding our nation’s values of democracy, unity, and peace. Won’t you join us? A monthly contribution – whether $40, $15, $5 — no matter the amount, makes a dynamic, ongoing and sustainable difference. A one-time gift is also welcome! We honor your commitment to being part of the Solution! JOIN US!

Peace Alliance/Department of Peacebuilding Lead

On Behalf of the CA Department of Peacebuilding Campaign