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Progressive Democrats of America activists from Southern California had a week full of political networking, commiserating, and strategizing, at home and while converging on the Sacramento site of the annual state party Convention.
Action and event planning—with the participation of PDA leaders and members from San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties—amounted to a snowball gathering mass and momentum as we moved toward our goal of becoming a hub of dedicated activists and candidates of the California Democratic Party at the Convention.
Starting in L.A. with a visit from PDA Board Member Cindy Sheehan, the National team accompanied our local leadership in a rally and press conference in Mar Vista Park. This was followed by precinct walking with PDLA President Marcy Winograd, the real Democrat for Congress in the 36th CD. The team then went on to pack the Beverly Hills home of Marcy's mom, Teddi Winograd, for a fundraiser with such notable speakers as PDA Board Members Tom Hayden and the Rev. Lennox Yearwood, founder of the Hip Hop Caucus.
The next day, PDA Orange County Chapter sponsored an indoor rally at the Irvine law office and headquarters of Steve Young, PDA-endorsed candidate for Congress in the 48th CD. The National Leadership team spoke again and now included the eloquent and motivating John Bonifaz, constitutional lawyer, candidate for Secretary of State in Massachusetts, and PDA Board Member. He truly must be heard by all progressives, if not all true patriots. Finally, the tour moved to Santa Barbara where the gathered activists again heard from the National team and local leaders as we prepared to travel to Sacramento the following day.
The Convention was the "main course" after having consumed so many wonderful "appetizers" on the way. Starting with the newly formed Progressive Caucus, already a recognized force within the party, PDA was there in force, on the dais as well as in the crowded and voluminous meeting hall. We then took over a section of the exhibitor's lobby with a table/booth that at times resembled an indoor "tent city," a virtual beehive of activity; fought for significant language in the platform hearings; participated in a nearby forum on Impeachment; and all the while demonstrated against the illegal and immoral occupation of Iraq and for our pro-peace candidate Marcy Winograd and others. All of this preceded a wind-up "hospitality suite" featuring once again our National and local leaders.
The floor-fight on the final day of the Convention was a tribute to PDA dedication and tenacity. Northerners and Southerners gathered together to collect signatures, leaflet, and parade with signs and chants to promote the progressive cause.
All of us left Sacramento with pride to return to Southern California with a new sense of empowerment and purpose. We headed home to refurbish our local Chapters and to start new ones—lots of new ones.
As a result of this Convention week, PDA So. Cal. is in rare form and leading Democrats across the country to stand up for our causes—end the war, convict and impeach the president and vice-president, establish single-payer national health care, protect the environment and elections, govern with dignity for workers and all peoples. In the words of Steve Young's campaign slogan, PDA So. Cal. can be counted on to "do the right thing and let the consequences follow."