By Lora Lucero
A very good question posed by a friend recently who is curious about the activities we’re engaged in. “It seems the group is quiet these days,” she said. The short answer – “We’re doing a lot.” The better answer – “We could do a lot more with your help.”
First, PDACNM does not want to duplicate or compete with any of the good work that our progressive allies are doing in New Mexico, including 350 New Mexico, the Adelante Caucus, Indivisible, New Energy Economy, Progress Now, SWOP and others. Our role is to uplift and amplify their actions whenever possible.
Second, as an integral part of the national PDA, we also support and amplify the important work that our national leaders are doing with our allies around the country which typically involves several zoom meetings and lots of phone calls every week. To get a sense of how many different issues and activities we’re working on with PDA, check out PDA’s website https://pdamerica.org/ Anyone interested in joining a specific issue group (including Economic and Social Justice, End Corporate Rule, Stop Global Warming, Healthcare Human Rights, End Mass Criminalization, Voter Access Protection – Election Integrity, End Wars and Occupations) please check out https://pdamerica.org/join/ This could easily be a full-time job but we pace ourselves because we know we’re in this for the long haul.
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) is a strong, principled, progressive leader in the Squad who joined the Rabbis for a Ceasefire and several of his colleagues calling for a ceasefire. At the press conference on November 13, Bowman gave a very passionate speech in which he said “Perhaps the White House and Congress have been corrupted by violence. We can’t bomb our way to peace.” Now AIPAC is fighting to unseat him in the NY primary on June 25. AIPAC’s United Democracy Project has spent roughly $8 million to support Westchester County Executive George Latimer’s primary challenge against Jamaal Bowman, according to AdImpact data relayed by Politico’s Emily Ngo. By contrast, Bowman’s campaign has spent just $715,000. PDA is pulling out all the stops to help Jamaal Bowman hold on to his seat. We’re phone-banking and helping him raise much needed funds. If you can help make calls between now and June 25th, contact mikefox@pdamerica.org If you can make a donation to help Jamaal’s campaign, check out his campaign page https://www.bowmanforcongress.com/meet-jamaal
As PDA has done during every Democratic Party Convention since our inception in 2004, we’ll be holding another Progressive Central in Chicago in August where we’ll have expert panels and progressive dignitaries discussing how the progressive agenda is key to victory in 2024. This year in Chicago it will also be our 20th Anniversary celebration. Keep your eyes peeled for more details on specific scheduling and participants. Lora Lucero will be in Chicago helping at Progressive Central. If you would like to participate in Chicago, or via zoom, contact either loralucero3@gmail.com or mikefox@pdamerica.org .
Closer to home, PDACNM is working closely with a local coalition to end the genocide in Gaza. Our legislative advocacy involves meetings with our Congressional delegation and staff, letters and phone calls and more. A very good way to stay informed is by joining the AFSC Action Hour every Friday at 10 am MT. We want to support and uplift the important work that AFSC is doing in Congress and Palestine. Check out https://afsc.org/actionhour Not only can you register for the weekly Action Hour zoom meetings, but AFSC has pulled together fantastic resources for our advocacy work, including divestment actions and ceasefire resolutions around the country.
PDACNM’s book club has stimulating conversations every second Saturday of the month at 10:30 am MT. In May we started reading The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee. We will continue our discussion of this book on Saturday, June 8 at 10:30 am MT. Contact Laura Stokes stokescorrales@comcast.net if you’d like to receive a zoom link. Don’t worry if you haven’t read the book, the conversation is always rewarding.
As mentioned elsewhere in this newsletter, Francesca Blueher is leading a local group discussion every other week about how to Bridge the Rural-Urban Divide. Contact Francesca FrancescaBlueher@gmail.com if you’d like a link to the next zoom meeting. Finally, if there’s something you’re burning to do and want PDACNM to consider helping, contact me and let’s discuss. Lora Lucero 505-453-3938 LoraLucero3@gmail.com
Progressive Democrats of America Central New Mexico 