Suzanne Potter
California News Service
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Dozens of advocates for racial justice and peace arrived in Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention this weekend, making the trek together after protesting at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
The Grassroots Global Justice Alliance organized the event, dubbing it the “It Takes Roots” People’s Caravan. Mauro Barrera, an organizer for the Los Angeles-based group, Youth for Environmental Justice, said progressive advocates were mocked by conservative counter-protesters at the RNC.
“Hate speech and all these sorts of negative views of people of color have been put out there already so the damage has been done,” Barrera said. “That’s why it’s important for people to go out and do actions and protest.”
Grassroots Global Justice Alliance denounced the hardening of societal attitudes following a recent string of police shootings targeting black men, which were followed by targeted killings of police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge.
Ronald Flannery with the Southern Maine Workers Center lent his voice to the protests.
“Now we’re facing a political storm of white rage, misogyny and hatred,” Flannery said. “And we know that the real solution must be built on unity, solidarity and love.”
The groups also criticized American foreign policy, which they said is overly militaristic. Groups will take part in the March for Our Lives protest in Philadelphia Monday, and in the Black DNC Resistance March on Tuesday.