Progressive People's Convention Starts Today

By Progressive Democrats of America, Reader Supported News

16 August 20

Progressives to hold Progressive Central -- “The People’s Convention” -- during the Democratic Convention next week

lan Minsky, Executive Director of Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), says "Progressive Central will give voice to many of the leading left-progressive in the United States. We have an impressive list of speakers, whose thoughts about American society will resonate across the entire population.

"Let's be honest. The Democratic Party is split into two factions - and the progressive wing is ascendent. The core principles and policies of Progressive Democrats address the needs of the American people better than any other political formation in the country. This was true before the

 COVID-19 public health and economic crises, and it's even more true now. Just as the progressive left lifted the country out of the Great Depression, we have the policies that suit the moment.

"Let's also be perfectly clear, Progressive Central 2020 is convened in the spirit of a unified front to defeat Donald Trump in December. We believe that giving full voice to the Progressive wing of the Democratic Party is the best strategy to achieve that end: to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, take back the Senate, expand the House Majority and win State Houses across the country.

We invite all Americans, and indeed the people of the world, to attend Progressive Central 2020 to hear a powerful vision for a prosperous, just, and sustainable America."

See below for full Progressive Central 2020 schedule, or click here:

https://pdamerica.org/progressive-central-2020-schedule/ 

The panels are free and open to the public. People must register in advance at this link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0vfuiqqzgtH938wOFfTDNMyzd1yWZP6drC

Progressive Democrats of America is a grassroots political action committee founded in 2004 to transform the Democratic Party and U.S. politics by working inside and outside of the party; by working to elect empowered progressives; and by building the progressive movement in solidarity with peace, justice, civil rights, environmental, and other reform efforts. 

For more information about PDA, please see www.PDAmerica.org

 

2020 Progressive Central schedule:

 

Sunday: Aug 16th - 3:00 pm - 5:00 east

3pm - Opening - Progressives and the current Democratic Convention

Host/Moderator - Alan Minsky

Panelist - Jeff Cohen, Paco Fabian, Sen. Nina Turner, Judith Whitmer, Kai Newkirk, Zenaida Huerta (invited)

 

4pm -

Healthcare - Medicare For All

Host/Moderator - Dr Bill Honigman

Panelist  - Donna Smith, Dr. Paul Song, Amirah Sequeira NNU, Rose Roach Minnesota Nurses, Sen. Vincent Fort

 

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Monday: Aug 17th 3:00 pm - 5:00 east

 

3pm -

Elections - The Fight to Protect our Democracy

Host/Moderator - Mimi Kennedy

Panelist - Bennie Smith, Greg Palast, Andrea Miller (invited)

 

4pm -

The Struggle for Racial Justice in 21st Century America 

Host/Moderator - Rodney Sadler

Panelist - Rep, Barbara Lee, Cheryle Renee Moses, Donald Whitehead, Colette Alston, Dr. Willie Keaton, Joel Segal

 

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Tuesday: Aug 18th 3:00 pm - 5:00 east

 

3pm

- Foreign Policy

 - Forging a New Peace Policy - Ending Never Ending Wars

Host/Moderator - Alan Minsky

Panelist - Medea Benjamin, Phyllis Bennis, Norman Solomon, Dennis Kucinich, Rep. Ro Khanna

 

4pm

- Immigration

 - Trump's Racist Immigration Policy - Deportations, ICE, DACA

Host / Moderator - Patti Serrano 

Questions in chat - Dan O'Neal

Panelist - Erika Andiola , Ray Ybarra Maldonado, Jose Alejandro la Luz, Rep Chuy Garcia, Rep. Raul Grijalva (health permitting)

 

**************

 

Wednesday: Aug 19th 3:00 pm - 5:00 east

 

3pm -

Student Debt

Host/Moderator - Meleiza Figueroa

Panelist - Professor Chris Newfield, Representative from the Debt Collective, Rep. Ilhan Omar (invited), Student Debt Holder testimonies

 

4pm -

Climate Emergency

Host/Moderator - Russell Greene

Panelist - Anthony Rogers Wright CJA, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, panel still in formation

 

********************

 

Thursday: Aug 20th - 3:00 pm - 5:00 east

 

3pm -

Economics/Labor

Host/Moderator - Alan Minsky

Panelist - Stephanie Kelton, William Darity, Jr.,

 Joseph Geevarghese Our Revolution, Michael Dimondstein USPS workers union, Clem Balanoff Transit Workers Union, Carl Rosen Electrical Workers (invited), Rev. William Barber (invited) 

 

4pm -

Closing - Progressives & COVID-19 Policy 

Host/Moderator – Alan Minsky

Panelist - Michael Lighty, Bill Fletcher Jr, Senator Nina Turner, possibly Jesse Jackson with John Nichols by video, Representative from CPCC (invited)

Plus short videos and statements from Progressive Congresspeople and Candidates throughout

Check here for ongoing updates to the schedule:

https://pdamerica.org/progressive-central-2020-schedule/