The Struggle for Democracy w/ Dr. Melina Abdullah Kenia Alcocer, Phillip Agnew, Citlalli Hernández

In the U.S., voting rights are under attack. Across the Americas, the U.S. uses its force to undermine efforts of Latin American and Caribbean people to build democracy from below. How, then, can the U.S. claim to be the defender of democracy across the world?

Join us to hear the perspectives of those who represent people’s movements in the fight for a democracy–one that truly works in the interests of the majority, the workers, and the poor, rather than catering only to the rich and the elite.

Speakers:

Dr. Melina Abdullah, United States

Dr. Melina Abdullah is co-founder of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles, Director of Black Lives Matter - Grassroots, Professor and former Chair of Pan-African Studies at Cal State LA, and single mama of three.

Pablo Alvarado, United States

Pablo Alvarado spent several years as a day laborer in the United States before co-founding the Institute of Popular Education of Southern California in 1991, Los Jornaleros del Norte day laborer band in 1996 and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network in 2001.

phillip agnew, United States

phillip agnew co-founded the Dream Defenders in 2012. His work as an educator, strategist, writer, trainer, speaker and cultural critic is frequently cited and highlighted nationally. In 2018, he transitioned from his role as co-director of the Dream Defenders. In July 2019 he joined the Bernie Sanders campaign as a National Surrogate and was later named a Senior Advisor. Agnew currently is a Co-Director of Black Men Build, an organization dedicated to transforming Black Men and engaging this country as an organized force.

Citlalli Hernández, México

Citlalli Hernandez comes from a family with a leftist political conviction, a Cardenista and then a López Obrador. Hernandez is a social activist, member and promoter of student movements and mobilizations since adolescence. She was part of the mobilization against the impeachment of Andrés Manuel López Obrador. She has many accomplishments including strengthening the neighborhood political organization to stop million-dollar real estate projects that were affecting neighboring homes, as well as commercial projects that would affect the economic stability of numerous families. She also encouraged citizen participation in Iztacalco through Itinerant Attention Modules where services are provided: complaints and citizen orientation, legal advice, cultural workshops, information on all kinds of social programs and popular assemblies. Meanwhile she has supported the construction and strengthening of the MORENA political organization in various locations in the republic. She is currently a Senator of the Republic for Mexico City.

Kenia Alcocer, Moderator

Kenia Alcocer is an undocumented mother of two and an organizer with Unión de Vecinos/the Los Angeles Tenant's Union and the Poor People's Campaign. Kenia has been organizing since high school fighting for the rights of undocumented students to have accesss to higher education and since 2003 has develop years of experience organizing and has dedicated herself to organizing for housing and immigrant rights.

Thumbnail photo: Midia Ninja