Political activism

Do you ever participate in unpaid political activism? If so, what do you do? When and where? And most importantly, why?

Do you ever participate in unpaid political activism? If so, what do you do? When and where? And most importantly, why?

I am  on the board of the Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, where their aspiration is as follows:

“May love be the spirit of this Fellowship.

May the quest for truth be its sacrament, and service be its prayer.

To dwell together in peace, to seek knowledge in freedom, and to help one another in fellowship”

The Fellowship has regular activities designed to raise awareness of and take direct action to oppose many instances of social and environmental injustice.  Everything from writing postcards to politicians on important issues to doing meal prep for our local unhoused population.

When I saw the conditions of the playground and the route to school for the Peninsula Union School District in Samoa, we took action.  We began advocating for the school and the town and started a fundraising campaign to provide basic assistance to the families there and a playground equipment  fund to brighten the days of the kids who go to school there.

When Humboldt Soups On still used the HUUF kitchen to feed the hungry, I was the Sunday cook.  I took immense satisfaction in preparing a hearty Sunday meal for 40-50 people who might not have anything else to eat that day.     The unhoused community in Arcata and beyond are our neighbors, and no matter what circumstances led to their housing situation, nothing would be improved by those people going hungry.

When I saw that Arcata City Council meetings were being dominated by shouting matches between opposing groups regarding the siege of Gaza, I took action to help.   I worked with multiple different groups, including local Rabbis and with pro-Palestine activists to try to come up with a ceasefire initiative that ANYONE could agree with.  One that united people around an anti-war, anti-violence proposal that was difficult to disagree with.   Rather than indicting people and their specific political views, I chose to focus on the things we agree on, and it was unanimously signed by the entire City Council that before that was unwilling to even put a ceasefire on the agenda.

I have spoken at several multi-faith events, meant to share understanding and context between local groups of people seeking peace.  I was the only Palestinian invited to participate in a 3 day event designed to bring understanding between multiple faith communities as they relate to the tragedy that unfolded in Israel and Gaza.

I fundamentally believe that the leadership in Gaza, Israel and here in the US have failed to live up to their primary goal of keeping their people safe.   We have very little sway in events over there, but can provide an example of finding common ground on the road to peace and freedom worldwide. However, we must be willing to talk with each other and open our minds to the concept of change.

For an interview with Elle Penner about this question please go to her “What’s the Tea, Locally” video series on her FB and Instagram pages. But here is partial answer:

I have engaged in and studied to engage further in political activism my whole life having been born into a family of activists living at the headquarter of the United Farm Workers Union. 

In High School I was President of the Peace Club where we had food drives for hungry and houseless, protested Nukes at the Nevada nuclear Test site, raised awareness about US foreign policy and fought for divestment in South African Aparthied.

In college I was the founder of a chapter Students for Social Responsibility where we protested the needless war in Iraq, and fought with local tribes to change the names of Institutions honoring Colonial terrorists like Juan Cabrillo and Columbus. I also fought to keep tuition low and was on the Board of the Berkeley Student Cooperative, the largest student housing cooperative in the US.

After college I worked at the Collective Bargaining Director for the whole UC system. Negotiating at the table and organizing on the street and at picket lines with all unions in the UC. I did this both professionally and volunteered.

I continued working and volunteering with the following groups to name a few:

Lost Coast Camp (designer of the Medallion Program)

The Mattole Restoraton Council

The Community Alliance for Global Justice

The Mattole Teacher’s Union (a CTA Chapter)

The Office of the Americas Board (alongside Howard Zinn)

the California Clean Energy Fund

The Hoopa Schools Restorative Justice Committee