Reprinted from Reader Supported News
Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont talks to supporters during a rally at the University of Washington, in Seattle.
(Image by (photo: Joshua Trujillo/Seattlepi.com)) Details DMCA
I have been politically active for 30 years. My first arrest was with Phillip Berrigan at the White House. I volunteered to go on the White House Tour and pour blood on the pillars. Phillip advised me to take it slow and start out with a lower risk, so I instead was arrested on the White House sidewalk holding a banner. Many years later I did go over the White House fence with Phil's community and poured blood and red dye on and in the fountain. The banner the first time read "Iran Contra Gate Verdict: Impeach Reagan." The banner when we went over the fence read "US Foreign Policy, Fountain of Blood." I organized against nuclear testing in Nevada, went back country at Vandenberg Air Force Base to protest tar wars. I have helped to organize antiwar marches.
Following the first Bush stolen election I helped found truth-out.org and decided to focus my energy on creating a progressive media that could go around the mainstream media. During that time I spent a lot of time in Crawford, Texas, with Cindy Sheehan. I was embedded in Occupy in Washington DC. (I was headed to New York when Zuccotti Park was raided, and I decided to stay in DC, where an organized encampment still existed.)
I worked on Paul Wellstone's first Senate campaign as a volunteer. I worked for Jerry Brown and Bill Bradley's presidential campaigns because I opposed the "Democratic Leadership Council." I attended the first Green Party Congress in West Virginia and I voted for Ralph Nader.
I'm not looking for any rewards or anything, I am telling you my history to show that I am not a neoliberal who is trying to herd people into the Democratic Party. I am a progressive who wants to transform the Democratic Party.
I have probably been focusing too much on this November. We can make some difference in down-ballot races this time, but in two years we will do even more. We do have opportunities left this time, but I believe we will really shake things up in two years when we have built an independent political organization that will allow us to support progressive candidates all over the country. "Our Revolution" will help us build those organizations in our communities.