Note: This is an updated version of OPA’s previous statement in response to attacks on Community and Elected Leaders---If you have already completed this sign on, THANK YOU, and please ask 2 friends to do the same!  

The Oakland Progressive Alliance (OPA) is a community-labor coalition of over 12 community, labor, housing and youth organizations, representing thousands of Oakland residents and the greater Bay Area.  OPA and our undersigned allies strongly condemn the increasingly dangerous, politically motivated pattern of attacks  on members of the Gay and Transgender community and Black women in leadership.  In an environment where a bomb threat was called into Chabot Elementary, and politically motivated violence is becoming the norm, ongoing attacks stemming from political extremists on social media must be condemned.  

We, the undersigned, stand against anti-Blackness, misogyny, homophobic and transphobic attacks on community, civil rights and political leaders and city staff.  We are calling for an immediate end to rhetoric that is leading to harassment and threats on democratically elected representatives and community leaders.  

We are calling on business leaders, civil rights groups and advocates connected to any of these individuals perpetrating a sustained pattern of misleading, politically motivated and increasingly dangerous rhetoric, to join us in publicly condemning these personal attacks.   As Oakland prepares to celebrate the LGBTQIA community at Pridefest, we call on you to show you will not stand for these attacks by signing on and speaking out!

Signed,

The Oakland Progressive Alliance–including over 600 individuals, elected leaders and organizations including:

The Asian Pacific Environmental Network

Cat Brooks, Anti Police-Terror Project 

Debra Grabelle, President International Federation of Professional and Technical Employees Local 21

Frankie Free Ramos, Director of Campaigns and Organizing, Communities United For Restorative Youth Justice

Liz Suk, Executive Director, Oakland Rising 

Ismael Armendariz, President, Oakland Education Association 

Kate O'Hara, Executive Director, EBASE

Saabir Lockett, Deputy Director, East Bay Action

Yulisa Elenes, East Bay and North Bay VP, UNITE-HERE Local 2

Theresa Rutherford, President, SEIU Local 1021

Yeon Park, Vice President-East Bay, SEIU Local 1021