WHAT HAPPENED!
July 5, 2012
Charles Barron For Congress Responds
We thank the 10,090 voters who had the courage to vote for Charles Barron on June 26, 2012. We have the utmost appreciation for the more than 200 volunteers on our June 26th street teams. We cannot fully express our gratitude to our donors who contributed the $100,000 to this campaign fund. Many thanks to the stalwarts of the Freedom Party (all chapters), the members of the December 12th Movement, the National Black United Front NY Chapter, Hip Hop Stand Up and Vote, Operation Power, District Council 37, Congressman Ed Towns, AFSCME DC 1707, CSEA, The Sierra Club of New York, the Amsterdam News, Black Star News, Caribbean News, IAC, VPAC, Street Vendors Project and scores of tenant leaders and block association presidents and street vendors who were not afraid to endorse this campaign. We are planning a celebration in the weeks to come and we want everyone to attend.
The statistics stated that our opponent had 28,000 votes, 72% of the total vote. Thus, we needed 22.1% of the vote or 8,000 more votes to be victorious. What started as a choice between two able-bodied candidates was drowned in the final three weeks into a massive anti-Barron movement!
This (anti-Barron) movement was spearheaded by National Democratic Party officials that enlisted other congresspersons, senators, the Governor of New York State, the Mayor of New York City, County Leaders of the Brooklyn and Queens Democratic Party, current and former state assembly and senate members, Borough Presidents, the City Council Speaker, the Public Advocate and members of the City Council. Our opponent's funds were supplied by hedge fund executives and white shoe law firms. Why was all this firepower necessary?
We must not forget the role of what some call the fourth branch of government, the Media. Barron was attacked viciously and relentlessly by White media outlets in this town. News articles were not about the opponent's credentials, but clearly, a part of the Stop Barron Movement.
In a speech given in fifty years ago, 1964, to a political group in Detroit, Michigan Malcolm X pointed out the bankruptcy of the American Two Party Political System. He illustrated how we would be going back and forth between Republicans and Democrats until we realize the value of our own votes. It is ironic that today in 2012 – the Age of Obama – as African-Americans have awakened to their political power there is a rising tide in both parties to muffle aggressive outspoken voices.
Despite the Anti-Barron onslaught garnering 10,000 votes, almost 30% of all votes cast was a formidable achievement. If Charles was elected, could he alone, forced them to tax the rich, end the wars, establish free health care and free tuition, save Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, end racial profiling, free political prisoners, give reparations to African slave descendants, reduce poverty, employ our youth and protect our seniors. One person could not make them do these things alone – but a people's movement can, and that is what they fear. They also fear Black Leadership that is outspoken, fearlessly speaking truth to power and as our late brother Gil Noble says, who will tell it, "Like It Is." They fear Black Leadership that cannot be bought or bossed.
We will not be stopped! Our voices will grow louder and wider. We will not let media sensationalism and sound bites take the place of intelligent discourse on complex foreign and domestic policy issues. We must prioritize the people over the party and human need over human greed. The struggle may be long, but the victory is certain.
July 5, 2012
Charles Barron For Congress Responds
We thank the 10,090 voters who had the courage to vote for Charles Barron on June 26, 2012. We have the utmost appreciation for the more than 200 volunteers on our June 26th street teams. We cannot fully express our gratitude to our donors who contributed the $100,000 to this campaign fund. Many thanks to the stalwarts of the Freedom Party (all chapters), the members of the December 12th Movement, the National Black United Front NY Chapter, Hip Hop Stand Up and Vote, Operation Power, District Council 37, Congressman Ed Towns, AFSCME DC 1707, CSEA, The Sierra Club of New York, the Amsterdam News, Black Star News, Caribbean News, IAC, VPAC, Street Vendors Project and scores of tenant leaders and block association presidents and street vendors who were not afraid to endorse this campaign. We are planning a celebration in the weeks to come and we want everyone to attend.
The statistics stated that our opponent had 28,000 votes, 72% of the total vote. Thus, we needed 22.1% of the vote or 8,000 more votes to be victorious. What started as a choice between two able-bodied candidates was drowned in the final three weeks into a massive anti-Barron movement!
This (anti-Barron) movement was spearheaded by National Democratic Party officials that enlisted other congresspersons, senators, the Governor of New York State, the Mayor of New York City, County Leaders of the Brooklyn and Queens Democratic Party, current and former state assembly and senate members, Borough Presidents, the City Council Speaker, the Public Advocate and members of the City Council. Our opponent's funds were supplied by hedge fund executives and white shoe law firms. Why was all this firepower necessary?
We must not forget the role of what some call the fourth branch of government, the Media. Barron was attacked viciously and relentlessly by White media outlets in this town. News articles were not about the opponent's credentials, but clearly, a part of the Stop Barron Movement.
In a speech given in fifty years ago, 1964, to a political group in Detroit, Michigan Malcolm X pointed out the bankruptcy of the American Two Party Political System. He illustrated how we would be going back and forth between Republicans and Democrats until we realize the value of our own votes. It is ironic that today in 2012 – the Age of Obama – as African-Americans have awakened to their political power there is a rising tide in both parties to muffle aggressive outspoken voices.
Despite the Anti-Barron onslaught garnering 10,000 votes, almost 30% of all votes cast was a formidable achievement. If Charles was elected, could he alone, forced them to tax the rich, end the wars, establish free health care and free tuition, save Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, end racial profiling, free political prisoners, give reparations to African slave descendants, reduce poverty, employ our youth and protect our seniors. One person could not make them do these things alone – but a people's movement can, and that is what they fear. They also fear Black Leadership that is outspoken, fearlessly speaking truth to power and as our late brother Gil Noble says, who will tell it, "Like It Is." They fear Black Leadership that cannot be bought or bossed.
We will not be stopped! Our voices will grow louder and wider. We will not let media sensationalism and sound bites take the place of intelligent discourse on complex foreign and domestic policy issues. We must prioritize the people over the party and human need over human greed. The struggle may be long, but the victory is certain.
http://charlesbarronforcongress.com/news-archive/what-happened/
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