NYPAN Resolution Encourages Bernie Sanders to Run for President in 2020
PRESS ADVISORY: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2019
CONTACT:
George Albro george@nypan.org 917-864-9443
Traci Strickland traci@nypan.org 202-329-4002
Jay Bellanca jay@nypan.org 518-429-4972
Co-Chairs, New York Progressive Active Network (NYPAN) An affiliate of Our Revolution
NYPAN BOARD PASSES “DRAFT BERNIE” RESOLUTION
INFLUENTIAL STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION SEES BERNIE SANDERS AS KEY TO CARRYING THE PROGRESSIVE FLAG IN PRESIDENTIAL RACE AND TO ENSURING A DEMOCRATIC WIN IN NOVEMBER 2020
On a statewide teleconference on Sunday night, NYPAN’s Board of Directors overwhelmingly passed the following resolution:
NYPAN IS LOOKING TO SUPPORT A 2020 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO ADVOCATES AND IS WILLING TO FIGHT FOR A PROGRESSIVE PLATFORM, INCLUDING:
· MEDICARE FOR ALL
· PROGRESSIVE TAX SYSTEM
· FREE PUBLIC COLLEGE TUITION
· COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM
· CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS
· RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO A LIVING WAGE
· MOVING TO 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY
· RESTORING ERODED VOTING AND UNION RIGHTS
· AN END TO UNENDING WARS AND SUPPORT FOR DICTATORS.
TO THAT END, WE URGE THAT SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, WHO HAS ADVOCATED FOR THESE AND OTHER PROGRESSIVE CHANGES, JOIN THE RACE FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020. WE ALSO URGE OTHER CANDIDATES WHO ARE CONTEMPLATING RUNNING AND WHO SUPPORT THESE POSITIONS TO JOIN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
NYPAN arose out of the 2016 Bernie Sanders presidential campaign and is the main NY State affiliate of Our Revolution. Over the last 2 years, more and more progressive New Yorkers have been seeking an organization which shares their values. As a result, NYPAN has grown to 30 chapters and 8 affiliates throughout the State, with thousands of grass roots members.
As NYPAN secretary and Tompkins County chapter co-chair Emily Adams noted: “While not an endorsement of any candidate, this resolution demonstrates that the progressive grassroots activist base is prepared to play an active role in helping to nominate a progressive presidential candidate. Our organization played a crucial role in removing nearly all of the IDC state senators and sending 15 new, activist, progressive state senators to Albany. Now we plan to help mobilize millions of New Yorkers around a national progressive platform that will put people and planet first.”
NYPAN Co-chair George Albro added: “We are not waiting around for the Democratic Party establishment to bless another status-quo candidate who will spend their time currying favor with Wall Street while pretending to be the friend of the 99%. Trump, or a similar populist ring-wing Republican, is likely to defeat such a candidate. We want a nominee who is progressive, principled, authentic, passionate and experienced. We want a leader who will galvanize the voters and turn them out to vote, and lead the Democratic Party to victory. We want a candidate like Bernie Sanders.”