At a City Hall press conference this morning, the New York Progressive Action Network(NYPAN) announced their endorsement of the candidacy of New York City Council Member Jumaane D. Williams for the office of New York State Lieutenant Governor. NYPAN grew out of the Bernie Sanders New York campaign and now is composed of 32 statewide grassroots chapters composed of thousands of progressives of all stripes, and which also includes many affiliates among local unions, progressive Democratic clubs, and community organizations.
"I am honroed to accept the endorsement of NYPAN," stated Council Member Williams. "I am proud to be one of the founding members of BPAN. NYPAN is new but progressiveness is not. There have been many people who have pushing the progressive movement forward for years. People like George Albro, Arthur Schwartz, Samelys Lopez, Eddie Kay and Ernest Skinner who have joined me here today in support of this campaign.
"I am running for Lieutenant Governor because unfortunately we have people in power now who act as progressives based on polls. However, true progressives don't act based on polls but rather based on doing what is right all the time. We don't need the type of leadership that cast their fingers to the political wind to determine a course of action. I have been speaking the same language for my entire career- we have to fight for rights of all people all the time. For reproductive rights. For immigrant rights. For fair housing rights."
"Jumaane is not just a part of the resistance to Trump, he is the face and symbol of that resistance," stated NYPAN co-chairperson George Albro. "And he is one of the very rare breed of Democrats who is not scared off by the Cuomo/Hochul horde of millions of campaign dollars collected almost exclusively from the 1% of corporate polluters, hedge fund billionaires and other rich special interests. It is so refreshing to back a candidate who is more an activist than a politician, who believes in something other than their own self interest, and who, like Bernie, will certainly mobilize thousands of enthusiasic voters to rally behind his candidacy".
NYPAN Treasurer & Counsel Arthur Schwartz added: "For too long NY has been run by insiders, who look the other way when politicians steal or make policy in return for campaign contributions. Jumaane is not an insider. With him in Albany we will have an ethical watchdog who will blow the whistle. And while he is doing that he will be fighting for the needs of New Yorkers who don't make big campaign contributions, to strengthen rent laws, enact single payer and put the millions we need into education."
"As a proud member of the New York Progressive Action Network," stated NYPAN Bronx chapter president Samelys Lopez. "And today I'm proud to endorse Jumaane Williams for Lieutenant Governor. Our People's Lieutenant Govenor. We need leaders like Jumaane who have the conviction and the moral courage to fight for social justice in all its forms. To fight for the soul of our Democratic values and re-envisioning a New York State government that puts the needs of all people first. Jumaane is the fighter we need and deserve in the state capitol- who believes in the power of activism and will effect real change from the grassroots level on up. To speak truth to power."
Council Member Williams, who is a member of BPAN (Brooklyn Chapter of NYPAN) and was a Bernie Sanders delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention, has been a unique progressive voice in New York State, having been a founder of the New York City Council's Progressive Caucus; an author of legislation ending the notorious and racist "stop and frisk" police policy; a fighter for civil and immigrant rights; and, main champion in securing tens of thousands of summer youth jobs, among many other accomplishments. He has engaged in civil disobedience numerous times, e.g., recently putting his body on the line to try to prevent the deportation of immigrants.
"We are the people who are going to save the Democratic Party," Council Member Williams added. "To make sure that Democrats live up to the progressive ideals we claim to espouse. And by doing so we're going to save our country from the hate and destructive policies that Donald Trump is pushing. I firmly believe that we need a People's Advocate in the office of the New York State Lieutenant Governor- someone to use the bully pulpit to work with the Governor when he is on the right course and someone to say the 'Emperor has no clothes" when he is wrong. It's time. Let's go."
