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I entered politics in 2005 and have seen my borough move left in ways I only dreamed of then. As a progressive of color in Queens, I’ve always been on the outside. But I was not alone, I fought alongside @DRichards13 in many of those fights.
This thread speaks to why the label of “County” is not the same when you are a person of color in Queens. In 2008, Donovan ran against a county candidate @MicheleTitus which was not something us young dems were allowed to do at the time.
He was taken to court, thrown off the ballot and blackballed by the county for running against an establishment assembly member. https://www.rockawave.com/articles/richards-assembly-ballot-case-sent-to-queens-court/
That same year, Donovan is who I worked with when the verdict came down to not convict Sean Bell’s killers. To organize a community response and honor his legacy with a controversial street renaming that was not supported by establishment community board members.
https://www.rockawave.com/articles/black-community-plans-response-to-bell-verdict/. In 2009, the county ran candidates against @JSandersNYC as a way of keeping him in line. From that fight, Donovan and other local activists created the Southeast Queens Progressives in 2011 to push SEQ left.
The group fought for more resources for homeowners in foreclosure, improving police relations but was short lived when Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012. In 2013, Donovan ran against the county for New York City Council
and was backed by another longtime progressive James Sanders for his old seat. That same year, the @Queens_Dems did not endorse @BillThompsonNYC , Tish James @TishJames or @LeroyComrie for positions instead choosing white candidates. https://qns.com/story/2013/05/20/queens-democratic-endorsements-party-backs-katz-for-borough-president-quinn-for-mayor/
Donovan co-chaired the @NYCProgressives in 2014 which was a caucus many current and former Council members in Queens shied away from and didn’t join right away. https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/bold-progressive-vision-new-york-city-council-really/
Being a black progressive in Queens has never allowed you access to @Queens_Dems , I experienced that firsthand in 2009 with Thompson for Mayor. The county was a white construct that didn’t allow people of color to run under their banner or benefit.
I have fought @Queens_Dems since then because I saw what little value women of color are to them outside of reaching a demographic. The movement is beyond progressive or county to me. Grassroots organizers are running to create a new democratic party that is inclusive,
transparent and brings voters in. The left will inherit @Queens_Dems in 2 years, so will we be county or progressives? I believe that like @NewKings, we can be on the inside and left. We can get elected and move our party towards these values.
My endorsement of @DRichards13 did not come to me lightly but I have worked and fought alongside him for over 10 years. I believe he will be the QBP candidate to bring both of our sides together because he always has been a black progressive outsider fighting alongside me.
