Today in Washington, a panel discussion was presented to discuss a timely topic: The Resistance. Part of the Center for American Progress Ideas Conference, the panel featured Leah Greenberg of Indivisible, Campaign Zero’s Deray McKesson, Dreamer Astrid Silva, and Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas. The discussion was moderated by Igor Volsky of ThinkProgress.
Leah Greenberg discussed how Indivisible developed, and the energy that it has spawned.
Moulitsas talked about his own path as a political activist and agitator, starting from his beginning with Howard Dean to his evolution toward fully embracing an electoral focus and the need to recognize that diversity is the future of the Democratic Party. This is true not just in terms of voters, but also in terms of leadership, he said.
He pointed to his co-panel members, McKesson and Greenberg, and said they are the future.
McKesson discussed activism, social media, and his battles in recent years. One important point he made is that “being right doesn’t always win.”
Astrid Silva spoke of the special challenge that undocumented immigrants face when resisting.
Markos discussed the special challenges that Trump presents for people of color, and the need for white liberals to recognize these special challenges. In terms of sustainability, Markos reminded the audience that movements are not a short-term commitment, recalling that 14 years ago the fight was about Bush and Iraq.
“Remember—the fight never ends, and it does not end with Trump,” Moulitsas said.
McKesson related the need to remind some that injustice in America did not begin with the Muslim ban.
In the summation section, Markos went off. He talked about where he believes Democratic efforts need to be focused (psst ... it’s not on the white working class). You’ll should watch a video of the panel if you can catch it.
I wanted to ask Markos a question at the event but I’ll write it here instead, and expand on it in a Sunday essay: Is the Resistance an adjunct of the Democratic Party, an adversary of the Democratic Party, or a complement to it?