Justice Works 2019

Justice Works participants share a vision for a world free from oppression, driven by values of equity and justice, full of love, respect and dignity. Achieving this vision is possible, but after decades and centuries of power being concentrated among a very small few, it won’t be easy. Winning issues, elections and building strong coalitions are key to improving people’s lives, but achieving our collective vision requires a long-term shift in the way our whole society values justice, identifies oppression, and defines economics.

Too often, our political leaders are skeptical or opposed to the demands of our communities. For example, when asked about raising the minimum wage, self-identified progressive leaders are only willing to agree to raising it just enough so that employing people won’t be too expensive for small business owners. When asked to impose renter protections and controls on rent rates, these same leaders urge caution because, they say, rents will only go up if developers aren’t building new homes. The inclination of our political leaders is to guarantee that the concerns of the resourced, wealthy, and prominent are addressed, while often placing the concerns of everyday people and families as a secondary priority. People of color, low-income people, LGBTQIA+, and all underserved people bear a heavy share of the harm caused by this system due to structural racism and more systems of oppression embedded in our society.

This discussion will focus on the urgent need for political leaders in New York State who share our vision, won’t shy away from promoting that vision, and will work as candidates and our representatives driven by that vision with every decision they make.