Netroots Nation was 🔥this year!
I don’t usually geek out about meeting people who are all over social media, but this was different.
This was Justin Jones, one of three Tennessee state representatives who offered more than thoughts and prayers in response to yet another mass shooting. And was expelled from the state house for his trouble.
So I had to get a photo.
The history-making moment?
When Rev. Jesse Jackson joined Jones and Alicia Garza on stage at Netroots.
The night before he announced his retirement from the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, Jackson made a rare public appearance to tie together the threads of three generations of US justice leaders.
Parkinson’s is slowing him down, but his signature call and response generated a deafening chorus from the crowd. His speech re-awakened the faith of thousands of activists in the righteousness of the fight for justice.
Three generations of US leaders on one stage. Each of them seemed to recognize the meaning of the moment.
Other highlights of the week included the California Caucus meeting, a session on deep canvassing, a panel discussion on messaging about public safety and my own workshop, “Someone Always Calls the Cops: When Karen or Chad Dials 911 on Your Canvassers.”
Pile on meeting dozens of people I’d only known by video or chat, and the conference was an overwhelming success.