Nikkita Oliver announced Seattle Peoples Party simultaneously as she announced her candidacy for Mayor on March 8, International Women’s Day. She has already made a lasting imprint on Seattle politics and abroad.
How do you know when a Candidate is really for the People?
Oliver and the Peoples Party hosted an at-capacity event in the Central District’s historic Washington Hall, with hundreds of supporters and community members present for the event. The event kicked off with a dance performance by Northwest Tap Connection, a youth dance team and included a vocal performance by their coach. This is community, making space for and shining light on our youth in the city.
Oliver and the Peoples Party have changed the conversation about how a mayor should interact with the city and how a campaign ought to run.
On Aug. 15, when King County certified that the top two candidates were Jenny Durkan and Cary Moon, the Peoples Party and Oliver held a press conference at their campaign headquarters at Washington Hall.
The Party poignantly highlighted the reason for such success and reiterated the purpose of why it is now that we need radical change in our policy.
Oliver mentioned yet again that the campaign ran independently, raising $135,000 in community contributions, accepting no corporate financing.
The campaign stayed true to its values of integrity and transparency by exposing the very issues that have contributed to the state our city has found itself in. For instance, Oliver mentioned how the mainstream media, in an effort to sustain White superiority, discredited her as a candidate and her experience as an educator, attorney and community organizer.
When most campaigns offer what news outlets call “a concession speech,” that candidate disappears. Does Hillary Clinton ring a bell? Haven’t heard from her in a while, and nor have we from Jessyn Farrell, Mike McGinn or Bob Hasegawa. But Oliver and the Peoples Party know what is at stake and that the work for liberation must go on. That’s when you know a candidate isn’t running for fame.
The Seattle Peoples Party will still be shaping the Mayoral race. The party invited Moon and Durkan to a mayoral forum, moderated by Oliver herself. The Party is planning this event because questions from those most affected by status-quo politics will hold candidates accountable. The Party is also planning a general assembly to widen and strengthen the party.
Oliver and the Seattle Peoples Party, with integrity and authenticity, have inspired a template for real transformation justice, and have garnered national attention, forcing the conversation of how to go about obtaining meaningful justice.
The Seattle Peoples Party is just getting started.
Gui Jean-Paul Chevalier is a Seattle-based recording artist and author from rural Washington, living counter-small-town mind for the cause of humanity. Read previous columns from Gui.
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