Courage Campaign Moves to Define Progressive Agenda for 2009
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2008
Courage Campaign Moves to Define Progressive Agenda for 2009
Hosts Conference Call with Progressive Leaders and Members to Discuss Post-Election Course of Action on Prop. 8 as well as 2009 Special Election
LOS ANGELES, CA -Moving to define a progressive agenda to create change in California, the Courage Campaign — an online organizing network with more than 100,000 members — today will host State Senator-elect Mark Leno, a leader in the fight for marriage equality and a progressive champion in the Legislature, and Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles City Council President as well as Barack Obama’s California campaign co-chair for a statewide “Courage Campaign Conversation” conference call.
The call will be a unique discussion with progressive leaders and Courage Campaign members to discuss a post-election course of action on Prop. 8 and Governor Schwarzenegger’s upcoming 2009 Special Election.
“As President-elect Obama told America on Tuesday, we have work to do. That is especially true here in California,” said Rick Jacobs, founder and chair of the Courage Campaign. “Prop 8 is just one part of the right-wing attempt to destroy our state. Its success means there will be other attempts, starting next week in the state legislature. We must be ready. That is why we must discuss how we can work together to address Prop 8 and the other right-wing threats facing California.”
Jacobs said the call also will focus on what progressives can do to create change in California, including budgetary reforms and ways to protect the state’s investments in education and health care during the upcoming Special Session of the Legislature and Governor Schwarzenegger’s Special Election in 2009.
During this “Courage Campaign Conversation,” there will be an opportunity for participants to ask Eric Garcetti and Mark Leno questions about this Tuesday’s election and what progressives can do to promote change. The call also will cover the effects of this past Tuesday’s election.
Space on the call is limited, for more information visit:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/LenoGarcettiCall
“While leading conservatives meet in Washington today, we also must come together with out members to determine a common course of action,” added Jacobs. “Together we have built one of the strongest progressive movements in California politics. And together we can organize to fix California — and protect equal rights for all Californians.”
The Courage Campaign Issues Committee has taken a lead role in the fight against Proposition 8. Last week, the group delivered a petition signed by 17,345 Californians urging Church of Latter-day Saints President Thomas Monson to cease funding the campaign for Proposition 8.
The effort was featured on NPR’s “Day to Day” program, in a story entitled “Mormons Divided On Same-Sex Marriage Issue.”
The Courage Campaign Issues Committee also released a hard-hitting ad that aired on Election Day that directly challenged the role of the Mormon Church on Proposition 8 and resulted in the Church issuing a public statement for the first time on its role in raising over $20 million to support the “Yes on 8” campaign.
The controversial ad — “No on Prop 8: Home Invasion” — can be viewed here along with video of the Courage Campaign’s petition delivery to the Church of Latter-day Saints headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/NoOn8videos
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