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TUCKER, Ga. To the 50 or so people who filled up the back room of Piccadilly Cafeteria in this Atlanta suburb on Wednesday night, Democratic congressional candidate Jon Ossoff is a godsend. The 30-year-old Ossoff is threatening to snatch away the reliably Republican congressional seat recently vacated by Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price. This special election in Georgias sixth district has become a fully nationalized referendum on the Trump presidency, with outside spending groups and national party committees dumping money and resources into the contest. The people who came to Piccadilly to meet and greet Ossoff felt an urgency that borders on desperation to send him to Congress.

Ossoff is the consensus Democratic candidate running against a splintered field of Republican challengers, and hes polling in the mid-40percent range heading into the April 18 election. If he clears 50 percent of the vote, hell win outright and avoid a runoff election in June. The intensity and the momentum here is driven by the grassroots at the local level, Ossoff said in an interview at the Piccadilly. A win on April 18, he said, would be a demonstration of the potential of grassroots organizing, a renewed emphasis on field [organizing] and grassroots fundraising.

You can hardly stumble three steps in the 6th CongressionalDistrict without hearing the word grassroots, and the Piccadilly meet and greet was as grassroots as it gets. The event was co-sponsored by Indivisible Marching Buddies and Indivisible Progressive Action Group for Atlanta, two of the many Indivisible-linked activist groups that have sprouted like mushrooms since President Donald Trumps election. Everyone there filled out postcards to mail to voters reminding them to get out and cast a ballot.

Margie Lee-Syzmanski, a 64-year-old retired social worker from Chamblee and founder of Indivisible Marching Buddies, attended the Womens March on Washington in January and returnedto Georgia imbued with a feeling of activist vigor. I have not been an activist since the Vietnam War, Lee-Syzmanski told me, adding that she felt Trumps election was more than I could accept without standing up and saying something.

Indivisible Progressive Action Group for Atlanta was started by Annabeth Balance, an 80-year-old retired transit worker who owns a Native American jewelry store and has a degree in physics. (She didnt pursue a career in that field because, she said, all the jobs involved killing people.) Balance started organizing on behalf of Ossoff after civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., endorsed him. When he came up and said, Heres this young guy, Jon Ossoff, that Im supporting, that was it for me, she told Salon.

This local activism for Ossoff has been complemented by endorsements from online behemoths like Daily Kos, which was quick to recognize this district north of Atlanta as a potential pickup for Democrats and threw its support behind Ossoff. The resulting flood of donations help Ossoff raise a record-setting $8.3 million. David Nir, Daily Kos political director,told Salon in an email that endorsements from Lewis and Rep. Hank Johnson, both Atlanta area Democrats, showed that Ossoff had quickly consolidated considerable local support to a degree no other candidate had, so we jumped in. And from there, it all exploded.s

To see this level of grassroots enthusiasm is interesting because the assumption in Democratic politics is that the activist energy emanates primarily from the Bernie Sanders wing of the party, which powered Democratic candidate James Thompson to a near upsetearlier this week in Kansas fourth district (formerly represented by Mike Pompeo, now Trumps CIA director). Ossoff is in no way a Berniecrat; he preaches positivity and pragmatism at the expense of ideology, and his campaign style is so highly polished that youd be scared to run on it wearing socks.

I asked Ossoff if he would support a Medicare-for-all proposal of the sort that Sanders backs. He would not. I think we should be focused on incremental progress based upon the body of law on the books rather than going back to square one and proceeding from a starting point of ideological purity, he said. I think there needs to be less ideology around health care policy on the left and the right. (Ossoff demurred on whether hed back a Medicare buy-in option for Obamacare exchanges.)

For Democrats in Georgias 6th CongressionalDistrict, this is fine. I dont think hes a radical progressive, Lee-Syzmanski said. Hes not demanding free health care for everyone and la la la. Cynthia Canida, a physicians assistant from Atlanta, told me that she backed Ossoff because of his commitment to bring a progressive idea and to implement it in a way that reaches across the aisle. Complaints about hyperpartisanship were on the lips of just about everyone I talked to.

And, of course, theres the Trump factor. The president is not a popular person in this longtime Republican stronghold he won the district by just 1.5 points last year. Backlash directed atTrumps presidency is driving a good deal of the activism on which Ossoff is capitalizing. Mark Shepherd, a retired home inspector from Atlanta, shared withme that hes supportingOssoff to protect the marriage rights he and his husband now enjoy. Im 65; its time that me and my spouse, that we can kind of sit back and enjoy, he said. But I cant. Not with Trump.

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Activism in suburban Atlanta: Grassroots progressives hope to ... - Salon

And the pendulum swings

If Donald Trumps presidency and the success of the House Freedom Caucus resulted from the backlash unleashed by a certain type of conservative voter, who had long felt marginalized and ignored, then we are alreadyin just a few short monthswitnessing a strong counter-backlash.

Unlike the swing of a pendulum, which in normal circumstances will gradually lose momentum in response to the forces of friction, the political pendulum is still gaining speed and force.

Witness the rapid rocketing of Albemarle County native Tom Perriello to the top of a poll in the Virginia gubernatorial race.

Democrat Perriellos recent success comes not just in response to last years Republican victories but also is a reaction to, and rebuke against, fellow Democrats whom the progressive wing of the party view as too moderate.

Just as moderate Republicans have been tumbled from power over the past few years, now moderateor, at least, traditionalDemocrats are being challenged by a robust politically liberal movement. Republicans are being pushed further right; Democrats are being pulled further left.

The Democrats heir-apparent for Virginia governor has been Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, who has patiently bided his time in the No. 2 slot awaiting his chance at the nomination.

For both parties, gubernatorial candidates often step up to the nomination after serving as lieutenant governor or attorney general. Thats not always true, of course; current Gov. Terry McAuliffe was an exception. But service in one of the other two statewide positions is usually seen by party leaders as a prep step to the gubernatorial nomination.

Then out of left field came Tom Perriello.

Defeated by a Republican challenger in 2011 after one term in the House of Representatives, Mr. Perriello turned toward other forms of serviceincluding as a U.S. special envoy to parts of Africa, appointed by President Obama.

He announced his candidacy in early January, an apparent reaction to Hillary Clintons loss in the presidential election. Immediately after that loss, some critics began speculating that Ms. Clinton was too traditional, too mainstream, too tied to party insiders (and too flawed in other ways) to have had a chance of wowing and wooing voters. They argued that firebrand Bernie Sanders from the left wing of the party would have had a better chance.

Now Mr. Sanders has endorsed Tom Perriello and even has campaigned with him.

The progressive strategy is paying off. With the nomination only a couple of months away, a new poll puts Mr. Perriello ahead of Dr. Northam.

By todays standards of progressivism, Mr. Perriellos record as representative was more that of a moderate. But he clearly now identifies with the progressive wing of his party.

By the way, the governors race isnt the only place where a surge of progressivism may be swamping more midstream politicians.

In Charlottesville, several liberal movements have taken hold in recent years, from Occupy Charlottesville to the recently formed Equity and Progress in Charlottesville. A number of new candidates have filed to run for City Council, some of whom cite progressive social issues in their platforms.

By itself, the creation of EPiC, whose website stresses that Status quo is not good enough, signals that many city residents are unhappy with traditional Charlottesville politics.

Both statewide and locally, well see in the next election how far the swinging pendulum might take us. Based on the messages from the current backlash, it just might be a wild ride.

The (Charlottesville) Daily Progress

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EDITORIAL: Progressives seek a stamp on politics - The Daily Progress

In June 2016 the Supreme Court ruled on the biggest abortion case since Roe v. Wade, Whole Womans Health v. Hellerstedt. Inruling that regulations forabortion clinics must be rooted in medical necessity and scientific evidence, the court not only struck down two egregious abortion restrictions in Texas; it struck a major blow against the entire anti-choice movement.

For a decade now conservative activists have passed a series of abortion restrictions under the guise of protecting womens health, even though none of these laws do any such thing. The Supreme Court decision now makes it much harder for states to defend laws that dont do anything to improve health outcomes but seem to function only to make abortion services more expensive and difficult.

Its good news for pro-choice activists, but there is a wrinkle: No one is quite sure exactly what the Whole Womans decision means for the dozens of other laws, across dozensof other states, that restrict abortion access using disingenuous claimsabout womens health. The Supreme Courts decision knocked down the Texas laws, but made no specific mention of other states or restrictions such as waiting periods, mandatory ultrasounds, or requirements for doctors to read scripts with scary misinformation to women seeking abortion. Legal experts believe many of those laws would fall under a legal challenge, but so far that hasnt been tested.

The Supreme Court decision doesnt automatically strike all the laws across the country that restrict abortion access by other means, said Sarah Gillooly, policy director of the American Civil Liberties Union in North Carolina,over the phone. So in order for the decision in Whole Womans Health v. Hellerstedt to be real and enacted across the country, its going to require a two-part approach. In practice, she said, that means litigating every individual law that is in conflict with the Whole Womans Health decision, or state legislatures repealing those laws and codifying that decision.

Added Gillooly: Weve decided to pursue a Whole Womans Health Act in North Carolina to repeal a whole list of onerous abortions restrictions. The Whole Womans Health Actis aimed at codifying the Supreme Court decision its named after and wouldsimply banany regulations of abortion that burden abortion access and do not provide legitimate health benefits.

If it becomes law, the billis expected to void the many restrictions on abortion access that have passed over the years. It would save a lot of time and hassle for activists that would otherwise go into challenging each restriction separately.

The idea is taking off. Besides North Carolina, four other states Texas, Missouri, Georgiaand Virginia have seen Democratic legislators, egged on by activists, introduce similar bills that codify the language of Whole Womans Health v. Hellerstedt.

We are seeing the Whole Womans Health Acts in particular, being introduced in some states deeply hostile to reproductive rights, where advocates are using the bill to expose the very real harms caused by abortion restrictions in their state,said Amanda Allen, senior state legislative counsel for the Center for Reproductive Rights, in an email.

Exposeis key word here, as none of the activists I spoke with felt there was much chance of passing thesepro-choice bills in state legislatures, as long as they are controlled by Republicans. But putting these bills out there, they argue, helps spur conversation and educate voters about the anti-woman agenda driving anti-abortion bills.

Weknow that its important, in this moment, that we as advocates that support the right to abortion go on the offensive, said Gillooly. Especially with a climate towards reproductive health and abortion that is so incredibly hostile, we need to define our values and define what we need and what we want under the law.

One thing about our work in Georgia since 2015 is that we have continued to keep proactive legislation as a part of our legislative agenda, explained Kwajelyn Jackson of the Feminist Womens Health Centerin Georgia in a phone conversation. Wethink that is a really important part of our policy work. We werent just going to wait on restrictive legislation or attacks on reproductive justice to introduce new laws that protect abortion access.

Introducing the Whole Womens Health Act in Georgia, Jackson continued, created an opportunity to have conversations on the ground with folks who possibly, up to this point, may not have been as activated in this fight or not as aware of what is happening on the state level.

Going on the offensive can also help erode conservative power, argued Tarina Keene, the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, over the phone.Conservatives politiciansknow that anti-choice views are unpopular, Keene said, which is why they do their best to cover upwhat theyre actually doing to womens health care access.

Proactive legislation, Keene argued, creates opportunities for progressives to embarrass Republican politicians and highlight the extremism of their views. She pointed to another Virginia bill that NARAL backed that would make it easier for women to receive birth control in a timely manner. Earlier attempts to pass such a bill were met with aggressive Republican resistance, Keene said, but eventually, apparently realizing that opposing contraception is a bad look, the Republicans caved and the bill was passed into law.

Pro-choice activists are trying to do something similar with the Whole Womans Health Actin Virginia.When it was introduced in that stateby Democratic Delegate Jennifer Boysko, the chair of the House Courts of Justice Committee, Republican Delegate Dave Albo, refused to allow a hearing on the bill, much less a vote.

As you know, Albo wrote in a letter justifying his decision to Boysko, the Committee historically kills bills with liberal politics.

In reaction, pro-choice activists rallied outside theHouse Courts of Justice Committee, helping push the narrative that Republicans were too afraid of Boyskos bill to let it have a fair hearing.

Its that level of energy that pro-choice activists hope to tap into with Whole Womans Act efforts across the country.

We have seen an unprecedented outpouring of support and level of engagement since November, said Yvonne Gutierrez, the executive director of Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, by email. She also said theres been tremendous momentum since the Supreme Court decision and that activists are aware that extreme Texas legislators . . .will do everything to continue to push measures that cut off access to reproductive health care.

Other activists I spoke with concurred, noting that progressives in their states are fired up by what feels like an onslaught of attacks on womens rights over the past few years culminating, of course, in the election of Donald Trump and they are eager to direct that energy towards something substantive.

Although Georgia remains a red state, Jackson said, There is still a lot of power in progressive groups working on the grassroots level. Feminist organizers, she concluded, hope theWhole Womens Health Actin Georgia can provide such progressive activists a vision of the future that looks better than the status quo.

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Red-state progressives fight to protect abortion rights: Turning the tables on right-wing lawmakers - Salon

Residents of the City of St. Louis have elected a new mayor, marking the end of Francis G. Slays 16-year reign. To many progressives in the city, Slays announcement that he would not seek another term as mayor presented a unique and valuable opportunity to get a candidate in Room 200 of City Hall who would represent all of St. Louis, and not just wealthy white business interests and campaign donors.

In the Democratic primary, St. Louis progressives placed their hopes in Tishaura O. Jones. Jones campaigned using the slogan One St. Louis and demonstrated an understanding of many citizens discontent with the status quo. Calling for investments in St. Louis public schools and underdeveloped neighborhoods in the largely black and lower-income portions of St. Louis while promoting fiscal responsibility, Jones blasted large taxpayer-funded projects like the Major League Soccer stadium. Alas, she lost by 888 votes to Lyda Krewson.

Krewson has received justified criticism for her track record as 28th Ward alderwoman. She pushed for the gentrification of the Central Corridor and supported closing the homeless shelter at the New Life Evangelistic Center (NLEC). She embraced the endorsement of Jeff Roorda and the St. Louis Police Officers Association.

On matters of policing and race, Krewson advocates for more training for police officers and to look at everything through a racial equity lens. In fact, the reinforcement of racist structures with narratives of more training only makes the faults in them more nuanced and easier to conceal, rather than abolishing them. Promises of racial equity also fail to convince when trends of gentrification and neoliberal economic policy accumulate, while the citys poorer neighborhoods are sold the idea of needing more police in exchange for safety.

The core of Krewsons priorities becomes apparent through her enmity toward people experiencing homelessness in St. Louis and her policies and rhetoric around closing the NLEC shelter without a suitable alternative. Krewson stated that the NLEC doors should be chained shut. In an attempt to distance herself from these condemnations, she has remained silent as the City of St. Louis was named the defendant in a lawsuit decrying individuals experiencing homelessness being warehoused in a city garage.

Krewson previously drafted an ordinance that criminalizes panhandling. Not all individuals experiencing homelessness panhandle, though one may draw the conclusion that she thinks so after saying of homeless people in 2008 that most arent interested in regular employment. Often panhandling is more lucrative.

It is for these reasons that progressives and every resident who has great concern about where our country and our city are headed over the next four years, given constantly widening class and race divides must hold our new mayor accountable.

Kennard Wiliams is a St. Louis native, community organizer, and social justice advocate.

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Progressives must hold Krewson accountable | Guest Columnists ... - St. Louis American

The event, scheduled to be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Munn Park, is organized by Lakeland Indivisible, a progressive group formed in response to Trumps election.

LAKELAND Janice Cook of Lakeland flew to Washington, D.C., in January to join some half a million people gathered for the Womens March, held a day after the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

Cook and other local residents hope to generate a similar spirit of progressive passion at an eventSaturday in Lakeland. Though named the Lakeland Womens March, the event is arally no actual marching will take place and organizers welcome male participants.

The event, scheduled to be heldfrom 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Munn Park, is organized by Lakeland Indivisible, a progressive group formed in response to Trumps election.

U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, a Democrat from Kissimmee, is one of the scheduled speakers.

We wanted to bring the spirit of the (Washington) Womens March to Lakeland, but we also wanted to be productive while doing it, so Lakeland Indivisible got involved to help organize the event, Cook said. Well be celebrating equality and also showing our area and other progressives, Yes, were here. Were giving people a chance to see there are progressives in this county and this town.

Cook, a public health social worker, said she plans to bring her 12-year-old daughter to the rally.

Cook, 31, said the event will raise money for Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union. Planned Parenthood, a nonprofit that offers health services at clinics across the country, faces threats of federal defunding from Trump and conservatives in Congress because some clinics perform abortions.

Anna V. Eskamani, senior director for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, is one of the scheduled speakers. Victor Sims, a Winter Haven resident who unsuccessfully challenged Florida Rep. Neil Combee last year, is also on the roster.

The rally will feature family and childrens activities, including a bounce house and face painting, said Jessica Gann, another organizer with Lakeland Indivisible.

Bands will begin playing about 11 a.m., and the speakers will begin shortly after 1 p.m.

Lakeland Indivisible paid to have police officers on hand in case of any conflicts with counter-demonstrators.

The rally doesnt have a single theme or purpose, the organizers said. The event will promote the right to legal abortion and full protections for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population, among other issues, they said.

Gann, 27, said the rally will project a spirit of inclusiveness.

We want to show our community that there is a huge portion of us that want equality we want to celebrate the equality we have and fight for the equality we stand to lose, Gann said. We dont want to lose our reproductive rights. We dont want families separated due to immigration laws. We dont want our Muslim neighbors to be discriminated against because of their religion.

Planned Parenthood and the ACLU will have information booths at the rally, Cook said. Public health organizations will also have a presence.

Gann said a Facebook page devoted to the rally has drawn pledges to attend from about 600 people, with another 1,200 expressing interest in the event.

Were really excited to see what we actually have, Gann said. If it goes as wonderfully as were hoping, we would like to maybe make it an annual celebration thing for the community.

Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13.

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Lakeland Women's March out to promote progressive values - News ... - News Chief