The Campaign to Elect Wali "Diop" Rahman Mayor of Philadelphia
The past 120 days in Philadelphia, PA have been a whirlwind of hard work, struggle and intense organizing similar to the very recent Uhuru Freedom Summer Project in St. Petersburg FL. The Campaign to Elect Wali "Diop" Rahman Mayor of Philadelphia is a grassroots campaign that skyrocketed off the ground almost immediately from the first moment the idea was raised that Diop Olugbala, International President of the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement, run for mayor to directly challenge Michael Nutter, the neo-colonial African incumbent mayor of Philadelphia -- the same leader who ordered Diop's arrest for protesting the city's War Budget in 2009 -- for leadership of this city.
Diop has organized and won support in nearly every sector of this city. The campaign has taken Diop from the Broad Street subway trains selling Burning Spears -- a critical aspect of the ongoing organizing work InPDUM does regularly in Philly -- to the School Reform Commission, to City Council Chambers during the hearing on the newly passed extended youth curfew bill, to candidates forums facing Republican "also-ran" candidate Karen Brown (Nutter has yet to show up for any candidates forums), to the cover of Philadelphia Weekly and TV appearances on NBC 10 @Issue and CBS 3 "Newsmakers" (see below).
Standing on a solid platform consistent with the principles of InPDUM and the African People's Socialist Party, Diop is running for economic development, community control of police, education, housing and food access for the oppressed and impoverished African and Latino communities as a path to shared prosperity -- where one community doesn't live at the expense of any others in this city.
Occupy Philadelphia -- nearly a month old in its occupation of City Hall against the Wall Street "1%" -- has endorsed Diop as THE candidate to vote for on November 8th, along with the organizations International Action Center, PEACE Coalition, People of Color Committee, and of course, Uhuru Solidarity Movement. Diop has spoken several to Occupy Philly (see here, and here), expressing unity with the anti-imperialist actions and posing a challenge to the activists to take a deeper stand in solidarity with liberation and justice for African and other oppressed peoples. The General Assembly broke protocol by applauding Diop with a rousing response to his appeal to endorse and build for the November 5th Black is Back Coalition "Stop the Wars and Build the Resistance" mobilization.
The city now knows that Wali "Diop" Rahman will be on the ballot on Tuesday, November 8th. His ballot number is #417 -- make sure you find #417 and vote for Diop!
We standing in unconditional solidarity with Diop's campaign and we know that victory will be won!
Diop for Mayor!
Run Hard!
Uhuru!
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