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Alan Grayson

(485 posts)
Tue Sep 2, 2014, 02:25 PM Sep 2014

#FERGUSON: How Alan Grayson tried to demilitarize the police

[em]Democracy for America (DFA), the largest membership group for Democrats, sent this note to its members on Sunday. DFA has named Rep. Alan Grayson it’s “#1 Hero in the House.” [/em]:

[strong]A true progressive leader is someone who anticipates a problem before it becomes a national crisis.[/strong]

Thanks to Ferguson, Missouri, the entire country now knows that the militarization of our local police is a huge problem that threatens our safety and our freedoms.

[strong]Police militarization isn't news to Rep. Alan Grayson. He was already leading the fight against it in Congress, before it became national news. [/strong]

In June, two months before Ferguson, he proposed an amendment that would have blocked the Pentagon from transferring military surplus to local police agencies. Had that amendment been in place a few years ago, St. Louis County police might not have had the armored vehicles and sniper rifles that they used to threaten peaceful protesters.

Alan Grayson's bold, progressive leadership on demilitarizing the police is just the latest example of why it is so important that we have him in Congress. [strong]Alan Grayson fights for our values when few others will. That makes him a hero -- and it makes him a right-wing target. [/strong]

DFA is endorsing Alan Grayson because we cannot afford to lose an ally like him in Congress. Will you chip in $20 today to support this progressive leader?

Alan Grayson's leadership has repeatedly changed the conversation in Congress and won important progressive victories.

[strong]When he and Congressman Mark Takano joined forces to write a letter vowing they would never vote to cut Social Security, it sparked a revolt among House Democrats who successfully saved Social Security -- for now. [/strong]

That kind of leadership is why Republicans desperately want to defeat him. In 2010, they beat Grayson during the Tea Party wave. But Grayson fought back in 2012 and won, thanks to his unashamed embrace of progressive values.

[strong]We can't let Tea Party extremists take down Grayson in 2014. He's asked DFA members for their help, and I hope you'll respond.[/strong] From protecting and expanding Social Security, to fighting corporate power, to demilitarizing our police, and so much more, Alan Grayson is a leader we cannot afford to lose.

Alan Grayson has stood with us when we needed him the most. Now it's time for us to stand with him. Chip in $20 now to re-elect Alan Grayson to Congress.

Thank you for standing up for a progressive hero.

- Charles

Charles Chamberlain, Executive Director
Democracy for America

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