Maxine Waters

Maxine Waters

Maxine Waters is a pro socialist Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 35th district of California.

Waters is based in Los Angeles, but was originally from St. Louis Missouri. Following massive civil unrest in the city in 1992, she appeared widely in national media to discuss the despair in urban America. She has called for redirecting resources from the "war on drugs" to prevention and treatment, and for repealing mandatory minimum sentencing laws for minor drug offenses. She spent 14 years in the California State Assembly, where she rose to the position of Democratic Caucus Chair and was responsible for such legislation as the largest divestment of state pension funds from South Africa, landmark affirmative action legislation, and the introduction of the nation’s first plant closure law.

Waters chaired the Out of Iraq Caucus, having entered Congress in 1991. She was a leader in the movement to end South African Apartheid.

Waters is married to Sidney Williams, former U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas.

Background

Born on August 15, 1938, in St. Louis to Remus and Velma Lee Carr Moore, Waters was one of thirteen children. In 1961, she moved to Los Angeles, where she found work in a garment factory and as a telephone operator. In 1966, Waters was hired as an assistant teacher with the newly formed Head Start program in Watts. Waters decided to attend college while working at Head Start, and in 1970 earned a sociology degree from California State University in Los Angeles.

Political career

Waters became the voice for frustrated Head Start parents. Her efforts encouraged these parents to make federal budget requests, to contact legislators and agencies for increased funding, and to lobby for Head Start components tailored to their community. Waters' concern for parents' rights led her to become involved in local politics, and in 1973 she went to work as chief deputy to City Councilman David Cunningham.

In 1976, Waters quit her job and successfully ran for election to the California State Assembly. During her tenure in the State Assembly, Waters authored numerous pieces of legislation, including a law requiring state agencies to award a percentage of public contracts to minorities and women; tenants' rights laws; a law restricting police efforts to use strip searches; and the largest divestment of state pension funds from businesses involved in South Africa.

After serving for fourteen years in the California State Assembly, in 1990 Waters successfully ran for a seat in the 29th Congressional District of California, formerly belonging to retiring far left Rep. Augustus Hawkins. In 1992, Waters ran in the much larger 35th District, representing South Central Los Angeles, Inglewood, Gardena and Hawthorne, and won 83 percent of the vote. Waters continues to represent the 35th District and has been active on a number of issues, including affirmative action, community development, women's health and welfare reform.

Waters focused attention on the plight of inner-city communities as well as the allegations of CIA involvement in Contra cocaine drug trafficking in South Central Los Angeles in the mid-1980s.

Ceasefire Now Resolution

November 17, 2023: A full list of members of Congress who have called for a ceasefire in the one month since the Ceasefire Now Resolution was introduced includes: Representatives Cori Bush (MO-01)*, Rashida Tlaib (MI-12)*, Andre Carson (IN-07)*, Summer Lee (PA-12)*, Delia Ramirez (IL-03)*, Jamaal Bowman (NY-16)*, Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12)*, Chuy Garcia (IL-04)*, Jonathan Jackson (IL-01)*, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14)*, Ilhan Omar (MN-05)*, Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)*, Nydia Velazquez (NY-07)*, Barbara Lee (CA-12)*, Pramila Jayapal (WA-07)*, Greg Casar (TX-35)*, Alma Adams (NC-12)*, Maxwell Frost (FL-10)*, Jim McGovern (MA-02), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Al Green (TX-09), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Don Beyer (VA-08), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Becca Balint (VT), and Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), and Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

Resolution condemning socialism

Fedrary 2, 2023 House Republicans moved a Resolution condemning socialism and certain dictators.

The Resolution began:

Whereas socialist ideology necessitates a concentration of power that has time and time again collapsed into Communist regimes, totalitarian rule, and brutal dictatorships;

Whereas socialism has repeatedly led to famine and mass murders, and the killing of over 100,000,000 people worldwide;

Whereas many of the greatest crimes in history were committed by socialist ideologues, including Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Fidel Castro, Pol Pot, Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un, Daniel Ortega, Hugo Chavez, and Nicolás Maduro;

Eighty six Democrats voted no. Forteen voted "present" and six didn't vote.

Representative Maxine Waters voted "Nay".

Our Revolution endorsement 2022

Our Revolution endorsed Maxine Waters in 2022.

Effort to Stop Development Projects

Rep. Ro Khanna, Tefere Gebre of Greenpeace, Grace Tuttle of Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights and Naadiya Hutchinson, Government Affairs Manager at WE ACT for Environmental Justice were listed as speakers for a "Special Town Hall" dated September 15, 2022 sponsored by Our Revolution. The meeting is to discuss strategies to stop the public from using strategic litigation to shut down development prjects. Our Revolution, Greenpeace, Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights (POWHR) and WE ACT for Environmental Justice participated. In a mass email, Our Revolution linked to a letter signed by democrats to thwart development projects.

From the event invitation:

"Our Revolution, America’s largest grassroots progressive organization, is partnering with Greenpeace USA to stop a looming threat to our communities and our planet. together, we are hosting a Town Hall to mobilize our networks of millions of members and hundreds of local chapters to stop a deal negotiated between Senator Joe Manchin, The American Petroleum Institute (API), and Democratic leadership to fast track permitting of fossil fuel extraction projects, leading to potential catastrophic climate impacts.

Join frontline communities and our allies in Congress to learn what you can do to help us stop Manchin's Dirty Deal!

From a mass email sent by Our Revolution dated September 12, 2022:

"Our Revolution is leading the charge alongside frontline communities and environmental justice groups like Greenpeace to kill Joe Manchin’s side deal for more dirty oil favors.

"Manchin is willing to shut down the government for more fossil fuel projects like the Mountain Valley Pipeline in WV and strip safeguards from impacted communities.

"Dems can’t celebrate “the biggest climate steps in history” while reversing them by caving to a literal coal baron.

"Our coalition of 650 organizations is urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to detach the deal from the must-pass bill to fund the government — we cannot let Manchin hold us hostage!

"Bernie railed against it on the Senate floor this week and says he’ll vote it down, and Our Revolution is calling for a progressive mutiny in Congress.

"A coalition of 72 US House Reps have signed onto a letter led by US Rep. Raul Grijalva - but we need more of our representatives in Congress to stand in opposition.

Maxine Waters signed the letter.

Calls on Americans to harass President Trump's cabinet members

Maxine Waters at Los Angeles rally

Referencing the bombardment of the head of the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen by Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America members Margaret McLaughlin, Allison Hrabar, Jesse Rabinowitz and others as reported at the Daily Beast in an article titled "DSA Says They’re Coming After More Trump Officials After Ruining Kirstjen Nielsen's Dinner," Maxine Waters called for people to impeach Trump, further saying "If you see anybody from that cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd. You push back on them. Tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere!"

Maxine Waters made similar comments on MSNBC:

Maxine Waters on MSNBC

"I have no sympathy for these people that are in this administration who, you know, know it is wrong what they are doing on so many fronts but they tend to not want to confront this president or even leave…And I want to tell you, for these members of his cabinet who remain and try to defend him, they are not going to be able to go to a restaurant, they are not going to be able to stop at a gas station, they are not going to be able to shop in a department store. The people are going to turn on them, they are gonna protest, they are gonna absolutely harass them."

UMMA Community Clinic

For the clinic’s 10 year anniversary, UMMA Community Clinic "was recognized by Congresswoman Maxine Waters on the floor of the House of Representatives, and this past October, UMMA Community Clinic was one of three clinics invited to the White House to discuss the pivotal role of free clinics in the medically underserved community."

Maxine Waters Recognized "several founders of the UMMA Community Clinic and other individuals who are affiliated with the UMMA Clinic":,

Finance committee

In December 2012, Waters was chosen as the ranking Democratic member of the House Financial Service Committee for the 113th Congress.

CES event

On June 3, 1975, Coalition for Economic Survival honored Rep. Parren Mitchell, at a banquet at the Airport Hyatt Inn, Los Angeles. Mitchell was being honored because of his Transfer Amendment - which would redirect several billion from military to social spending.

CES chair Rev. Al Dortch presided. Sharing the podium with Mitchell were William Robertson, exec secretary of the Los Angeles Federation of Labor, and Humberto Comacho of the United Electrical Workers.

Ruth Yanatta, newly elected Santa Monica councilor and CES founder, was also an honored guest.

Assemblywomen Maxine Waters also presented an award from the state legislative black caucus, to Mitchell and CES.

Honorary co-chairs of the event included Ed Asner, former US rep Yvonne Braithwaite Burke, US reps John Conyers and Ed Roybal, and actor John Randolph.

Supporting Van Nuys workers

Cesar Chavez and California State Rep. Maxine Waters alongside General Motors employees at the Van Nuys Assembly plant in 1983.

FPP conference

According to the Communist Workers Party newspaper Workers Viewpoint March 9 1983, page 3, more than 300 people gathered in Los Angeles to organize a large solidarity conference to coincide with the 1984 los Angeles Olympics.

Organized by Federation For Progress, participants included CISPES, Gray Panthers, ACLU, Alliance for Survival, National Lawyers Guild, NOW, National Resistance Coalition, and United Against Black Genocide.

The conference opened with presentations from Michio Kaku, Wilson Riles, Jr. of the Oakland City Council and Nancy Baker of San Diego Coalition of Labor Union Women. It ended with a powerful presentation at the First Unitarian Church where Phillip Zwerling an advisory board member of the Greensboro Justice Fund was Minister.

California State Assembymember Maxine Waters, Ramsey Clark, Michio Kaku and San Francisco Supervisor Harry Britt, "raised the political and spiritual challenges confronting the American people in the struggle for jobs, peace and equality."

Highlight of the conference was the discussion of plans for the 1984 Olympics. Participants were Carol Ono of Federation for Progress, Berkeley professor Harry Edwards, UCLA instructor Judy Chu and Mark Ridley-Thomas, president of the SCLC.

Ad Hoc Committee to Keep South Africa out of the Olympics

In December 1983, a creation of the Federation for Progress, the Ad Hoc Committee to Keep South Africa out of the Olympics wrote a letter:

We have reason to believe that there will be an attempt by the expelled South African Olympic Committee to regain membership in the International Olympic Committee. Some indication of this has appeared in the Economist (September 3, 1983) which states, "The South Africans are going to plead in some foreign high courts that their exclusion from international athletics is contrary to signed international athletic agreements...If they get their declaration, they intend to ask the California courts to enforce it...."

We therefore call on the President of the International Olympic Committee, the President of the U.S. Olympic Committee, and the Chair of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee to:

J) issue a clear. public declaration that they will oppose any efforts by the racist regime of South Africa to regain membership in the International Olympic Committee; 2) support the Commonwealth Games Federation resolution; 3) issue a public declaration opposing the establishment of a South African information center in Los Angeles to promote propaganda legitimizing apartheid in sport.

Sincerely,

• Dennis Brutus President, South African Non-Raciall Olympic Committee
• Randall Robinson, Executive Director TransAfrica
• Assemblywoman Maxine Waters, 48th District CA
• Richard Lapchick National Chairperson of American Coordinating Committee For Equality in Sports and Society
• Vusi Shangase, Representative, African National Congress
• Judy Chu President, Los Angeles Chapter, Federation For Progress
• Elliot Barker, Representative, Unity in Action
• Robert Farrell, Los Angeles City Councilman 8th District CA
• Midge Constanza Former Assistant to President Carter
• Reverend Thomas Kilgore, Second Baptist Church, Los Angeles
• Frank Beeman, Athletic Director of Michigan State University

Growth Pains

Growth Pains: Dialogues on Employment, Equality and Environment, was convened at the University of California, Berkley, Feb. 16-19, 1984. It was sponsored by Democratic Socialists of America and Socialist Review.. Maxine Waters of the California State Assembly spoke on American Politics and Economic Growth.

Jackson campaign

In 1984 and 1988 Maxine Waters was California state chair of the Jesse Jackson campaign.

Organizing the Rainbow

The Rainbow Organizer November/December 1989

By 1988 Maxine Waters and Mike Murase were key organizers of the California Rainbow Coalition.

1987 Rainbow conference/Board

At the 1987 National Rainbow convention in Raleigh North Carolina, a new board was elected, which included Maxine Waters.

Free South Africa Movement

Congresswoman Maxine Waters, the chair of the Los Angeles Free South Africa Movement, spoke to the media, December 13, 2013, about the life, values and legacy of Nelson Mandela. She shared stories about her experiences and relationship with President Mandela.

Murase connection

Mike Murase worked in the Free South Africa Movement, and in the early 2000s, as a district director for Congresswoman Maxine Waters.

Murase retirement party

Meeting Maoists

Asian American voters will hold an evening with Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) on Thursday, Aug. 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. 2012, at the New Gardena Hotel, 1641 W. Redondo Beach Blvd.

Due to redistricting, Waters now represents the new 43rd Congressional District, which includes Gardena, Torrance, Harbor Gateway, Lomita and Hawthorne. She will give brief remarks and take part in casual conversation and exchange of ideas with her constituents on such topics as jobs, health care, veterans’ issues, Medicare, Social Security, home foreclosures, student loans, safe neighborhoods, quality education, and business development.

Host committee: Assemblymember Warren Furutani, Sam Joo, Traci Kato-Kiriyama, Dennis Kobata, Alison Kochiyama, Dean Matsubayashi, Mike Murase, Erich Nakano, Alan Nishio, Amy Phillips, Jan Tokumaru, Diane Ujiiye.

Karen Bass connection

In the late '80s/early '90s Karen Bass became involved with the Free South Africa Movement where she met and worked with Maxine Waters

Supported Communist Party front

Waters has supported several Communist Party USA fronts and causes including the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, which was led by leading Party members Angela Davis and Charlene Mitchell.

In 1982, then California State Assemblywoman Waters lent her name to this NAARPR pamphlet.

Carthan event

A rally supporting jailed former Tchula, Mississippi mayor Eddie Carthan was scheduled for November 6, 1982 at the 1st A.M.E. Church, 2270 S. Harvard, Los Angeles, sponsored by the CPUSA front, the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression NAARPR Los Angeles branch. Its key speakers were, according to a flier distributed at UCLA in October, 1982, the following:

• Angela Davis - San Francisco State University, author of "Women, Race and Class", and Co-chairperson of NAARPR; leading member of the CPUSA
• Assemblywoman Maxine Waters - State Assemblywoman, 48th Assembly District
• Charlene Mitchell - Executive Secretary, NAARPR, and leading member of the CPUSA

Cannon connection

As a member of the Communist Party USA, Oneil Cannon became the education director in the Southern California District, and a member of the Party’s Southern California and National Central Committees.

Cannon was committed to electing Black and Latino representatives at all levels of government. He helped to elect Augustus Hawkins, Tom Bradley, Ed Roybal, Diane Watson, Maxine Waters, and Karen Bass.

Cannon campaigned for Barack Obama in 2008, and wept with joy along with millions of others when he was elected. He died peacefully, wearing one of his Obama T-shirts.

Women for a Meaningful Summit

In 1989 Maxine Waters served on the Board of Directors of Women for a Meaningful Summit.

National Rainbow Coalition 1990 conference

In May 3-6, 1990 the National Rainbow Coalition held a successful conference in Atlanta, attended by over 1,000.

Bernie Demczuk, national labor coordinator of the Rainbow, organized a contingent. Jack Sheinkman, president of the ACTWU, hosted a labor breakfast.

California Assemblywoman Maxine Waters, has been the strongest leader in the California Rainbow, also attended, as did Leslie Cagan, a Rainbow board member.

Greeting Chris Hani

More than 250 labor, peace, civil rights and political leaders greeted South African Communist Party leader Chris Hani at his April 27, 1991 appearance in Los Angeles. The crowd contributed more than $12,000 towards the People's Weekly World fund drive and the work of the South African Communist Party.

Los Angeles City Council member Robert Farrell, presented Hani with a resolution signed by Mayor Tom Bradley and City Council president John Ferraro, welcoming him as "one of the most highly respected and powerful voices of the anti Apartheid movement."

The welcoming committee included reps Maxine Waters, Mervyn Dymally and Matthew Martinez, State senator Diane Watson, Los Angeles School board president Jackie Goldberg and more than 30 labor, civic and entertainment leaders including Cesar Chavez of the United Farmworkers.

Waters sent a letter of greeting to Hani and Yengeni saying, "as the struggle within South Africa continues to develop from one stage to the next, please be assured that all of us will continue to be at your side. Your struggle is our struggle".

Evelina Alarcon, chair of the Southern California district of the Communist Party USA, introduced Hani, She drew rousing cheers as she pledged, on behalf of the audience and the welcoming committee, continued efforts to maintain sanctions against South Africa.

Supported Communist Party call

In May 1992 the Communist Party USA newspaper Peoples Weekly World published a May Day supplement which included a call to "support our continuing struggle for justice and dignity"

Endorsers of the call included Congresswoman Maxine Waters, California.

MAPA endorsement

Over 130 delegates to the Mexican American Retro Region Primary Endorsing Convention in Los Angeles April 25, 1992 voted to endorse those Congressional, State Senate, Assembly, and county supervisor candidates who took the strongest pro labor and pro immigrant stands.

Guest speakers were Maria Elena Durazo, President of Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 11, Gilbert Cedillo of Service Employees Local 660, and Alfredo Pascoy of the Mexico's Revolutionary Democratic Party.

Maxine Waters won the Mexican American Political Association's support to be the Democratic candidate for the 35th Congressional District.

Empowerment '92

Empowerment '92: A Call to Action Conference, was held June 6 to 9, 1992. African American community activists, joined with trade unionists, politicians, peace activists, environmentalists and others to discuss how to change the nation's priorities as the economic crisis deepens.

Of the upcoming conference DC Statehood Senator Jesse Jackson said..."We issue this Call to Action to reaffirm and reassert our vision of a true world order, one based on peace, justice and human priorities. our message, translated into action can, and must srt a new direction for our nation".

Speakers included;

• Rep. Maxine Waters, (D - Calif.)
• Dorothy Height, President of the National Council of Negro Women
• Sen. Al Gore (D-Tenn.)
• David Dinkins (NYC mayor)
• Richard Trumka (President, United Mine Workers
• Dennis Rivera, Local 1199
• Ron Brown, chair of Democratic Party
• Sen. Paul Simon (D-Ill.)
• Karen Nussbaum,executive director of 9 to 5 National Association of Working Women
• Toney Anaya, former Governor of New Mexico.

CBTU Missouri

In October 1992, Maxine Waters was keynote speaker at a Coalition of Black Trade Unionists meeting in St Louis Missouri - the 8th annual Ernest and Deverne Calloway Award at the Embassy Suites Hotel.

"Organized labor has suffered mightily in the last few years....Use the lessons of the Civil Rights movement to organize new plants and industries."

Spring Action' 89

With Maxine Waters, Mabel Teng, Betty Parent, Art Torres, Dolores Huerta.

"Solidarity"

Circa 1984, July 17, at the Great Electronic Underground, San Francisco, Democratic Socialists of America's American Solidarity Movement organized a reception "Solidarity"at the Democratic Party Convention, in support of US labor.

Sponsors included Rep. Waters.

CBC/NOI Alliance

At a rare public gathering, September 16, 193, a diverse group of African-American leaders pledged greater unity within their sometimes fractured ranks, including the announcement of a more formalized working relationship between the Congressional Black Caucus and the Nation of Islam.

In a declaration of unity that brought a standing ovation from the crowd that included factions that have been at odds in the past, caucus chairman Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) said, "No longer will we allow people to divide us."

The agreement between the caucus and the often controversial Nation of Islam means that the two groups will consult on legislative issues and develop common strategies, much like the caucus and the NAACP have done on major issues such as the Lani Guinier nomination and President Clinton's budget package, he said.

The occasion was a caucus-sponsored town hall meeting entitled "Race in America," in which Mfume, Nation of Islam minister Louis Farrakhan, NAACP executive director Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Jesse Jackson, a former presidential candidate, were brought together to discuss what all agreed was the sorry state of race relations and solutions to the problems facing African Americans.

In the process, some tensions in their ranks surfaced unexpectedly and further underscored what all had agreed was the need for greater unity.

But Mfume, in the spirit of unity, announced at the close of the program that, "We want the word to go forward today to friend and foe alike that the Congressional Black Caucus, after having entered into a sacred covenant with the NAACP to work for real and meaningful change, will enter into that same covenant with the Nation of Islam" and other organizations, such as fraternities, sororities and professional groups...

The announcement of the formal Congressional Black Caucus-Nation of Islam alliance capped the event. The caucus and individual members have had informal relations with the Farrakhan group for years. But the Nation of Islam has not been deeply involved in national legislative issues; thus what positions it would take on various public policy issues is unknown.

Defending the Nation

From The Final Call;

In Washington, D.C., after the Muslims of the Nation’s Muhammad Mosque No. 4 brought peace to the violence ridden and open air drug market at the notorious Mayfair Mansions apartment complex, Jewish groups with attack dogs like Republican Representative Peter King of New York forced local public housing authorities to sever ties with a privately-owned security firm that emerged out of unarmed “Dopebuster” patrols. The late 1980s effort curbed open air drug dealing, violence and allowed for multi-million dollar public housing renovations in D.C., the work also spread to other cities.

Despite their great work, the companies were subjected to a congressional hearing and targeting.

“Calling the Nation ‘a hate group’ and its leader, Minister Louis Farrakhan, ‘a racist, Rep. Peter T. King (R., N.Y.) accused the firms of ‘proselytizing’ on the job, recruiting public housing tenants to Farrakhan’s gospel, and funneling government money to the Nation of Islam,” reported the Philadelphia Enquirer in March 1995. “But King had little proof, and company representatives at the hearing denied the allegations.”

And while Rep. King, with support from fellow Republicans Bob Barr (R., Ga.) and Dick Chrysler (R., Mich.), hurled the “hate group” slur at the Nation, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros said there was no such thing under federal law.

Targeting groups based on religion could endanger federal contracts let to groups like Catholic Charities and even the Jewish Anti-Defamation League, he warned.

Sec. Cisneros added that the FBI maintained a terrorist list but the Nation of Islam was not on the list.

Black lawmakers Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) expressed concern about the 1995 hearing, warning of a near “witch hunt” of Believers in Islam.

The businesses subjected to scrutiny were NOI Security Agency of Washington; NOI Security Patrol Services Inc. of Baltimore, X-Men Security in New York and Chicago’s New Life Self Development Inc.

Haiti arrest

Three members of Congress were arrested May 1994, in front of the White House in a protest against the U.S. policy of forcibly returning Haitian refugees.

Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles), Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) and Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) were handcuffed and taken into custody for refusing a police order to move. They were later released.

The three were protesting the U.S. policy of forcibly returning Haitians who flee their homeland by sea, a policy that President Clinton earlier had said he wanted to change but ultimately embraced to stem the flow of refugees to Florida.

"Unfortunately, this Administration has dragged its feet," Waters said. "The people continue to die. They continue to take to the high seas, and we're here to say we're prepared . . . to go to jail in defiance of this Administration's policy."

DSA "Economic Insecurity" meeting

In 1995, DC/MD/Northern VA. Democratic Socialists of America co-sponsored the first of DSA's national series of town meetings on economic security. This hearing was held in a church on September 27 and was scheduled to feature three members of Congress: Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Maxine Waters (D-CA).

DSA endorsement

In July 1996, the Democratic Socialists of America Political Action Committee endorsed Maxine Waters, California 35, in that year's Congressional elections.

"Crack" cocaine investigation

In September 1996, the Justice Department and a key House committee began separate investigations into possible CIA connections to a Bay Area drug ring that helped ignite the "crack" cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, widening the federal government's inquiry into the matter.

"The integrity of our justice system is at stake," said U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D- Calif., who announced the Justice Department probe of information uncovered in a Mercury News series, "Dark Alliance."

"It is completely unacceptable for the United States to have been involved in any way with the trafficking of drugs over our borders."

The Justice Department investigators will cooperate with the CIA's inspector general, who also has launched on a full investigation into allegations that have enraged the Congressional Black Caucus and lighted up switchboards at talk radio stations nationwide for weeks.

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, also released a letter from House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., stating that the House intelligence committee would look into the matter, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The investigations stem from the Mercury News' three-part series, which detailed how a Bay Area drug ring sold tons of cocaine to the street gangs of South-Central Los Angeles and funneled millions in drug profits to the CIA-backed Contras, who were at war with Nicaragua's left-wing Sandinista government.

Traced to dealers The series traced the crack cocaine explosion to two Nicaraguan cocaine dealers, Danilo Blandon and Norwin Meneses, who were civilian leaders of the Frente Democratica Nicaraguense (FDN), an anti-communist commando group formed and run by the CIA during the 1980s.

Blandon, who is now an undercover informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration, admitted in federal court recently that his biggest customer was a South-Central crack dealer named "Freeway" Rick Ross, who turned Blandon's cocaine into crack and distributed it to the Crips and Bloods street gangs. Blandon told the DEA in 1995 that at the height of his business with Ross, he was providing 100 kilograms of cocaine a week to the gangs.

Feinstein said Michael Bromwich, the Justice Department's inspector general, will look into the DEA informant's testimony.

Ex-federal prosecutor Bromwich is a former federal prosecutor who worked in the narcotics unit for New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani when he was a U.S. attorney. Bromwich also was associate counsel from 1987 to 1989 for the independent counsel investigating the Iran-Contra scandal.

"While I am fully aware that these events occurred during the Reagan and Bush administrations, it is unconscionable to let the implication stand that the United States helped introduce the crack cocaine epidemic into the streets of our cities," Feinstein said in a letter to Attorney General Janet Reno, seeking the probe.

"The implications are far too deep and the connections far too strong," Feinstein wrote, adding later: "I urge you to dispel these notions by getting to the bottom of these allegations. We must be honest about our past to ensure that our work to stop the flow of drugs in the future may continue without the tarnish of corruption these charges have brought."

CIA Director John Deutch ordered the spy agency's inspector general to investigate the report after Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Rep. Maxine Waters called for a probe.

In 1985 and 1986, the Sandinista Government made a variety of claims that CIA or the Contras were connected to drug trafficking:

In 1985 Nicaraguan Foreign Minister D'Escoto had complained to the Costa Rican Foreign Minister that Eden Pastora was building airfields which were to be used for narcotics trafficking to support his group.

Crack the CIA Coalition

Maria Guardado worked in the Crack the CIA Coalition with Michael Zinzun and Representative Maxine Waters. Maria's insistence on the connection between US intervention, the contra war in Nicaragua, the war on drugs and the devastation of the crack addiction epidemic in black and brown communities, all played a dynamic role in expanding the discussion and political work of this coalition, which was able to uncover the most sickest of crimes of the CIA and top US military and political officials of the 80's and 90's that accelerated the racist mass incarceration complex of today.

Formation

A coalition of over 80 different groups calling itself Crack the CIA demonstrated in Los Angeles Feb. 22 against CIA drug running in the oppressed communities.

For many years it has been known in the progressive movement that the Central Intelligence Agency employs torture, murder and other brutal and illegal methods to advance U.S. imperialist interests abroad.

But articles last summer in the San Jose Mercury News by Gary Webb made many people aware for the first time of the CIA's role in poisoning the Black and oppressed communities of Los Angeles with crack cocaine to finance the Nicaraguan Contras. The contras' job was to overthrow the popular revolutionary Sandinista government.

When Webb's story first broke, over 2,000 people expressed their outrage at a rally and Town Hall meeting organized by Rep. Maxine Waters. They demanded justice for the crimes committed by the CIA.

The ruling class was so worried about the mass anger toward the CIA and the government that then-CIA Director John Deutch attended the Town Hall meeting in South Central Los Angeles to try and defuse it. But Deutch's bogus attempt failed to clean up the CIA's image. Resident after resident got up to denounce the secret police agency.

A young woman from Compton told Deutch: "There is no way that the CIA can investigate itself. To suggest that an inspector general of the CIA can do that job is an affront to the whole Black community."

This mass anger is what led to the formation of the Crack the CIA Coalition. Maxine Waters, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the All African Peoples Revolutionary Party, the Los Angeles Green Party, the International Action Center and many others have endorsed and will participate in the Feb. 22 mobilization.

Greetings to the Communist Party

In June 1996 the Communist Party USA paper People's Weekly World held a tribute event in Los Angeles for unionists Jerry Acosta and Gilbert Cedillo.

The Southern California Friends of the People's Weekly World tribute to two of Los Angeles' finest labor leaders, Jerry Acosta and Gilbert Cedillo, became a dynamic rally of elected officials, activists, labor and community leaders in solidarity with labor struggles and in the fight to defeat the ultra-right in November...

"The People's Weekly World and all of us in this room feel very strongly about who we honor today," said Evelina Alarcon, chair of the Southern California District and national secretary of the Communist Party USA, one of the emcees of the tribute. "Jerry Acosta and Gilbert Cedillo represent the new fightback vision of the Sweeney, Trumka, Chavez-Thompson leadership in the AFL-CIO. They represent the rank and file that is pushing from the bottom for that new vision!"

According to the World, Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon, brother of Communist Evelina Alarcon, spoke on behalf of the council which adopted a resolution honoring Acosta and Cedillo;

"Gil Cedillo and Jerry Acosta have changed the whole dynamic of what it means to be for the working class and what it means to fight for workers rights. Because of them and other labor leaders, we have seen a resurgence of strength of the least empowered in our country..."

Presentations to the honorees were also made by Clara James, chair of the Community Affairs Commission of the Second Baptist Church, on behalf of Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Antonio Aguilar, on behalf of State Senator Hilda Solis, California's first Latina elected to the State Senate, who, along with labor, led the drive to put a minimum wage increase initiative on the ballot...

Sponsored Communist Party "Jobs Bill"

H.R. 950, the Job Creation and Infrastructure Restoration Act of 1997 was introduced in the 105th Congress on March 5, 1997 by Congressman Matthew Martinez of California. It had 33 original co-sponsors, including Maxine Waters. The primary purpose of this emergency federal jobs legislation was to provide much needed jobs at union wages to crisis ridden cities by putting the unemployed to work rebuilding our nation's infrastructure (schools, housing, hospitals, libraries, public transportation, highways, parks, environmental improvements, etc. $250 billion is authorized for emergency public works jobs over a five year period.

Congressman Martinez had previously introduced this bill in the last Congress (as HR 1591) at the the request of over 50 prominent Labor leaders who formed the Los Angeles Labor Coalition for Public Works Jobs, which is why it is often referred to as the "Martinez Public Works Jobs Bill."

This is the most significant jobs legislation introduced in Congress since Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal established the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This bill is the WPA-type program for today. It has strong provisions which will put hundreds of thousands of unemployed building trades workers to work as well as provide jobs for victims of plant closures, welfare recipients who are parents, youth, and the long term unemployed. The public works projects which will be established under this bill will be built in communities with the highest levels of unemployment and with the greatest needs.

The goal of the New York Coalition for Public Works Jobs is to build the movement to pass the Martinez Jobs bill as part of the National Labor Coalition for Public Works Jobs. You can help by asking your union, community organization, or local government body to to join those who have already passed resolutions to endorse the bill. Such a resolution has been introduced in the New York City Council. Calling on additional Congressional Representatives to co-sponsor the bill is very important. We will be organizing petition campaigns, visits to elected officials, and demonstrations and other actions for a public works jobs program.

The leaders of the Los Angeles Labor Coalition for Public Works Jobs and its only affiliate New York Coalition for Public Works Jobs, were all known supporters or members of the Communist Party USA.

Los Angeles , National Labor Coalition For Public Works Jobs

• Jerry Acosta - Chairman
• Art Rodriguez - Coordinator

A New York affiliate, New York Coalition for Public Works Jobs, c/o Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2.

• Eddie Davis
• Bill Davis

Early supporter

In 1994, the Communist Party USA backed Martinez Jobs Bill (HR-4708), was co-sponsored by Democratic Party California Reps Howard Berman, Xavier Becerra, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Robert Scott (Va), Tom Foglietta (Pa), Bennie Thompson (Miss), John Lewis (Ga) and Ed Pastor (Az). Maxine Waters of California was a principal co-sponsor with Martinez.

DC "home rule" supporter

On Sept. 3, 1997, some 1,000 marchers descended on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to present their grievances to Congress. Marches in Washington are a regular occurrence, but this one was out of the ordinary in that it consisted almost wholly of D.C. citizens with a demand from the city's neighborhoods: to stop trampling on home rule in the District.

Speakers at the rally—including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Dick Gregory, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Ca) and local activists—decried recent actions by Congress that had robbed the District of the limited measure of home rule it once enjoyed.

Honoring Lori Berenson

Office of the Americas 14th Anniversary, honoring Lori Berenson, with Maxine Waters, Ramsey Clark, Steve Allen, & Mark Berenson and Rhoda Berenson. [

Cuban Humanitarian Trade Act

The Cuban Humanitarian Trade Act, a bill introduced in 1998, in the U.S. Congress, would ease some restrictions on trade with socialist Cuba, solidarity activists say.

The legislation would lift sanctions on sales and donations of food, medicines and medical supplies to Cuba.

While it falls far short of ending the illegal U.S. blockade, the legislation does meet an important Cuban requirement. It says that trade is an appropriate relationship between the two countries.

The 37-year U.S. blockade has meant great hardship for Cuba's 11 million people. President Fidel Castro said in July that "We contend that the economic blockade should be considered among the main war crimes committed against a people."

The Cuban Humanitarian Trade Act has 129 sponsors in the House and 25 in the Senate. It is supported by members of the Congressional Black and Latino Caucuses, including Sen. Carol Moseley Braun and Reps. Maxine Waters, Nydia Velasquez and Charles Rangel.

IFCO/Pastors for Peace, organizers of the U.S.-Cuba Friendshipment caravans, testified on behalf of the legislation in May.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Wheat Association, the Medical Devices Manufacturers and other business groups also testified in favor of easing the blockade.

Congressional Progressive Caucus

The Congressional Progressive Caucus was founded in 1991 by freshman Congressman Bernie Sanders. Sanders' CPC co-founders included House members Ron Dellums, Lane Evans, Tom Andrews, Peter DeFazio, and Maxine Waters.

In 1998 Maxine Waters Democrat was listed as a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

As of February 20 2009 Maxine Waters was listed as a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Clinton/Chile letter

February 24, 2000, 31 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have sent a letter to President Clinton requesting full U.S. cooperation with the Spanish case against former Chilean General Augusto Pinochet, a thorough investigation into the car-bomb assassination of Orlando Letelier and American citizen Ronni Moffitt, and the release of all U.S. documents pertaining to human rights abuses in Chile.

Dear President Clinton,

We would like to take this opportunity to commend your Administration's recent activity concerning the ongoing investigation into former Chilean General Augusto Pinochet's role in the 1976 car bombing of Orlando Letelier and Ronni Moffitt in Washington D.C. We also appreciate your efforts to release documents pertaining to human rights abuses in Chile.

Signatories were George Miller (D-CA), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sam Gejdenson (D-CT), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), John Conyers (D-MI), Barney Frank (D-MA), Pete Stark (D-CA), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Lane Evans (D-IL), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Tim Roemer (D- IN), Howard Berman (D-CA), John Olver (D-MA), Mel Watt (D- NC), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Patsy Mink (D-HI), Marcy Kaptur (D- OH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Tierney (D-MA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Martin Sabo (D-MN), and Bob Filner (D-CA).

Supporting Mumia Abu-Jamal

Several campaigns seeking a civil right investigation into the case of convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal have been launched since 1995, at which time the Congressional Black Caucus was one of many groups that publicly supported an investigation. In a 1995 letter written independently of the CBC, Representatives Chaka Fattah, Ron Dellums, Cynthia McKinney, Maxine Waters and John Conyers, Jr. (later Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee) stated, “There is ample evidence that Mr. Abu-Jamal’s constitutional rights were violated, that he did not receive a fair trial, and that he is, in fact, innocent.”

Relationship with Stanley Sheinbaum

Maxine Waters has close ties to Los Angeles based socialist activist and benefactor, Stanley Sheinbaum.

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) said Sheinbaum has served several important roles in her life: stalwart friend, mentor and an important connection who first introduced her to such politicians as former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.

Sheinbaum, a strong proponent of divestment from apartheid-era South Africa during his 12 years as a UC regent, advised her on the subject while she served as a state assemblywoman. Through Sheinbaum, Waters said she learned much about the workings of the investment community and how public pension funds could remain profitable without holdings in South Africa. Armed with that knowledge, she successfully sponsored legislation that called for the divestment of state pension funds.

"I've used him as a sounding board for years," the congresswoman said. "He has been influencing progressive politics in this country, really the world, for a long time."

Woolsey/Sheinbaum fund raiser

Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, the first Member of Congress to call on the President to bring our troops home, was be in Los Angeles on Saturday February 4th 2006, for a 'very exciting but critical fundraiser against the most well-known, well-financed challenger she's ever faced". woolsey was facing a primary challenge from a termed-out Assemblyman Joe Nation, a moderate Democrat who has been critical of her stand on the war and on bringing home our troops. He is raising money from people who have given money to Tom DeLay and Bush-Cheney and his legislative district covers 60+% of Congresswoman Woolsey's district. Congresswoman Woolsey is a "champion of equal rights, civil liberties, protecting the environment and fighting for single payer healthcare. Congresswoman Woolsey must be re-elected by the same victory margin she has had in the past to send a message to progressives everywhere that's it IS OK to be courageous, and to not back down on issues that matter."

The Host Committee for this fundraiser includes:

Ben Affleck; Ed Asner; Warren Beatty; Jodie Evans; James Cromwell; Matt Damon; Tom Hayden; Wendy Herzog; Mimi Kennedy; Norman Lear; Stephen Rohde; Susie Shannon; Stanley Sheinbaum & Betty Sheinbaum; Lorraine Sheinberg; Kathy Spillar; Gloria A. Totten; Peg Yorkin; Senator Barbara Boxer; Congressman Joe Baca; Congressman Xavier Becerra; Congresswoman Lois Capps; Congresswoman Jane Harman; Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald; Congresswoman Grace Napolitano; Congresswoman; Lucille Roybal-Allard; Congresswoman Linda Sanchez; Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez; Congressman Adam Schiff; Congresswoman Hilda Solis; Congresswoman Maxine Waters; Congresswoman Diane Watson; Senator Sheila Kuehl and Assemblywoman Karen Bass.

The fundraiser was at the Stanley & Betty Sheinbaum residence in Brentwood. Both Sheinbaums have been members of Democratic Socialists of America.

Socialists organize to "challenge for power" in Los Angeles

On March 11, 1998, Los Angeles Democratic Socialists of America leader Steve Tarzynski wrote an email to another Los Angeles DSA leader Harold Meyerson.

Tarzynski listed 25 people he thought should be on an "A-list" of "25 or so leaders/activists/intellectuals and/or "eminent persons" who would gather periodically to theorize/strategize about how to rebuild a progressive movement in our metropolitan area that could challenge for power."

Tarzynski listed himself, Harold Meyerson, Karen Bass, Sylvia Castillo, Gary Phillips, Joe Hicks, Richard Rothstein, Steve Cancian, Larry Frank, Torie Osborn, Rudy Acuna, Aris Anagnos, Abby Arnold, Carl Boggs, Blase Bonpane, Rick Brown, Stanley Sheinbaum, Alice Callahan, Jim Conn, Peter Dreier, Maria Elena Durazo, Miguel Contreras, Mike Davis, Bill Gallegos, Bob Gottlieb, Kent Wong, Russell Jacoby, Bong Hwan Kim, Paula Litt (and Barry Litt, with a question mark), Peter Olney, Derek Shearer, Clancy Sigal and Anthony Thigpenn.

Included in a suggested elected officials sub-group were Mark Ridley-Thomas, Gloria Romero, Jackie Goldberg, Gil Cedillo, Tom Hayden, Antonio Villaraigosa, Paul Rosenstein and Congressmen Xavier Becerra, Henry Waxman and Maxine Waters.

Tarzynski went on to write "I think we should limit the group to 25 max, otherwise group dynamics begins to break down....As i said, I would like this to take place in a nice place with good food and drink...it should properly be an all day event."

Humanitarian Needs in Cuba letter

December 16 2021 , House Rules Committee Chair James McGovern (D-MA), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory Meeks (D-NY), House Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations Chair Barbara Lee (D-CA), and House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Energy Chair Bobby Rush (D-IL) led 114 Members of Congress in a letter to President Biden asking him to prioritize the well-being of the Cuban people as they experience the worst economic and humanitarian crisis in recent history...

In the wake of this year’s protests, the members urged the administration to support the Cuban people by suspending U.S. regulations that prevent food, medicine, remittances, and other humanitarian assistance from reaching the Cuban people...

Signatories included Maxine Waters.

Apologized to Castro

“Dear President Castro,” Waters wrote on September 29, 1998, “I am writing to clarify my position on a resolution recently passed by the United States House of Representatives on September 14, 1998. I, and some of the Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, mistakenly voted for House Concurrent Resolution 254 which called on the Government of Cuba to extradite to the United States Joanne Chesimard and all other individuals who have fled the United States from political persecution and received political asylum in Cuba. Joanne Chesimard was the birth name of a political activist known to most Members of the Congressional Black Caucus as Assata Shakur. For the record, I am opposed to the resolution. I unequivocally stated that a mistake was made and I would have voted against the legislation”.

The New Jersey police department explains Joanne Chesimard’s “political activism” here:

On May 2, 1973 New Jersey State Troopers James Harper and Werner Foerster were patrolling the New Jersey Turnpike in the area of East Brunswick and stopped a car with three occupants. The Troopers were questioning the occupants when the driver and female passenger suddenly came up with semi-automatic pistols and opened fire. Trooper Foerster was struck twice in the chest, and Trooper Harper was hit in the shoulder. The female (Joanne Chesimard) then proceeded to take the service weapon from the injured Trooper Foerster’s. She pointed it at the wounded Trooper and shot him twice in the head, execution style. The thirty-four-year-old trooper with just three years on the road died soon after. He left a wife and family behind.

1999 Cuba visit

On February 18 1990, six members of the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus visited Cuba to evaluate the U.S.-imposed embargo. Among the visitors: Maxine Waters and Barbara Lee of California, Sheila Jackson-Lee of Texas, Julia Carson of Indiana and Gregory Meeks from New York and Earl Hilliard of Alabama [Vice Chair, CBC].

Representative Maxine Waters, who headed the delegation, stated that many of the congressional representatives already have some information about Cuba. But she hoped that additional facts would help the Black Caucus take a leading role in introducing legislation to change current U.S. policies toward Cuba.

Jorge Lezcano, President of the International Relations Commission of the Cuban Parliament, received the U.S. congressional representatives upon their arrival in Havana. Lezcano told reporters that the visiting members of the Congressional Black Caucus plan to meet with Cuban lawmakers and other government officials. He added that during their stay on the island, the U.S. delegation will also visit places of cultural and historic interest.

The legislators' visit was organized by the US based Pastors for Peace, headed by the Rev. Lucius Walker, who accompanied the delegation. They have organized several aid "caravans" in the United States to collect supplies and take them to the island.

On Thursday, February 18th, the group met with Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina and held a question and answer session with him. The Cuban domestic news agency AIN said the encounter covered Washington's "aggressive policy" toward Cuba and the effects of the long-running U.S. economic embargo against the communist-ruled island. Robaina also talked about what he called the "enormous misinformation" about Cuba in the mainstream U.S. media.

Late Friday, February 19th, the group met with President Fidel Castro for 6 hours. There have as yet been no details on the meeting in the Cuban press. Vice President Carlos Lage and Ricardo Alarcon, president of the parliament, were also present.

Greeting Castro

“Viva Fidel!” Maxine Waters chanted, during the rapturous reception that greeted Fidel Castro's visit to Harlem’s Riverside Church on Sept. 9, 2000. The overflow crowd packed the church to suffocation and spilled from the doors onto the streets and sidewalks.

“I came to Harlem because I knew it was here that I would find my best friends,” beamed Castro.

"Impeach Cheney"

In January 2008, nine out of 23 Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee favor starting impeachment hearings against Vice-President Dick Cheney. Six of the nine are co-sponsors of H.R. 799, which contains three articles of impeachment. The nine Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee who favored impeachment hearings were: Robert Wexler, Fla.; Luis Gutierrez, Ill.; Anthony Weiner, N.Y.; Tammy Baldwin, Wisc.; Sheila Jackson-Lee, Texas; Steve Cohen, Tenn.; Keith Ellison, Minn.; Maxine Waters, Calif.; and Hank Johnson, Ga.

Anti-Iraq War activism

"Open Forum on Haiti"

"Open Forum on Haiti", with Maxine Waters, Pierre Labossiere, Margaret Prescod, & Michael Zinzun. Held at CSULA, 5/26/04.

Haiti Bill

In 2009, Barbara Lee and 10 other members of the House of Representatives have introduced a bill requesting an investigation into the Bush administration’s role in the 2004 "destabilization campaign and invasion" of Haiti. The original proposed legislation, called the Truth Act, has been submitted annually to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs by Congressperson Lee.

Lee stated in 2004: “We do not teach people to overthrow our U.S. government, and the Bush administration must not participate in the overthrow of other democratically-elected governments. The United States must stand firm in its support of democracy and not allow a nascent democracy like Haiti to fall victim to the Bush administration’s apparent policy of regime change.”

“Regime change takes a variety of forms, and this looks like a blatant form of regime change to me,” Congressperson Lee told Noriega. The bill, now known as H.R. 331, could make the congressional calendar for review in 2009.

The bill’s co-sponsors included Corrine Brown (Fla.), Chaka Fattah (Pa.), Michael Honda (Calif.), Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas), Dennis Kucinich (Ohio), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.), Donald Payne (N.J.), Charles B. Rangel (N.Y.), Jan Schakowsky (Ill.) and Maxine Waters (Calif.).

Workers World Party

Maxine Waters has long been close to the pro-Iran/Cuba//North Korea Workers World Party.

WWP Haiti rally

A rally to demand the restoration of democracy in Haiti was held at the Brooklyn College Whitman Theatre on Wednesday, April 7, 2004.

The truth will be revealed about the Feb. 29th coup staged by the Bush Administration that resulted in President Aristide's kidnapping and Haiti being occupied by thousands of foreign troops.

"We're holding this meeting on April 7th because it's the 201st anniversary of the death of Haitian liberator Toussaint L'Ouverture in a French jail after he was kidnapped in a ruse by Napoleon's agents," said Johnnie Stevens of the Workers World Party's International Action Center. "Just as Napoleon sought to restore slavery in Haiti by starving to death Toussaint L'Ouverture, so does George Bush want to re-impose colonial rule in the world's oldest Black republic by kidnapping and exiling Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide."

"Even the Washington Post now admits that witnesses back up President Aristide's account of how he was tricked by U.S. embassy officials to leave Haiti's presidential palace." said Sara Flounders, of the International Action Center.

Joining Ramsey Clark at the rally were Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who accompanied President Aristide and Haitian First Lady Mildred Aristide on their flight from the Central African Republic to Haiti, and Brooklyn Congressman Major Owens. Speakers from the Haitian Community included former Ambassador-at-large Ben Dupuy, Ray Laforest, Paul Laraque and Jean Jean Pierre. Ossie Davis, the actor who gave the eulogy at Malcolm X's funeral, spoke as did WBAI's Don Rojas, co-worker and friend of the late Maurice Bishop, leader of the Grenadian Revolution.

Media personalities on the program included Gil Noble, Amy Goodman and Bernard White. President Aristide's attorney Ira Kurzban and Larry Holmes of the International Action Center spoke, and there was a special taped message from Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide about his kidnapping.

Spokespeople for the event included: Johnnie Stevens, Sara Flounders, and Teresa Gutierrez of the International Action Center; Kim Ives of the Haiti Support Network.

WWP "Peace Conference"

The crucial importance of linking the anti-war and anti-racist movements was the theme of an all-day conference held Los Angeles on Feb. 19, 2005, that drew a standing-room-only crowd despite a day of severe thunderstorms and floods, part of the unusual weather plaguing southern California.

The anti-war and social justice conference, held at the offices of Service Employees Union Local 660, was sponsored by the Workers World Party's International Action Center and the L.A. Million Worker March Committee.

The rallying cry of the day-long conference was unity and the merging of numerous struggles represented by a wide range of speakers. John Parker, West Coast coordinator of the IAC, commenced the program by calling for solidarity because, "We need unity in order to win the fight against war, U.S. imperialism and racism."

Parker prompted audience members to join the Troops Out Now Caravan. Community and labor activists who are trying to save the King/Drew Medical Center are planning a caravan, with a sound system, that will travel from the hospital in South Los Angeles to an anti-war rally on March 19 in Hollywood, called by ANSWER.

April Lawrence, a representative of U.S. Congressmember Maxine Waters, addressed the campaign of deception being waged against the King/Drew Medical Center by the media and administrators who are intent on reversing the gains won by the Black community in the 1960s.

"Los Angeles can't afford to close the trauma center," remarked Lawrence. "We need a big movement to save King/Drew."

Pierre Labossiere of the Haiti Action Committee noted, "The campaign of lies leveled against King/Drew is the same as that perpetrated against Jean-Bertrand Aristide of Haiti."

Monica Moorehead, a former U.S. presidential candidate of Workers World Party and coordinator of Millions for Mumia, warned against repeating the mistakes made during the 1960s. "There must be linkage between the anti-war and anti-racist movements" in order to have a viable and strong movement to stop U.S. imperialism, she stressed. "We must unite to halt the genocide in Iraq and the attacks against poor and working people in the U.S."

Michigan Coalition for Human Rights

Maxine Waters and Abayomi Azikiwe

.

In Detroit on April 19, 2009, Maxine Waters was guest speaker at an event run by the Michigan Coalition for Human Rights, which is chaired by Workers World Party member Abayomi Azikiwe.

"WAKE UP DEMOCRATS! Take Back the Country"

"WAKE UP DEMOCRATS! Take Back the Country" Conference, with Rob Reiner, Robert Reich, Robert Rosendahl, Rep. Hilda Solis, Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Ed Begley, Jr., Robert Borosage, Vincent Bugliosi, Warren Beatty, Susan Lerner, Rep. Maxine Waters, Roy Ulrich, Medea Benjamin, S. David Freeman, Peter Navarro, Hon. Jackie Goldberg, Harold Meyerson, Hon. Antonio Villaraigosa, Amy Wakeland, Bob Erlenbush, Hon. Eric Garcetti, Tom Hayden, Aqella Sherrills, Parke Skelton, & Lila Garrett. Sponsored by SCADA. L.A., CA, 6/24/01.

DC Protest Against "The Surge"

Medea Benjamin, Sean Penn, Maxine Waters, Jesse Jackson, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins and others lead Jan 29, 2007 march.

Progressive Majority Advisory Committee

In 2003 Del. Maxine Waters served on the Progressive Majority Advisory Committee.

2009 letter on Colombia

From November 6th through December 7th 2009, a letter calling for change in U.S. policy towards Colombia was circulated through the House of Representatives. This letter called for a decrease in U.S. aid for Colombia's military and an increase in support for human rights and humanitarian efforts. The initiators of this letter were —Representatives James McGovern, Jan Schakowsky, Donald Payne, and Mike Honda.

Dear Secretary of State Clinton,

The FY 2011 budget will contain the twelfth year of a major aid package to Colombia—an aid package originally slated to phase out after six years.

After eleven years, it is time to scale down assistance for Colombia's military and more systematically "Colombianize" such programs, within both the State Department and Defense Department budgets.

Signatories included Maxine Waters.

Take Back America Conferences

Maxine Waters was on the list of 153 speakers at the 2006 Take Back America conference, which was organized by the Institute for Policy Studies, and Democratic Socialists of America dominated Campaign for America's Future.

She was back in 2007.

Posada letter

In 2005 several far left Congressmembers wrote to President Bush urging him to extradite alleged terrorist Luis Posada Carriles to Venezuela to face justice.

We are writing to urge you to oppose the application for asylum by Luis Posada Carriles, and to support the request for extradition to Venezuela, where he is a fugitive from justice.

Signatories were; Dennis Kucinich, Barbara Lee, Cynthia McKinney, John Olver, James McGovern, Donald Payne, Lane Evans, Carolyn Maloney, Tammy Baldwin, Lynn Woolsey, Jose Serrano, Raul Grijalva, Maurice Hinchey, Bobby Rush, Edolphus Towns, Sam Farr, Bennie Thompson, Ed Pastor, Sheila Jackson Lee, Maxine Waters.

Latino Congreso 2007

Tom Hayden, Judith Le Blanc, Arlene Inouye, Maxine Waters, Lydia Lopez, Rosalio Urias Munoz.

Some 2,000 Latino leaders and activists from throughout the United States met in Los Angeles, at the Latino Congreso 2007, Oct. 5-9 to map an action plan and social justice program for the 2008 elections. Their goal was to bring out 10 million Latino voters who can play a decisive role in the presidential and congressional elections.

PWW, Oct. 13, 2007 page3

Helping prepare positions on the Iraq war were Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), who chaired the congressional Out of Iraq Caucus, former California state Sen. Tom Hayden, United for Peace and Justice organizer, and Communist Party USA leader, Judith LeBlanc, and Lydia Lopez of the Communist Party front Latinos for Peace.

“America: not another nickel, not another dime, not another soldier, not this time,” Waters declared to a standing ovation. She drew another ovation when she called for African American and Latino unity.

The Congreso unanimously called for complete withdrawal from Iraq starting immediately, no invasion of Iran, and support for Oct. 27 regional demonstrations against the war and Iraq Moratorium activities the third Friday of each month.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Latinos should take a leading role to end the war, as “we are 14 percent of the population with 20 percent of the casualties.”

“It is time to bring the troops home,” he said.

Villaraigosa also called for a broad coalition to win just immigration reform, saying, “No group can do it alone,” and a national campaign to combat poverty.

Supported by Council for a Livable World

The Council for a Livable World, founded in 1962 by long-time socialist activist and alleged Soviet agent, Leo Szilard, is a non-profit advocacy organization that seeks to "reduce the danger of nuclear weapons and increase national security", primarily through supporting progressive, congressional candidates who support their policies. The Council supported Maxine Waters in his successful House of Representatives run as candidate for California.

Employed Patrick Lacefield

Patrick Lacefield, a prominent member of Democratic Socialists of America, has served as press secretary and speechwriter for Congresswoman Maxine Waters of California

Socialist Tongue-Slip

Maxine Waters - tongue slip

In May 2008, while questioning John Hofmeister of Shell Oil during the recent Congressional hearings, Waters made a verbal slip-up. See the partial transcript below, and the video to the right.

Waters: "...And guess what this liberal will be all about? This liberal will be all about socializing,uh, umm - will be about, basically. taking over, and the Government running all of your companies."

Progressive Democrats of America

Maxine Waters serves on the Advisory Board of Progressive Democrats of America.

Supporting Lucius Walker

On Sept. 17 2010, Harlem’s Convent Avenue Baptist Church filled with people celebrating the example, ongoing legacy and life of the Rev. Dr. Lucius Walker. Walker, 80, died suddenly Sept. 7 at his home in New Jersey.

The headline in Granma, the daily newspaper of the Cuban Communist Party, announcing his death stated, “We do not want to think of a world without Lucius Walker.”

"Joining the wide representation of Cuba solidarity, socialist and progressive activists" were Cuba’s United Nations Ambassador Pedro Núñez Mosquera; Nicaraguan Ambassador María Eugenia Rubiales de Chamorro; many members of, and the spirited choir from, Walker’s Salvation Baptist Church; New York City Councilperson and Freedom Party candidate for governor, Charles Barron; Ramsey Clark; and Akbar Mohammed of the Nation of Islam. Messages and resolutions from churches, individuals and elected officials, including congressional Reps. Charles Rangel, Jose Serrano and Maxine Waters, and author Jane Franklin were acknowledged.

Committee to Stop FBI Repression delegation

In mid November 2010, a delegation from the Committee to Stop FBI Repression ( returned home from several days of bringing the "issue of the FBI raids and grand jury subpoenas of people doing international solidarity work and anti-war organizing to the U.S. Capitol". Three supporters of the Marxist-Leninist Freedom Road Socialist Organization/FightBack!, Deb Konechne of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, Anh Pham, who is facing a reactivation of her subpoena and Joe Iosbaker, whose home was raided, spent two days meeting with U.S. Representatives on the issue. The delegation asked each Congressperson to sponsor a “Dear Colleague” letter condemning the raids and grand jury subpoenas. In the two days, the delegation met with either the Congressional Representative’s staff or the Representative themselves fro[[m the following 16 offices: Tammy Baldwin (WI), John Conyers (MI), Danny Davis (IL), Keith Ellison (MN), Raul Grijalva (AZ), Luis Gutierrez (IL), Mike Honda (CA), Jesse Jackson, Jr. (IL), Dennis Kucinich (OH), Barbara Lee (CA), Jim McDermott (WA), Jim McGovern (MA), Bobby Rush (IL), Linda Sanchez (CA), Jan Schakowsky (IL), Maxine Waters (CA). The "meetings were positive, with all the offices expressing genuine concern about the situation. In some cases, because of the outpouring of calls from around the country, the U.S. Representatives were aware that the delegation was in Washington D.C. and the offices made time on their schedules to meet with the delegation. This reinforces the continuing importance of the solidarity work taking place around the country."

Rep. Conyers (MI), chair of the Judiciary Committee, directed the Counsel of the Judiciary Committee to meet with the delegation. Also, Rep. Ellison (MN) and his Congressional staff met directly with the delegation for a significant amount of time. rep. Ellison sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, expressing concern over the situation and is continuing to work on options to support his constituents affected. The delegation also received face-to-face meetings with Rep Gutierrez and Rep Davis from Chicago. Rep. Grijalva’s (AZ) office set up a meeting between the delegation and the Executive Director of the Congressional Progressive Caucus in the Congress of which rep. Grijalva is the chair. In addition, the office of Jan Schakowsky (IL) and Maxine Waters (CA) gave the delegation significant time and attention.

“It was clear that progressive Representatives of the Congress are very concerned about the FBI investigation. Overall, they were very thankful for our visit and for the information and analysis given to them The level of awareness about the raids and grand jury was varied, from little to full awareness, but the delegation certainly changed that. After the two days, our presence and purpose definitely created a stir in the halls of Congress. “The fact that we were able to interact with 16 legislative aides or Congress people themselves, during an extremely busy time of restructuring leadership in the Congress, exemplifies the attention this matter is receiving”, stated Joe Iosbaker.

Voted against cutting funding for ACORN

In September 2009, following the lead of their Senate colleagues, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to cut off funds to ACORN. the vote was 345-75. All of the 75 were Democrats, and included Maxine Waters.

Voting rights press conference

July 13, 2011 WASHINGTON, DC-- Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) made this statement today at the voting rights press conference:

"[In Ohio] We have one of the most draconian voter suppression bills in the United States. If we are going to have a society that involves all of its citizens, we cannot allow for these kinds of bills to be passed by legislature after legislature... Across this country, 11% of all people who are eligible to vote do not have a government issued ID. That's 21 million people. Every time we take one step forward, we take two steps back. And we're not going to allow it to happen. "

Members in attendance:

Rep. Bennie Thompson, Rep. Corrine Brown, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Rep. Charles A. Gonzalez, Rep. Tim Ryan, Rep. Gwen Moore, Rep. Betty Sutton, Rep. Hank Johnson, Rep. Donna Christensen, Rep. Maxine Waters, Rep. Steve Cohen, Rep. Karen Bass.

Organizations and leaders in attendance:

Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Tamika Mallory, National Action Network, Barbara Arnwine, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Laura Murphy, American Civil Liberties Union Hilary Shelton, NAACP, Rafael Collazo, National Council of La Raza/Democracia USA, Nichole Austin-Hillery, Brennan Center for Justice, Campus Progress, Center for American Progress, Diallo Brooks, People for the American Way.

Budget cuts protest

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was among the scheduled speakers at a downtown rally march 23, 2011, to protest proposed federal budget cuts, which organizers claim would hurt the city and county governments and attempts by small businesses to avoid layoffs.

Reps. Maxine Waters, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Karen Bass, Laura Richardson and Judy Chu, Councilman Richard Alarcon, actors Tim Robbins and James Cromwell and actress Mimi Kennedy were among the other scheduled speakers for the rally at the Edward Roybal Federal Building, set to begin at 2:30 p.m.

Haiti statement

On Wednesday, May 25, 2011, Rep. Donald Payne (NJ), Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY), Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL), and Rep. Maxine Waters (CA) made a joint statement in response to the eviction and destruction of camps on public property in the Delmas district of Port-au-Prince:

“On Monday, May 23, 2011, our offices were alarmed at the startling news that three camps of internally displaced persons in the Delmas neighborhood of Port-au-Prince were effectively destroyed. This included the park at the intersection of Delmas Road and Airport Road which was destroyed at the hands of the Haitian police, under direction of Mayor Wilson Jeudy. This camp is home to several hundred people and is a microcosm of the over 800,000 officially-recognized displaced persons in Haiti. It is even more disturbing that this incident occurred during the day while many Haitian women and men were out in search of employment. Those who stayed behind witnessed the destruction of their belongings while some were violently beaten with batons by police.

International Year for People of African Descent

September 20, 2011, TransAfrica Forum hosted a series of conversations in celebration of the UN International Year for People of African Descent, Capitol Building Room SVC 212-10 Washington, DC.

Honorary Hosts Representatives Bobby Rush, Alcee Hastings, Andre Carson, Yvette Clarke, Barbara Lee, Donald Payne and Maxine Waters.

in coordination with the Congressional African Staff Association, Senate Black Legislative Staff Association, Congressional Muslim Staff Association, and Congressional Black Associates.

• The State of the Black Diaspora
• Positioning the Diaspora in a Global World
• Foreign Policy and the 2012 Elections

Congressional Black Caucus

Maxine Waters is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus for the 113th Congress:

Black Caucus jobs campaign

In mid 2011, "demands to address the country's jobs crisis are accelerating with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) joining a growing number of groups calling for federal action". The CBC resolved to hosting a For the People Jobs Initiative in several urban areas stricken by high unemployment.

• Chicago, IL (first stop) – Congressman Danny K. Davis Host
• South Florida (Miami) – Congressman Frederica Wilson, Host
• Detroit, MI – Congressman John Conyers and Hansen Clarke, Host
• Cleveland, OH – Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, Host
• Los Angeles, CA – Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Host

Michigan event

Over 5,000 jobseekers showed up at the Wayne County Community College in Detroit for a jobs fair and town hall meeting yesterday. More than 7,000 attended last week's event in Cleveland, the second stop on the Congressional Black Caucus's "For the People" tour.

Over 1,000 positions were offered at the fair.

The event was hosted by Democratic U.S. Reps. John Conyers and Hansen Clarke. Also present from the caucus were Maxine Waters of California, Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri and Gregory Meeks from New York.

Rep. Maxine Waters, noting the great love and admiration for President Obama in the African American community, called on the audience to "unleash us" to address the president on the jobs issue. "When you tell us it's alright and you unleash us and you tell us you're ready for us to have this conversation, we're ready to have the conversation. The Congressional Black Caucus loves the president too. We're supportive of the president but we're getting tired ya'll..." she said.

Rep. John Conyers called for a demonstration in front of the White House, "We should be in front, three to five, six thousand people the day before we open our 40th conference on Tuesday, September the 20th, in front of the White House, demanding jobs," Conyers said.

Honoring Dymally

The late Mervyn Dymally, a far left Los Angeles-based lawmaker for decades, was honored at a Dec. 12, 2012, memorial service in Washington DC.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) hosted the event, at the House Visitors Center, Room 215.

Among those slated to speak were Democratic Reps. Maxine Waters and Karen Bass of Los Angeles and Janice Hahn of San Pedro.

Fred Ross award campaign

In early 2013, mainly Democratic Socialists of America aligned activists, together with many elected officials across the United States came together to urge President Barack Obama to award posthumously the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the legendary organizer, Fred Ross, Sr.. The Saul Alinsky trained radical was the first to organize people through house meetings, a mentor to both Cesar Chavez and DSAer Dolores Huerta, and a pioneer in Latino voter outreach since 1949 when he helped elect Communist Party USA affiliate Ed Roybal as Los Angeles’s first Latino council member, "Ross’ influence on social change movements remains strong two decades after his death in 1992".

Congressional endorsers of the proposal included Maxine Waters.

PDA 2020 endorsement

In 2020 Progressive Democrats of America endorsed Maxine Waters's congressional run.

PDA contact

In 2013 Progressive Democrats of America assigned activists to deliver their material to almost every US Congressman and Senator, Judy Alter, was signed as the contact for Rep. Waters.

Lifting travel ban on Cuba

A May 03, 2013 Press release from the radical controlled and Institute for Policy Studies affiliated Latin America Working Group's Cuba Team stated:

Due to your action/emails/phone calls we have 59 signatures from House representatives urging President Obama to support travel to Cuba by granting general licenses for ALL current categories of travel.

By eliminating the laborious license application process, especially for people-to-people groups, that is managed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the majority of the bureaucratic red tape that holds up licensable travel to Cuba would disappear and actually facilitate what the President wanted to see in 2011, liberalized travel regulations.

Signatories included Rep. Maxine Waters.

Nelson Mandela's funeral

In December 2013, the following Democratic legislators traveled to South Africa to attended Nelson Mandela's funeral Democrats Dels. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.) and Donna Christensen (V.I.); and Democratic Reps. Marcia Fudge, John Conyers (Mich.), Charles Rangel (N.Y.), John Lewis, Jim McDermott (Wash.), Maxine Waters (Calif.), Bobby Scott (Va.), Mel Watt (N.C.), Sheila Jackson-Lee (Tex.), Elijah Cummings (Md.), Greg Meeks (N.Y.), Barbara Lee (Calif.), G.K. Butterfield (N.C.), Gene Green (Tex.), Gwen Moore (Wis.), Yvette Clarke (N.Y.), Karen Bass (Calif.), Joyce Beatty (Ohio) and Terri Sewell (Ala.).

Congressional Letter for Neutrality, 2014 Salvadoran Elections

On Monday December 16, 2014 Reps. Juan Vargas (D-CA), Mike Honda (D-CA) and Mark Pocan (D-WI) sent a letter to Sec. of State John Kerry – signed by 51 Members of Congress – calling for a public statement of neutrality by the State Department before the first round of El Salvador’s presidential elections on February 2, 2014.

The letter, , highlighted several “important steps” that the current government has taken to “strengthen its democratic system and expand the right to vote to all citizens,” including those living outside of the country, who will be voting by absentee ballot for the first time in February. Since the election of Mauricio Funes, the first President from the Marxist Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) party, the government has increased the number of polling places four-fold to increase accessibility, especially in rural areas.

“We’re glad to see so many Members of Congress expressing respect for the right of the Salvadoran people to determine their own future. That’s an attitude that’s sorely lacking in much of the US’ policy in Central America, especially with regard to economic policy,” said Alexis Stoumbelis, Executive Director for the pro-communist Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES), in Washington, DC, which has observed every post-war election in El Salvador, starting in 1994.

Signatories included Rep. Maxine Waters ..

Ferguson

Ferguson, Mo., Aug. 25 2014— Many thousands of people, the majority of them standing outside the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church, gathered here in solidarity today to comfort the family of Michael Brown, who was fatally shot by a Ferguson police officer on Aug. 9.

Brown’s mother and father, Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown Sr., were accompanied by notable public figures, including Spike Lee, Wesley Snipes, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Sen. Claire McCaskill and Rep. Maxine Waters. Sharpton delivered the eulogy.

ARA endorsements

The Alliance for Retired Americans Political Action Fund endorsed Maxine Waters in 2012, 2014.

Women's convention

Women’s March announced that U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) will open the Women’s Convention’s Friday evening program, which will take place in Detroit from Friday, October 27 to Sunday, October 29 2017.

Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Wendy Carrillo, and [Erica Ford] will also join the roster of over 60 women speakers, femmes, and allies of all backgrounds who will join thousands for a weekend of workshops, strategy sessions, inspiring forums and intersectional movement building. The theme of the Convention, “Reclaiming Our Time,” will honor U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), who will be headlining the Convention on Saturday evening.

“It was amazing to be part of the Women’s Marches and witness democracy in action...I fully expect to see that same turnout, passion and energy here in Detroit, and I look forward to speaking with women leaders from across the country,” said Senator Debbie Stabenow.

The growing list of speakers include: Angela Rye, Amber Tamblyn, Symone Sanders, Piper Perabo, Sally Kohn, Nomiki Konst, Leah Greenberg, Lilliana Reyes, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rebecca Cokley, Nina Turner, Stephanie Schriock, Ai-jen Poo, Aida Hurtado, Lenore Anderson, Stephanie Chang, Raquel Castaneda Lopez, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Sarah Eagle Heart, Rashida Tlaib, Brittany Packnett, Winnie Wong, Stosh Cotler, and the Women’s March co-chairs Bob Bland, Carmen Perez, Linda Sarsour and Tamika Mallory.

House Committee on Natural Resources forum

Democratic members of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources hosted a public Forum on Environmental Justice in Los Angeles on April 8, 2015, as part of a series of roundtables convened by Ranking Member Raul Grijalva that included "stakeholders traditionally left out of climate and environmental policy discussions". Grijalva moderated the forum and heard from members of Congress, state and local officials, community and business leaders and environmental advocates.

The goal of the Forum on Environmental Justice was to examine how to increase public participation through the National Environmental Policy Act; how to strengthen implementation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which “prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance,” according to the Department of Justice; and how to increase the effectiveness of Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations). The Forum also examined innovative efforts by the City of Los Angeles and the State of California to ensure that each community enjoys strong environmental protections.

WHO:

• U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva
• U.S. Representative Grace Napolitano
• U.S. Representative Alan Lowenthal
• U.S. Representative Norma Torres
• U.S. Representative Linda Sanchez
• U.S. Representative Maxine Waters
• U.S. Representative Judy Chu
• L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis
• Joseph T. Edmiston, Executive Director, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
• Robert Garcia, Founding Director and Counsel, The City Project
• Andrew Yip, Program Coordinator, Bike San Gabriel Valley
• Noreen McClendon, Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles
• Angela Johnson Meszaros, General Counsel, Physicians for Social Responsibility

WHERE: Los Angeles River Center and Gardens

"Ideas conference"

Democratic Party luminaries and 2020 presidential mentionables gathered May 2017 for an “ideas conference” organized by the Center for American Progress, the Democratic establishment’s premier think tank.

Its stated purpose was to focus not on “what could have been,” said CAP Vice President Winnie Stachelberg introducing the day, but on “new, fresh, bold, provocative ideas that can move us forward.”

Convened in a basement of Georgetown’s Four Season’s Hotel, the posh watering hole for Washington lobbyists, lawyers and visiting wealth, the conference quickly revealed how hard it is for Democrats to debate the future when Trump is taking all of the air out of the room.

“Do you get the feeling that if Bernie Madoff weren’t in prison,” Elizabeth Warren offered, “he’d be in charge of the SEC right now?” Rep. Maxine Waters topped them all by calling for Trump’s impeachment: “We don’t have to think impeachment is out of our reach,” she said. As for 2020, “We can’t wait that long”.

Letter on US-Mexico security Co-operation

From Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice;

Urgent alert from our friends at CISPES- Los Angeles Chapter : "The US plans to expand cooperation between Mexico and the United States to unfairly and inhumanely target Central American migrants and asylum seekers at the upcoming "Conference on Prosperity and Security in Central America".

We asked Representative Alan Lowenthal of Long Beach to author a letter to Secretary Tillerson calling for to put the human rights of Central Americans and all migrants and refugees front and center, and he's circulating a letter now. To have the biggest impact possible we need as many Members of Congress as possible to sign this letter!

Call or email your representative today and ask them to join Mr. Lowenthal as a co-signer.

Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) led 37 Members of Congress, including top Democrats from the Armed Forces, Judiciary and Appropriations committees, in sending a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to raise red flags about “suggestions that the United States deepen security collaboration with Mexico along its southern border [with Guatemala] due to evidence that Mexico’s Southern Border Program has led to wide-spread human rights violations and abuses against migrants and asylum-seekers.”

Signers: Don Beyer (D-VA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Mike Capuano (D-MA), Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), John Conyers (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-Washington, DC), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Barbara Lee (D-CA) , Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), James McGovern (D-MA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Jose Serrano (D-NY), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Adam Smith (D-WA), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Maxine Waters (D-CA), John Yarmuth (D-KY).

NAKASEC connection

Health Care for America Now (HCAN) National Mobilization: NAKASEC’s energizing health policy advocate Joyce Yin helped kick-off a national rally attended by nearly 10,000 people in Washington, D.C. to pressure the Senate and House to provide access to quality, affordable health coverage for all Americans on June 25. Representative Xavier Becerra was one of many who spoke to the importance of the public option in any health reform; he also led HCAN’s health equity townhall later that day at the Capitol Visitor’s Center, where Korean Resource Center’s community health advocate Stella Kim spoke on the importance of immigrant inclusion. That same message was conveyed earlier by Sookyung Oh at the Rhode Island town hall. Together, NAKASEC and KRC met with the offices of Representatives Joe Baca (CA-43) and Doris Matsui (CA-5), and shared key information with Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-35), Diane Watson (CA-33) and Loretta Sanchez (CA-47).

Korea Resource Center award

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), was awarded the “Standing Up for Justice” recognition by the Korean Resource Center (KRC) and the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium for her commitment to women, children, people of color, and low-income communities during their 34th Annual Gala, October 19, 2017, in Los Angeles.

“It is such a tremendous honor to be recognized by the Korean Resource Center and the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium for my efforts to advocate for minority communities in greater Los Angeles,” said Congresswoman Maxine Waters. “These two organizations have fought tirelessly on behalf of immigrants and people of color, particularly Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Their efforts have strengthened our democracy, and I am so pleased to join with them to celebrate all they have accomplished over the past 34 years.”

During her acceptance speech, Congresswoman Waters discussed recent actions by the Trump Administration that have targeted immigrant communities, most notably the decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) which could impact more than 800,00 young people -- 200,000 of which live in California -- and upend the stability of nearly 50,000 school-age children living in Los Angeles County that will become eligible for DACA in future years.

“To all those who have been affected by Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant actions, I want you to know I have your back and so do my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate,” said Congresswoman Waters. “We are fighting every day to hold Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans accountable, and we will continue to push for a bipartisan solution for DACA before the clock runs out.”

KRC is the California affiliate of NAKASEC. Together, the organizations advocate for “just and humane comprehensive immigration reform.”

"The Korean Resource Center and the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium were thrilled to honor Congresswoman Maxine Waters at their Building a Movement for Change Annual Gala on October 19th. Her powerful words were inspiring and clearly moved the audience to want to take action. It was one of the best speeches we have had at our gala in over 34 years," said Becky Belcore, NAKASEC Co-Director.

"Congresswoman Maxine Waters is a fierce advocate for the DREAM Act, immigrant rights and all marginalized communities. Her speech energized us for the fight ahead and we are so proud to have her as our Congresswoman and ally," said Dae Joong Yoon, KRC President.

Medicare For All Congressional Caucus founders

In August 2018 Medicare For All Congressional Caucus founding members included Representative Maxine Waters.

HR 109 endorser

By February 20 2019 endorsers of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's HR 109 (Green New Deal) included Maxine Waters.

Medicare for All Act

In February 2019 Rep. Pramila Jayapal introduced H.R.1384 - Medicare for All Act of 2019. By May 29 she had 110 co-sponsors including Rep. Maxine Waters.

EMILY's List

Waters has been supported by EMILY's List during her campaigning.

Controversies

OneUnited Scandal

The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (known informally as the House Ethics Committee) plans to hold hearings, although the committee delayed the trial indefinitely on November 29, 2010, citing newly discovered documentary evidence that may impact proceedings. According to The Associated Press, "The charges focus on whether Waters broke the rules in requesting federal help for a bank where her husband owned stock and had served on the board of directors."

Judicial Watch has investigated the Waters/OneUnited Bank scandal for months. In fact, JW successfully sued the Obama Treasury Department to get documents and obtained explosive emails from the Treasury that provide documented evidence to support the charges against Waters.

Judicial Watch also uncovered documents detailing the deplorable financial condition of the bank at the time of the cash infusion, which showed that the bank would have been an unlikely candidate to receive TARP funding without intervention from Waters and Frank.

Real Estate Scandal

According to The Washington Times: “A lobbyist known as one of California’s most successful power brokers while serving as a legislative leader in that state paid Rep. Maxine Waters’ husband $15,000 in consulting fees at a time she was co-sponsoring legislation that would help save the real-estate finance business of one of the lobbyist’s best-paying clients, records show.” That “real-estate finance business” was labeled a “scam” by the IRS in a 2006 report.

Staff

The following have worked as staff members for Maxine Waters:

• Beatrice Alvarez
• Kwamme Anderson
• Ethan Ashley
• Keiana Barrett
• Pamela Ann Barry
• Sean Bartlett
• Bobby Blanks
• Kelly Ann Boothe
• Ava Boyd
• Paul Brathwaite
• Kendra Brown
• Leah Brown
• Timothy Brown
• Gregory Brown
• Megan Brown
• Michelle Bundy
• Aryn Bussey
• Xavier Cavanaugh
• Major Clemens
• Hamilton Cloud
• Walter Cole
• Bryan Cole
• Donna Crews
• David Croom
• Myra Lynette Dandridge
• Marisol Del Carmen Daniels
• Keith Davis
• Merle Davis
• Michael Downer
• Ronald Alan Dungee
• Ariel Eckblad
• Betty Edwards
• Michael Elazier
• Paul Esparza
• Francisca Ferrer
• Amanda Fischer
• Sean Fleming, Jr
• Pamela Freedman
• Joyce Freeland
• Gary Goldberg
• J. William Goold
• Christina Griffin
• Clarence Harris
• Lauren Holland
• Bridget Hughes
• Ryan Hughley
• Edward Jackson
• Matthew Janiga
• Blanca Jimenez
• Gerald Jones
• Lauren Jones
• Samuel Jordan
• Laura Joshua
• Contessa Kellogg
• Myat Moe Khaing
• Cietta Kiandoli
• Kellie Larkin
• April Lawrence
• Erika Laws
• Ricky Xuan Le
• Stacey Leavandosky
• JoeLeonard
• Michael Levin
• Chasseny Lewis
• Marcia Little
• Karen Longacher
• Alexis Summer Marks
• William Marshall
• Andrea Martin
• Angela Master
• Tinia McCoy
• Tiayana Mendoza
• Derrick Mims
• Karen Minatelli
• Alex Mitchell
• Marlys Renee Moore
• Mikael Moore
• Ichiro Mike Murase
• Terry Nicholson
• Shea Ann Okorie
• Joseph Ortiz
• Charla Ouertatani
• John Jioni Palmer
• Cynthia Patton
• Mark Perkins
• Sabine Philippe
• Lesley Pittman
• Veronique Pluviose-Fenton
• Latrice Powell
• Angela Karina Ramirez
• Carol Richardson
• Gail Robinson
• Michael Rose
• Angela Teresa Rye
• Edgar Saenz
• Twaun Samuel
• Eric Sanabria
• Kathleen Sengstock
• Ravay Smith
• Lynette Smothers
• Daniel Spokojny
• Nancy Stevens
• Delarious Stewart
• Donte Stewart
• Michelle Taylor
• Nathaniel Thomas
• Cora Thompson
• Dana Thompson
• Candice Tolliver
• My Ton
• Nestor Vera
• Angelica Vilchez
• Meta Williams
• Tamille Williams
• Jeanne Patrice Willoughby
• John Wison
• Elise Woodson
• Nathaniel Woodward

External links

• Waters' website with the House of Representatives