Okay, so I'm still trying to get the pictures off my phone. And if I don't get them off then this diary will be a waste, please don't flame for my attempt, however.
Obama's Northern California headquarters opened today, and it was HUGE.
The email went out a day and a half ago, and I estimate that 500 people gathered tonight on a corner in Berkeley to see speeches by a lot of politicians that I was surprised to see...
MC'd by Northern California organizer Peggy Moore (THANK YOU PEGGY)
The speakers included:
Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates
State Assemblywoman Loni Hancock
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (THANK YOU BARBARA LEE)
The got the crowd FIRED UP. I admit I was naive and thought I would be in a group of a few tens of people up to a hundred in some dingy room talking about phone banking. I just didn't think that this many people would show up on such short notice. There were hundreds of people. I would estimate the crowd was less than half white. I saw lots of African Americans, Asians, and just a few Hispanics. The point is that while there a lot of races in the East Bay, money and fear and crime can make it feel a lot more segregated. It was fantastic to see so many people of different races, ages, genders, and sexual orientations coming together to find they have so much in common. It was truly moving.
There was also a VERY moving speech by Obama's Northern California finance director, Chris Young. He told his personal story and detailed how after he graduated from Berkeley Law he took a very lucrative job at a law firm in San Francisco. But he took an indefinite leave of absence to support Obama. He spoke of how Obama's personal story can bridge the gaps that many of us in this community feel. It was great. THANK YOU CHRIS YOUNG
Gavin Newsom said it best when he said this was a much better way to spend our time than listening to McCain.
I can't wait to start volunteering at this campaign headquarters. And I can't wait to meet the other members of my community who will too.
I'll update this more as soon as I can with pictures. If not hopefully someone else will post theirs, and I will post a link to that one and apologize for this dairy if it doesn't meet community standards.
YES.
WE.
CAN.
[update]
Northern California for Obama Headquarters
3225 Adeline Street
Berkeley, CA 94703