Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) was founded in 2004 to promote principles including social and economic justice. After twelve years of organizing campaigns to promote peace, stop global warming, clean up elections, end corporate rule, and guarantee healthcare as a human right, we've resolved to explicitly make combatting racism a centerpiece of our organizing work. Please donate generously now to help support our efforts to stop racism.

Join PDA Boycotting Discount Tire

Economics and racial justice are intertwined, and economic actions such as the historic Montgomery Alabama Bus Boycott have been effective tools to combat racism. Today, as part of our ongoing series of reports from PDA chapters, we're presenting Dan O'Neal's update about an effort PDA is supporting in his state. Please donate generously now to help Dan organize PDA's coalition efforts against racism.

Dan is PDA's Arizona State Coordinator and our new National Field Team Leader. He'll be helping Judy Hess with PDA field and chapter work. Please contact Judy to get support for your local and state organizing. She and Dan will make sure you succeed. Contact Mike Hersh if you'd like national recognition for your accomplishments.

May 13, 2016, the New York Times reported, "Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who made a name for himself as an unapologetic pursuer of unauthorized immigrants, was found in contempt of court here on Friday for willfully violating an order requiring his deputies to stop detaining Latinos based solely on the suspicion that they were in the country illegally." Please donate generously now to help support our efforts to stop racism. Please pitch in now to help support our efforts to defeat Arpaio and repudiate his racism.

Here's Dan's report:

PDA is joining with Phoenix, Arizona Immigrant-rights groups including Puente Human Rights Movement, One Arizona, and Somos America calling for a National Boycott of Discount Tire. In early August, Discount Tire Company--which has more than 900 stores in 31 states--posted signs reading "Re-Elect Sheriff Joe Arpaio" in its stores in Maricopa County.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio is certainly one of the most divisive public figures in Arizona and nationally. Arpaio, known for racially profiling Latinos, is seeking a seventh term in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix.

According to a recent Facebook post by Puente: "Discount Tire has decided to support hate and racism by endorsing Sheriff Arpaio, not only donating to Arpaio’s campaign but also placing Re-Elect Arpaio signs at their stores. We will not allow businesses to take our money and use it to support hatred. We are calling a BOYCOTT of all Discount Tire shops. Join us to protest and make sure our community knows who Discount Tire is, what they stand for and that as a community we will stand together and BOYCOTT HATE!"

The organizers held a Public Forum on Aug. 9th called "Boycott Discount Tires and Racism" at Painters Union Hall. On August 13th, Puente led activists from several organizations, including Phoenix PDA, in a picket protest outside a West Phoenix Discount Tire Store. More protests are planed. Please support our efforts to stop racism in Arizona and nationally.

PDA actively supports efforts to combat racism, as we work for progress on healthcare, climate, economic justice, and other issues on the state and national levels. We are building grassroots progressive power though working together on the critically important issues, and making progress week by week. We're not waiting for another election cycle to build our movement. We need your support to keep the pressure on. We can't do anything without your generous support. Please contribute $500, $50, or whatever you can right now! 

We shall overcome!

Donna Smith for Mike H, Judy, Mike F, Janis, Deb, Dan, and Kimberly—your PDA National Team

P.S. We're here to help you make progress in your state and locality, just like Arizona PDA is! If you need any help organizing a new chapter or energizing your existing chapter, please contact PDA Field Coordinator Judy Hess. For those who haven't met her yet, you will find Judy is a smart, friendly, and supportive person who can help empower you. She can get you access to progressive DVDs to show, help you post your meetings and events onto the PDA calendar, and otherwise help your chapter thrive! Don't delay, start organizing now to make a real difference where you live! We're here to help!