Peoples Power Assemblies Explained

Peoples Power Assemblies (PPA) is an advocacy group in the United States that coordinates through local offices of the Workers World Party. The group advocates for jobs, healthcare, and educations and against police brutality, sexism, and anti-LGBT and ableist oppression.[1] [2]

The group has been involved in organising protests and demonstrations in the aftermath of the killing of Freddie Gray,[3] Korryn Gaines,[4] and the murder of George Floyd.[5]

Notable actions

Every year the NYC chapter of the PPA organizes a group to join the Disability Pride March and bring attention to police brutality disproportionately affecting the Black disabled community.[6]

On June 4 2020, a Brooklyn EMT, Taylor Varela, was suspended for a twitter video of her encouraging a crowd of Black Lives Matter protestors over an ambulance loudspeaker. PPA created a change.org petition asking for Varela not to get fired or further reprimanded for her actions. The petition quickly garnered over 6,000 signatures. By the next week, Varela shared a post thanking her internet supporters and announcing that she did not get fired.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About Us . Peoples Power Assemblies . 2016-08-29.
  2. Web site: Peoples Power Assemblies Take On Police Brutality Against People with Disabilities, NY Poor Magazine. 2020-07-03. poormagazine.org.
  3. News: Activists planning protests around Freddie Gray hearings as police prepare . . 2015-08-31 . 2016-08-29.
  4. News: Small group protests Korryn Gaines' death . . 2016-08-29 . 2016-08-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160828132632/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-gaines-protest-20160827-story.html . dead .
  5. Web site: More rallies across New York City, including one in Queens, today in reaction to George Floyd death. 2020-07-03. QNS.com. en-US.
  6. Book: Puar, Jasbir K.. Jasbir Puar

    . Jasbir Puar. The right to maim : debility, capacity, disability. 3 November 2017 . 978-0-8223-6892-2. 967185287.

  7. Web site: 2020-06-12. Brooklyn EMT keeps job after suspension over using ambulance in protest. 2020-07-03. WPIX. en.