Washington, D.C.—Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) is convening Progressive Central 2020 along with co-sponsors Our Revolution, Roots Action, People for Bernie, and the Bernie Delegates Network. Progressive Central will run from Sunday August 16 through Thursday August 20.

Alan Minsky, Executive Director of Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), says “Progressive Central will give voice to many of the leading left-progressive in the United States. We have an impressive list of speakers, whose thoughts about American society will resonate across the entire population.

“Let’s be honest. The Democratic Party is split into two factions – and the progressive wing is ascendent. The core principles and policies of Progressive Democrats address the needs of the American people better than any other political formation in the country. This was true before the COVID-19 public health and economic crises, and it’s even more true now. Just as the progressive left lifted the country out of the Great Depression, we have the policies that suit the moment.

“Let’s also be perfectly clear, Progressive Central 2020 is convened in the spirit of a unified front to defeat Donald Trump in December. We believe that giving full voice to the Progressive wing of the Democratic Party is the best strategy to achieve that end: to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, take back the Senate, expand the House Majority and win State Houses across the country.

We invite all Americans, and indeed the people of the world, to attend Progressive Central 2020 to hear a powerful vision for a prosperous, just, and sustainable America.”

See below for full Progressive Central 2020 schedule, or click here:
https://pdamerica.org/progressive-central-2020-schedule/

The panels are free and open to the public. People must register in advance at this link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0vfuiqqzgtH938wOFfTDNMyzd1yWZP6drC

Progressive Democrats of America is a grassroots political action committee founded in 2004 to transform the Democratic Party and U.S. politics by working inside and outside of the party; by working to elect empowered progressives; and by building the progressive movement in solidarity with peace, justice, civil rights, environmental, and other reform efforts.

For more information about PDA, please see www.PDAmerica.org

Sunday: Aug 16th – 3:00 pm – 5:00 east

3pm – Opening – Progressives and the current Democratic Convention
Host/Moderator – Alan Minsky
Panelist – Jeff Cohen, Paco Fabian, Sen. Nina Turner, Judith Whitmer, Kai Newkirk, Zenaida Huerta (invited)

4pm – Healthcare – Medicare For All
Host/Moderator – Dr Bill Honigman
Panelist – Donna Smith, Dr. Paul Song, Amirah Sequeira NNU, Rose Roach Minnesota Nurses, Sen. Vincent Fort

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Monday: Aug 17th 3:00 pm – 5:00 east

3pm – Elections – The Fight to Protect our Democracy
Host/Moderator – Mimi Kennedy
Panelist – Bennie Smith, Andrea Miller, Greg Palast

4pm – The Struggle for Racial Justice in 21st Century America
Host/Moderator – Rodney Sadler
Panelist – Rep, Barbara Lee, Cheryle Renee Moses, Donald Whitehead, Colette Alston, Dr. Willie Keaton, Joel Segal

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Tuesday: Aug 18th 3:00 pm – 5:00 east

3pm – Foreign Policy – Forging a New Peace Policy – Ending Never Ending Wars
Host/Moderator – Alan Minsky
Panelist – Medea Benjamin, Phyllis Bennis, Norman Solomon, Dennis Kucinich, Rep. Ro Khanna

4pm – Immigration – Trump’s Racist Immigration Policy – Deportations, ICE, DACA
Host / Moderator – Patti Serrano
Questions in chat – Dan O’Neal
Panelist – Erika Andiola , Ray Ybarra Maldonado, Jose Alejandro la Luz, Rep Chuy Garcia, Rep. Raul Grijalva (health permitting)

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Wednesday: Aug 19th 3:00 pm – 5:00 east

3pm – Student Debt
Host/Moderator – Meleiza Figueroa
Panelist – Professor Chris Newfield, Representative from the Debt Collective, Rep. Ilhan Omar (invited), Student Debt Holder testimonies

4pm – Climate Emergency
Host/Moderator – Russell Greene
Panelist – Anthony Rogers Wright CJA, Rev. Lennox Yearwood

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Thursday: Aug 20th – 3:00 pm – 5:00 east

3pm – Economics/Labor
Host/Moderator – Alan Minsky
Panelist – Stephanie Kelton, William Darity, Jr., Joseph Geevarghese Our Revolution, Michael Dimondstein USPS workers union, Clem Balanoff Transit Workers Union, Carl Rosen Electrical Workers (invited), Rev. William Barber (invited)

4pm – Closing – Progressives & COVID-19 Policy
Host/Moderator – Alan Minsky
Panelist – Michael Lighty, Bill Fletcher Jr, Senator Nina Turner, possibly Jesse Jackson with John Nichols by video, Representative from CPCC (invited)

Plus short videos and statements from Progressive Congresspeople and Candidates throughout.

Check here for ongoing updates to the schedule: https://pdamerica.org/progressive-central-2020-schedule/