It’s an Atlanta Progressive Tradition!: the 5th annual Frederick Douglass-Eugene Debs Dinner was Exhilarating

by Milton Tambor

Photo courtesy Debra Poss

This years Atlanta DSA‘s Douglass Debs Dinner on November 5 was a resounding success. We filled Paschal’s Restaurant on the second floor to its capacaity of 125 people. Roger Sikes reported on the plans to reoccupy Troy Davis Park later that evening. Rev McDonald set the tone with an inspiring invocation.

Maria Svart, Executive Director of DSA, described the  work of the national organization in mobilizing around a jobs program and a financial transaction tax  countering the right’s efforts to cut domestic programs.

The awards presentations by Senator Nan Orrock, Senator Vincent Fort and Randy Brown,Teamster Local 728 president to Ann Mauney, Co-coordinator of Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition-Atlanta, Ben Speight, Local 728 Organizing Director and Teo Maus, President of Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights, demonstrated dramatically how activists can make a difference in building a strong progressive community in Atlanta.

In place of Congressman Hank Johnson who had business in Washington, his wife, Mereda, introduced Congressman John Conyers. Congressman Conyers departed from his written speech to charm us with anecdotes while also emphasizing the important contribution made by Occupy Wall street in bringing to the American public’s attention the need for jobs and progressive taxation.The singing and the comedic musical number by the Pluto Crats added much to the evening’s festivities.

Following the dinner many of us present headed down to Troy Davis Park in support of Occupy Atlanta. Several folks told me that this Dinner was “the best ever.” I want to thank DSA members  for making such a program possible and helping us fund our activities for the coming year.

On Sunday many of us attended the fundraiser sponsored by the Conyers for Congress Campaign at the home of John and Midge Sweet. Conyers is running in a newly drawn district where he will be facing stiff competition. Campaign contributions could well determine whether he holds on to his seat. The 50 people in attendance enjoyed food, music and good conversation. Nearly  $3,000 was collected for the Conyers campaign.

Photo courtesy Debra Poss

You can download MP3 audio files of the of the entire evening: 1) Milt Tambor’s Welcome; 2) Roger Sikes update on Occupy Atlanta; 3)Rev. Tim MacDonald’s invocation; 4) Barbara Joye’s iintroduction of DSA National Director Maria Svart, and Maria’s comments; 5) Randy Brown introduces awardee Ben Speight; 5) Sen. Nan Orrock introduces awardee Ann Muaney; 6) Sen. Vincent Fort introduces our award to GLAHR; 7) Mereda Johnson introduces keynote speaker Congressman John Conyers. And, if you still need to be energized, you can sing along with The Pluto-Crats, Bob Goodman and Terry Carpente.