Leid Stories - 09/23/13

A Political Breakthrough: Grassroots Movement Forms A Party to Take On ‘Plantation Politics’ in New York City

In the midst of the cacophony of primary elections in New York City, a grassroots movement had a clear objective – to gather enough signatures to qualify for ballot status as a bona fide political contender in the general election. Mission accomplished.

Now, the Freedom Party is serving notice that it aims to end the system of “plantation politics” it says has destroyed once-viable and thriving communities of color and has become a major impediment to justice and progress.

Leid Stories talks to “Attorney at War” Alton H. Maddox Jr., the driving force behind both the United African Movement and the newly formed Freedom Party, to get an understanding of this work in progress – a continuum of struggle he attributes to “revered ancestors who are its architects and engineers.”