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California Black Women Coalition for #KeepTheSeat Demand Governor Newsom to Appoint a Black Woman for the US Senate
Written by beachcityradio on December 10, 2020

Marie Lemelle, MBA – California Black Women Coalition for #KeepTheSeat
Governor Gavin Newsom,
Like a modern-day Harriet Tubman, Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris kicked opened the door to claim a seat at the U.S. Senate table. Her legacy is to lead more Black women to the table who will represent a forgotten but strong California population. It is no surprise that women are already underrepresented in the U.S. Senate; and that is unacceptable. California should continue to buck the trend and send a Black woman to the U.S. Senate.
Historically, Black women are blatantly excluded from leadership roles. Kamala Harris, the only Black woman in the U.S. Senate, changed the game for us and proved that a Black woman is invaluable to the progression of California and our Nation. Let’s not forget that Black women voted in record numbers to deliver a victory to Democrats and our country.
Far too often the work and sacrifices of Black women go unrecognized and undervalued. We urge you to honor and embrace the hard work and determination that Kamala Harris and Black women have forged through to keep California strong. We earned the right to #KeeptheSeat and will continue to fight to never give up our seat to represent all people but especially the largest population in the State of California.
December 1 marked the 65th anniversary of Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat. Her right to keep her seat was a symbol of will power and the right to claim a prominent place in this world. We are ready to repeat the historic and courageous move that Ms. Parks made to demand respect and inclusion. She stood her ground without a coalition of Black women by her side.
Today, Black women from across the Nation are in full force to stand beside U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA-37) and U.S. Congresswomen Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) and fight for them to be the right choice to fill the seat. Don’t mute the Black woman’s voice.
We live the values of gender equality, fairness, community, diversity, and authenticity that are essential to strong leadership. We ask that you do not overlook our progressive leaders Bass and Lee to carry the torch lit by Kamala Harris.
There is no doubt that Bass and Lee are ready to take on the challenges and issues that face Californians. They have the experience and the relationships to step in Kamala Harris’ shoes and step up to the table with confidence and determination. They know how to get the work done in Congress while advocating for the needs of Californians.
This is our time, and we are staking our claim to the seat that Kamala Harris earned with the support of
Black women. We are the backbone of the democratic party, both as voters and organizers. Diversity in our leaders is the core to who we are in California. Together, we benefit from a variety in experiences and perspectives.
We know that both Bass and Lee are leaders that we can trust and depend on in crisis. That said, we deserve to maintain our representation in the U.S. Senate. Governor Newsom, we urge you to hear us and appoint Bass or Lee to the seat.
It’s time to deliver for us.
- Email appointment person https://bit.ly/KeepTheSeat (NATIONAL)
- Email Gavin Newsom directly: bearebel.us/KeeptheSeat (CALIFORNIA ONLY)
- Tweet at Gavin Newsom: https://p2a.co/IxDRtVX

California Black Women Coalition for #KeepTheSeat
Hon. Donesia Gause-Aldana Carson Hon. Sydney Kamlager-Dove Los Angeles Hon. Deborah Robertson Rialto Hon. Aja Brown Compton Hon. Lula Davis-Holmes Carson Hon. Emma Sharif Compton Hon. Cheryl Brown Sacramento Hon. Yvonne Horton Inglewood Hon. Diane Watson Los Angeles Hon. Autumn Burke Los Angeles Hon. Holly J. Mitchell Los Angeles Hon. Shirley Weber San Diego Hon. Michelle Chambers Compton Hon. Treva Reid Oakland Hon. Lori Wilson Suisun City Melina Abdullah Los Angeles Aimee Allison Oakland Bobbiejean Anderson Moreno Valley Ebani Anderson Los Angeles Niele Anderson Los Angeles Joy Atkinson Los Angeles Sheila Baker Bellflower Kim Ballard Lancaster Sabrina Benson Rialto Vicki Blakley Sacramento Charlotte Bland Los Angeles Sheila Brown Los Angeles Taisha Brown San Diego Tonya Burke Perris April Burton Compton Velma Butler Pasadena Barbara Calhoun Compton Darla Carpool Los Angeles Jasmyne Cannick Los Angeles Sandi Cook Los Angeles Lori Cordinus Orange Maureen Craft Elk Grove Karen Earl Los Angeles Nolice Edwards Sacramento Kimberly Ellis Richmond Dionne Faulk Inglewood Nourbese Flint Los Angeles Norma Foree Long Beach Carolyn Fowler Inglewood Dallas Fowler Los Angeles Gail Francis Lake Elsinore Tresla Gilbreath Sacramento Glenda Gill Los Angeles Angela Gipson Inglewood Le Cresha K. Gipson Carson Wendy Gladney Upland Alice Goff Los Angeles Gloria Gray Inglewood Sharon Guest Los Angeles Kellie Hawkins Los Angeles Jacqueline Hawthorne Los Angeles Nichelle Henderson Gardena Ingrid Hutt Los Angeles Danielle Hollis Burbank lona Hendrick Los Angeles Patsy Howard Los Angeles Cine Ivery Inglewood Andrea Jackson Los Angeles Jannell Jackson Sacramento Joan Jackson Los Angeles Adrienne Johnson Pasadena Rachel Johnson Gardena Deidre Jones Long Beach Rev. Dr. Joy Johnson Antelope Laniece Jones Oakland Holland Jordan Castro Valley Angela King Los Angeles Marie Y. Lemelle Glendale Bennetra Lewis Lancaster Alicia Lewis Los Angeles Arnetta Mack Inglewood Natasha Marshall Inglewood Phyllis Marshall Sacramento Ronnie Martin Los Angeles Tamry McCauley Santa Clarita Tina McKinnor Hawthorne Tonia Mc Millian Bellflower Dewanda Mitchell San Bernardino Tracy Mitchell Pasadena Tamela Mitchell Pasadena Pamela Mitchell Pasadena Sarah Morris Adelanto
Shenia Morris Victorville
Gloria Myles Los Angeles
Ingrid Palmer Los Angeles
Ann Perkins San Bernardino
Sharon Polk Los Angeles
Sandra Poole Sacramento
Angela Reddock Carson
Lenee Richards Los Angeles
Audrena Redmond Long Beach
Diane Robertson Los Angeles
Rosa Russell Los Angeles
Patt Sanders Inglewood
Jamie Scott Inglewood
Andrea Slater Vallejo
Dolores Spears Los Angeles
Brianna Spratt Irvine
Jasmine Stanley Los Angeles
Tiffani Stone Elk Grove
Novell Thompson Fontana
Gloria Gray Inglewood
Anette Walker Hayward
Jackie Washington Hawthorne
Molly Watson Los Angeles
Denise Watts Canyon Country
Daphne Wayans Tarzana
Yvonne Wheeler Long Beach
Wanza Tolliver Los Angeles
Kathy Williamson Los Angeles
Katrina Williams Long Beach
K. Patrice Williams Vallejo
Wanda F. Williams Sacramento
Gail Willis Los Angeles
Lolita Willis Long Beach
Ethell Woods Los Angeles
Jimmy Woods Gray Los Angeles
Rashina Young Carson
Melanie Young Long Beach
Tiffani Stone Alvidez Elk Grove
Jacque Robinson-Baisley Pasadena
Shay Franco-Clausen San Jose
Lola Smallwood Cuevas Los Angeles
Julia Cooksey-Evans NorthridgeCheryl Lanier Gates San Francisco
Kellie Todd-Griffin Carson
Dezie Woods-Jones Madera
Kendra Noel Lewis Sacramento
Patrice Marshall McKenzie Pasadena
Pamela Bright-Moon Los Angeles
Eva Hoffman-Murray Bellflower
Pastor Thembeklia Smart Los Angeles
Roslyn Austin Stewart Los Angeles
L’Toya Wheeler Tate Corona
Charisse Bremond Weaver Pasadena