OAKLAND, CA — The Laney Poor People’s Campaign (LPPC) held a teach-in on Thursday, April 29, 2025, at Laney College in Oakland, California called “Billionaires vs The People: A Community Conversation on What We Can Do For Change In Our Communities”. Faculty, community leaders, and advocates spoke about multifaceted crises facing our communities under the current political climate.
The Laney Poor People’s Campaign aligns with the general principles of the Poor People’s Campaign. LPPC envisions a “sustainable society” and a “world of abundance, peace, and equality”.
The first powerful speakers in attendance were Ethel Long-Scott and Arlene Hipp — phenomenal women who are community organizers with the Oakland Basic Needs Electoral Committee. Hipp and Long-Scott spoke about the increasing threat to working class and marginalized people from American fascism and the need for class unity as we build collectivity among movements like Stop the Oligarchs and Moms4Housing. Long-Scott passionately and loudly proclaimed that if “our foremothers and forefathers could get through chattel slavery” then we could keep going.
Professor Felipe Wilson, political science professor, warned about attacks on the Constitution. Presidents who punish others who disagree with them are red flags. Wilson stated that “presidents are not the government and they do not get to decide everything.” His message resonated throughout the evening — resistance is necessary and possible when communities unite.
The teach-in highlighted the way that seemingly separate struggles were interconnected.
Nida, a Palestinian activist, artist, and educator, shared about the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Nida reminded attendees to stay unified and explained how funds diverted to military operations directly impact resources for education, healthcare, and housing here.
Nanzi Muro, raised and residing in a border town between Mexico and San Diego, turned her anger into art and activism. Today, she serves on the editorial board of the bilingual paper El Tribuno del Pueblo.
Professor Erica Williams, Laney College Black Studies professor and current Chair of Ethnic Studies, spoke on DEI and how the deadly and harmful implications of losing these rights are impacting educators, schools and universities, nonprofits, corporations, and more.
Jeff Sanceri, President of Peralta Federation of Teachers, emphasized that those in power are taking away education from the people who don’t want citizens to think critically. Sanceri called for collected resistance through labor and community organizing and specifically highlighted a coordinated plan regarding a potential general strike in 2028.
I felt encouraged and that the anger I was holding in my body for so long could be used for good. I have heard that anger, if it sits inside of you, can poison you. The encouragement I received from this teach-in was simple: allow anger to propel you to action. I found a community I didn’t know I needed. Are you angry, too? Good. Let that anger move you into positive action for yourself and those around you.
