Action for a Progressive Future (also known as RootsAction)[1] is a left-of-center lobbying group that supports anti-war efforts, automatic voter registration, eliminating bail, and the political efforts of self-described socialist U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT). [2]
The organization and its leadership support removing President Donald Trump from office, overturning the Citizens United decision, and substantially restricting political and advocacy speech. [3]
Organizational Overview
Founded by Jeffrey Cohen and Norman Solomon RootsAction was granted 501(c)(4) tax status in 2011. [4] Roots Action operates as an on-line organizing platform. The organization drives signature gathering campaigns to influence decisions to advance left-of-center causes. [5]
Roots Action combined with Free Speech for People to launch an “Impeach Trump Now” petition on President Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day. [6]
Tax returns for 2017 indicate that $167,863[7] (43% of total income)[8] was spent on educating the public about constitutional provisions for impeaching President Trump including $122,368 in a grant to Democracy Action Inc. [9] A further $84,922 (22% of total income) went toward civic engagement campaigns supporting left-wing economic policy, [10] and $57,922 (15% of total income) was spent on “the peaceful resolution of conflicts to reduce suffering.” [11]
Expenditures ($101,520 was spent on web development in 2017)[12] are focused on delivering editorial articles via its website, development of packaged petition programs for dissemination by Roots Action and leveraging its on-line presence and email list to support local petitions that have already reached a hurdle level of signatures. Examples include stopping weapons development, providing ideas for gun control to Virginia Governor Ralph Northam (D) and pressuring Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to co-sponsor the Green New Deal socialist environmentalist policy. [13]
Democracy In Action Inc. received a $122,368 grant from Roots Action in 2017. Democracy in Action is headed by John Bonifaz and has an expense sharing agreement with Free Speech For People. [14] Free Speech for People is also headed by Bonifaz, the founder of the National Voting Rights Institute, [15] which has a formal affiliation agreement with the far-left think tank Demos. [16]
In 2013 RootsAction Education Fund, was formed as a separate 503(c)(3) with Norman Solomon and Jeff Cohen as directors. In its 2016 tax return, it reported income of $256,401[17] with expenses of $280,471. [18]
People
Board of Directors
Norman Solomon is a long time anti-war and left-wing activist, has authored a dozen books focused on anti-war efforts. He founded the Institute for Public Accuracy. Solomon was a Bernie Sanders delegate to the 2016 Democratic national convention. [19]
Jeff Cohen is a writer, journalist, and media critic who founded the far-left anti-corporate media criticism group Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR) in 1986. With Norman Solomon, he co-founded Action for a Progressive Future in 2011. [20]
Pia Gallegos is a trial lawyer with a practice focused on employment law and owns her own firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico. [21] She is the chair of Adelante Progressive Caucus of the Democratic Party of New Mexico as well as CEO of Action for a Progressive Future. [22]
Deborah Thomas has been the publisher of FAIR’s newsletter Extra! and the Grand Street Literary Journal. She has worked on left-progressive magazines such as Seven Days, Politicks & Other Human Interests, and The Nation. [23]
Funding
Income in 2017 rose to $387,129[24] offset by expenses of $402,842. [25] The largest reported expenditure was a grant to Democracy Action Inc followed by $101,520 spent on web functionality. [26] Assets at the end of the year totaled $50,281. [27]