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Political Party/527

Grassroots Law PAC

Website:

pac.grassrootslaw.org/
Location:

San Francisco, CA
Type:

Political Action Committee
Formation:

2021
Treasurer:

Rebecca Bond

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Grassroots Law PAC is a left-of-center hybrid PAC/Super PAC 1 that was originally founded by political activist Lee Merritt and Black Lives Matter movement activist Shaun King as The Action PAC. 2 3 Grassroots Law PAC works to elect candidates who will “radically transform the criminal legal system in the United States” 4 and “liberate” 5 communities from what the group describes as “oppressive policing, incarceration, and injustice.” 6 7

In 2022, Grassroots Law PAC contributed $200,000 to the campaign opposing the recall of controversial San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin (D). 8 The PAC was also one of the top-two largest donors to the left-of-center Real Justice PAC as of 2021. 9

Grassroots Law PAC works in conjunction with Real Justice PAC to recruit prosecutors who will reduce “incarceration racism, and police violence,” increase turnout in prosecutor elections to gain a “mandate for real justice,” and protect elected prosecutors from political attacks from what the group calls “ultra-wealthy conservatives.” 10 The group also supports Grassroots Law Project’s work to ban no-knock warrants, spend less on police, and provide non-police officers to respond to 911 calls. 11 12

History and Leadership

Grassroots Law PAC is a left-of-center hybrid PAC/Super PAC 13 that was originally founded by political activist Lee Merritt and Black Lives Matter movement activist Shaun King in 2019 as The Action PAC. 14 15

In 2020, the organization was renamed Abolitionists and became associated with Real Justice PAC. 16 In September 2020, the organization again assumed the name of “The Action PAC” under the direction of King. 17 In 2021, The Action PAC changed its name to Grassroots Law PAC. 18 19

Left-of-center political activist and former staff member of former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX)’s unsuccessful 2020 presidential campaign Rebecca Bond is the treasurer of Grassroots Law PAC. 20 21 Bond is also the co-founder and treasurer of the left-of-center Real Justice PAC. 22 23

Activities and Funding

Grassroots Law PAC is a hybrid PAC/Super PAC 24 that serves as the political arm of the left-of-center Grassroots Law Project. 25 Headquartered in San Francisco, California, the organization also has an office in Texas. 26

In 2022, Grassroots Law PAC contributed $200,000 to the campaign opposing the recall of controversial left-of-center San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin (D). 27 The PAC is also one of the top-two largest donors to the left-of-center Real Justice PAC. 28

Grassroots Law PAC works to elect candidates who will “radically transform the criminal legal system in the United States” 29 and “liberate” 30 communities from what the group describes as “oppressive policing, incarceration, and injustice.” 31 32

Grassroots Law PAC works in conjunction with Real Justice PAC to recruit prosecutors who will reduce “incarceration racism, and police violence,” increase turnout in prosecutor elections to gain a “mandate for real justice” and protect elected prosecutors from political attacks from what the group calls “ultra-wealthy conservatives.” 33 The group also supports Grassroots Law Project’s work to ban no-knock warrants, spend less on police, and provide non-police to respond to 911 calls. 34 35

The PAC argues that hundreds of systems at the state, local, and federal level are “administered by people in positions of power who have shown they are willing to do whatever it takes to maintain these systems,” and advocates to replace individuals it identifies as “bad actors” at the state, local, and federal level. 36

Grassroots Law PAC endorses left-of-center candidates running for elected office at the state, local, and federal level. 37 In the past, the PAC has endorsed St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones (D), Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey (D), and helped elect at least 27 leaders in city governments since 2020. 38 39

Funding

Grassroots Law PAC receives funding from donations that are routed through left-of-center passthrough ActBlue. 40

In the first quarter of 2022, Grassroots Law PAC reported federal receipts of $53,395.34, disbursements of $261,663.83, and $941,399.51 of cash-on-hand. 41

In the first quarter of 2022, Grassroots Law PAC disbursed $200,000 to Real Justice PAC. 42 The group also disbursed funds to ActBlue Technical Services, Capitol Compliance Associates, Grassroots Law Project, Democratic Party-aligned get-out-the-vote (GOTV) software company NGP VAN, left-leaning law firm Sandler, Reiff, Lamb, Rosenstein & Birkenstock, and others. 43

In 2021, Grassroots Law PAC reported revenue of $359,994.01, expenses of $540,007.13, and $1,149,668.00 of cash-on-hand. 44 In the 2020 election cycle, Grassroots Law PAC raised approximately $3.52 million and spent approximately $2.19 million. 45

References

  1. “Political Committees with Non-Contribution Accounts (Hybrid PACs).” Federal Election Commission. March 16, 2022. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://www.fec.gov/resources/campaign-finance-statistics/2022/tables/pac/PAC3b_2021_12m.pdf
  2. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted September 6, 2021. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://twitter.com/MrErnestOwens/status/1435013895953989635.
  3. “The Action PAC.” Federal Election Commission Statement of Organization.  July 12, 2019. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/496/201907129150582496/201907129150582496.pdf#navpanes=0.
  4. “About.” Grassroots Law PAC. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://pac.grassrootslaw.org/#about.
  5. “Help Us Elect Change-Agents for Justice.” Grassroots Law PAC Act Blue. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/glpac-homepage?refcode=homepage_about.
  6. “About.” Grassroots Law PAC.” Accessed July 12, 2022. https://pac.grassrootslaw.org/.
  7. “Grassroots Law PAC.” Grassroots Law. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://grassrootslaw.org/political-action/.
  8.  “Stand with Chesa Boudin.” Stand with Chesa. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://standwithchesa.com/.
  9. Cassidy, Megan. “Chesa Boudin’s backers have created a PAC, setting up financial showdown in recall effort.” San Francisco Chronicle. April 1, 2021. Accessed via Web Archive July 12, 2022. https://archive.ph/62c1J.
  10. “About.” Grassroots Law PAC. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://pac.grassrootslaw.org/#about.
  11. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted February 23, 2021. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://twitter.com/grassroots_law/status/1364245584597692421.
  12. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted February 23, 2021. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://twitter.com/grassroots_law/status/1364245586669678592.
  13. [1] “Political Committees with Non-Contribution Accounts (Hybrid PACs).” Federal Election Commission. March 16, 2022. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://www.fec.gov/resources/campaign-finance-statistics/2022/tables/pac/PAC3b_2021_12m.pdf.
  14. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted September 6, 2021. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://twitter.com/MrErnestOwens/status/1435013895953989635.
  15. “The Action PAC.” Federal Election Commission Statement of Organization.  July 12, 2019. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/496/201907129150582496/201907129150582496.pdf#navpanes=0.
  16. “Abolitionists.” Federal Election Commission Statement of Organization. August 26, 2020. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/569/202008269267007569/202008269267007569.pdf#navpanes=0.
  17. “The Action PAC.” Federal Election Commission Statement of Organization. September 22, 2020.  Accessed July 12, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/029/202009239284717029/202009239284717029.pdf#navpanes=0.
  18. Grassroots Law PAC.” Federal Election Commission Statement of Organization. February 19, 2021. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/815/202102199428674815/202102199428674815.pdf#navpanes=0.
  19. “Grassroots Law PAC.” Federal Election Commission Statement of Organization. March 22, 2022. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00712109/1576145/.
  20. “About.” Grassroots Law PAC. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://pac.grassrootslaw.org/#about.
  21. Simonson, Joseph. “Top Beto O’Rourke adviser is socialist who slammed Saul Alinsky as a moderate.” Washington Examiner. March 14, 2019. Accessed July 17, 2022. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/top-beto-orourke-adviser-is-socialist-who-slammed-saul-alinsky-as-a-moderate.
  22. “Real Justice PAC.” Federal Election Commission Statement of Organization. March 22, 2022. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00632554/1576144/.
  23. “Grassroots Law PAC.” Federal Election Commission Statement of Organization. March 22, 2022. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00712109/1576145/.
  24. “PAC Profile: Grassroots Law PAC.” Open Secrets. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/abolitionists-pac/C00712109/summary/2022.
  25. [1] “Twitter.” Tweet. Posted February 23, 2021. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://twitter.com/grassroots_law/status/1364245583729471492.
  26. “GLP Texas.” Grassroots Law Project TX. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://www.glptexas.org/.
  27. “Stand with Chesa Boudin.” Stand with Chesa. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://standwithchesa.com/.
  28. [1] Cassidy, Megan. “Chesa Boudin’s backers have created a PAC, setting up financial showdown in recall effort.” San Francisco Chronicle. April 1, 2021. Accessed via Web Archive July 12, 2022. https://archive.ph/62c1J.
  29. “About.” Grassroots Law PAC. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://pac.grassrootslaw.org/#about.
  30. “Help Us Elect Change-Agents for Justice.” Grassroots Law PAC Act Blue. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/glpac-homepage?refcode=homepage_about.
  31. “About.” Grassroots Law PAC.” Accessed July 12, 2022. https://pac.grassrootslaw.org/.
  32. “Grassroots Law PAC.” Grassroots Law. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://grassrootslaw.org/political-action/.
  33. “About.” Grassroots Law PAC. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://pac.grassrootslaw.org/#about.
  34. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted February 23, 2021. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://twitter.com/grassroots_law/status/1364245584597692421.
  35. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted February 23, 2021. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://twitter.com/grassroots_law/status/1364245586669678592.
  36. “About.” Grassroots Law PAC. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://pac.grassrootslaw.org/#about.
  37. “About.” Grassroots Law PAC. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://pac.grassrootslaw.org/#about.
  38. About.” Grassroots Law PAC. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://pac.grassrootslaw.org/#about.
  39. “Highlights.” Grassroots Law Project. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://grassrootslaw.org/highlights/.
  40. “Help Us Elect Change-Agents for Justice.” Grassroots Law PAC Act Blue. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/glpac-homepage?refcode=homepage_about.
  41. “FEC Form 3X.” Report of Receipts and Disbursements For Other Than an Authorized Committee. April 15, 2022. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/880/202204159496381880/202204159496381880.pdf#navpanes=0.
  42. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted September 6, 2021. Accessed July 21, 2022. https://twitter.com/MrErnestOwens/status/1435013885875171329.
  43. “FEC Form 3X.” Report of Receipts and Disbursements For Other Than An Authorized Committee. Schedule B. April 15, 2022. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/880/202204159496381880/202204159496381880.pdf#navpanes=0.
  44. “FEC Form 3X.” Report of Receipts and Disbursements For Other Than An Authorized Committee. January 31, 2022. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/506/202201319485288506/202201319485288506.pdf#navpanes=0.
  45. “PAC Profile: Grassroots Law PAC.” Open Secrets. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/abolitionists-pac/C00712109/summary/2022.
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Grassroots Law PAC

3041 Mission Street, No. 307
San Francisco, CA