Thread by @GregoryMcKelvey

This was done to a Black supporter of @sarah2020 today. Just unacceptable. If you want to do a protest vote that's fine but stop stealing from our BIPOC supporters, donors, volunteers, and staff.

Also, it is ironic becuase Sarah's platform called for defunding before it was a buzz word and was the only one in the primary to do so.

I have nothing negative ever to say about their preferred candidate. Also, it is unclear if they are involved. She does great work, I have nothing but respect, and will never say a bad word. I obviously will say that a write-in effort only serves Ted Wheeler but they know that.

I also disagree with her on many policies especially housing and climate. I disagree with supporting Republicans or Conservatives against progressives. But these are political differences that don't need to be made to be something more.

I will never lose my respect for someone's work because I disagree with someone's policy. But I cannot respect theft from indigenous and Black Portlanders. Or disrespect for the thousands of BIPOC supporters Sarah has gained and will never tokenize.

Yesterday a Black woman came to the office to pick up dozens of signs by bike and delivered to many BIPOC neighbors. It just breaks my heart to think she put in all that hard work, paid for by the people, just for some white kid to tell them what to do.

These white people are not "woke" for trying to convince Black people to throw away their vote. I know some people are privileged enough to cast a protest vote but don't project that unto others.

Our campaign is funded by small donors. We buy our signs exclusively from union shops. We run a lean campaign and this does hurt our ability to get the word out. We spend our campaign funds in our community, not on airbnb. You're being a shitty neighbor while the city is on fire.

Anyways, people have asked why I have been so silent about it. It's because I have always been committed to never using my platform to harm any Black activists. The whites do that enough. But I have to step up for my BIPOC staff, volunteers, supporters, and donors. I have to.

Lastly, tokenizing, virtue signaling and white guilt are not anti-racist actions. Stop ascribing policies to Black people to make yourself feel good that they haven't said. Stop using your support of throwing away your vote as evidence you aren't racist. You are racist.

Oh and electorally from a political science perspective. They picked the wrong target if this was about winning. But I sense it isn't about winning. I just want white people who think this shit is okay to look inside and see what you are actually doing and who it helps.

K this will be the last time I talk about this. It's been months with no comment from me cuz of my respect for her. But I am the head of this campaign. I'm the boss. I have to have my people's back. We have an incredibly diverse staff and of course diverse supporters.