Maurice Mitchell (activist)

Maurice Mitchell is an American activist and musician, currently serving as the National Director of the Working Families Party, a progressive political party known for cross-endorsing candidates through fusion voting.[1] Mitchell has served in the role since April 2018, having succeeded Dan Cantor.[2][3]

Maurice Mitchell
National Director of the
Working Families Party
Assumed office
April 2018
Preceded byDan Cantor
Personal details
BornLong Beach, New York, U.S.
Alma materHoward University

Early life and education

Mitchell was born and raised in Long Beach, New York, the son of Caribbean immigrants. In high school, Mitchell was a member of the Long Island Student Coalition for Peace and Justice. Mitchell attended Howard University.[4]

Career

After college, Mitchell returned to Long Island, where he worked at for the Long Island Progressive Coalition. Mitchell then worked as an organizing director for Citizen Action. During the Ferguson unrest after the shooting of Michael Brown, Mitchell temporarily relocated to Ferguson, Missouri to work with other activists.[4][5]

In addition to his work in activism and political organizing, Mitchell is a founding member of the hardcore punk band, Cipher, established by Mitchell and several high school classmates in 1996.[6]

In 2020, as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, Mitchell and the Working Families Party had to recall waves of organizers and canvassers.[7]

Personal life

In 2012, Mitchell's home in Long Beach, New York was destroyed during Hurricane Sandy.

Mitchell is vegan.[6]

References

  1. Ball, Story by Molly (2016-01-07). "The Pugnacious, Relentless Progressive Party That Wants to Remake America". The Atlantic. ISSN 1072-7825. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  2. Lerer, Lisa (2018-12-20). "A Chat With Progressive Leaders About the Future of the Left". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  3. Meyerson, Collier (2018-04-13). "Economic vs. Racial Justice Is a 'False Choice,' Says the New Working Families Party Director". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  4. "Maurice "Mo" Mitchell". AFROPUNK. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  5. "2019: SMC Annual Conference". SOCIAL MEDICINE CONSORTIUM. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  6. Akhtar, Allana (2019-06-16). "A day in the life of a political activist and single dad who spends 20-hour work days traveling the country but always flies back home to his son". Business Insider. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  7. Herndon, Astead W.; Philbrick, Ian Prasad (2020-04-05). "Progressives Built an Organizing Juggernaut for 2020. Then the Virus Hit". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
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