Netroots Nation bills itself as “the largest annual conference for progressives.” This year’s conference was plagued with nearly empty events, racial incitement and wild radicalism far outside of the American mainstream, including items for sale with threats of violence.
This year's conference just wrapped in New Orleans. Keynote addresses were delivered at Netroots Nation by Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Cynthia Nixon, and self-described democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. These speakers, and the conference’s legion of panelists, pushed an unrelenting new era of racially-focused activism and organizing.
The problem was, much of the time there was nobody there to hear it.
The conference was plagued by nearly empty events. "This is What Democracy Should Look Like" was a panel featuring Atima Omara, A’shanti Gholar, and Carol McDonald. With seating for more than 200 at the event, barely 20 Netroots attendees came to hear.
Those Democratic biggies must have felt like fools to lend their name and prestige to the event, and have it so sparsely attended, and so focused on violence. I recall in the last election how Hillary had very poor attendance at her rallies, while the Trumpinator was rocking huge venues. An alarm of warning to the Democrats? Maybe radical violence isn't the way to go?
There were about as many people there as at the typical Hillary campaign event. If they'd invited the NRA, the place would have been filled, but I don't think that Poke-a-haunt-us would have been happy with her reception in that scenario.
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