Our Revolution: Our mission is much more than electing Bernie Sanders Those who claim that we're anything other than independent insult our grassroots members: Opposing view

Paco Fabián | Opinion contributor

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Our movement is under attack. That’s why I want to set the record straight. Our Revolution is an independent political organization that networks 600 local groups and hundreds of thousands of grassroots activists to fight for change in their communities.

Our mission is much more than electing Bernie Sanders. Our members have elected nearly 250 candidates to local office and Congress; we’ve passed over 50 ballot measures and local ordinances to expand affordable housing, voting rights and racial equity; and we’ve amplified the voices of progressives in state and local Democratic parties controlled by corporate interests.

Those who claim that Our Revolution is anything other than independent of the Bernie Sanders 2020 campaign insult our grassroots members who are doing the hard work necessary to transform our broken system.

Our adversaries mischaracterize us as a “dark money” group controlled by corporations and the wealthy. That is simply laughable. We are advancing “Medicare for All,” “Green New Deal” and other policies that are the opposite of corporate profiteering.

The truth is that regular people fund us. In 2018, 98.6% of our fundraising came from over 107,000 people whose average gift was $20.04. Organizing people and pooling their resources is the only way to defeat the power and influence of the wealthy in America.

OUR VIEW: Why does Bernie Sanders' campaign even need a dark money group?

Our Revolution is more transparent than some “good governance” groups like Common Cause. We disclose the names from donations above $250 and do not accept corporate money.

That’s because, at our core, we believe that everyday people should have power in this country, not just corporations and the wealthy few. It’s part of our DNA. While our opponents are likely to continue smearing us, we will continue to focus on making the political revolution a reality at every level of government in America.

Paco Fabián is communications and campaigns director at Our Revolution.

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