David Richard Gilbert-Pederson

David Richard Gilbert-Pederson is a Minneapolis activist. From Quezon City, Philippines.

Education

Went to South Sr. High.

Activism

Organizer at Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation
Campaign Chairman at Ilhan Omar
Former Senior Advisor at Representative Raymond Dehn
Former Municipal Campaigns Director at Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation
Former Organizer at Hope Community Inc.
Former Field Organizer: Labor 2014 at Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation
Former Chicago Area Organizer at Citizens Trade Campaign
Former Field Director at GreenMark Solar
Former Field Organizer at Democratic Party of Wisconsin
Worked at The Young Progressives
Former GOTV Director-Marinette at Dave Hansen for State Senate
Former Campaign manager at Richard Mammen for Minneapolis Public Schools!

Open Letter from RWU to the President

In November 2022 David Richard Gilbert-Pederson, signed the Open Letter from RWU to the President .

“Drivers license for all”

On Tuesday January 3, 2022, more than 50 immigrant rights activists and supporters braved a snowstorm to gather on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol demanding “Drivers license for all.” The rally was called by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) on the opening day of the Minnesota legislative session to demand that the new Democrat-controlled state legislature pass the bill for drivers license access for all in Minnesota in this legislative session.

The protest began with a speech in both English and Spanish by Sarah Silva, a member of MIRAC.

Jaylani Hussein from CAIR - Minnesota spoke next, telling the crowd: “It is time for the Democratic Party, who have said that they cared about so many of these issues, to actually prioritize those things and make it happen.”

Jae Yates, a speaker from the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar and Minneapolis for Community Control of the Police spoke on the connections between the fight for community control of the police in Minneapolis and the role that the policing system has on funneling undocumented immigrants into deportation.

Near the end of the rally, Pablo Tapia from Asamblea de Derechos Civiles, who has been involved in the struggle for drivers license in Minnesota for two decades, energized the group after stating he would speak in Spanish, the language of his community. “Están listos para ganar licencias para todos este año si o no?” which translates as “Are you ready to win licenses for all this year, yes or no?”

A statement was read on behalf of Minnesota State Senator Zaynab Mohamed, who is the author of the driver's license bill in the Senate. Senator Mohamad said: “Our economy depends on the labor of immigrants, yet our government prohibits them from driving. Restoring immigrants’ right to obtain a driver’s license isn’t just the right thing to do - it will also benefit our economy, make our roads safer, and make life easier for our undocumented neighbors and their families.” Her statement ended with the promise to work on the legislation to ensure it becomes a reality.

The crowd also heard from Minneapolis City Councilmember Aisha Chughtai; Veena Iyer, the director of the Immigrant Law Center of MN; John Banda from the Interfaith Coalition on Immigration, and Eva Lopez and Brahim Kone from SEIU Local 26.

David Richard Gilbert-Pederson of MN Workers United spoke in support of drivers license for all, and also announced a new People's Agenda platform, which includes a broad range of demands on the state legislature. Activists noted that as the Democrats now have full control of the state government and a massive budget surplus, they can't blame financial hard times or blame Republicans if they don't pass bills and a budget that addresses and fully funds working class and oppressed people's needs. Organizations and individuals are being asked to sign on to the People Agenda platform.^[1]

Minnesota Abortion Action Coalition

According to Siobhan Moore – Chants of “When abortion rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back!” could be heard up and down Chicago Avenue and 41st Streets in South Minneapolis on Thursday, August 18, 2022 as 40 protesters gathered outside the Tandem Family Resource Center - one of Minnesota’s now-infamous “crisis pregnancy centers” - for a rally for women’s and reproductive rights. The action was organized by the newly formed Minnesota Abortion Action Coalition (MNAAC) to demand an end to state funding for Tandem and other “crisis pregnancy centers” like it.

Speaking for the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Coalition, Montana Hirsch made clear that the struggle for immigrant rights and access to abortion are inseparable, also pointing out that “Crisis pregnancy centers like Tandem that exist in close proximity to a largely Spanish-speaking immigrant community are intentionally deceptive, not only to English speakers but even more so to those who are not native English speakers.”

David Gilbert-Pederson, speaking for MN Workers United, outlined the evident connection between the working-class struggle and the fight for women’s and reproductive rights, explaining that abortion bans are only bans for working and oppressed people, while the wealthy carry on with business as usual.

Olivia Crull of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization echoed that sentiment, explaining, “The only reason why we have these rights is because they were fought for and won through struggle in the streets” and outlined the need for a united struggle: “We need a united fight- we need a fight that includes women, that includes trans folks, that includes non-binary folks because we need to recognize that our struggles come from the same source.”

Other speakers included Sarah Olson of Women Against Military Madness, Gillian Rath from Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Minnesota, Jaelynne Palmer of the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar, and Tracy Molm of the Climate Justice Committee. Speakers urged people to call in to the governor’s office to demand an end to state funding for these centers and funding for actual abortion clinics and health care. Flyers with call-in details were handed out.^[2]

Stu Lourey team

David Richard Gilbert-Pederson March 16 2019:

With Joelle Stangler, Katie Humphrey, Aisha Chughtai and Stuart Lourey.

Ilhan Omar connection

David Richard Gilbert-Pederson with Norah Shapiro.

Ilhan Omar with David Richard Gilbert-Pederson January 2019.

Islamic friends

David Richard Gilbert-Pederson January 7 2019

With Deeqa Shabbele and Aisha Chughtai.

Hope Community

David Richard Gilbert-Pederson October 20, 2015:

With Asha Long, Edwin Gonzalez, Legacy Larue, Jacob Virden, Shelley Martin, Darius Sean Gray, Irna Landrum, Tia Williams, Ghostshifter RunningBird, Chaka Mkali, Mica Grimm, Andrew Fahlstrom, Noelle Dubois Caiman, Kyra Brown, Caroline Taiwo, Raul Daniel Mejiaborja, Melody Johnson, Filsan Ibrahim and Laura Sanchez.

Louis Alemayehu I really love this offering of Hope Community under the leadership of Chaka Mkali!

FRSO meeting

The Freedom Road Socialist Organization/FightBack! is hosting another online meeting for the growing numbers of members on Thursday, February 17 2022at 8 p.m. Eastern time. We will use Zoom to welcome our new members who joined since the last meeting on capitalism destroying the environment.

Tom Burke, the organizational secretary of the FRSO, will speak about the growth of the FRSO, the importance of union solidarity with the George Floyd rebellion, the recent uptick in strikes, and how we can lead the American working class toward revolution.

Emily Butt, a union steward, will speak on the victories of the democratic reform movement that is transforming the Teamsters, and the need to strike at UPS so we can change the whole industry, including Fed Ex and Amazon.

David Gilbert-Pederson will cover how to win the immediate demands of workers through contract campaigns, job actions and strikes as we prepare the working class for bigger battles against the monopoly capitalists of Wall Street.