Video Ad Highlights Progressive Caucus Chair’s Family Tradition of Fighting for Justice, Beginning with his Uncle, Jefferson Thomas, a Member of the Little Rock Nine
Kicking off his re-election effort for California State Assembly District 59, today California Progressive Caucus Chair Reggie Jones-Sawyer announced his 2018 campaign with the release of a new digital video ad, titled “Justice.”
Centering on his deep desire to make California a more just, more fair and more equitable society, Jones-Sawyer’s new digital video ad tells the story of the Assembly Member’s uncle, Jefferson Thomas, who was a member of the Little Rock Nine, a group of African American children who enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. It’s a story that began with racial segregation, but because of the White House’s intervention, turned to desegregation, hope and resolve, and which has served as an inspiration that propelled Assembly Member Jones-Sawyer to a life of public service.
Upon announcing his re-election campaign today, Assemblyman Jones-Sawyer, who is also Chair of the State Assembly Public Safety Committee as well as the California Progressive Caucus, released the following statement:
“California has long been on the forefront of the battle for progressive, inclusive and compassionate change. We’ve led on workers’ rights, immigrant rights, civil rights, equal rights, environmental rights, and more. And while we’ve made monumental gains in recent years, the fact is that still, too many in our state are struggling to make ends meet and get by. Our criminal justice policies are out-dated, our courts are extraordinarily underfunded, poverty continues to plague too many communities and polluted air and water impacts far too many neighborhoods. California must continue to evolve, create change and move forward with a progressive agenda. I’m running for re-election for the State Assembly to help lead that charge.”
Prior to being elected to the California State Assembly in 2012, Jones-Sawyer served as Director of Real Estate for the City of Los Angeles. Previously he served as Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, as Secretary of the California Democratic Party, Assistant Deputy Mayor for the City of Los Angeles, as Chair of the Baldwin Hills Conservancy, Chair of the Los Angeles County Small Business Commission and as Los Angeles Professional Managers Association’s Vice President for SEIU’s Local 721.