Citizens for Accountable Leadership (CAL) is comprised of prominent business and community leaders in Southern California. CAL hosted a fundraising event for Governor Gavin Newsom and raised over $50,000 in opposition to the Trump lead recall effort. Because of COVID restrictions and as a precaution to all the events took place via Zoom on Tuesday, August 10, at 4 p.m. There were over 60 attendees, which included elected officials on a federal, state, and local level who demonstrated strong support for the Governor. A few of the noted officials who attended the event were U. S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass, State Controller and Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party, Betty Yee, Assemblymember Reginald Jones-Sawyer, Assemblymember Chris Holden, Assemblymember Autumn Burke, Assemblymember Mike Gipson, Los Angeles Mayor, Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles Councilmember, Mark Ridley-Thomas, and former Councilmember and Senator, Nate Holden. According to the Chair of CAL, who is Commissioner Gail Willis, “It is imperative for African Americans to vote in the upcoming election, and to vote NO on the Republican Recall, so economically, we can continue to thrive and have access to funds in our local community, which will enhance and empower African Americans.” CAL, formerly known as the African American Leadership Finance Council for the Biden/Harris team, raised over $100,000 for the Presidential campaign.
The event was co-chaired by prominent attorney and community activist, Ricky Ivie, the managing partner from the Law Offices of Ivie, McNeill, Wyatt, Purcell and Diggs and Los Angeles Sentinel Chairman and Executive Publisher Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., who had the honor of introducing the Governor to the group. “I am here tonight to thank all of you and all of the community for your support. These efforts lead by the conservative Republican party to recall me are an attempt to move our state backwards and derail the progress and programs that we have established over my administration and the democratic administrations that came before me,” stated Governor Newsom.
The Citizens for accountable Leadership (CAL) include: Danny J. Bakewell, Jr., Rickey Ivie, Esq., Clifton Albright, Esq., Charles McLurkin, Esq, Gail Willis (chair), Jackie Hawthorne, J. Stanley Sanders, Esq., Hon. Nate Holden, Kerry C. Cox, M.D., Reginald Holmes, Esq., Joseph T. Rouzan III, Dr. Cheyenne Bryant, Joy Atkinson, and Eric Bates.
