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Oakland Activist Carroll Fife Reflects on Her Experience at Democratic National Convention

Published

9 years ago

August 5, 2016

Now that the dust and balloons from the Democratic National Convention (DNC) have settled, local activist Carroll Fife, who attended the four-day gathering as a Bernie Sanders representative on the DNC Platform Committee, is back home in Oakland with experiences to share.

“It was so interesting to see the dynamics inside of the party,” said Fife. “You have the nomination of the nation’s first woman candidate for president, and then you see another group of people who still feel disillusioned by the whole process even in light of a historic event like that.”

At the convention in July 25 – July 28 in Philadelphia, Fife worked alongside fellow activists, state and federal officials, celebrities, workers and many others to address the county’s most critical issues.

Among the many events she attended, Fife highlighted a particularly memorable panel discussion with actress Rosario Dawson on race relations in America.

“It was probably one of the best panel-type workshops that I attended the entire time,” said Fife. “There was a real discussion about what’s happening in this country right now.”

She also recalled an event hosted by Congresswoman Barbara Lee and actor and activist Danny Glover where Bernie Sanders spoke.

“I was excited for (Bernie) to see down-ballot candidates for state, assembly, school board, and for local grassroots efforts,” she said. “That to me was amazing, and the fact that he is going back to the Senate as a democratic socialist took the sting out of him endorsing Hillary because a lot of people were disillusioned.”

Still, many parts of the event – including what Fife described as a “very conservative” convention – floor left her feeling disappointed.

“There was very little room for dialogue. I think when we get into a “lesser of two evils” discussion about who to vote for, it really minimizes the discussion and doesn’t leave room for creative thinking or even questioning what is needed in our society,” she said.

Prior to arriving in Philadelphia for the convention, Fife spent three days in Orlando, Fla. working with the platform committee.

Many local residents contributed money to help Fife attend the convention and platform committee meetings to ensure that Oakland views and interests were represented at the national level.

Along with other committee members in Orlando, she was responsible for molding the final draft of the platform that was later delivered to the DNC.

According to Fife, the two biggest areas of disagreement in the platform committee were around the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and single-payer healthcare.

“We wanted to try to gain some ground on and get the amendments we felt were more in alignment with what the American people need,” she said.

Though unsuccessful in getting some of Sanders’ amendments passed, many supporters are still calling this year’s platform the most progressive in the Democratic Party history.

However, Fife said she remains skeptical.

“I’m more of a radical thinker…and politics operates as it does because that’s what’s needed to maintain the status quo,” she said. “When you ask me what needs to be done, I would say there needs to be a complete political revolution for things to operate differently, not Band-Aids on bullet holes.”

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Activism

OP-ED: AB 1349 Puts Corporate Power Over Community

Since Ticketmaster and Live Nation merged in 2010, ticket prices have jumped more than 150 percent. Activities that once fit a family’s budget now take significant disposable income that most working families simply don’t have. The problem is compounded by a system that has tilted access toward the wealthy and white-collar workers. If you have a fancy credit card, you get “presale access,” and if you work in an office instead of a warehouse, you might be able to wait in an online queue to buy a ticket. Access now means privilege.

Published

3 days ago

January 9, 2026

Oakland Post

Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland

By Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland

As a pastor, I believe in the power that a sense of community can have on improving people’s lives. Live events are one of the few places where people from different backgrounds and ages can share the same space and experience – where construction workers sit next to lawyers at a concert, and teenagers enjoy a basketball game with their grandparents. Yet, over the past decade, I’ve witnessed these experiences – the concerts, games, and cultural events where we gather – become increasingly unaffordable, and it is a shame.

These moments of connection matter as they form part of the fabric that holds communities together. But that fabric is fraying because of Ticketmaster/Live Nation’s unchecked control over access to live events. Unfortunately, AB 1349 would only further entrench their corporate power over our spaces.

Power over live events is concentrated in a single corporate entity, and this regime operates without transparency or accountability – much like a dictator. Ticketmaster controls 80 percent of first-sale tickets and nearly a third of resale tickets, but they still want more. More power, more control for Ticketmaster means higher prices and less access for consumers. It’s the agenda they are pushing nationally, with the help of former Trump political operatives, who are quietly trying to undo the antitrust lawsuit launched against Ticketmaster/Live Nation under President Biden’s DOJ.

That’s why I’m deeply concerned about AB 1349 in its current form. Rather than reining in Ticketmaster’s power, the bill risks strengthening it, aligning with Trump. AB 1349 gives Ticketmaster the ability to control a consumer’s ticket forever by granting Ticketmaster’s regime new powers in state law to prevent consumers from reselling or giving away their tickets. It also creates new pathways for Ticketmaster to discriminate and retaliate against consumers who choose to shop around for the best service and fees on resale platforms that aren’t yet controlled by Ticketmaster. These provisions are anti-consumer and anti-democratic.

California has an opportunity to stand with consumers, to demand transparency, and to restore genuine competition in this industry. But that requires legislation developed with input from the community and faith leaders, not proposals backed by the very company causing the harm.

Will our laws reflect fairness, inclusion, and accountability? Or will we let corporate interests tighten their grip on spaces that should belong to everyone? I, for one, support the former and encourage the California Legislature to reject AB 1349 outright or amend it to remove any provisions that expand Ticketmaster’s control. I also urge community members to contact their representatives and advocate for accessible, inclusive live events for all Californians. Let’s work together to ensure these gathering spaces remain open and welcoming to everyone, regardless of income or background.

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Oakland Post: Week of December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

Published

1 week ago

January 2, 2026

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Big God Ministry Gives Away Toys in Marin City

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grow up.

Published

2 weeks ago

December 29, 2025

Oakland Post

From top left: Pastor David Hall asking the children what they want to be when they grow up. Worship team Jake Monaghan, Ruby Friedman, and Keri Carpenter. Children lining up to receive their presents. Photos by Godfrey Lee.

By Godfrey Lee

Big God Ministries, pastored by David Hall, gave toys to the children in Marin City on Monday, Dec. 15, on the lawn near the corner of Drake Avenue and Donahue Street.

Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Around 75 parents and children were there to receive the presents, which consisted mainly of Gideon Bibles, Cat in the Hat pillows, Barbie dolls, Tonka trucks, and Lego building sets.

A half dozen volunteers from the Big God Ministry, including Donnie Roary, helped to set up the tables for the toy giveaway. The worship music was sung by Ruby Friedman, Keri Carpenter, and Jake Monaghan, who also played the accordion.

Big God Ministries meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA Their phone number is (415) 797-2567.