National People's Action
National People's Action was a federation of 29 grassroots organizations in 18 states working together for racial and economic justice. Headquartered inHistory
Founded in 1972 by Cincotta and Trapp, the organization pushed for federal housing legislation including the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975, the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, and the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990. For many years, Cincotta and Trapp offered training to the group's affiliates through their National Training and Information Center. The organization continued after the retirement of Trapp and the death of Cincotta in 2001, but refocused its efforts on organizing, issue campaigning, and direct action, de-emphasizing the training programs once offered through NTIC.Program
The organization conducted a series of "Showdown" events starting in October 2009. The events, dubbed "Showdown In America", "called for the end of corporate lobbying and too-big-to-fail financial institutions". According to the group, it existed as a network to create a society in which "racial and economic justice are realized in all aspects of society, resulting in more equity in work, housing, health, education, finance, and other systems central to people's well-being". The organization pushed for stricter regulations on lending and financial institutions, including increased taxes. The organization has been part of the Democracy Initiative, a coalition including labor unions and environmentalist groups working to reverse what they saw as the takeover of American democracy by individual billionaires in collaboration with right-wing politicians. In August 2018, People's Action sponsored 50 community cookouts across the country to emphasize the value of families.Criticism
The organization was notable for aggressive tactics, especially protests against the residences of their opponents. Nina Easton of '' Fortune magazine'' wrote in her column about one such protest, at the home of her neighbor, a lawyer forReferences
Further reading
* Rachel G. Bratt, Michael E. Stone, Chester W. Hartman, ''A Right to Housing: Foundation for a New Social Agenda'' (Temple University Press, 2006). * Frances Moore Lappé, ''Democracy's Edge: Choosing to Save Our Country by Bringing Democracy to Life'' (John Wiley and Sons, 2005). * Jacqueline Mondros, ''Organizing for Power and Empowerment'' (Columbia University Press, 1994). * Kristina Smock, ''Democracy in Action: Community Organizing and Urban Change'' (Columbia University Press, 2003). * David Walls,External links
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