About Us

We are a United Front of community organizations, labor, policy advocates, academics, and philanthropy leaders representing millions Californians of every race, religion, and region of the state. We demand Governor Newsom and other elected leaders choose us — the people of California — not corporations and the wealthy few. Choose us to reverse historical inequities and immediately invest in a collective future that benefits all Californians.

The United Front is comprised of community organizations, labor, policy advocates, academics, and philanthropy leaders representing Californians of every race, religion, and region of the state. Members include: Asian American Pacific Islanders for Civic Empowerment – AAPIforCE, ACCE, AFSCME, California Calls, CAUSE, California Community Foundation, CHIRLA, Children’s Defense Fund – CA, Health Access, LAANE, PICO California, Partnership for Working Families, Policy Link, Power California, San Francisco Foundation, SEIU State Council, SEIU 2015, SEIU-USWW, UFCW 770, Unite Here 11, UTLA, Warehouse Workers, Working Partnerships – USA. Together we represent millions of Californians.

#ChooseUsNotBillionaires Week of Action

From July 31 to August 7, the #ChooseUsNotBillionaires Week of Action organized by United Front members will highlight recovery solutions for key communities that have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including ways to generate much-needed revenue to fund a fair and just recovery. Actions will take place throughout the state.

Throughout the week of action and beyond, groups are demanding that California’s elected officials:

  • Enact fair tax increases for California billionaires and corporations so they pay their fair share.
  • Passing AB 1436 to protection hundreds of thousands of tenants who could be at risk of eviction 
  • Enact a small tax increase on the wealthiest Californians who have continued to profit through the pandemic, so that communities most impacted by the pandemic and economic downturn can get the services they need to make a full recovery.

Friday, July 31: Youth & Housing

Housing: Choose Us Not Billionaires
Organization: Housing Now!

Action details: 

  • San Diego: 10:30am; In front of Capitol Growth, 10951 Sorrento Valley Road, San Diego
  • Los Angeles: 10:30am; by Geoff Palmer’s Visconti; 3rd between Beaudry & Boylston (pocket park to the North of LAUSD, downtown LA)
  • Bay Area: 12 Noon; In front of The Lapham Company, 4844 Telegraph Ave, Oakland

Youth: #FundOurFutures Youth Assembly and Town Hall Forum

  • Organization: Power California

Action details:

Monday, Aug 3: Schools

School re-opening: Center children and families in defining what a just recovery looks like.

Organization:

  • LA: Reclaim Our Schools Los Angeles (ACCE, UTLA, LAANE, Students Deserve); 

Action details:

  • Los Angeles: 10am; LA Chamber of Commerce; car caravan to LAUSD Headquarters
  • Oakland – 4pm at La Escuelita, 1050 2nd Ave, Oakland
  • Calls to Supervisors on Public Health Councils.

Tuesday, Aug. 4: Reimagining Public Safety & Public Health

Health and safety of essential workers 

Organization: 

  • UFCW Multi-local rally

Action details:

  • Calls to County Board of Supervisors in am pre 9:30 hearing; 6 pm virtual rally

Defund the police: remove police from schools and redirect funding for police to other community needs like mental health and housing services.

Organization: 

  • PICO CA

Action details: 

  • Calls to governor to support AB 1

Wednesday, Aug. 5: Immigrant Inclusion

Relief for undocumented people: Pass Wage Replacement for Undocumented Workers

Organization: 

  • CHIRLA & Safety-Net for All Coalition

Action details: 

  • Sacramento: Display of giant immigrant portraits by Artist JR, on west steps at the Capitol building, starting at 10 a.m. and through the following three days, as part of his Inside Out project.
  • San Diego: Digital press conference at 10 a.m. by the American Friends Service Committee, Center on Policy Initiatives, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, SEIU-USWW and UNITE HERE Local 30 with testimony from immigrants affected by COVID-19.
  • Lakewood:  Rally 10 a.m. at Speaker Rendon’s office, 4909 Lakewood Blvd., Speaker Suite 400 Lakewood, CA 90712

Thursday, Aug. 6: Protect Essential Workers

Health and safety of essential workers 

Organizations:

  • USWW, Fight for $15

Action details:

  • Palo Alto: 2850 W Bayshore Road, Palo Alto @ 11:00:00 AM
  • Los Angeles: Car Caravan Meet at: Local 721 Parking – Wilshire Union Plaza 1545 Wilshire Blvd @ 10:30 AM; Media: 3435 Wilshire Blvd (Equitable plaza) @ 1:15PM
  • San Diego: USWW office: 4001 El Cajon Blvd @ 10:00 AM; Media at same location at 10:15 AM

Friday, Aug. 7: 

The Choice is Clear: Tax Billionaires, Invest in Our Communities

Organization:

  • Commit to Equity

Action details:

  • Sacramento: Press Conference and Rally: Meet up at 681 W. Capitol Ave @ 5:15 AM; Rally at Capitol
  • Lakewood: Press Conference and Rally: JC Penny Parking Lot 67 Lakewood Ctr Mall, Lakewood @ 5:30 AM

Now is the time to #ChooseUs!

Too many of California’s politicians allow wealthy corporations and their lobbyists to bend the rules and determine our policy and budget priorities.

A recent report from Americans for Tax Fairness shows that California’s 154 billionaires, through their billion-dollar corporations, increased their wealth by over $175 billion since the start of the pandemic in mid-March. As the rich make billions, essential workers earn less than a living wage. Renters are forced to pay sky high rent to live in unstable housing. Immigrants live in fear ranged raand exclusion. All the while, schools, and neighborhoods remain underfunded.

With an uprising in the midst of a pandemic, we have a historic opportunity to choose our fellow Californians – Black families, students, essential workers, renters, and immigrants – over billionaires and corporations. Right now, and this election year, is our moment to rewrite our collective future so that all of us – not just a wealthy few – are safe and thriving.

This moment isn’t about a lack of resources, especially in a state that is as wealthy as California. There is enough for everyone to stay healthy, safe, and connected. The choices we make now on how to use the abundant resources we have will determine our future. 

California’s leaders must choose, do you work for corporate billionaires or us?  We see now more than ever that the status quo that favors the wealthy – and leaves the rest of us sick, poor and over-policed – is an act of systemic racism and inequality. California’s lawmakers must choose a path forward that protects health, safety, and long-term economic well-being for all of us.  

We are powerful when we act together. We choose us. We choose California. We need Governor Newsom and our other elected leaders to choose us, too.

Join Us to Say #ChooseUs