Summary: I have been to Netroots Nation in five consecutive years. Netroots Nation is the largest conference of Liberal bloggers, writers, politicians, and organizations in the country. Every year panels are held to educate, strategize, inform, and network. Politicians abound as they seek to enlarge their political footprint. Netroots Nation has been eventful every single time. We’ve had protest actions in Detroit about water shutoffs and emergency managers, as well as actions in Providence, Minneapolis, San Jose, and beyond. We have had protests and actions to support our immigrant brothers and sisters. We have even challenged presidential candidates vociferously. Netroots Nation 2015 was different. The passion of the disruption effected by the Black Lives Matter movement led by Patrisse Cullors and other local activists including one from Houston was monumental. It was disruptive. It caught Netroots, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O’Malley off guard. And that was their intent. Their is an existential problem for many of our brothers and sisters of color that for the most part has been ignored and or misunderstood. After that action, the problem is now in the forefront. We talk to Patrisse Cullors and discuss Sandra Bland's death.
