By Aqueila M. Lewis

Over 38 million viewers watched Senator Barack Obama’s acceptance speech before a crowd of 80,000 at the Democratic National Convention in Denver on Thursday.

    In Oakland, over 500 people packed the first and second floors of Geoffrey’s Inner Circle to watch the historic moment along with members of Black Elected Officials and Faith Based Leaders of the East Bay, Black Women Organizing for Political Action and representatives from the Office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee.
    The event included free food from various restaurants, a keynote address from Bishop Joseph Simms of Greater Saint Paul Baptist Church, Bishop Keith Clark, Rabbi David Cooper of Kehilla Community Synagogue and Greg Hodge, performances by Youth Uprising’s Turf Feeinz, Gobots and Mischua Pugh, and spoken word from Leadership Excellence and Paul Flores.
   “This is a moment to celebrate and recommit ourselves to the movements and social justice movements, and elect Senator Barack Obama as president,” said Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, co-emcee of the event. “We need to recommit ourselves to action in our neighborhoods and in the country.”
   “This is a great time for America,” said Pam Coukos, Obama campaign regional field representative. “Oakland has made a huge contribution by making phone calls, telling families and friends to vote and working together to make this election a reality.”
   Obama’s nomination marks the first time in history that an African American has been a major political party’s candidate for president. Obama walks in the footsteps of many leaders, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who 45 year ago gave his most famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
    In his acceptance speech, entitled “Change You Can Believe In,” Obama reintroduced himself and his positions to undecided voters, focusing on jobs, the economy, education, health care, tax codes and the war in Iraq, and he urged Democrats and Republicans to change worn-out ideas of the past.
   “History is being made today,” said Bobby Seale, Black Panther Party co-founder. “I am happy to be able to stand here alive to hear Senator Barack Obama do his acceptance speech. Barack Obama is ready to be elected, he’s unique and we should work hard to elect him.”
   “We have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be — that’s the thread that binds us together,” said Michelle Obama on day one of the Democratic National Convention.
    For more information, visit www.california.barackobama.com or www.eastbayforobama.com.

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