Special Features

Jesse Nevel announced his candidacy for Mayor of the City of St. Petersburg, Florida on March 8th, 2017.

The 27-year-old is best known for his work as the National Chair of the Uhuru Solidarity Movement (USM), the organization of white people working under the leadership of the African People’s Socialist Party (APSP), organizing for reparations to the black community.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL––Eritha “Akilé” Cainion Cainion threw her hat into the race to become the next councilperson for District 6 in St. Pete on Monday, March 6, 2017. The 22-year-old African woman made the announcement during a press conference held in front of the recently shutdown Walmart with her proud parents and a group of enthusiastic supporters.

Eritha’s participation in the local white ruling class electoral process of St. Pete is different from any other election in recent U.S. history due to her committed relationship and work within revolutionary organizations.

Ever since I came into adulthood, I have always understood my oppression as a non-white woman, gender non-conforming and same-gender-loving person, among other marginalized, intersecting identities. However, this understanding was steeped in liberal ideology; my understanding was initially informed by a white, colonial narrative.

Jesse Nevel, candidate for Mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida, explains the mission of his campaign to "unite the city around a progressive agenda" centered on reparations and economic development for the black community, social justice and empowerment of the people and neighborhoods.

The rise of the modern-day “gay rights movement” has fostered increased discussion within the African community of what has been termed “the effeminization of the black man” or the “gay agenda.” 

This wave of homophobia is a direct reaction to imperialism in deep crisis. The white nation, in order to save itself from this crisis, seeks to consolidate itself with historically oppressed sectors like the white gay rights movement. With the help of traitorous agents in the African nation, the white nation is able to fracture the African nation by attacking oppressed sectors like same-gender-loving people within our community. 

On April 8th and 9th, the Black is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations will conduct an electoral campaign school for African activists who want to open up a new front for the struggle for self-determination in the U.S.

Newly hatched mayoral candidate Jesse Nevel officially launched his challenge to incumbent St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman Wednesday morning with a pledge to end poverty and misery on the city's historically black south side.

Nevel, a 27-year-old member of the Uhuru Solidarity Movement—a group of white activists that stands with the African People's Socialist Movement (also known as Uhuru)—launched his bid with a striking slogan: "Unity through Reparations." It's the idea that the city should invest more resources in leveling the playing field for the city's African-American population. Some 20,000 or so people on the south side live below the poverty level and many are plagued with disproportionate rates of addiction and homelessness. And the few opportunities available to many residents are low-wage retail and service jobs that keep the city's tourism economy going. That has to stop, Nevel said.

On Monday, March 6, 2017, 20-year-old Eritha “Akilé” Cainion threw her hat into the race to become the next councilperson for District 6 in St. Petersburg. She made the announcement while standing in front of the recently shutdown St. Petersburg, Florida Walmart with her proud parents and a group of enthusiastic supporters.

 
“I am 20 years old and for all these 20 years I have lived in this city, specifically in this neighborhood. In all these 20 years, the St. Petersburg city government has done nothing but work against the black community. I have entered this election because the black community is and has been under assault by the leaders of this city,” declared Akilé.

Eritha Cainion (traditionally known as Akilé Anai) filed paperwork this week at City Hall for the council seat to be vacated by term-limited Karl Nurse. She joins an already crowded field of candidates, including: local NAACP president Maria Scruggs, Lakewood Terrace activist and South St. Petersburg CRA advisory board member Corey Givens and perennial candidate Sharon Russ.

Cainion says she has discussed financial and grassroots support with the Uhuru movement, but considers herself a non-partisan candidate that will accept support from across the city.