Group aims to be hub for activism

Social justice activism has exploded this year, with people taking to the streets in numbers not seen in decades. Locally, the demands for change have led to the creation of several activist groups, all competing for attention and support.

Now, even though they may have differing causes, several local groups are working as a team through the newly formed North County Equity and Justice Coalition.

It consists of several North County-based organizations focused on a broad swath of issues, including racial justice, police reform, climate change, LGBTQ rights and more.

The idea is to keep everyone connected and on top of local issues and activities. The new coalition spreads word of coming events and give local social justice organizations a shared calendar.

Co-founder Yusef Miller calls the new group “a force multiplier.” In an interview last month, he said the idea behind it is to “support each other better.”

The creation of the group is rooted in the number of protests, rallies and marches in the region that followed the Memorial Day death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a White police officer in Minneapolis knelt with his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly minutes. Protesters were also spurred by other events, including charging decisions in the Breonna Taylor case.

Microphone in hand, Miller has led some of the local rallies. The passion on the streets got him thinking: “Why not harness all of that energy into one organization?”

Leaders of different North County organizations come together for monthly meetings, and share what each group is actively working on. “It’s a one-stop shop,” Miller said.

Among the groups in the coalition, he said, are Clean Earth for Kids; North County Civil Liberties Coalition; Encinitas 4 Equality; Oceanside Justice Coalition; Escondido Together; Carlsbad Equity Coalition; Poway Interfaith Team; North County LGBTQ Resource Center; Mosques Against Trafficking and several others.