Abbreviation NPA Region served United States | Formation 1972 | |
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Type Nonprofit community organizing network Purpose Social liberalism, Democratic socialism Headquarters 810 N. Milwaukee Chicago, IL 60642 | ||
National People’s Action (NPA) is a community organizing network of 29 grassroots organizations in 18 states working together to advance a racial and economic justice agenda for a new economy and true democracy.
Contents
Headquartered in Chicago, NPA was founded in 1972 by Austin neighborhood activist Gale Cincotta and professional organizer Shel Trapp.
History
Founded in 1972 by Cincotta and Trapp, NPA pushed for federal housing legislation including the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975, the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, and the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990. For many years Cincotta and Trapp offered training to its affiliates through their National Training and Information Center (NTIC). NPA survived the retirement of Trapp and the death of Cincotta in 2001, but refocused its efforts on organizing, issue campaigning, and direct action, de-emphasizing the training programs once offered through NTIC.
George Goehl has been the executive director since 2008.
Program
National People's Action conducted a series of "Showdown" events starting in October 2009. The events, dubbed "Showdown In America," "called for the end of corporate lobbying and too-big-to-fail financial institutions." According to National People’s Action, it exists as a network to create a society in which "racial and economic justice are realized in all aspects of society, resulting in more equity in work, housing, health, education, finance, and other systems central to people's well-being." The organization pushes for stricter regulations on lending and financial institutions, including increased taxes.
Reporting by the liberal magazine Mother Jones indicated that NPA was part of the Democracy Initiative, a left-wing coalition including labor unions and environmentalist groups intending to attack the involvement of businesses in American politics.
Criticism
National People’s Action is notable for aggressive tactics, especially protests against the residences of their opponents. Nina Easton of Fortune magazine reported on one such protest, at the home of a Bank of America executive. In association with the Service Employees International Union, NPA demonstrators descended on the executive’s home, protesting while only his son was home, Easton reported. Easton characterized the demonstration as “the politics of personal intimidation.”
Similar NPA demonstrations have been held at the homes of Republican and Democratic officials and politicians.