By Aqueila M. Lewis
Photos by Z'ma Wyatt

Nearly 15,000 supporters filled the streets surrounding Oakland’s Civic Center on Sunday to greet Democratic presidential candidate Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

   Eager supporters bought a limited supply of $20 VIP tickets for a chance to get within 20 feet of the New York Senator during her 6 p.m. stage appearance. Starting at 2 p.m., lines stretched four and five blocks long along Broadway and onto 14th and Clay streets.
    The block party and rally, called “Club 44,” was the campaign’s effort to encourage supports, especially women, to change history by electing Clinton as America’s 44th president. Youth were offered discount tickets to the event.
    Amanda Coffee, an associate with Clinton’s Northern California office, explained that the campaign decided to visit Oakland after a successful Club 44 event in Washington, D.C. this summer. “… We brought it here to Oakland because there are a lot of young people in Oakland, and California is going to be pretty important in the next election with absentee ballots. California will be the first to vote [in the primaries], on Jan. 7, 2008.”
    “Our goal for the primaries is to win” said Alvin Brown, Clinton’s senior advisor. “I believe we are going to win because Hillary is the best person for the job and most qualified, with experience and a great vision for America.”
    One of the rally’s themes was the need for the next president to bring about change. “We are seeing in the polls that people really understand that Hillary has a vision that will put America back on the right track,” said campaign Communications Director Luis Vizcaino.

   “For 35 years, Hillary has been an advocate for women, children, working families and the LGBT community and has become an expert in issues such as public education, healthcare, civil rights, foreign policy and energy independence.”
    Last week, Clinton’s campaign received endorsements from California Senate pro Tem Don Perata, Oakland City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente, councilwomen Jean Quan and Pat Kernighan and Congresswoman Dianne Watson, along with major support from the California Congressional Black Caucus.
    Although Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums did not attend the rally, he endorsed Clinton during a separate event held on Monday.
    Rally speakers included San Francisco Assessor Phil Ting, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, Cal State board of trustees chair Roberta Achteberg, Rev. Cecil Williams of Glide Memorial Church and Senator Dianne Feinstein, who introduced Clinton.
    Warriors head coach Don Nelson attended, bringing along “We Believe” t-shirts to show his support.
    Attendees enjoyed live performances from Asian Lion Dancers, McClymonds High School drum line, The Castleers choir from Castlemont High School, Glide’s Choir, Nya Jade, Habib Khan and Friends and more.
    Oakland native and recording artist Dwayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Toné! also performed. “It is good that we are out here campaigning and [creating] the awareness, but the follow-through also needs to happen,” he said. “We as a people really need to get out there and vote. They should organize a concert at the voting polls to get people there.”
    Wiggins encouraged Oakland voters to be “aware of what’s going on outside of Oakland and stop worrying about what’s happening down the street. This black on black crime and people on people crime is really ridiculous,” he said. “It’s time that my city stayed aware. It doesn’t matter that we have different opinions, because we still have the same issues at the end of the day.”
    Clinton’s San Francisco headquarters is currently seeking volunteers. For more information, visit www.hillaryclinton.com.

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