We Mourn the Passing of Paul Booth
Husband. Father. Organizer. Friend.
You will be missed.
Dr. King famously said “the moral arc of the universe bends towards justice.” But he knew, and I underline, that it’s up to us to do the bending. We shall do it together.” – Paul Booth
Obituaries and Tributes
Washington Post
New York Times
American Prospect (Article 1)
American Prospect (Article 2)
AFL-CIO Press Release
Pelosi Press Release
NEA Press Release
NELP
AFSCME
Chicago Sun-Times
Dissent Magazine
The Nation
Economic Policy Institute (EPI)
Those wishing to send condolences are asked, in lieu of flowers, to contribute to:
Jobs With Justice – An organization Paul cared deeply about and provided leadership to for three decades.
Midwest Academy – Paul was on the board of this training center for power building strategy for justice and democracy.
Restaurant Opportunities Centers United- For one fair wage for tipped workers; Paul was on this board.
Heather’s Tribute Poem to Paul
The Low Road
What can they do to you?
Whatever they want..
They can set you up, bust you,
they can break your fingers,
burn your brain with electricity,
blur you with drugs till you
can’t walk, can’t remember.
they can take away your children,
wall up your lover;
they can do anything you can’t stop them doing.
How can you stop them?
Alone you can fight, you can refuse.
You can take whatever revenge you can
But they roll right over you.
But two people fighting back to back
can cut through a mob
a snake-dancing fire
can break a cordon,
termites can bring down a mansion
Two people can keep each other sane
can give support, conviction,
love, massage, hope, sex.
Three people are a delegation
a cell, a wedge.
With four you can play games
and start a collective.
With six you can rent a whole house
have pie for dinner with no seconds
and make your own music.
Thirteen makes a circle,
a hundred fill a hall.
A thousand have solidarity
and your own newsletter;
ten thousand community
and your own papers;
a hundred thousand,
a network of communities;
a million our own world.
It goes one at a time.
It starts when you care to act.
It starts when you do it again
after they say no.
It starts when you say we
and know who you mean;
and each day you mean
one more.
– Marge Piercy