View source for Maurice Mitchell (activist)

{{Short description|American activist and musician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Maurice Mitchell
| office = 2nd National Director of the [[Working Families Party]]
| term_start = April 2018
| term_end =
| predecessor = [[Dan Cantor]]
| successor =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Long Beach, New York]], U.S.
| desth_date =
| death_place =
| party = [[Working Families Party|Working Families]]
| education = [[Howard University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
}}
'''Maurice "Moe" Mitchell''' is an American activist, rapper, and musician, currently serving as the National Director of the [[Working Families Party]], a progressive political party known for cross-endorsing candidates through [[fusion voting]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/01/working-families-party/422949/|title=The Pugnacious, Relentless Progressive Party That Wants to Remake America|last=Ball|first=Story by Molly|date=2016-01-07|work=The Atlantic|access-date=2019-12-08|issn=1072-7825}}</ref> Mitchell has served in the role since April 2018, having succeeded [[Dan Cantor]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/20/us/politics/on-politics-progressive-groups.html|title=A Chat With Progressive Leaders About the Future of the Left|last=Lerer|first=Lisa|date=2018-12-20|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-12-08|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/the-new-director-of-the-working-families-party-says-opposing-racial-and-economic-justice-is-a-false-choice/|title=Economic vs. Racial Justice Is a 'False Choice,' Says the New Working Families Party Director|last=Meyerson|first=Collier|journal=The Nation|date=2018-04-13|access-date=2019-12-08|language=en-US|issn=0027-8378}}</ref> He is also the lead vocalist for the hardcore punk band, [[Cipher (band)|Cipher]].
== Early life and education ==
Mitchell was born and raised in [[Long Beach, New York]], the son of Caribbean immigrants. In high school, Mitchell was a member of the Long Island Student Coalition for Peace and Justice. Mitchell earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from [[Howard University]].<ref name="Maurice Mo Mitchell">{{Cite web|url=https://afropunk.com/festival/brooklyn/line-up/maurice-mo-mitchell/|title=Maurice "Mo" Mitchell|website=AFROPUNK|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-08}}</ref>
== Career ==
After college, Mitchell returned to [[Long Island]], where he worked at for the Long Island Progressive Coalition. Mitchell then worked as an organizing director for [[Citizen Action]]. During the [[Ferguson unrest]] after the [[shooting of Michael Brown]], Mitchell temporarily relocated to [[Ferguson, Missouri]], to work with other activists.<ref name="Maurice Mo Mitchell"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.socialmedicineconsortium.org/conferencedetails|title=2019: SMC Annual Conference|website=SOCIAL MEDICINE CONSORTIUM|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-08}}</ref>
In addition to his work in activism and political organizing, Mitchell is a founding member of the hardcore punk band, [[Cipher (band)|Cipher]], established by Mitchell and several high school classmates in 1996.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orlov |first=Piotr |date=2020-01-03 |title=maurice 'moe' mitchell: an afropunk in national politics |url=https://afropunk.com/2020/01/maurice-moe-mitchell-an-afropunk-in-national-politics/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=AFROPUNK |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2020, as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Mitchell and the [[Working Families Party]] had to recall waves of organizers and canvassers.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Herndon|first1=Astead W.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/05/us/politics/coronavirus-elections-democrats.html|title=Progressives Built an Organizing Juggernaut for 2020. Then the Virus Hit.|date=2020-04-05|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-04-24|last2=Philbrick|first2=Ian Prasad|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
In 2012, Mitchell's home in [[Long Beach, New York]], was destroyed during [[Hurricane Sandy]]. Mitchell is [[vegan]].
[[MF DOOM]] (Daniel Dumile) and [[DJ Subroc]] (Dingilizwe Dumile), legendary MC's/rappers, were Mitchell's older cousins.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-31 |title=Former Long Beach resident said to be more than MF Doom |url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/daniel-dumile-mf-doom-long-beach-w87469 |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=Newsday |language=en}}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Maurice}}
[[Category:Working Families Party politicians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Long Beach, New York]]
[[Category:Howard University alumni]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]