Netroots Nations is the largest gathering of digitally-driven progressives in the US, with visitors from across the country and around the world. This year’s event was in Detroit, and in addition to the BSD team, we sent three up-and-coming organizers to participate in the action. They joined protests against the Detroit water shut-offs, heard from movement leaders like Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Elizabeth Warren, and met a lot of incredible people in a series of BSD-led panels. Netroots has always been a great way to connect with activists, campaigners, bloggers, and people who want to better this country. And after three days on the ground, we’re already looking forward to next year in Phoenix.
Below, a round-up of some of our favorite social posts from #NN14.
Joe Biden was as inspiring and awesome as usual.
Inspired by @JoeBiden at #nn14 “It’s time for our politics to become as big and grand as the American people are.”
— Blue State Digital (@BSD) July 17, 2014
“I can almost hear the press salivating: Will Joe be Joe today?”– @VP #nn14 pic.twitter.com/tzQkxDwHuG
— Yahel Carmon (@Yahel) July 17, 2014
Elizabeth Warren shared her insights during a wonderful talk.
“I can’t believe I have to say this in 2014: We believe in equal pay for equal work.” Yes, @SenWarren! #NN14
— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) July 18, 2014
Our own Matthew McGregor was doubly star-struck.
I’ve just listened to Howard Dean do an impression of Bill Clinton. Today was a good day.
— Matthew McGregor (@mcgregormt) July 19, 2014
I’m in a room where joe Biden said “I’m not trying to be cute with you” so I’m feeling pretty good about life.
— Matthew McGregor (@mcgregormt) July 17, 2014
In addition to women in tech, there were interesting conversations around Silicon Valley opening its doors to the LGBT community.
Lesbians Who Tech is in the NY Times! So much to celebrate & so much more work to do http://t.co/hzDW4T4n1d #NN14 #LWTSUMMIT @lesbiantech
— leanimpact (@leanimpact) July 19, 2014
A very small activist got her start on the conference circuit.
Awwwww!!! “@melfoley: My little activist-in-training at her first Netroots Nation! #nn14 pic.twitter.com/cbGSPod79O”
— Dr. Goddess (@drgoddess) July 17, 2014
We were reminded how crucial women have always been in the labor movement.
RT @AFLCIO: “Women were in labor before men were born.”- Myra Wolfgang, hotel workers’ leader #1uwomen #nn14 pic.twitter.com/9U3F8zYqPx
— UNITE HERE (@unitehere) July 21, 2014
Howard Dean sat down with our CEO Joe Rospars. They discovered they have a lot in common.
Many thanks to @GovHowardDean for a great #NN14 session, and for being the only guy who has ever out-sworn me on a panel
— Joe Rospars (@rospars) July 19, 2014
The Detroit water shut-offs were top-of-mind.
Water is a human right! @MarkRuffalo here at #NN14 to join the 12:30 pm #DetroitWater rally: http://t.co/XvKI0h19ea pic.twitter.com/GfwOtiFYH8
— SEIU (@SEIU) July 18, 2014
Text “Detroit” to 69866 to sign the #petition to #TurnOnTheWater! #DetroitWater #nn14 #WaterIsAHumanRight pic.twitter.com/Pps0iYou8b
— Alissa (@_al_man) July 18, 2014
MSNBC shared this great post-conference write-up.
Here’s my #nn14 postmortem: At Netroots, progressive activists turn to traditional organizing http://t.co/7Mu3nTrT24
— Ned Resnikoff (@resnikoff) July 21, 2014
And a fair amount of attendees struggled with the transition back to real life.
Can the day after Netroots Nation be a progressive organization holiday? #p2 #nn14
— Camden Lee (@camdenlee) July 21, 2014