Wahsayah Whitebird facts for kids

Wahsayah Whitebird (born 1992) is a politician from the United States. He was a member of the Communist Party of the United States. From 2019 to 2021, he served on the City Council in Ashland, Wisconsin.

Whitebird is a member of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians. This is a Native American tribe. When he was in office, he was one of only two Communist Party members elected to public office in the U.S.

About Wahsayah Whitebird

Whitebird belongs to the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Their reservation is near Ashland, Wisconsin. It is located on the coast of Lake Superior.

Before he was elected, Whitebird worked at a deli in Ashland. He was also a member of a workers' union. This union was called the United Food and Commercial Workers.

His Election to City Council

Whitebird won his first election on April 2, 2019. He ran for a seat on the Ashland City Council. He beat the person who was already in office, David J. Mettille. Whitebird won with 52% of the votes.

He focused on important issues during his campaign. These included making homes more affordable for everyone. He also wanted to help people who were experiencing homelessness. He aimed to build more shelters for them.

The election was "nonpartisan." This means candidates did not run as members of a political party. Whitebird's connection to the Communist Party was not widely known until after he won. He had been a member of the party since 2011. His win made him the only known Communist Party member elected to public office in the U.S. at that time. He did not run for re-election in 2021.

What He Believed In

Whitebird's ideas for how the government should work were similar to those of democratic socialists. However, his overall political beliefs were more like traditional Communism.

While in office, Whitebird supported several policies. He wanted to raise the minimum wage. This would mean people earn more money for their work. He also supported a Green New Deal. This plan aims to protect the environment and create jobs.

In 2020, Whitebird spoke about school resource officers. These are police officers in schools. He believed that removing them from schools would help end the "school to prison pipeline." This idea suggests that some school policies can lead students into the justice system.

See Also

• List of Communist Party USA members who have held office in the United States