Guest Hosts: Dave and Betsy Smith. Guests: Gabriel Nodales – National Director, “Our America;” Paul Parisi – Arizona Grassroots Director, “Our America”

Our America: Advocating for Constitutional Rights and Public Safety

## Leadership Insights with Gabriel Nodales

Our America's National Director Gabriel Nodales brings a unique perspective to the organization's mission of defending constitutional rights and public safety. With nearly three years at the helm, Nodales emphasizes the organization's focus on organizing community members to support law enforcement while protecting fundamental freedoms.

"What we try to do is organize people and show them they're not alone," Nodales explains. "When you look at the data and polls, the vast majority of Americans support the police – seventy to eighty percent want fully funded law enforcement."

Beyond policing issues, Our America tackles broader constitutional concerns including:

- Freedom of religion

- Freedom of speech

- Economic liberty

- Opposition to inflationary policies

## From Antifa to Freedom Advocate: A Personal Journey

Nodales shares his remarkable transformation from left-wing activism to championing individual liberty. Starting in politics in 2006, he was initially involved with the anti-fascist movement and Occupy Wall Street. Around 2013, his perspective shifted after engaging with advocates of free speech and liberty on college campuses.

"No one paid us," Nodales notes about his time in Antifa. "These people are true believers. When they say they're anti-fascist, they don't just mean Nazis or Republicans – they mean anybody who is pro-American values, pro-democracy, pro-free markets."

Local Impact in Tucson

Paul Parisi, Our America's local representative, details the organization's concrete achievements in Southern Arizona:

- Organized two rallies at Tucson City Hall advocating for police department budget increases

- Mobilized over 60 "Hometown Heroes" (grassroots activists) to fill council chambers

- Conducted similar efforts in Phoenix to prevent Department of Justice takeover of police operations

- Led a prayer walk at the state Capitol supporting religious liberty

## National Policy Priorities

The organization is currently focused on several key federal initiatives:

- Supporting Eric Turner's nomination for Housing and Urban Development, particularly his advocacy for opportunity zones in underdeveloped areas

- Backing Harbin Dillon for Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights at the Department of Justice

- Addressing housing affordability challenges through policy reform

- Combating inflationary pressures affecting American families

## Cultural Philosophy: Pluralism vs. Multiculturalism

Parisi articulates a crucial distinction in Our America's approach to cultural diversity: "We've prioritized multiculturalism over pluralism, and many people think they're the same thing. Multiculturalism suggests all cultures are basically equivalent – it's moral relativism. Pluralism, following Thomas Jefferson's thinking, holds that while every culture has something to offer, it must align with basic American values and rights."

## Getting Involved

Our America has built a network of grassroots activists dubbed "Hometown Heroes." Interested citizens can join through:

- Website: joinamerica.org

- Selecting the "Hometown Heroes" button

- Receiving action alerts about legislation and rallies

- Participating in local initiatives

The organization emphasizes building broad, diverse coalitions supporting core American values:

- Equal opportunity

- Mutual respect

- Freedom of expression

- Constitutional rights

"We need good compromise and people willing to sit at the table," Parisi concludes, "while maintaining clear principles and non-negotiable values that preserve American liberty."