Gang of Four (Seattle)

In the politics of Seattle, Washington in the United States, "Gang of Four" (also, sometimes "The Four Amigos") refers to Bernie Whitebear, Bob Santos, Roberto Maestas, and Larry Gossett, who founded Seattle's Minority Executive Directors's Coalition. [ [http://depts.washington.edu/civilr/maestas.htm Roberto Maestas] , Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project, University of Washington. Accessed 11 March 2007.] [Jamie Garner and Dorry Elias, "Bernie Whitebear: Elegy for a gone-but-never-forgotten activist", "Real Change" (Seattle's "homeless paper"), 15 August 2000.] [Lawney L. Reyes, White Grizzly Bear's Legacy: "Learning to be Indian, University of Washington Press", 2002. ISBN 0-295-98202-0. p. 188–189.]

All four were associated with radical minority rights activism in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and all went on to leadership roles. Whitebear founded the Seattle Indian Health Board and the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation. [Reyes 2002, p. 187.] Santos is a prominent leader among Seattle's Asian Americans, director of the Asian Coalition; Maestas is the founder and director of El Centro de la Raza; Gossett founded the Central Area Motivation Program and went on to public office as a member of the King County Council. [Reyes 2002, p. 188–189.]

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