Current Elected DNC Member
Secretary of DNC Disabilities Caucus
Chair of the Santa Monic Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission
Derek Devermont
FOR DNC
Derek Devermont for
Democratic National Committee
In my professional life I am an attorney who practices Disability advocacy and criminal defense (largely on a pro bono basis for those in need). An overwhelming majority of my practice is composed of disabled and homeless individuals. My firm has represented over 70,000 disabled individuals in their efforts to obtain disability benefitsS
I have represented people with every kind of mental and physical disability imaginable. By obtaining these benefits for the disabled I have lifted THOUSANDS off the streets. A large potion of my criminal defense practice has been pro bono (no charge). I take cases pro bono when there has been an injustice or police abuse. Currently I represent Duane Sampson who was racially profiled and now facing 4 criminal counts as a result on a pro bono basis.
- CDP Rules Committee
- Disability Advocate
- Santa Monica Democratic Club Treasurer
- Westside Democratic Headquarters Steering Committee Board Member
- CDP Delegate for Assembly District 50
- Santa Monica Social Services Commissioner
- Santa Monica Bar Association Board Member
- DNC Poverty Council Speaker
- Rally for Trans Resistance Speaker
- Santa Monica Democratic Club Judicial Endorsement Committee Chair
- Santa Monica Democratic Club Fundraising Committee Chair
- Abraham Pishevar II Pro Bono Clinic at the Los Angeles Mission Board Member
ISSUES
CENTRAL VALLEY
The Central Valley is as much a part of California as anywhere else in the state, and it's time to give them a seat at the table. For too long, the residents and regions within the central valley have been ignored. They produce enormous amounts of agriculture in the United States and should be respected. The time has come to view them as a partner and hear their collective voice.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate Change is our reality. The remaining time to reverse, or at least stop, the effect of climate change is rapidly ticking away. The issue is not regional or partisan. Climate Change is a global existence issue. An excellent article on climate change: https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/18/health/glaciers-melting-climate-change-trnd/index.html Nobody should lose their career or the ability to feed their family as a result of transitioning away...
HOUSING
Too long have we watched and ignored those without housing. Those of us with housing have gone about our day and force the images we see of people sleeping on the street into the back of our minds. It is immoral for us to continue to watch our brethren languish on a sidewalk. In my profession, I have seen how quickly one can fall into homelessness. I am sit on the board of the Abraham Pishevar Pro bono Clinic at the Los Angeles Mission. The...
HEALTHCARE
Health care is a right. The United States Constitution provides freedom of speech, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures, right to a jury trial, and many more valuable rights. None of these rights, however, carry the same value if you don’t have health and you’re dying because you can’t access treatment. It’s time for MEDICARE for all. I have witnessed the ramifications of poor health care in my career. Perhaps the greatest...
YEMEN
There are moments in history where our very soul as a nation is at stake. So to comes one of those moments in a small, middle eastern country called Yemen. Yemen is involved in a very complicated battle and the people of Yemen are caught between the competing countries of Saudi Arabia and Iran. Our support (military, intelligence, funding) has allowed Saudi Arabia to unleash an unconscionable war on the people of Yemen. Over 100,000 men, women...
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