Cat Brooks (born Sheilagh Polk) is an American activist, playwright,
poet and theater artist. She was a mayoral candidate in Oakland's 2018
election, facing incumbent Libby Schaaf.Brooks received her bachelor's
degree from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she studied
theater. After graduating, she began her acting studying at the
National Royal Theater Studio in London, before moving to Los Angeles
and working at Creative Artists Agency. In 2002, Brooks joined the
nonprofit organization Community Coalition, where she focused on
issues of education and racial justice.After the shooting of Oscar
Grant by a BART police officer, Brooks became active in organizing
against police violence. She co-founded the Anti Police-Terror Project
and served as the executive director for the Bay Area National Lawyers
Guild. She also became an organizer for the Black Lives Matter
movement. In 2015, Brooks was arrested protesting Oakland Mayor Libby
Schaaf's ban on night-time marches on public roadways.In 2018, Brooks
was a candidate for mayor of Oakland, running against the incumbent,
Libby Schaaf. Her campaign involved collaborative assembly meetings
intended to gather public feedback on local policies. She endorsed
repealing the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act. After taking a break
for the duration of her unsuccessful mayoral campaign, Brooks resumed
her job as co-host of the weekday morning program UpFront on Pacifica
Radio station KPFA-FM in Berkeley.
poet and theater artist. She was a mayoral candidate in Oakland's 2018
election, facing incumbent Libby Schaaf.Brooks received her bachelor's
degree from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she studied
theater. After graduating, she began her acting studying at the
National Royal Theater Studio in London, before moving to Los Angeles
and working at Creative Artists Agency. In 2002, Brooks joined the
nonprofit organization Community Coalition, where she focused on
issues of education and racial justice.After the shooting of Oscar
Grant by a BART police officer, Brooks became active in organizing
against police violence. She co-founded the Anti Police-Terror Project
and served as the executive director for the Bay Area National Lawyers
Guild. She also became an organizer for the Black Lives Matter
movement. In 2015, Brooks was arrested protesting Oakland Mayor Libby
Schaaf's ban on night-time marches on public roadways.In 2018, Brooks
was a candidate for mayor of Oakland, running against the incumbent,
Libby Schaaf. Her campaign involved collaborative assembly meetings
intended to gather public feedback on local policies. She endorsed
repealing the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act. After taking a break
for the duration of her unsuccessful mayoral campaign, Brooks resumed
her job as co-host of the weekday morning program UpFront on Pacifica
Radio station KPFA-FM in Berkeley.
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