In Loving Memory of David Cobb

It is with a heavy heart that I am sharing the passing of our beloved comrade, David Cobb.

David passed away this past Labor Day, his favorite holiday. The list of accomplishments David is credited for is extensive, and surpasses my own personal knowledge of everything he has done for our community, country, and planet.

David dedicated his life to the labor movement, and social justice. From running for Texas Attorney General against Greg Abbot, running for President as a Green in 2004, co-founding Cooperation Humboldt, Dishgamu Humboldt, Move to Amend, serving on the board of the US Solidarity Economy Network, chairing the Humboldt County Green Party and North Coast Progressive Alliance, and much, much more, David's impact on our community is profound.

I first met David in the spring of 2023, while I was an undergrad student at Cal Poly Humboldt studying political science. David was a guest lecturer in the Environmental Politics class I was taking via Zoom. As those who knew David will already know very well, he had an incredible ability to energize an entire room. I had never been so interested in a Zoom class before. At the time, I was 21, and incredibly jaded and disillusioned with our political system, still sore from the Democratic Party's shady actions in the 2020 election that secured a Joe Biden victory in the primaries over Bernie Sanders.

David spoke of a path forward, towards non-violent revolutionary change. He spoke of a better future devoid of the rampant labor-exploitation, racial and sexual oppression, and environmental devastation one needs not look hard to find as fundamental components of our current hyper-capitalist, tech-bro, and violent economic and political system. David offered me hope.

The next week, I sought David out at the Earth Day Celebration in McKinleyville that was a part of the Decolonizing Economics Summit. I spoke with David, and asked him if I could work with him as part of an internship I needed to complete for my undergraduate degree. Without hesitation, David said yes, and over the next few months, we set to work figuring out how to make the internship work.

When interacting with the realm of bureaucracy that was Cal Poly Humboldt's internship process, we encountered an issue: Neither David, nor any of his affiliated local orgs had the liability insurance required by Cal Poly to complete an internship. This did not stop David however, and through his hard work, we were able to cut through the bureaucracy and secure the internship by having me officially serve as an intern for Cal Poly's Department of Politics, while working on activist work with David for 90% of the internship.

Thanks to David, I was able to plug into the North Coast Progressive Alliance, Humboldt County Green Party, and also helped on the backend for a time on his podcast "Redneck Gone Green," while also tabling with Dishgamu Humboldt.

While the internship ended, my work with David did not. I continued to work with him through NCPA, several study groups, travel opportunities, teach-ins, community outreach, and more. Eventually, David suggested that I become the chairperson for NCPA, and helped mentor and assist me in navigating the new role.

I owe a lot of David. David was a mentor to me, and a close friend. David helped revolutionize my worldview, and helped me develop key skills and knowledge needed to conduct the work I do in both the community, and at my current job at a high school teacher. It is entirely fair to say that I would not be an educator, or the chair of NCPA without David's profound influence on my life.

David's influence on my life is not unique. Throughout his life, David inspired, supported, and cared for an immeasurable amount of people. He dedicated his life to uplifting others, and I can't say I've ever met someone as hardworking as him. I have fond memories of listening to David on his podcast, listening to his speeches at events, enjoying dinner with him and his partner Ruthie before our "Next Systems Teach-In," and even laughing at the absurdity of a member of the Republican party accusing him and Mario Fernandez of being "violent anarchists," of which only the latter term could be considered remotely accurate. I'd give almost anything to enjoy just one more of these moment with him.

While David may no longer be with us on this world, his legacy, his memory, and his commitment to building a better future lives on in everyone he touched. David's presence and dedication lives on, and his mission is not over. It is up to us, all of us, to carry on his mission, and legacy. It is up to us to continue his fight for a better, more just, world.

Goodbye David, we will miss you, and do everything in our power to see your dreams come true. Rest in power.

-Travis Kennedy

Chairperson for North Coast Progressive Alliance