Political Research Associates

Political Research Associates (PRA) is "an independent, nonprofit research center that studies anti-democratic, authoritarian, and other oppressive movements, institutions, and trends. PRA is based on progressive values, and is committed to advancing an open, democratic, and pluralistic society. PRA provides accurate, reliable research and analysis to activists, journalists, educators, policy makers, and the public at large."

History
"Founded in 1981 as Midwest Research in Chicago, PRA has become a leader in research on the Right and right-wing groups. 'What began as Midwest Research in Chicago with three staff has become a widely -respected leader in research and publications on right-wing efforts to limit justice and equality,' said President Jean V. Hardisty, Ph.D., who established the organization."

PRA describes itself as "the premier national organization addressing the full spectrum of the US political Right - from the right-wing in the electoral arena to paramilitary organizations. PRA works to facilitate public understanding of the threat posed to democratic values and principles by the Right in the United States. Through our research and publications and as a national resource and support center for activists, journalists and others, PRA helps to build the movement for progressive social change." Who we are

The PRA magazine is the Public Eye.

PRA is an affiliate of the Policy Action Network and Center for Democratic Renewal.

Report on origination of Uganda's 2009 "Kill the Gays" bill
In October, 2009 PRA published a report documenting the relationship between American evangelicals and a bill brought in the Ugandan legislature that called for imprisonment or even death of gays and lesbians in Uganda. The report is called ''The U.S. Christian Right and the Attack on Gays in Africa," and it named Rick Warren, Scott Lively and Dan Schmierer as Americans who have been particularly influential in fomenting anti-gay sentiment in Uganda. During a March-April, 2008 visit with African religious and political leaders from Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya, Warren said, "Homosexuality is not a natural way of life and thus not a human right." According to the report, the quote has made a deep impression in Africa and is often repeated.

Funding
The following is a list of grantmaking institutions that funded PRA in 2003:


 * Common Stream
 * Brico Fund
 * C.S. Fund
 * Chambers Family Fund
 * Coydog Foundation
 * Ford Foundation
 * Funding Exchange
 * Gaea Foundation
 * Haymarket People's Fund
 * Stephen A. and Diane L. Goldberg Foundation
 * Albert A. List Foundation
 * Morris Family Foundation
 * Public Welfare Foundation
 * San Francisco Foundation
 * Tides Foundation/Underdog Fund
 * Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock

Personnel
Accessed August 2007:

Directors

 * Wendy Volkmann - Chair
 * Richard A. Gross
 * Heeten Kalan
 * Vivien Labaton
 * June L. Lorenzo
 * Supriya Pillai
 * Mohan Sikka
 * Carlton W. Veazey
 * Alea Woodlee

Staff

 * Katherine Hancock Ragsdale - Executive Director
 * Tarso Luís Ramos
 * Chip Berlet
 * Pam Chamberlain
 * Abby Scher
 * Amy Lessler
 * Renee M. Sweeney

===Advisors (from 2004) ===
 * Rita Arditti
 * Ann Baker
 * Donna Bivens
 * Sara Diamond, Ph.D.
 * Fred Goff
 * Beni Ivey
 * Maya Miller
 * Suzanne Pharr
 * Skipp Porteous
 * John Roberts
 * Mab Segrest
 * Alice Senturia
 * Holly Sklar
 * Barbara Simon
 * Lucius Walker
 * Leah Wise

Contact
Political Research Associates 1310 Broadway, Suite 201 Somerville, MA 02144 Phone: (617) 666-5300 Fax: (617) 666-6622 E-Mail: pra AT igc.org Web: http://www.publiceye.org

Related Sourcewatch articles

 * Surina Khan - former research analyst
 * Nikhil Aziz - former associate director
 * Russ Bellant