We need a new system. We need a new society.

We need to demand that which may have sounded impossible even a few weeks ago,

but is not only realizable, but an imperative necessity. We are here at the People's Summit for Democracy in Los Angeles.

We're joined by Gail Walker.

She's the executive director of the Interreligious Foundation of Community Organizations, IFCO, and Pastors for Peace.

Gail, welcome.

Thank you. Brian. We are just at the opening session of the People's Summit for Peace. Gail, welcome. Thank you, Brian.

We were just at the opening session of the People's Summit for Democracy.

This is, of course, the alternative to Joe Biden's hosted Summit of the Americas

that has excluded Cuba, excluded Venezuela, excluded Nicaragua,

and many other countries as a consequence of their exclusion

have decided not to join or at least not to send their heads of state.

You were on a panel this morning at the People's Summit, the Alternative Summit, and

you were talking about democracy, democracy for whom.

And you made, I think, a really important point because the United

States has excluded Cuba on the premise that it's not a democracy, that Cuba and Venezuela

and Nicaragua are autocracies or authoritarian states. Can you describe Cuba as a participatory

democracy? Of course, each government,

each system is different, but what do you mean Cuba's a participatory democracy?

Well, that's one of the great things about Cuba, is that, you know, whenever you've had

an opportunity to travel there, to really sort of see the way in which they have really defined what it means

to be a democratic nation.

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