-Caveat Lector-
Inaugural Day Protests Target Neoliberal Agenda of Both Parties
By Frances M. Beal
From the moment of Gore's concession speech when he implored his
followers to accept the election outcome in the name of respect for
America's legal institutions and the good of the commonwealth, there has
been a growing chasm among America's political leaders. One one side
stand Republicans and Democrats alike who want to get on with business
as usual. On the other side stand those who are outraged that massive
voter fraud and the disenfranchisement of tens of thousands of African
Americans will result in anointing a rightwing president bent on the
destruction of democracy as we know it.
This chasm was highlighted when the Congressional Black Caucus
raised a ruckus and walked out of the congressional session called to rubber
stamp the vote of the Electoral College on January 6th. The courageous
action once again underscores the pivotal role that Black politics plays
in advancing and protecting U.S. democracy for the entire nation. It is
a lesson that was thrust before the American people and witnessed by
millions in living color. And the fact that not a single senator had the
courage to join the CBC to challenge the electoral votes from Florida
due to massive irregularities and voter disenfranchisement similarly
exposed the impotence of the Democratic Party as an instrument for
safeguarding the interests of its traditional constituency.
That abyss was further widened by dissimilar reactions to Bush's
string of ultra-right appointments for his cabinet. The first words out of Sen.
Biden's mouth, for example, on John Ashcroft's nomination as attorney
general, were a blase comment that he would probably be confirmed
because the Senate "traditionally" did not oppose its colleagues. On
the other hand, the CBC and the entire civil rights community is
outraged and determined to derail this choice that would give the
extreme right its most cherished prize--the power to undermine decades
of progress in civil rights, free speech and abortion rights.
More ominous for the Democrats is Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s
recent attack on the Democratic Leadership Council and bipartisanship based
on "building bridges to essentially conservative southern Blue Dog, Yellow
Dog, New Dog or DLC Democrats." This is the most overt and most
profound critique of the DLC's move to the right and its neoliberal
agenda that has yet come from within party ranks. It is a signal that
some sections of the African American community are taking off their
gloves in the fight against the reactionary politics that hold sway
among Democratic leaders and the fight to take on the racist anti people
policies of the GOP administration.
The next battles in this war are scheduled for Inauguration
week. Jesse Jackson and other liberal Black leaders have called for a rally
in Tallahassee, Florida on Inauguration Day to protest the voter fraud and
disenfranchisement of African Americans in that state. While all
protests are to be encouraged, one cannot help but speculate about this
inauspicious site. The entire nation and the international community
will have their eyes focused on the nation's capital. No protest at all
would further erode Jackson's standing in the Black community, but any
mass demonstration away from the seat of power is strategically
indefensible. This concession strongly suggests that Jackson and the
Black liberal leaders are more beholden to the Democratic Party than to
African American interests, and do not want to engage in any activity
that will alienate them from the DLC leadership or their do-nothing,
business as usual line.
There are other African American forces, however, that have
seized the time and are joining hands with other progressive forces to
descend on Washington, D.C in record numbers. The Independent Political Action
Network has called for a Pro-Democracy Week starting on Martin Luther
King, Jr's birthday, January 15, and culminating in massive protests and
rallies on January 20th to protest the illegal coronation of Bush as
president, to demand fundamental reforms in our electoral system and to
provide a show of force against the reactionary policies of the incoming
administration. The Rev. Al Sharpton and others are planning a march
and rally to the U.S. Supreme Court and others will raise their banners
at the Capitol and along the inaugural parade route.
Pro-Democracy Week activities have also been planned for
Northern California. The traditional MLK day observance has been turned
into a protest over the elections and the anti-people policies promised by the
incoming administration. The evening of Jan. 15, the Black Radical
Congress is sponsoring a forum on Electoral Racism in Oakland. On Sat.
Jan. 20th, the International Action Center with hundreds of endorsing
organizations will gather at the Civic Center in San Francisco for a
march and rally at Jefferson Park. In Sacramento, people will gather on
the West steps of the state capitol to show their opposition to the
electoral fraud and for a people's agenda.
This upsurge in agitation and mobilization is very encouraging.
The problems we have been witnessing - the increasing polarization of
wealth, the stolen elections, or police violence in our cities - are not
manifestations of bad behavior, but rather manifestations of a parasitic
system and resistance is essential. Among too many Blacks, the notion of
organized, progressive resistance to oppression is often treated as
old-hat. Yet, in the face of the November travesty, thousands of
ordinary people have been mobilized in defense of democracy, often way
ahead of so-called and actual leaders. This anger and willingness to act
can be harnessed.
Inauguration Day is a good time to act. Black people cannot
forgive and forget. It is not a time for so-called national unity, but a
time to join with other people of good will and show popular resistance to the
charlatanism of the political Right in both parties and their vision of
the brave new world of the 21st century.
-----
Frances M. Beal is a columnist for San Francisco Bay View newspaper and
national secretary of the Black Radical Congress.([EMAIL PROTECTED] or
[EMAIL PROTECTED])
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