------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Dec. 28, 2000 issue of Workers World newspaper ------------------------- EVERY PROTESTER COUNTS: J20 GAINS MOMENTUM AND MEDIA ATTENTION By Elijah Crane Scores of activists from all over the country are mobilizing to fill the streets of Washington by the busload on Jan. 20 to protest George W. Bush's inauguration. The all-encompassing issue at hand is the fight against racism. Specific demands of protesters include: ending the racist death penalty and freeing Mumia Abu-Jamal; stopping Plan Colombia and the U.S. bombing of Vieques; supporting the just struggle of the Palestinian people; the disenfranchisement of Black voters and others in Florida; and many others. "The U.S. ruling class has been caught in the act of a fraudulent election," said Monica Moorehead, a leading organizer of the demonstration. "This certainly is not the first time it has happened. Every election that has taken place in the U.S. has been bought or stolen. But this is the first time in recent history that the thievery has been so blatant and overt. "There's no denying that thousands of Black voters in Florida were the targets of a racist attack," Moorehead told Workers World. "Despite the fact that Florida's ballot controversy had been headlining the media since Election Day, neither of the two presidential hopefuls so much as acknowledged the issue of racism. "And no amount of rhetoric on 'healing' and 'bipartisanship' from President-elect Bush and Al Gore, who conceded, can smooth things over now." People are angry--from Texas to Florida, from New York to California--and that is why they will be raising their voices in Washington at the inauguration protest, she added. J20 DRAWS MEDIA ATTENTION Over 400 groups and individuals have already endorsed the call made by the International Action Center to protest in Washington on Jan. 20, or 'J20', as some activists are referring to it. That number continues to grow on a daily basis. As of Dec. 20, there were more than 30 organizing centers in operation in New York, Texas, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Illinois, North Carolina and elsewhere. Even the mainstream media has been forced to recognize this growing mobilization, resulting in articles and radio interviews with organizers. An article in the Dec. 14 edition of the Washington Times described the way in which the cops are preparing for the upcoming counter-inaugural demonstration. Police Chief Charles Ramsey cited last April's protests against the International Monetary Fund, which shook the city of Washington, as a reason for deploying not only the entire Metropolitan police force, but also adding hundreds of cops from surrounding areas. Brain Becker, co-director of the IAC, was quoted as saying that "Charles Ramsey and the police are doing their usual demonizing of the demonstrators, saying that we will cause mayhem. The truth is that the police is the lawless group." Becker has since given numerous radio interviews, including one to the ABC network. Organizers of the J20 action have also been interviewed by radio stations in Michigan, New York and Washington. The Colorado Daily newspaper was among the media that highlighted the planned J20 action. In that article, Becker explained that the protest was in the works long before the election outcome was known. It was planned to take place regardless of whether Gore or Bush were inaugurated because both are strong supporters of the death penalty and other methods of institutional violence--such as the U.S. sanctions against Iraq and military aid to Colombia, he said. For a complete list of organizing centers, or to sign up as a contact, readers can visit the Web site www.Mumia2000.org or call the IAC at (212) 633-6646. Organizers are also planning and communicating through an e-mail list server called "J20action." Anyone interested in participating in that ongoing discussion can register at www.egroups.com or click on the link at www.Mumia2000.org. - END - (Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
