Greens Urge Loud Protest to Bush's 2nd Term Agenda.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-487-0693, mclarty@greens.org
Nancy Allen, Media Coordinator, 207-326-4576, nallen@acadia.net
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On the eve of President George W. Bush's second inauguration, Green Party leaders urged all
Americans concerned about Mr. Bush's second term agenda to speak out and join protests across the U.S. on January 20.
"The legacy of the first Bush Administration is one of deception, lack of public accountability, disregard for law, reckless
military aggression, and an extremist ideology of global force and corporate power in direct conflict with basic American
values," said Nan Garrett, Georgia Green and spokesperson for the party's National Women's Caucus. "President Bush's
idea of wartime sacrifice is sending the children of working people to fight for U.S. control over a foreign oil source while
granting the wealthy a hefty tax break. His idea of family values is to vilify same-sex couples while abolishing the services
and sources of relief that ensure secure, stable, and healthy families."
Green Party members plan to rally on Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. at 8:30 a.m. on January 20, and then join a rally and
march hosted by the D.C. Anti-War Network (DAWN) at Malcolm X Park, after which Greens, DAWN, and others at the rally
will head downtown towards the inaugural parade route.
Greens listed the gravest dangers of the second Bush term:
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Further deterioration of Iraq under a prolonged occupation, with more U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians killed and
injured, a possible theocratic movement taking power, and increased terrorism against the U.S. and its allies.
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Possible military action against Iran, leading to a second and even more difficult war in the Middle East.
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Further inaction on global warming, placing the planet at greater risk of catastrophic climate change, and further
rollback of environmental protections.
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Nomination of Supreme Court judges devoted to the Bush Administration's goals, especially reversal of Roe v.
Wade.
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Possible introduction and passage of the USA Patriot Act II, especially if another terrorist incident occurs on U.S.
soil, which would abolish many of the rights and protections of the U.S. Constitution.
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Passage of President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security.
"Capping all these looming threats is the possibility that Democrats will endorse much of the Bush agenda, and will drop the ball on reform of our election system," said Peggy Lewis, national co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.
The Green Party, in the wake of evidence of election manipulation in 2000 and 2004, have challenged Democrats in office
to push for auditable paper records of all ballots cast on computer voting machines, equitable distribution of voting
equipment, national voting rights standards, and other reforms <http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2005_01_10.html>.
Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb initiated and led the recounts and investigations in 2004.
MORE INFORMATION
The Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org
1711 18th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009.
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
Green Party Peace Action Committee http://www.gp.org/committees/peace/2005inauguration.html
Other counter-inaugural protests and events http://www.counter-inaugural.org
2004 Cobb/LaMarche Campaign: News on the recount efforts http://www.votecobb.org