|
|
|
State News Release |
Home | Press | State Press |
| 'Democracy Rising Rally in Washington, DC Will Feature Ralph Nader and Dennis Kucinich. |
|
THE D.C. STATEHOOD GREEN PARTY Tuesday, October 7, 2003 'DEMOCRACY RISING' RALLY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WILL FEATURE RALPH NADER, DENNIS KUCINICH October 7 rally will highlight D.C. statehood, public health, education, and housing justice, and will showcase local hip hop artists along with 2004 presidential candidates Nader (not yet declared) and Kucinich. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- D.C. Statehood Green Party members will participate in the Democracy Rising rally, featuring Ralph Nader, Dennis Kucinich, prominent D.C. musicians and dancers, and local activists for health care, education, and housing, which will take place Tuesday evening, October 7 at the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, 1518 M Street NW near downtown Washington, D.C. The program, which will also feature D.C. hip hop artists Head-Roc featuring Noyeek the Grizzly Bear and the Malcolm X Drummers and Dancers, begins at 7 p.m. Damu Smith of Black Voices For Peace will emcee. Statehood for the District of Columbia will be one of the themes at the event. D.C. statehood is also part of the platform and a goal of the Green Party of the United States (of which the D.C. Statehood Green Party is an affiliate); Mr. Nader made 'D.C. Statehood Now' the headline of his November 5, 2000 'Super-Rally' at MCI Arena during his 2000 campaign for President of the United States. Mr. Nader has not yet announced his candidacy in the 2004 race for the White House, but has challenged Democratic candidates to offer a progressive platform on health care, democratic reform, the environment, and a challenge to the policies of the Bush Administration. Democratic candidate Dennis Kucinich, who will speak at the October 7 rally, shares many positions with Mr. Nader and the Greens. Mr. Nader has indicated that he would consider not running if Mr. Kucinich were the likely Democratic nominee, but Mr. Kucinich remains a longshot. The Tuesday rally marks the second appearance of a Green presidential hopeful in Washington, D.C. in the past week. On Saturday, October 4, a reception for presidential candidate David Cobb took place at Café Mawonaj near Howard University. The presidential primary will take place on January 13 in the District of Columbia, a change of date enacted by City Council at the urging of D.C. democracy advocates to call national attention to the lack of rights, legislative autonomy, and voting Congressional representation for D.C. residents. Statehood Greens note that the Democratic National Committee is urging Democratic presidential candidates to ignore the new D.C. primary date and avoid campaigning in D.C.. Statehood Greens invite Democrats frustrated with their party leadership's dismissal of democracy for the District to consider reregistering in the Statehood Green Party, which expects a full menu of Green candidates on the primary ballot. Among the speakers at the rally will be Vanessa Dixon of the D.C. Healthcare Coalition, a leader in the movement to restore D.C. General Hospital. Mayor Anthony Williams, in collaboration with the Congressionally appointed Financial Control Board, privatized and dismantled D.C. General, the District's only full service public hospital, in 2001, a move that precipitated the collapse of the local public health care system. Arturo Griffiths, Jenefer Ellingston, and other D.C. Statehood Green activists also helped lead the movement to save D.C. General. D.C. Public School teacher Elizabeth Davis, will speak on behalf of local citizens opposing school vouchers, which Congress and Mayor Williams plan to force on the District (now stalled in the Senate), and the preference of Mayor Williams and other public officials for spending taxpayers' money on stadiums and other corporate giveaways instead of fixing public schools. Dorothy Scott of Washington Inner City Self Help will speak on affordable housing in D.C. MORE INFORMATION |
|
State News Release |
Home | Press | State Press |
