Poor to Put 'Bushville' Tent City at NY Convention

[villager]

Poor to Put 'Bushville' Tent City at NY Convention

By Grant McCool

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A group fighting poverty announced plans on Thursday to erect a tent city called "Bushville" during the Republican Party convention in August, one of several demonstrations expected in a summer of political protest in New York.

The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign will put up the tents for five days before the Aug. 30-Sept. 2 meeting, which will nominate President Bush to run for a second four-year term in the Nov. 2 election.

The group said it will also demonstrate at the Democratic Party's national convention in Boston at the end of July, but had no plans to set up a symbolic shantytown there.

"We will be marching because both Democrats and Republicans alike have failed to address our real life and death issues," said spokeswoman Cheri Honkala. She said the political establishment neglected poor and homeless people and issues such as health care, housing and farm workers' rights.

Honkala, a formerly homeless mother in Minneapolis, Minnesota, said the group will provide "reality bus tours" in rundown areas of New York, Philadelphia and New Jersey from the tent city. She declined to disclose its precise location.

<more from Mr. McCool right here:>

http://dailynews.att.net/cgi-bin/news?e=pub&dt=040219&cat=politics&st=politicscampaignpovertydc

[KG]

1. i like this idea.

:)

[villager]

2. me, too

Bush = Hoover

Who's our FDR?

[morgan2]

21. dk of course

[Sugarbleus]

24. EXCELLENT idea!! Hoovervilles and..

"Brother, can you spare a dime...."

I'm going to look this group up. Thanks for the post.


............
Oh, and I agree that the poor et al have been ignored by both parties for decades now. A few crumbs here and there, but no real shakes.

[Just Me]

3. The War for Hope and Human Decency is ON!!!

Bring it all on!!! War for Hope,...War for Equality,...War for Tolerance,...War for Integrity!!!

[boobooday]

4. New York, New York

Oh, he won't be able to avoid seeing the hundreds of thousands of us who will be in the streets!!!

FACE IT, GEORGE, your time is up.

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[aquart]

7. Okay, this is making me nervous. VERY nervous.

I will say it as often as I can. The only way Bush can win is if we riot at the Republican convention. I'm scared shit of it.

The Republicans have chosen to meet at Madison Square Garden. They could have gone to the Javitts, off the beaten way but still easily accessible, but they chose the venue ABOVE PENN STATION. Penn Station is patrolled by National Guard troops with the biggest guns I've ever seen. Thousands of demonstrators thronging with the millions of rush hours commuters is my vision of HELL.

If this isn't the most peaceful mass protest on the history of this planet, we are screwed. This election is ours to lose. Do not give him ANY advantage.

The Republicans are going to be depressed enough. At this point I'd be very pleased if we had no protests at all. Treat them like they've already lost.

[Just Me]

10. Don't be silly,...this is the WAR FOR HUMANITY!!!

A War for Peace,...R-E-D-E-F-I-N-E-D!!! A War WITHOUT Violence!!!

There is absolutely no need whatsoever of any "riot".

You are being "reactive" instead of "active",...."fearful" instead of "courageous".

GET OVER IT!!!

There are masses who have peace in their hearts. If the administration is "reactive", they are so totally screwed.

Chill out. Chill out.

[KamaAina]

12. You have got to be kidding me. Bloomberg and Pataki allowed that?

The Republicans have chosen to meet at Madison Square Garden. They could have gone to the Javitts, off the beaten way but still easily accessible, but they chose the venue ABOVE PENN STATION.

Un-flippin'-believable. What a logistical nightmare for tens of thousands of commuters to and from Long Island -- and New Jersey, whose Dem Gov, Jim McGreevey, ought to consider some sort of complaint.

What about Homeland Security? Any concerns expressed there? You couldn't get any more exposed than MSG.

I just naturally assumed it was going to be at the Javits. I guess it just doesn't pay to underestimate the stupidity and arrogance of Repukes.

[DuctapeFatwa]

5. Too bad any of them who are homeless will lose the tents after the show

And too bad that if people made a real tent city they would be beaten up and locked up within the hour.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

6. Bush's "Hoovervilles"

I have a feeling they are going to try to use National Guard troops and other military to keep things in order.

[aquart]

8. They don't have to try. The National Guard are already present.

That's what I'm telling you. NYC is armed. Lotta troops but they have never been seriously challenged. DO NOT SPOOK THEM. They're gonna be nervous and they ain't the enemy.

[villager]

14. then let's get *that* image on TV

Bush = Bull Connor

[Cooley Hurd]

9. Excellent idea - Bonus March 2004!

The asshats would probably send in Tommy Franks on horseback to set fire to the tents...

[diamond14]

11. here's some photos video from bushville/poor people's march in DC

August 23, 2003

The Kensington Welfare Rights Union's march from Marks, Mississippi to Washington ended in fine fashion today as they crossed the Key Bridge into DC to commemorate both the 40th Anniversary of Martin Luther King's 1963 March on Washington, and the 35th anniversary of the "Resurrection City" poor peoples' campaign protest squat in West Potomac Park near the Mall. KWRU members constructed "Bushville" on the Mall near the Washington Monument, and were promptly set upon by police at midnight, in a siege lasting through the night, in order to make room for the National Football League preparations for the season-opener pep rally -- featuring Aerosmith, Britney Spears and a shipload of military personnel hauled in for the occasion -- which will occupy the entire Mall, shut down a subway station, and block at least a half-dozen streets downtown at the peak of evening rush hour.

video, including my GREAT 'Bush is a Whistle-Ass' Sally Baron sign

http://flow.mediavac.com/ramgen/sinkers/2003/washdcAug2303.rm

















non-violent civil disobedience on the Mall, refusing to be silenced

[Sugarbleus]

25. WOW...thanks for the photos ..I had no idea that happened!

Now, I'M stoked. WTG

[diamond14]

31. since you're stoked.....can you help?

.

[SoCalDem]

13. This is "BUSH COUNTRY"

you know how he loves to use that phrase..

That's what they should call it..

[diamond14]

15. link for sponsors of Poor People's March/Bushville...join/help...

http://kwru.org/

info about BUSHVILLE in New York is right here....please keep in mind...these are very poor people...any assistance you can give for this is very much appreciated...when they were here in DC, we helped feed and house them...they slept on a church floor in Arlington Virginia....and lots of churches and people donated toiletries, shirts, shoes, hats, and food....


I marched into DC with the Poor People and it was the greatest march....full of spirit and enthusiam, singing...wonder at the big buildings...determination...the Poor People walked with canes/walkers, some were blind and deaf and suffered from diabetes, some were mentally challenged...everyone made it, and everyone helped each other...it was great....you can join these people in NY...and you will be forever grateful when you return home that night....PLEASE HELP make NY bushville happen....please....

The night before the big DC poor people's march/bushville, August 23, 2003....in a Church basement, Arlington VA









sleeping on the floor in a church basement, Arlington VA

[Sugarbleus]

26. I am completely in awe of this......where do I sign up?

[diamond14]

29. email and toll-free phone number: participate or help in any way

To participate or help us in any way, e-mail [e-mail] or call our March hotline at 888-233-1948


please remember....these people run on a shoestring...even if you think you are poor, you likely haven't SEEN this level of poverty....

if you STAND UP...please do not expect color brochures or even a decent web page link...

if you can help....money donations are great, but people can help get the word out to newspapers and web sites, help them with their web site, make signs, they want artists to help them design/decorate bushville, they need transportation for the bigger parts of bushville, call them, lawyers services are always appreciated....donate what they need to make bushville, MARCH with them....bring your own cardboard box or plastic lean to tent....there is lots to do...so please email or phone these fine Americans...WE can make a difference...

here's the web link....
http://kwru.org/

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

16. I think this is fantastic (m)

I am an eighth grade teacher in a very poor part of a blue-collar suburb of Dallas and when I was teaching my kids about the Great Depression this year, I taught them about people turning their empty pockets inside out and calling them Hoover flags. Well, they surprised me at the end of class by turning their empty pockets inside out and telling me they were going to call them BUSH FLAGS!

Out of the mouths of babes....

I hope this is a great demonstration and is peaceful.

I only wish I could be there, too......

[area51]

17. Welcome.

Welcome to DU, Moonbeam_Starlight.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

19. Thanks area51!

[Zhade]

18. Those kids are awesome!

They see through the lies. Rock on!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

20. I think so too!

In fact, I didn't think they were all that politically aware (they ARE 14 years old, after all!) so they really surprised me with that. That started a whole conversation about bush (I am careful to keep my opinion out of it) and I was a bit taken aback at the complete hostility they seemed to feel. Kids usually echo their parents politically, so that's good news.

Now I hope all their parens are registered to vote!

[lcordero]

22. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[diamond14]

23. Hi Moonbeam_Starlight....welcome to DU....we're glad you're here

because we LOVE teachers....everybody here had a favorite teacher, once upon a time in their lives....

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

:hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi:

[Sugarbleus]

27. Thank you for that story Moonbeam... I am awestruck..

And also wish I could participate..

[dbt]

28. KICK!

Talk about your Big Tent approach...

:evilgrin:
dbt

[villager]

30. and thanks to Bushco...

...that tent is getting bigger all the time!

[tom_paine]

32. Who says life doesn't imitate art?

I have NO DOUBT (I'm sorry to say) that the Imperial Sturmtruppen in NYC, ordered by the Imperial Praetorian SS, will create a scene IDENTICAL to the Tent City Smashing in "They Live".

Does this mean the Imperial Family are alien reptiles?

I'd like to say I could 100% rule it out, but there is a slight chance (probably, 0.0001%, but it's more than the 0% for all previous Rulers of America) that it's true.

[villager]

33. the question then, Tom Paine...

...is how to broadcast those images of the Sturmtruppen to the rest of the world when it happens...

[tom_paine]

34. You think Corporate TV Pravda will allow that?

No, a few "random" shots of some violent nosering-wearing anarchists prefacing some hideoys police violence should take care of Perception Management.

Ray Bradbury was right.
George Orwell was right.

[villager]

36. but if it's widespread enough...

...with enough protestors with enough hand-held cameras, and enough alternate outlets (foreign, etc.) willing to run footage, then that, along with Bush's festering credibility problem, may be able to create some cracks in the media monolith.

Maybe.

[Hand]

35. This happened back in the 80s, too...

A large group of the homeless set up tents in Lafayette Park opposite the White House and put up a big sign that read "WELCOME TO REAGANVILLE". They were there for several months before the poh-lice put the boots to them, and they made a big impression.

They were led by Mitch Snyder, a longtime advocate for the homeless. Sadly, he's no longer with us in body, but plainly his truth goes marching on!