16th Second Inaugural
Observations while walking around Washington, DC on January 20th:
Standing near the Hart Senate Office Building, I saw Sen. Zell Miller walk by and go into the HSOB, along with hundreds of Inauguration attendees...and later, while standing on the side walk at the corner of Pennsylvania & Constitution, senators John McCain and Charles Schumer walked by, McCain talking toward the White House, and Schumer toward Capitol Hill. Both were alone but for 2 aides.
I wandered along Pennsylvania Avenue from about 10:00 AM until nearly 4:00 PM.
It seemed to me that the protesters divided into three groups:
The most numerous group of protesters carried signs (with a variety of messages) with "International Socialist Organization" printed at the bottom.
From the literature that one of them gave me, the International Socialist Organization "...is dedicated to fighting for a world free of all exploitation, racism and sexual oppression – (to create) a society whose productive resources are democratically owned and controlled by the working-class majority, and where human need replaces capitalist greed. The (ISO) stands in the revolutionary tradition of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky…The ISO believes that capitalism produces poverty, racism, famine, environmental catastrophe and war…We believe another world is possible…It seems so obvious--if people are hungry, they should be fed; if people are homeless, we should build homes for them; if people are sick, the best medical care should be available to them. A socialist society would take the immense wealth of the rich and use it to meet the basic needs of all society…There’s no blueprint for what a socialist society will look like. That will be determined by the generations to come…but it seems obvious that such a society would guarantee every person enough to eat and a sturdy roof over their heads…The education system would be made free--and reorganized so that every child’s ability is encouraged. Health care would be made free and accessible to all, as would all utilities like gas and electricity. Public transportation would also be made free--and more practical and efficient. All of these basic needs would become top priorities. A socialist society would not only take away the existing wealth of the ruling class, but also its economic control over the world..."
Hmmm...re: "...There’s no blueprint for what a socialist society will look like..." -- perhaps no 'blueprint,' but there are several good examples from recent history of what the ISO's Marxist-Leninist kind of government would do in fact.
See more at http://www.internationalsocialist.org/index.shtml
The second most numerous protester group was from A.N.S.W.E.R. -- Act Now to Stop War & End Racism
Again, from their literature:
"...The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition formed on September 14, 2001. It is a coalition of hundreds of organizations and prominent individuals and scores of organizing centers in cities and towns across the country. Its national steering committee represents major national organizations that have campaigned against U.S. intervention in Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia, and organizations that have campaigned for civil rights and for social and economic justice for working and poor people inside the United States. Steering Committee: IFCO/Pastors for Peace, Free Palestine Alliance - U.S., Haiti Support Network, Partnership for Civil Justice – LDEF, Nicaragua Network, Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Phillippines, Korea Truth Commission, Muslim Student Association – National, Kensington Welfare Rights Union, Mexico Solidarity Network, Middle East Children's Alliance...In the last three years a global mass movement has come into existence to challenge the war makers, build unity against racism, and to defend civil rights and civil liberties. The success of this movement is based on the incredible generosity, enthusiasm and dedication of people around the country and around the world...This work can only take place because of the generous financial contributions of people who are committed to building an effective anti-war and social justice movement. Please continue to show your support and tell a friend, a neighbor or a family member to support this growing movement by making a donation that helps pay for bus transportation, the production of leaflets, posters, stickers and buttons, newspaper ads, mass mailings, educational events, outreach and many other tasks.
For more, see http://answer.pephost.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ANS_donate
The third and smallest group seemed to be miscellaneous individuals, who chanted their messages and held up their signs.
"Hey, hay, ho, ho George Bush's got to go.'
"American Fascist"
and others.
Everything was peaceful.
JB
Standing near the Hart Senate Office Building, I saw Sen. Zell Miller walk by and go into the HSOB, along with hundreds of Inauguration attendees...and later, while standing on the side walk at the corner of Pennsylvania & Constitution, senators John McCain and Charles Schumer walked by, McCain talking toward the White House, and Schumer toward Capitol Hill. Both were alone but for 2 aides.
I wandered along Pennsylvania Avenue from about 10:00 AM until nearly 4:00 PM.
It seemed to me that the protesters divided into three groups:
The most numerous group of protesters carried signs (with a variety of messages) with "International Socialist Organization" printed at the bottom.
From the literature that one of them gave me, the International Socialist Organization "...is dedicated to fighting for a world free of all exploitation, racism and sexual oppression – (to create) a society whose productive resources are democratically owned and controlled by the working-class majority, and where human need replaces capitalist greed. The (ISO) stands in the revolutionary tradition of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky…The ISO believes that capitalism produces poverty, racism, famine, environmental catastrophe and war…We believe another world is possible…It seems so obvious--if people are hungry, they should be fed; if people are homeless, we should build homes for them; if people are sick, the best medical care should be available to them. A socialist society would take the immense wealth of the rich and use it to meet the basic needs of all society…There’s no blueprint for what a socialist society will look like. That will be determined by the generations to come…but it seems obvious that such a society would guarantee every person enough to eat and a sturdy roof over their heads…The education system would be made free--and reorganized so that every child’s ability is encouraged. Health care would be made free and accessible to all, as would all utilities like gas and electricity. Public transportation would also be made free--and more practical and efficient. All of these basic needs would become top priorities. A socialist society would not only take away the existing wealth of the ruling class, but also its economic control over the world..."
Hmmm...re: "...There’s no blueprint for what a socialist society will look like..." -- perhaps no 'blueprint,' but there are several good examples from recent history of what the ISO's Marxist-Leninist kind of government would do in fact.
See more at http://www.internationalsocialist.org/index.shtml
The second most numerous protester group was from A.N.S.W.E.R. -- Act Now to Stop War & End Racism
Again, from their literature:
"...The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition formed on September 14, 2001. It is a coalition of hundreds of organizations and prominent individuals and scores of organizing centers in cities and towns across the country. Its national steering committee represents major national organizations that have campaigned against U.S. intervention in Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia, and organizations that have campaigned for civil rights and for social and economic justice for working and poor people inside the United States. Steering Committee: IFCO/Pastors for Peace, Free Palestine Alliance - U.S., Haiti Support Network, Partnership for Civil Justice – LDEF, Nicaragua Network, Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Phillippines, Korea Truth Commission, Muslim Student Association – National, Kensington Welfare Rights Union, Mexico Solidarity Network, Middle East Children's Alliance...In the last three years a global mass movement has come into existence to challenge the war makers, build unity against racism, and to defend civil rights and civil liberties. The success of this movement is based on the incredible generosity, enthusiasm and dedication of people around the country and around the world...This work can only take place because of the generous financial contributions of people who are committed to building an effective anti-war and social justice movement. Please continue to show your support and tell a friend, a neighbor or a family member to support this growing movement by making a donation that helps pay for bus transportation, the production of leaflets, posters, stickers and buttons, newspaper ads, mass mailings, educational events, outreach and many other tasks.
For more, see http://answer.pephost.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ANS_donate
The third and smallest group seemed to be miscellaneous individuals, who chanted their messages and held up their signs.
"Hey, hay, ho, ho George Bush's got to go.'
"American Fascist"
and others.
Everything was peaceful.
JB
posted by John Barry at 1/22/2005 04:26:00 PM
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