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News :: Civil & Human Rights : Democracy : Elections & Legislation : Kansas City : Missouri |
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Kansas City Says No to Bush Agenda! |
Current rating: 0 |
by Mischa Byruck
Email: msb174 (nospam) yahoo.com (unverified!) |
24 Jan 2005
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Between 150 and 200 men, women and children staged a rally on Thursday evening in front of the JC Nichols Fountain on the Plaza to protest the inauguration of President Bush. As Bush is sworn in, Kansas City activists gather on the Plaza to say: NO MORE YEARS! |
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Kansas City, Thursday, 20 January, 11:00 PM
Between 150 and 200 men, women and children staged a rally on Thursday evening in front of the JC Nichols Fountain on the Plaza to protest the inauguration of President Bush.
The mood was earnest, yet celebratory because of the surprisingly large turnout. Protestors held signs declaring the President, currently serving the first day of his second term, a liar, a fraud, a cheat, and a murderer. They joined in chants demanding his impeachment.
Though much of the attention was focused on the president himself, many of the protestors took issue with the actions of his cabinet. “There is nothing about this administration that doesn’t disgust me,” said Emily, a librarian. She was brandishing a large white poster depicting Mr. Bush in a dunce cap, with the words “Not My President.”
The attendees also questioned the validity of the results of November’s elections. Annie, a protestor who had worked for the Democratic Party, said she thought the election was stolen. Emily, who had been associated with the left-leaning MoveOn PAC and the Leave No Voter Behind Campaign, agreed. She said that Placing the issue of gay marriage on the ballot in states where same sex intimacy was already illegal was a key factor in Bush’s victory.
Attendees also cited voter suppresssion, black box voting, thrown out votes, privatized machines, and racist suffrage policies as additional reasons the election was unfair and unjust.
The protestors cheered and held signs along the busy intersection at JC Nichols and 47th st, and their signs were greeted by supportive honks from the passing cars. Later, the protestors gathered for announcements from the Kansas City activist and progressive community and held hands for freedom songs and dances. They then lit a small fire in a bucket for warmth and communal energy. However, the KCPD arrived less than five minutes later, and requested that they put it out. Since they had no water or fire extinquisher, the police brought one in and doused the flames. The gas and smoke that resulted caused the eyes of a small child to water. "Pigs," muttered one of the attendees.
Though overall a positive experience, many of the rally's attendants had worked on the election, and wondered where these dozens of people had been when they were really needed. Lindsey Walker, the Missouri head of Rock the Vote, was also the co-director of ACORN's voter registration and get out the vote efforts. She and her friends, she said, worked hard on the election and she couldn't help but be a little disappointed that people who did nothing to prevent Bush from getting elected would turn out for a protest on the day of his innaguration. Still, she admitted, she was glad to have them there. "There's still something inspiring about solidarity," she said. "Dissent is so beautiful." |
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This work is in the public domain. |
Comments
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Re: Kansas City Says No to Bush Agenda! |
by Jan
jhoyer (nospam) digitalstyledesigns.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 5
24 Jan 2005
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Good article, and nice to see independent reporting, but I am personally concerned about the inclusion of this paragraph's sensationalistic tone:
"The protestors cheered and held signs along the busy intersection at JC Nichols and 47th st, and their signs were greeted by supportive honks from the passing cars. Later, the protestors gathered for announcements from the Kansas City activist and progressive community and held hands for freedom songs and dances. They then lit a small fire in a bucket for warmth and communal energy. However, the KCPD arrived less than five minutes later, and requested that they put it out. Since they had no water or fire extinquisher, the police brought one in and doused the flames. The gas and smoke that resulted caused the eyes of a small child to water. "Pigs," muttered one of the attendees."
This hostility towards the police is not at all representative of the protesting, good citizens whom I have met at the Plaza. Why would the writer focus on this lone remark?
This arrogant quote from Lindsey Walker is misdirected towards her fellow protesters:
"Lindsey Walker, the Missouri head of Rock the Vote, was also the co-director of ACORN's voter registration and get out the vote efforts. She and her friends, she said, worked hard on the election and she couldn't help but be a little disappointed that people who did nothing to prevent Bush from getting elected would turn out for a protest on the day of his innaguration."
How does Ms. Walker know who these protesters are and that they did not work to defeat Bush in their own ways?
My guess is that the majority there were indeed active in their own subgroups, whether they be anti-war, environmental, or other political and social issue groups.
People who make the effort to attend a protest are generally not social bystanders. Ms. Walker's own issue of Rock the Vote does not have ultimate authority to determine the value of the anti-Bush efforts. |
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Re: Kansas City Says No to Bush Agenda! |
by Vlad
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 5
26 Jan 2005
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Lindsey Walker can take her short-sighted, secterian, ignorant opinions and fuck off. As Emma said, "If I can't dance, it's not my revolution!" It takes a diversity of tactics and contrary to Walkers opinions replacing one president with another isn't liberation nor dissent. Does "voting" somehow make for a better world (or "Rocking The Vote" for that matter- A position of privilage held aloft the poor if ever there were one.)? No, Nor does "not voting" or "voting democrat" mean that a group or individuals actions otherwise haven't hampered Bush's efforts to murder or rule or that they arent working towards liberation. Agitating localy/globaly for real tangible, practical change in ones own workplace, neighborhood and community is where it's at. I know I've not seen Lindsey at any gatherings where hands on work was required to make a real difference in peoples lives. Seems those whom speak loudest often have the least to offer. Classism and secterianism in a glass house results in stones being thrown and I'm not afraid to pick up that rock. - Getting down off MY secterian high horse....
The highlight about the cop was worthless as well. "Can't see the forrest for the tree's" comes to mind almost imeadiately.
This article is embarrassing and angers me.
"The State is the altar of political freedom and, like the religious altar, it is maintained for the purpose of human sacrifice.'
-Emma Goldman
"In order to rally people, governments need enemies. They want us to be afraid, to hate, so we will rally behind them. And if they do not have a real enemy, they will invent one in order to mobilize us."
Thich Nhat Hanh
"Music scenes aint real life, won't get rid of the bomb" -Jello Biafra |
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Re: Kansas City Says No to Bush Agenda! |
by Lewis
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
31 Jan 2005
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Perhaps Bush should just say "no" to Kansas City, and call it even. |
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Re: Kansas City Says No to Bush Agenda! |
by Lindsey Walker
kansascity (nospam) rockthevote.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 2
10 Feb 2005
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I was completely misquoted. In fact, I am going so far to say that the author of the article owes all of the comment posters an apology for getting them so worked up. I will not fuck off, being that, I didn't say that. The only thing that I did say was that dissent is beautiful. Freedom of speech is such a grand thing.
I learned of this article last night at Tom Hayden. I am appalled and heartbroken. If there is anything that I love, it is Kansas City and the people of Kansas City. It is funny though, that a pretentious Columbia grad, who during the election put his hair in dreadlocks to fit-in in the inner city, turned a quote around to sell his article to the public. And it is that same pretentiousness that we correct him on all the time. Now, I am being accused of, in my interpretation of the article, putting down the loyal protesters of KC. Not to mention, I really think our valued time can be spent on better actions than shit-talking. Sorry my friend sucks. Sorry he took advantage of me and pissed you off. I really don't know what else to say. This really is a stab in the back. Well, I'm going to go cry and keep up the support of independent media. And yes, I do think voting makes the world a better place. And, Vlad, "I know I've not seen Lindsey at any gatherings where hands on work was required to make a real difference in peoples lives," I don't think you even know who I am. You can fuck off. I have dedicated the last 5 years of my life to making the world a better place. I have been coming down to the plaza protests since oct. '02 when we were protesting the Iraq sanctions. I think the people that are actively involved in the peace community know me, know I would never say that, and know I do care that such horrible horrible things were said about me. I am in disbelief: disbelief that Mischa would change what I said, and disbelief that such rude remarks were generated. I am horrified. Never in my life, for one, have I been so misquoted by the media (and yes, Mischa, you are not to be trusted, you are the media) and secondly been accused of not being an active, hands-on player in our local revolution.
Peace
Lindsey Walker |
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Re: Kansas City Says No to Bush Agenda! |
by amanda
theonewomanarmy (nospam) iwon.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
10 Feb 2005
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This article is inflammatory--but that's the point. Many of us find it easier to hold signs and complain than to find new means of effecting social change. I am NOT knocking protests and rallying as a means to draw attention to the cause. But participating in these protests is not the end, it's the start--the momentum--of how all changes must come, through solidarity and unified fronts.
While pleased to see nearly 200 people at the anti-inauguration, i'm saddened that only the hate for our psychotic reigning president can rally these numbers.
It's time we all took a hands-on approach.
Let's all move toward the future we envision. The 2 year anniversary of the start of the Iraq War is March 20th. We can use this tragic commemoration to forward our "subgroups" agendas.
There is a planning meeting for this rally (and i'm pretty sure Lindsey will be there, if anyone else feels the need to tell her to 'fuck off'; although allowing the media to pit us against each other certainly only hurts the cause...) TONIGHT at AFSC--4405 Gillham Rd. Be there or be "hands off". |
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