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Seattle -> DC -> Philadelphia

Thursday, 11 May 2000

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Seattle wasn't the beginning of the anti-corporate globalism movement; it was simply the coming-out party for American citizens to join with their friends in the Global South to oppose undemocratic, secretive institutions.

The next major American milestone in this movement will occur during the Republic National Convention in Philadelphia at the end of July. The Monkeyfist Collective intends a visible presence in Philly, and you'll see lots of first-hand reports from Mfers like Bijan Parsia, Collin Williams and me.

Under the rubric of "Unity 2000" a call has gone out to citizens in America and around the world to converge on Philadelphia to seek a redress of grievances.

Unity 2000 Call to Action

MAKE HISTORY IN PHILADELPHIA ON JULY 30th

Join thousands of concerned people and community and social change activists in Philadelphia for the Unity2000 March on July 30th. As the political parties gather this summer for nominating conventions, we are calling for a new direction for our nation. From every corner of the country, let us come, united, to say NO to business and politics as usual and YES to new priorities for our nation and the world.

The gap between the very rich few and the expanding ranks of the poor widens every day. Fewer and fewer multinational super corporations and super-rich individuals are controlling more and more of the wealth, the information we receive, and the political process. Both political parties make way for the exploitation of the world by multinationals. The grab for profits has driven the personal fortunes of a few to obscene levels. For the rest of us, working or out of work, middle-class or poor, the money we earn buys less than it did twenty years ago-even though we are working harder and have less time with our loved ones. And the social safety net has been pulled out from under millions of us.

At every level of government, elected officials ignore the needs and wants of our people. Like a spreading cancer, the greed and power of privately-owned corporations pushes governments to cut social spending, undermine unions, and impoverish more and more of us every day.

WHY MUST WE BE HEARD?

Instead of full healthcare for all, insurance companies and for profit hospitals make billions out of people's misery
Instead of our elders enjoying their well-earned retirement, they are often forced to decide between medicines and food
Instead of getting a Living Wage, people are forced to toil for substandard wages in sweatshops and maquiladoras
Instead of job-training programs, more police are hired
Instead of new schools, more prisons are built
Instead of working to rehabilitate our prison population and return them as productive members of society, the numbers of prisoners continues to grow and the death penalty and imprisonment falls unequally on people of color
Instead of eliminating the oppression of women and honoring their right to control their own bodies, some people are trying to turn back the clock
Instead of fair and equal treatment for immigrants and refugees, hatemongers encourage discrimination and fear
Instead of recognizing the full human rights of all people regardless of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation or national origin, people lose their jobs, their children, their homes, and their lives because of those who fear and hate
Instead of giving our teachers, caregivers, and service workers the honor and support they deserve for their crucial roles in society, they are often underpaid and underappreciated
Instead of open elections on a level playing field, elections are being bought by the unlimited power of rich campaign contributors
Instead of respect for our environment, the planet has been brought to the brink of an environmental disaster
Instead of working for peace among all peoples and all nations, billions are poured into the coffers of the arms merchants

WE MUST CURE THE CANCER OF HATE

In every part of this country and around the world, the worsening economic realities are matched by escalating racial, ethnic, gender, and religious hatreds. Racism and bigotry all too often result in everything from individual acts of violence to full-scale wars. Prejudice and hatemongers spread a poison of fear against anyone who appears, behaves, or sounds different-encouraging discrimination and segregation. These are all symptoms of a societal cancer. Man or woman, young or old, gay or straight, all colors and ethnic groups-no one is immune. We must take back our government and our society from those who think that money can buy everything. Active involvement in the movements for social change is the best treatment for this disease.

We are powerful in our diversity and we are unified in our commitment. We will bring our many voices to Philadelphia this summer. We will use the opportunities provided by the nominating conventions to celebrate our diversity and work toward building a broad-based, unified progressive movement, to raise a common voice, and to demand change.

This is the beginning of the politics of the new millennium.

Join us in our call for economic and social justice.

Join us in our call for peace, freedom, and true democracy.

Join us as we march for our lives and our future.

COME TO PHILADELPHIA JULY 30TH

JOIN US AS WE MAKE HISTORY

See also It is a global movement! <http://monkeyfist.com/articles/507>
This is Seattle -> DC -> Philadelphia <http://monkeyfist.com/articles/510>