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Brooklyn, NY - January 7, 2006--Today grassroots activists gathered in Brooklyn's Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church as part of the National Town Hall "Get out of Iraq" campaign. They came to hear a broad range of voices representing New York City's diverse progressive community.
Laura Flanders of Air America's RadioNation MC'ed the event. The first speaker was Bob Fertik of Democrats.com, and a founder of a new organization devoted to impeaching President Bush: ImpeachPAC. He discussed the evidence in support of impeachment, saying that "our prisons have many people in them convicted on much less evidence than that which exists to convict Bush."
Congressman Major Owens (D-NY) of Brooklyn spoke of the leading role played by members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and called on progressives to continue working for a majority of Democratic Congressmembers willing to vote no on further funding for the war. Congressmember Owens attended with his son, Chris Owens (candidate for U.S. House of Representatives), who attended PDA's National Summit last year in Washington DC.
Jonathan Tasini, New York Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, gave a speech on the disastrous Iraq campaign, highlighting all the useful things that could be done with money now being squandered on the war.
Debra Sweet, National Coordinator of the World Can't Wait campaign, discussed the wave of anger sweeping the country because of the Bush regime's policies. She asked people to join a demonstration outside Fox News while Bush gives his State of the Union address.
Missy Beattie spoke on behalf of Gold Star Families for Peace. She described the personality and history of her favorite nephew, who was killed in Iraq 5 months ago. She passed photographs, and asked everyone to remember that every life is precious, and be mindful of the horrible impact that a loved one's death has on family members. If Americans felt every death in Iraq as though it were a relative, the war would surely end.
Eddie Rosario from US Labor Against the War spoke about the war of USLAW in New York. USLAW was instrumental in getting the AFL-CIO to vote for a resolution against the war in Iraq at the most recent national convention.
Charles Lenchner, New York PDA organizer, spoke last on behalf of Progressive Democrats of America. Charles called on activists to show support for the Conyers' House Resolutions calling for a select committee to investigate the pre-war intelligence fiasco, and calling for a censure of President Bush. This Monday, January 9, PDA is organizing a national call-in day in support of the resolutions. For more information take action here.
New York City PDA leaders Alice Slater and Julie Finch stayed behind to speak with activists about working together in Congressional Districts to keep up the pressure on Congress. John Korab and Adam Wolenc, coordinators of New York State PDA, did a great job of getting the word out and helping to organize this event. See www.pdanewyork.org for more information.
A telling moment arrived during the Q&A session when a member of the audience asked about the upcoming 2006 elections. I asked whoever was interested in learning more about the 2006 races and how they can get involved in building the progressive wing of the Democratic Party to raise their hands. Nearly everyone in the room raised their hands high, smiling at the show of unity.
