Wow, I just spent 40 minutes doing a very linky diary on this and for some reason all my Firefox windows just CLOSED. I'm really pissed.
Serenity now, serenity now...
OK, here goes an abridged version:
World Can't Wait is a group specifically formed with the following objective:
We seek to create a political situation where the Bush administration's program is repudiated, where Bush himself is driven from office, and where the whole direction he has been taking U.S. society is reversed.
They are organizing a rally in Washington, D.C., for Feb. 4 - this coming Saturday. I'm going - are you?
At the last rally on Sept. 24, 2005, a bunch of Kossacks met up, as documented in this
diary by the wonderful RenaRF.
Although I attended the march, I wasn't able to find the Kos Kontingent because I was looking for a big DKos flag instead of a plain orange flag. Silly me. That won't happen again this time.
The formation of World Can't Wait was inspired by the group Not In Our Name. WCW is organized by people who have bonafide activist backgrounds, fighting against racism, police brutality, colonialism, and unfair trade. Its 10-member steering committee includes Gore Vidal, Boots Riley of The Coup, Howard Zinn, attorney Lynne Stewart and Mark Crispin Miller.
I found out about them at the Sept. 24, 2005 protest, where they were handing out stickers and signs. Since then I have seen them at almost every progressive event I've attended. There is a flyer available for download and printing - I've been handing it out to toll booth collectors, store clerks and drive-thru workers.
Their purpose is singular: driving Bush out of the White House. I say this to emphasize that I don't expect (although you can neither predict nor control people's individual actions) there to be a soapbox for the "Free Mumia, Free Palestine" set that we associate with International ANSWER. I know there are some people here who have a problem with that. I suppose I understand although it has never bothered me. So, I hope that people who stayed home last September will come out this Saturday. We need you.
I am not an organizer, but I'm trying to get better at it. I'm very scatterbrained, and I sometimes forget to get in touch with people. I'm the type of person who starts one thing, gets distracted by something else, and so on and so on. Plus, I live in New Jersey and am not too familiar with the D.C. area. Last time, upon the advice of jsmdlawyer, I drove to Silver Spring and took the Metro in. It was a breeze.
For the last march, the fabulous RenaRF did a superb job organizing folks in this diary and posting a photo diary afterwards (credit for the top photo goes to that diary). The group wore bright orange bandannas and marched near Cindy Sheehan and Jesse Jackson.
World Can't Wait's plan is as follows:
11 a.m. Rally at 17th and Constitution
2 p.m. March around the White House
Pretty simple. They have lots of information on purchasing bus tickets here. If you can't buy tickets from the site, you can contact a local chapter to see what kind of transportation they are organizing.
Here is a map of the rally site:
As I stated, RenaRF did a fantastic job pulling everybody together, and she gave the following directions last time. Perhaps we could use them again?
For Friday:
1. Meet for happy hour at the Capitol City Brewery, 4pm
2. 1100 New York Ave. NW, Washington DC.
3. Happy hour runs from 4pm-7pm and then against 10pm-close. Appetizers are 1/2 price during happy hour.
For Saturday:
1. Meet at the Holiday Inn, 9am.
2. 1155 14th Street NW, Washington, DC.
3. While some pre-arranged folks have breakfast arrangements, others will be on their own but it's a place to meet.
4. Organize for 11am rally.
So the general purpose of this diary is to discuss who is going, who can organize, how and where we can meet, whether we should have one or more official DKos photographers (any pros out there?), activities we might do before or after the rally, supplies we might need to bring, transportation and car pools, and the general idea and aims of World Can't Wait and this rally.
Don't forget that WCW is also organizing actions around the country for the SOTU on Tuesday. Check here to see if they are doing anything in your area.
If you are a rally poo-pooher, I can't stop you from posting in this diary, but I will ignore you.
I may repost this mid-week to make sure enough people see it.
Happy protesting!!
-- missreporter