Cautious Optimism...

Here in New York, the RNC protests are off to a good start. Yesterday was the first major action, a non-permitted rally and 54-city-block-long march (yes, my feet are still sore). The police - though numerous - peacefully accompanied. According to NYC Indymedia, "There were several arrests throughout the day, but none directly related to the march." Another report said the march was so large that it took up "about 20 blocks through downtown Manhattan." Sounds about right to me...

Yesterday's action was organized by Democracy Uprising, a month-long community-building effort by close to 100 (mostly young) activists that started in Boston during the Democratic Convention in late July. As they walked the 258 miles from Boston to New York, the Democracy Uprising folks interacted with local groups along the way, supporting community gardens, raising money for at-risk youth programs, and participating in various teach-ins. The participants I spoke to stressed the importance of community organizing to social change, and pretty much dismissed the upcoming elections. From their website:

Rather than representing the interests of the people, both Democrats and Republicans choose to build systems of violent exploitation. We have walked 258 miles from the Democratic National Convention and now we arrive at the Republican National Convention to say "Ya Basta!" Enough is Enough! As a symbol of reclamation of our city space, and as a gesture of solidarity with those silenced and oppressed, we will march for those who cannot be present, we will give a voice to the voiceless, a face to the faceless, and struggle to build direct democracy. In the spirit of Zapatismo we seek dignity, justice, housing, autonomy, education, health care, work and food for all.

It reminded me of the Republican's "Compassion Across America" month-long community service/ photo op - the Bizarro version, with dreadlocks.

Earlier yesterday, I went to a press conference held by the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, who have erected a "Bushville," a poor people's camp, in Brooklyn. The conference announced their formal request for a hearing, filed yesterday with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States:

They are asking this international body to conduct a hearing and investigation on the failures of the United States government, to fulfill its obligations under international treaties and conventions to ensure the fundamental rights to social security (welfare), health care and housing for residents of the United States. ... The American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man (sic) requires the United States to progressively realize economic and social rights. Recent policy decisions in the United States undermine these rights and are causing regression, with regards to the right to social security, health and housing for the low-income families in the United States. "Our government's policies on welfare, health care and housing are worsening the situation for the poor every year. The result is more poor people are dying every year, in the richest country in the world," said Cheri Honkala who is National Coordinator of the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign.

OK, I need to start my day (with a big, crusty NY bagel - mmmmm).

Diane