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=> Get Out of My Bush!!!

Get Out of My Bush!!!
Posted by Tony (Guest) - Wednesday, September 8 2004, 18:48:23 (CEST)
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National Organization for Women a.k.a. NOW March During RNC in N.Y.

What a beautiful kodak moment that was. I wish you were all there.



http://www.now.org/index.html

NOW Leaders and Activists Join Hundreds of Thousands in New York City to Protest the Bush Administration's War on Women

September 3, 2004

by NOW Staff

For one solid week, the streets of New York City belonged to hundreds of thousands of activists from around the world who—while surrounded by riot police—denounced the radical right's attack on our nation. The NOW Action Center sent a delegation to show our support for the mass actions and to march in solidarity with peace, anti-poverty, lesbian rights and worker's rights allies. Speaking out and taking part in the 'Counter-Convention' was part of the current State of Emergency which NOW declared at the July 2004 national conference. Keeping with past traditions of the organization, NOW members participated in grassroots democracy and responded to the current attack on women's rights that remain under siege by George W. Bush and his extremist administration.

Marching across the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan, tens of thousands of women, men, and children took part in the pre-convention March for Women's Lives—a smaller but just as forceful event as the March in April 2004—that highlighted the Bush administrations regressive policies on women's reproductive rights. Chanting in the sweltering August heat, "keep your laws off our bodies," protesters made a bold statement with their voices, signs, and slogan clothing, that women's bodies and personal health decisions are not in the public domain and must not be subject to any more oppressive legislation.

NOW Action Vice President Olga Vives marched on the front line of the Aug. 29 United for Peace and Justice March, leading a coalition of activists and celebrities, including Code Pink founder Medea Benjamin, to denounce both the war on women and the war in Iraq.

"We're following the Republicans this week, to let them know we've heard them loud and clear—that they do not support the issues important to women, issues vital to our country's and families' well-being—and we are joining our allies to let them know that we're not going to take this anymore. This week it was our voices and in November it will be our votes that send that message strong and clear," said Vives.

Over 400,000 peaceful protesters marched up Seventh Avenue, past Madison Square Garden—the site of the 2004 Republican National Convention—for more than five hours. Representatives from hundreds of worldwide pro-peace organizations, former soldiers who fought in Iraq, parents and friends who lost loved ones in the war, and supporters of an anti-war message, participated in the largest protest ever held at a political convention. The massive sea of people, many who carried rainbow flags made by Artists Against the War that read, "We the people say NO to the Bush agenda," sent a bold and powerful message of dissent to the Republicans on the eve of their convention.

Vives was also asked to address a group of young women who were winners of an essay contest, sponsored by Lifetime Television, who had most artfully expressed their interest in becoming a future leader in government and politics.

Vives spoke about the history of NOW and our tireless efforts to bring change in all areas of society. The young women, all from inner-city neighborhoods in New York City, were fascinated to learn about the vast strides NOW has made and continues to make for women through strong grassroots actions. Several were curious about joining NOW chapters when they begin college and asked Vives how to take part in the democratic process before their 18th birthday.

NOW President Kim Gandy spoke to the current health care crisis facing women at the Campaign for a National Health Care Plan NOW! Conference. Gandy gave a compelling speech about the need for a comprehensive national health care plan and noted that NOW supports this plan because it would curb the deficiencies and failures in government and private insurance programs that are leading to gigantic gaps in health care provisions and coverage for millions of women.

"Since 1993, NOW has supported a position in favor of a single-payer form of health insurance coverage for everyone in the United States," says Gandy. "The resolution adopted by our membership emphasizes the concept of health care as a "right" and not a privilege."

Thousands joined the Poor People's Rally and March in front of the United Nations, where Vives spoke of the crisis facing women on welfare in the United States, and the continuous efforts by the right wing to siphon money from this and other government-funded programs.

"For the third year in a row, poverty in the U.S. has deepened and the Bush administration has done nothing to help women who need welfare money and public support to care for their families," said Vives. "The Bush economic agenda has succeeded in its goal of benefiting the wealthiest few at the expense of the vast majority of people at middle and low incomes, especially women and children."

NOW leaders and activists concluded the week-long series of demonstrations with a NOW and NOW-NYC permitted rally to emphasize the current state of emergency and stress the importance of a massive get out the vote campaign. Code Red: Stop the Bush Agenda, on the evening of Sept. 1, called for the end of the administration's attack on women, minorities, and civil liberties.

Thousands of people joined NOW on the East Meadow of Central Park for two hours of rousing speeches by NOW President Kim Gandy, NOW-NYC President Rita Haley, New York City Council members, and other pro-women, anti-Bush agenda activists. Women in attendance were reminded that the 22 million who did not vote in 2000 could have changed the outcome of the election—and this year, must not stay home on Election Day.

"Do not let George W. Bush and his cronies have their way for four more years," said Gandy. "We have to work tirelessly from now until November 2, registering voters and making sure that people make it to the polls. This is the most important election of our lives because our freedoms are at stake."



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