cannabisnews.com: Groups To Detail Convention Plans





Groups To Detail Convention Plans
Posted by FoM on July 12, 2000 at 06:43:18 PT
By Dana DiFilippo, Daily News Staff Writer 
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer
Loath to draw authorities' attention, most activists planning to protest during this summer's Republican National Convention are as secretive about their activities as casino card-counters.But today, organizers of the "Shadow Conventions" - an alternative gathering of activists and political muckrakers - will detail their plans for the five-day GOP convention, which kicks off July 31.
Their goal, Shadow planners say, is to instigate real debate about real issues - instead of the "scripted, crafted and controlled forums" they predict will characterize the official party gatherings.The Shadow events are expected to draw big-name political mavericks like Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. But instead of only parading politicos to the podium, Shadow organizers promise to present lots of regular folks, such as welfare moms and tax-weary merchants.Comedians such as Al Franken, musicians and other performers are expected to beat the boredom that Shadow organizers bet will plague the parties' conventions."The parties' addiction to massive doses of campaign cash has distorted our policy priorities and led to the neglect of critical issues," said syndicated columnist Arianna Huffington, one of the Shadow Conventions' conveners."The Shadow Conventions are a citizens' intervention to give voice to millions of Americans currently shut out of the national debate."Shadow organizers also plan a convention during the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles in August.Huffington and leaders of other groups behind the Shadow effort - including Common Cause, Call to Renewal and Public Campaign - will unveil their plans this morning at a West Philadelphia cafe.During both Shadow conventions, organizers will focus on three issues they say the major parties are ignoring: Campaign finance reform, poverty and the wealth gap and the failed war on drugs.The meatiest meetings will take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with workshops in the afternoons and entertainment, evenings.All Shadow events, which will be held at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Center, are free and open to the public:July 31: Campaign finance reform talks will target the problems with money in politics and solutions to money corruption. Speakers include Doris Haddock, the 90-year-old New Hampshire woman known as "Granny D" who walked across America for campaign finance reform; and the Rev. Carrie Bolton, an African-American voting rights activist from North Carolina.Aug. 1: The topic is the failed drug war. Speakers include Rev. Jesse Jackson and New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson. Aug. 2: Debate will center on poverty and the wealth gap. Speakers include Jack Kemp, former HUD secretary, and Skip Long, director of the Jobs Partnership. Send e-mail to: difilid phillynews.com Published: Wednesday, July 12, 2000 © 2000 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. Related Articles & Web Sites:Shadow Conventionshttp://www.shadowconventions.com/Drug Policy Foundationhttp://www.drugpolicy.org/Shadow Conventions:http://www.lindesmith.org/shadowconventions/Beyond Conventional Behavior http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6348.shtmlThe Failed Drug Warhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6331.shtmlPanel Could Ground Johnson's Drug Ideashttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6327.shtmlDrug Ideas Land Governor on Podium http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6289.shtmlActivists Plan To Counter The Conventions http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6286.shtml 
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