Dear Friend,
This past November, tens of thousands of activists shut down the World Trade Organization in Seattle. Since then, the people's movements in this country and around the world have rallied together like no other time in recent history. From across a broad and diverse spectrum of groups, a new generation of activists has emerged to challenge corporate globalization abroad and at home.
In the coming months, the two parties that control politics in this country will be holding their national conventions -- the Republicans in Philadelphia at the end of July, and the Democrats in Los Angeles in the middle of August. Already, hundreds of groups are organizing big actions, protest marches, and demonstrations against corporate rule as embodied by these parties and their anointed leaders. Under the banner of Democracy and Justice, a diverse coalition, including unionists, environmentalists, people of color, advocates for the poor, opponents of the prison-industrial complex, civil liberties groups, campaign finance reform advocates, and freedom fighters of all varieties, hope to seize these two huge media events to make the voices of the voiceless heard in the inner halls of both parties and the mainstream press.
Indeed, many real concerns have long been ignored by a corporate media more interested in covering the shallow contest between Bush and Gore. As each candidate sets new electoral spending records and the public's cynicism about party politics grows, concerned citizens can rally and seize the initiative in this weary campaign year. In perhaps this pivotal year in the life of American democracy, the opportunity is there to make a united stand against priorities that only benefit a handful of rich corporations at the expense of the rest of us.
In Boston, an R2K Task Force has convened under the auspices of the Boston Global Action Network (BGAN) to help mobilize for possible actions in Philadelphia. We invite your organization to join or send representatives to our weekly planning meetings. If your group is already organizing for Philadelphia, please consider contacting us at [email protected] so that we can coordinate and help each other achieve our common goals.
It is our sincere hope that efforts this summer contribute to building a truly national movement uniting progressive and democratic groups for mutual respect and mutual aid. In Boston, we have a long way to go towards realizing this goal. By pooling efforts to challenge the political standard bearers of real power in this country, our greatest strength and perhaps only hope in returning power to the people lies in our unity.
In Solidarity,
The members of the R2K Task Force
Boston Global Action Network
About the Boston Global Action Network…
The Boston Global Action Network is bringing the "spirit of Seattle" to Boston. Labor, environmental, community, and direct action groups work together on protests, teach-ins, and building a movement to end corporate globalization. BGAN's coordinating committee holds monthly open meetings where member groups set its course. Organizational dues are $25. Contact Mike Prokosch, 617-423-2148 x 24, [email protected].
"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country.... corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."
- Abraham Lincoln, 1864