a couple thousand people do not make a movement.

[mod mom]

windy and cold, people huddled together to hear the speakers preach to the chorus. why aren't more people outraged? I don't get it. Are we, as a nation, really so self absorbed with daily life that we can't get out and demand a fair election? When a Secretary of State, who happens to be Co-Chair of Ohio's Bush/ Cheney '04 (better recognized among the DU as Evil/Eviler '04) orchestrates placement of machines that suppresses vote in high dem areas (such as Af Am innercity and liberal college campuses), When the vote within the same county demonstrates short or no waits in republican precincts, while high dem areas incurr waits as long as ten hours (YES 10 HOURS!), when the secretary of state had the right to change the rules at different times in the middle of the game, when the party in question controls the presidency, governorship, secretary of state, both senators, majority in congress, majorities in state government, the judiciary, both state and federal; and many local offices-WE ARE IN TROUBLE! TIME TO SPEAK OUT!

ELECTION DAY WAS COLD AND VERY RAINY IN OHIO, Many of us who had worked at getting out the vote in low income African American neighborhoods, and had urged those same individuals to stay the wait on election day, despite the weather and ridiculous lines, promised their votes would count. This is what the Kerry Campaign told us. I am not a politician. I am a mother, and a small business owner, and a proud liberal, and an activist, and a person who keeps their promise! I intend to keep fighting to demand a full non-partisan investigation into the past election. This is a democracy! REMEMBER?

[Cobalt Violet]

1. There are more than 2000.

But we aren't all in Ohio.

[mod mom]

2. many progressives have moved on...

I just can't believe it!

[ClassWarrior]

5. We need to get word OUT to them. And this was a start...

The whole past few weeks have been a start -- slo-mo start, but a start nonetheless. Are all the Progressive groups in the area getting involved? Even the tangentially-interested ones?

Perhaps you can take a cue from that wonderful thing that was happening during the campaign, when you'd get the same message -- we need you to write letters, we need volunteers, we need this or that -- from JK/JE HQ, from MoveOn, from Planned Parenthood, from True Majority, etc, etc, etc, depending on what lists you were on.

Perhaps you can get Progressive groups in the area interested in this, so they get it out to their network of volunteers and supporters.

Just a thought.

NGU.

[jamboi]

10. How many were there? n/t

[trudyco]

3. It's the MSM shut out

I mean downplaying the size of the protest, even if it wasn't tens of thousands sounds just like what they did during the Iraq war protests, isn't it?

Isn't there anyway we can do a class action lawsuit against the MSM for false advertising (they aren't really reporting NEWS)? You know, if there is election fraud and the news heard about it and didn't report it would they be in conspiracy from a legal stand point? I still want to get them for not accurately reporting Iraq war. But I suppose neither accuracy nor fairness is required.

When January rolls around and we start looking at 2006 I think we should figure out legislation for the news, too.

trudyco

[AmyCrat]

4. just a few hundred or thousand people can make a difference

if it was happening all over the country.

Call me a broken record today, but if you KNOW of a protest, post about it -- here at DU AND at www.RedHandsMovement.com

if you don't know of a protest, START ONE!

[Quakerfriend]

6. I agree mod mom

We must organize in the streets...I thought the Ukranians would inspire us to do so......I know that JK's conceding did not help. But, this is OUR DEMOCRACY!

[Helga Scow Stern]

11. Far Out Amycrat and jsamuel! Where can we get bumperstickers?

It is starting, bit by bit. It is gathering momentum. We need these to post on our cars and to hand out to people. Please tell us where we can get them.

[AmyCrat]

12. workin on it :) n/t

[Helga Scow Stern]

13. Good! : )

[AmyCrat]

14. some basic merchandise is now available

Look here:

http://redhandsmovement.com/march/viewtopic.php?p=68#68

Thanks!

[consciousobjector]

7. It will get bigger if we get more organized!

I printed and posted flyers about the rally Monday...several people thought they would get "disappeared" to Cuba if they went. I tried to get a ride today (I'm only 70 miles from Columbus) - but couldn't find anyone to ride with. Tried to meet up with the local Dems I had volunteered with on the Kerry campaign...they weren't at the former meeting site, no one has contact numbers. The county Dem chairman didn't know anything about it... :argh:

[KoKo]

9. We aren't going to get help from those we worked with about THE VOTE

Believe me.... And, we wouldn't have had the numbers for Iraq War Protests without "United for Peace" and "Answer" both groups which were trashed up and down by fellow DU'ers when we had to use them to organize us.

I have "silence" here in NC...and I've agitated and asked questions and sent out information.

But, that you got 500 or more was a great demonstration without having a professional organizer involved. And, that's what "Grassroots" is about, imho.

We know that Democratic Groups aren't supporting this...even the more activist wing of the Dem party. I just talked to one of the Activists here...and you have to understand, most are into "Move On." There is still a hard core group very tiny...but there who refuses to "Move On" once again, though. So, finding that group and connecting is all we can do...But if we DO IT...WE WILL BECOME HUGE... That's my hope and I just keep talking and asking and nudging, no matter how much I'm rebuffed, or how "fringe" it makes me feel. It's too important to let go. Although...I really want to let go..something else stops me. I think it's FEAR for our Country and because I did believe that America was supposed to be something "special" in our world..and I feel betrayed by those who have taken "special" to mean "Empire."

[pauldp]

8. Be the Media

We can get the message out, we just cannot use the MSM to do it. They have shown they will intentionally distort the facts. WE DO NOT WANT THEM CONTROLLING OUR MESSAGE!

We must protest them, take them to task on inaccurate reporting, and NOT waste our time trying to get them to cover our events (OK Air America and CSPAN can come). Holding the media accountable IMHO must become one of the main goals of this movement.

F**k the media whores. Let's March!!

[marions ghost]

17. Hold the media accountable --what a radical idea...!?

Elaborating your points on media--

1. "Protest" MSM. The worst media offenders should be criticized openly in letters, speeches, marches, boycotts. Be foxless in America.

2. "Take them to task on inaccurate reporting" -- whenevr you get that "tilt" feeling...don't let it slide. Check facts and give immediate feedback. If you are able to stomach watching or reading MSM, form local mediawatch support groups.

3. Do not beg or even expect them to cover events. "Be the Media."
Its OK to send press releases to MSM, but then have no expectations. Support and develop new media resources and get the stories out by any other means. Bottom line--GET THE STORY OUT --in words, pictures, video. Visibility is now up to us. Right, we must bypass the mainstream media until they get the message.

4. If the MSM ever do a good job, praise them.
-------------

I agree, this is an important goal.

[eleny]

15. Jesse Jackson spoke to the after-rally forum in Ohio earlier

He pointed out how few people actually marched across the Selma, Alabama bridge with Rev. King.

So, have some faith and have some patience. This will grow in bits and pieces around the nation. This is how it starts.

[ClintCooper2003]

16. I completely agree.

[americanwhothinks]

18. Most people have no clue.... Who knew about this rally?

Very few people. Without MSM coverage, the election, to most, seems a distant, dusty historical event...and yes, Americans have sunk back into a daily routine-- resigned to another four years.

So...what are we to make of this sinking back in? Well, even those who feel they read the "real news"-- ie, the New York Times, have no clue...so perhaps it really is ignorance, a belief that "we just don't understand the 'other half' of America that voted for *." This is what many of my friends have done-- they've accepted the MSM explanation of *'s "victory."

But perhaps, even if they weren't clueless-- (we all knew about Florida, and there was no rising up of the people!) the pressing tangle of private, personal concerns would make real political activity-- real political commitment-- unlikely.

Perhaps most Americans are too cozy in front of the television to feel the kind of urgency and desperation that gets people onto the streets?

Maybe after another four years, things will get SO BAD (how could they be worse? i can't even stand thinking about where we are headed!)
that the cozy thing will finally die and

America will finally wake up.

[proudtobeadem]

19. Hey, acouple of weeks ago in the Denver protestit was 150...it's a start