Urgent Action Request

[pointsoflight]

Several people recommended that I make this a separate post, so here it is...

In Will Pitt's article on Kerry entering the fray (http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/122404Y.shtml), note his last paragraph:

"Perhaps the most significant aspect of all this, from the activist point of view, has been the effectiveness of the telephone calls and letters to Kerry. The activist push to get him involved had a very significant effect on his decision to enter this effort. Likewise, calls to other Senators in order to convince them to join House members in challenging the election have likewise had significant effect. If such an effort continues, the activists involved will very likely see the desired result unfold."

Our efforts, in writing and calling our congressmen, ARE apparently having an effect. In addition, Will Pitt in another thread indicates that our senators have been moved by the opening scene from 9/11 and don't want a repeat. They're undoubtedly ashamed for not standing up for the rights of our African American brothers and sisters, who happen to vote for democrats at a 90% clip.

Call and write your senators, and hit the suppression/ disenfranchisement issue hard. Let's be sure to remind them of what happened in 2000 and why it's so important to not let that happen again. Below are some links with some information on these issues and some stories to get you motivated (i.e., put you in tears, get you pissed off!). And writers, it'd be great if you could post some model letters here. Thanks all, for your efforts. We will not be defeated.

Key links:

Video of African American voter suppression and disenfranchisement:
http://www.thefreespeechzone.net /

Some diaries documenting the suppression:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/12/22/143719/67
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/12/15/12545/041

Some very strong words from one of our African American sisters:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/12/15/9734/4841

Some more strong words:
http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2004/12/15/9734/4841/470#470

Contact information:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml

[understandinglife]

1. YES, your post has an excellent set of links: thank you (n/t)

[Free Speech Zone]

2. Nice!

The Free Speech Zone link you got up there is my page. Thanks for posting it. I am trying to get the film seen by as many people as possible!

If you gather any new information that might be good for me to post on my page feel free to pass it on.

Increase the peace

[pointsoflight]

3. Any movement on getting that video...

...on TV or into the hands of congressman? People need to see this. It's one thing to talk about the disenfranchisement of African Americans in our country, but for those of us who weren't directly exposed to it on election day, it's a whole different thing to actually see it, from an emotional perspective.

[Free Speech Zone]

6. Yes

The high res version of that was handed to the mainstream outlets...

P-diddy also might get involved... Sharpton and Cobb are invloved, MMoore's people were notified...

so far nothing from the MSM though.....

fingers crossed

fsz

[pointsoflight]

8. Excellent start, thanks for your work on this. n/t

[pointsoflight]

4. Deleted--accidental dupe.

[newyawker99]

5. Hi Free Speech Zone!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Free Speech Zone]

7. Cheers ;-)

[hoosierblue]

9. I wish my senators cared.

All I've gotten is a letter from Lugar praising Alberto Gonzales. Yup, that's right. Praising the man who believed the fair treatment of prisoners was a "quaint" idea.

Sane, conscientious Repub my ass. I've given up on them. Bayh's no better.

[s-cubed]

10. kick

[Goldeneye]

11. Will they read e-mails that aren't from their states/districts?

[lonestarnot]

12. Yes

[Goldeneye]

13. Thanks...I didn't think I was gonna get a response

I'll do some more e-mailing then.