3rd Gathering To Save Our Democracy, Nashville, 1/2/05 -- be there!

[Fly by night]

THE THIRD GATHERING TO SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY
SUNDAY, 01/02/05, 2:00-5:00 PM
BENTON CHAPEL, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

BE THERE!!!

This Sunday, January 2, 2005, will mark the third Gathering To Save Our Democracy in Nashville. Our two previous gatherings, held on the steps of the Tennessee State Capital, have been well attended by people from throughout Tennessee and other states, and have generated some much-needed media coverage for the 2004 election fraud/theft issue. We have received coverage on Nashville's CBS television affiliate (twice), the local NPR station, the Nashville Tennessean newspaper and other media. (We have also done two 30 minute public affairs programs on the election theft on two large Nashville radio stations and an hour-long public service program which included a discussion of the election theft was broadcast this past Sunday on five East Tennessee radio stations.) We want to continue to build momentum and support for free and fair elections here in Tennessee by scheduling this third Gathering To Save Our Democracy this coming Sunday (01/02/05). This third Gathering will help us garner more media attention and help us move forward to pursue remedies to the threats which our election process now faces.

We are honored and very appreciative that Vanderbilt University is allowing us to use Benton Chapel free of charge for this third Gathering. At the Gathering, we will have several speakers, including four honored veterans of the 1960s Nashville civil rights movement who can remind us what has been necessary to secure voting rights in the past, social scientists who can review the latest evidence for election fraud in Ohio and other states, and local and U.S. Congressional officials and/or their representatives who will discuss the steps we must take to reverse this situation. We will also have discussion groups which will focus on short-term and long-term strategies to overcome this 2004 election theft and to prevent it from happening again in the future.

Finally, the Gathering will end when we send a busload (or more) of Tennesseans to Columbus, Ohio to participate in another large rally to protest the Ohio election sham on Monday, January 3. At the Gathering, we will distribute new summaries of the latest election fraud information and, if possible, we will allow opportunities for anyone (and everyone) who wishes to speak to do so. And we will distribute orange ribbons to everyone there, so that we can continue to show our solidarity with the brave people in the Ukraine, our Tennessee soldiers in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan who are fighting to protect what's left of our democracy and our thankfulness for their potent example.

If you and your friends and family can join us this Sunday, please contact anyone and everyone you know in Tennessee and surrounding states who are as concerned about the future of our democracy as you are, and invite them to join us. Ask them to pass the word along to others to make this the largest gathering yet. If possible, please make up signs and banners to protest the 2004 election theft to use at the Gathering and to send to Columbus, Ohio, to help make this a visually memorable gathering.

So please come join us at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 2, 2005, in Benton Chapel at Vanderbilt University. (Benton Chapel is located on the north-east side of the campus, off of 21st Avenue, close to the Main Library and near O'Charley's Restaurant.) Come meet with many other like-minded people who share your concerns and come show, by your presence and your voice, that you will not allow this election theft to stand. Come get your orange ribbon, and help us begin to take our country back!!
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I would appreciate DUers keeping this kicked and also posting it on the Tennessee forum elsewhere on DU (and anywhere else that would be appropriate in the web-sphere.) I'm four days late for a five day family reunion, so I must go to Knoxville NOW. Peace -- see you Sunday.

[wolfgirl]

1. kick n/t

[nashville_brook]

2. big kick -- see you there!

with family and friends in tow!

[MelissaB]

3. Nashville_brook,

how many people have attended these in the past?

[nashville_brook]

8. couldn't say -- this would be my first one n/t

[Fly by night]

10. We've had between 100-150 at the two previous Gatherings

and Benton Chapel holds 350. It would be GREAT to fill it up. Given the prominence of our speakers (several honored veterans of the 60s civil rights movement in Nashville and reps for one or more Congressmen), I know the Gathering will be worth it.

Children are most certainly welcome, as are signs, orange wear, and lots of patriotic spirit. I hope to see you there, with everyone you know. Peace.

[MelissaB]

4. Who else is going?

I'm 3 hours away and will check with my familiy.

[GetTheRightVote]

5. I will attend the rally with you all, be there or be square, lol

:kick:

[Clark2008]

6. Can little kids come?

Mine's used to protesting Bush...

And welcome to Knoxville when you get here! :hi:

Will try to keep this kicked for you.

I'm considering coming to this if I can scrape up enough gas money.

[MelissaB]

7. I'd like to know that, too.

My kids are 9 and 6.

[Fly by night]

11. Please bring anyone, of any age -- all are welcome

I would recommend arriving early to make sure you can find it. I'll ask people with signs and/or orange ribbon to stand out on 21st Avenue to be visual signposts for the Gathering. I've already been told that the O'Charley's restaurant is now a Starbucks (isn't everything?) Just shows how often this yellow dog gets to town.

Our Nashville Congressman, Jim Cooper, will be represented at the Gathering and we hope at least two other Congressman (Ford and Gordon) will be there or send reps. We're also hoping to have an elected official from Nashville/Davidson County and perhaps a state legislator or three. We are already working on a slate of state bills to improve our voting rights here (like making it easier to recount paper ballots without a court order).

One kick for starting off the New Year together, takin' our country back. Drive safe. See you in Music City-capital of the Orange State.

[Verve]

9. GO NASHVILLE! A Salute to all you BRAVE souls in red country!!!n/t

[Fly by night]

12. Some of the speakers who have confirmed they'll be there

At the Gathering, we will have several speakers, including honored veterans of the 1960s Nashville civil rights movement including, among others: Rev. Sonnye Dixon, President of the Davidson County Chapter of NAACP, Amos Jones, former President of the Davidson County Chapter of NAACP, Michael Grant, a local Democratic activist who has had experience with voting machines and Jerry Maynard, Attorney, who is the former state minority outreach chair of the Kerry/Edwards campaign in Tennessee. We also have commitments from Congressman Jim Cooper's office that Rep. Cooper will be represented.

The Nashville Tennessean is giving us a story tomorrow (Saturday) on the Gathering which should help boost turnout. We also did a half hour public service program yesterday during "drive time" on the largest Black-owned radio station in Nashville, which should help. We need to pack the 300+ seat Benton Chapel to show the Nashville media that there is a large and growing community of people in this ORANGE state who will not stand for the 2004 election theft. So come if you can.

By the way, Benton Chapel is on the northeast corner of the Vanderbilt campus, off 21st Avenue, uphill from Starbuck's (which used to be O'Charley's.)

[Fly by night]

13. Here's some news coverage we got today (to help promote the Gathering)

The dam is breaking on the media silence everywhere. Where better than the Orange State to help it along. See all ya'll on Sunday.

http://tennessean.com/local/archives/04/12/63568178.shtml?Element_ID=63568178