Cynthia McKinney: Power to the People! Stop the War!
Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney, the
former six-term congresswoman from Georgia, made the following remarks to the
"DNC Stop the War Protest" on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol, in
Denver, August 24.
"The Democratic Party has shown itself to be incapable of
providing even a semblance of the values even of its own activists."
Our country has been hijacked and the Democrats have
proven themselves to have been in on the plan. When it came to the
Constitution, the Democratic leadership showed us that aiding and abetting
illegal spying on us was more important to them than protecting our civil
liberties.
When it came to war and occupation, the Democratic leadership showed us that
financing an illegal and immoral war, based on lies, was more important to them
than the people's desire for peace.
And when the people, hurting from the financial mismanagement of this country,
called for accountability for the crimes that have been committed against the
people here, against the global community, against nature, itself, the
Democratic leadership took impeachment off the table!
Grassroots Democratic Party activists want a livable wage! A
"Medicare-for-all" type of health care system, repeal of the Bush tax
cuts that have ushered in the greatest income inequality in this country since
the Great Depression. But the Democratic Party has shown itself to be
incapable of providing even a semblance of the values even of its own activists.
The Democratic Party's national leadership didn't even mention Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita survivors in their Congressional agenda for the first 100
days.
"Entire cities are going
into receivership while the Democratic leadership in Congress gives the Pentagon
one half trillion dollars annually."
The Democratic Party's national leadership gave us the Iran Naval Blockade
bill, the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act, and
telecom immunity. They continue to fund war and occupation to the tune of
$720 million a day while our children graduate from college tens - or even
hundreds - of thousands of dollars in debt. Entire cities are going into
receivership while the Democratic leadership in Congress gives the Pentagon one
half trillion dollars annually with no accountability, no strings
attached. That's over and above spending for war.
Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo are the hallmarks of the new U.S. gulag Democrats are
helping to create.
They want us to believe that China and Russia are our enemies, in addition to
the 60 countries on Dick Cheney's list. They want us to believe that
workers, who come to this country to support their families after Democratic
leadership in the country saddled workers with NAFTA, are our enemies.
But we are here today to declare that we know who the real enemies
are: those false patriots that George Washington warned us of, who wrap
themselves in the flag while betraying our values.
We are the true patriots!
We know that the strength of this country lies in the way it countenances
dissent. And we are here to dissent. We are not deterred by reports
of sleek, new detention facilities or recently-acquired taser guns that
kill. For we come to dissent in peace. Indeed, we dissent for peace.
"We know that a vote for
the Democrats is a vote for more war."
Today, we declare our independence from conformity and
"go-along-to-get-along" politics. We declare our willingness to
be radical in pursuit of peace and in our hunger for justice. We can see
clearly now who the real stickup artists are and that's why we're in Denver!
Our actions here this week begin the disarming of the hijackers. We no
longer are afraid. And we won't be deceived. We know that a vote
for the Democrats is a vote for more war in Afghanistan and other parts of the
world.
But today, we are now free.
Free to stand on the four pillars guiding our political engagement:
environmental wisdom, peace, grassroots democracy, and social justice.
And finally, we know our power. We know the power of the people. We
know that true power rests in the hands of the people. People who are
willing to take a stand.
We need look no further than Haiti, Cote I'voire, Spain, and India to see the
power of the people at the ballot box. No further than Brazil, Venezuela,
Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Paraguay to know that if
they can do it, so can we.
Provided our elections are fair!
And if the Democrats cave in, in the face of fraud, disfranchisement, and
theft, then we will be there to demand election integrity!
All over this country, the signs are there. People from New York to
Florida, Washington State to California, Colorado to Texas are liberating
themselves. We must not stop! Our country is worth it! Let's
take our country back! Power to the People!
Ms. McKinney has been told that her campaign can
still make qualifying for matching funds. Donations can be made at www.runcynthiarun.org
or mail your contribution to Power to the People, P.O. Box 311759, Atlanta,
GA 31131.
The colonized and the marginalized are often condemned by the same forces that oppress them, or they are asked to utter condemnation at the whims of their rulers.
The Black Agenda Report editorial team is grateful to our readers for their support and patience. Last week we were unable to publish BAR due to circumstances beyond our control.
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