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Democracy for America group blog for Take Back Red California

One Voice Can Fight City Hall & Win Victory for the Bill of Rights

Written by: Denise on Jul 4, 2008 12:01 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for Riverside, Take Back Red California, Blog For America, California for Democracy, Courage Campaign, DFA-Link Organizers

We had a little, but not insignificant, victory play out here in Riverside, California, over the last few days.  A victory that proves you can fight City Hall and win.  A victory that proves that one voice really does matter.

Both the Bill Hedrick for Congress Campaign and local Obama volunteers had been told by the City of Riverside Parks and Recreation Department that they could not have a booth at the 4th of July festivities in Fairmont Park, nor would we be allowed to register voters in the park, nor even put up our own tents in the park with signs, literature, etc.  Some plans for visibility and voter registration efforts in the park were cancelled.

However, with a little encouragement ;->, one volunteer, our very own indomitable Alice, wrote her councilman on Wednesday afternoon and asked, Why?  Why can't we register voters in a public park?  Why can't we put up a tent, and wear our t-shirts, and talk to anyone we like about our candidates?  Why were we denied a booth?  Is there a City ordinance prohibiting these activities?  Could she have a copy?  On Thursday morning, she followed up with a phone call.

By noon, the councilman was speaking with the City Attorney.  By afternoon, Victory!  Alice received a return phone call from the councilman.  Yes, you are free to register voters in a public space.  Yes, of course, you are free to wear any t-shirt you like, and talk to anyone you like, about any candidate you like.  Yes, you are even free to have a booth at the City's festivities in Fairmont Park on the 4th.  The Parks and Recreation Department was duly chastised by City officials, and Alice soon received a call to make arrangements for a booth!  

Proof that the Bill of Rights is still alive and well in Riverside.  Proof that one voice can make a difference. Come on down and join us at Fairmont Park today in celebrating Independence Day and reveling in your rights and freedom.

 

You can just show up any time, but you can also give Alice much deserved kudos for her guts and initiative by submitting an RSVP and comment online at:

http://democracyforamerica.com/events/29880-celebrate-4th-of-july-in-fairmont-park

Event Date: Jul 4, 2008
Event Time: 3:00 PM
Venue Name: Fairmont Park
Address: 2625 Fairmont Blvd
City: Riverside
State: CA
Zip Code: 92501
Website: riversideca.gov/park_rec/facilities.asp

 

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Location: CA

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+1 Rating
T18585

- Tips for Alice

By Denise on Jul 4, 2008 12:07 PM EDT

Please leave tips & mojo for Alice!

+1 Rating
Sharon_christmas_angel_119_tinythumb

- WOOT!!!

By Phil Specht on Jul 4, 2008 6:16 PM EDT

How about a HOWARDLY for Alice.

+0 Rating
Heyhey_tinythumb

- This *post* seems off-topic.

By puddle on Jul 4, 2008 6:22 PM EDT

Tips for Alice.

+0 Rating
Sharon_christmas_angel_119_tinythumb

- The Bill of Rights is on thread too.

By Phil Specht on Jul 4, 2008 6:18 PM EDT
Join Senator Feingold and stand up to President Bush: Sign our Senate Petition to Stop Telecom Immunity
Phil -

Senator Feingold needs our help to stop the FISA "compromise" bill. Russ sent me this message to pass on to you. Please read it and then sign our Senate Petition to Stop Telecom Immunity. We will deliver the petitions to every Senator on Tuesday morning, right before the expected vote.

Let's make sure they get our message loud and clear.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION NOW

Senator Feingold's message directly to you:

Dear Friend,

In recent days, people across the country have voiced the opinion that the so-called "compromise" FISA bill working its way through the Senate must be stopped.

As you already know, I am working hard to strip retroactive immunity for the telecommunications companies that allegedly cooperated with the President's illegal warrantless wiretapping program from the bill.

But that is not the only problem. This FISA legislation gives enormous powers to the government: including the ability to read emails and text messages and listen to phone conversations of anyone communicating with their family members, friends, associates, reporters, ANYBODY who may be overseas -- all with zero court review.  Nobody should be supporting this legislation.

We can defend our country from terrorists while at the same time protecting the rights and freedoms outlined in the Constitution.  It's time for our elected officials to stand up for the values on which our country was founded.

We should celebrate our Constitution this Fourth of July -- and do everything we can to prevent it from being torn up when the Senate returns to Washington next week.

Progressives everywhere have already had a tremendous impact -- with phone calls, emails, and letters pouring into offices by the hundreds (in some cases thousands), but the pressure on my colleagues to give in to this so-called "compromise" and President Bush is strong.

I'm going to continue to do everything I can to stand up for the rights and freedoms we all share.  Thanks again for doing your part.

Sincerely,

Russ Feingold
Honorary Chair
Progressive Patriots Fund

Russ also shot a video last Friday night to thank you and all progressives fighting against this bill. You can watch it while signing our Senate Petition to Stop Telecom Immunity.

CLICK HERE TO STAND UP FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND STOP TELECOM IMMUNITY

Working together, we will stop this bill.

- Jim

Jim Dean, Chair
Democracy for America
+0 Rating
Sharon_christmas_angel_119_tinythumb

- table in the park

By Phil Specht on Jul 4, 2008 6:20 PM EDT

blog at BFA

we can win this fight people

yyyyyyyyeeeeaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

+0 Rating
Sharon_christmas_angel_119_tinythumb

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By Phil Specht on Jul 4, 2008 6:22 PM EDT

Last weekend, tens of thousands of people attended Unite for Change meetings in all 50 states.

These meetings connected Obama supporters, Democrats who supported other candidates in the primary, Independents, and even some Republicans.

They came together to talk about the change this country desperately needs and form the fundamental building blocks of change in their communities.

Check out this video we put together from events all over the country and share it with your friends:


Unite for Change was an incredible display of the strength of our grassroots movement and the power of Americans to unite around our common desire for change.

No one of us can change this country alone.

That's why it's so important to bring Democrats, Independents, and Republicans who are tired of the politics of the past together to plan how to organize their neighborhoods.

Here are some stories we heard from people who participated in Unite for Change events this weekend:

"Obama attracts really great folks. Our small apartment had 18 of us all chatting about Obama and the good to come nationally and even locally. During the DVD, my 2 year old kept saying 'that's Obama' whenever we saw our candidate. For those of us here in the reddest state it is very affirming to see others supporting a good cause and speaking freely and about the change this country needs. I really feel like we did some good for Obama and for ourselves today. His community organizer roots were showing because we had a room full of the young and young at heart being involved politically for the first time."
-- Amylouise in Coeur d'Alene, ID

"About thirty-five Obama supporters, former Clinton supporters, Republicans, and Independents gathered in Key West, the southernmost point in the United States. A number admitted that they have not been active in politics for forty years, and the two youngest got extremely choked up as they described friends in Iraq. People left with a commitment to register voters, hold future house parties, get out the vote, and do whatever they can to elect Democrats all the way down the ticket."
-- Beverly in Key West, FL

"I had over 50 show, with others wanting to come!! A wonderful gathering of friends, community members, neighbors (even my son's first grade teacher) and lots of new faces in my house, coming together to see how they could become part of the process of change they are feeling with Barack Obama. I am so grateful for the opportunity to show my two children, ages 5 and 7, that this is how America works. Thank you for the opportunity to help. I look forward to more in the future."
-- Walker in Sherman Oaks, CA

"We met neighbors that we had never met. We all shared one common goal -- black, white, old, young, all united for change. Wow! It was magical to see our young college students and graduates so involved and it was rewarding to see our seniors revitalized and charged with enthusiasm and hope. We can't wait until the next event on Independence Day."
-- Barbara in Birmingham, AL


Watch the video of Unite for Change events like these and see how exciting it can be to get involved in your community:

http://my.barackobama.com/unitevideo

Working together, we can have a huge impact -- not just on the election, but on the way politics works in America.

Thanks for your support,

Jon

Jon Carson
National Field Director
Obama for America

+0 Rating
Default_user

- Seven commercial icons right below the main post

By Pat in Colorado on Jul 4, 2008 6:37 PM EDT

Still curious as to whether this site has been part of a sale or commercial deal. That would explain the effort to get more posters and more members at the expense of the old ones. Clicking on the 7 icons, one by one, there's Facebook, Yahoo, Digg, Stumble Upon and others.
What deal was made?

Listening to the Declaration of Independence read on NPR this morning was depressing. Our own mad George has violated those inalienable rights that the Declaration was written to accuse England's Mad George of violating. The right to representation and recourse, the right not to be tortured, the right to personal freedoms, etc. What an irony!

And the Bill of Rights. We seem to be living in a tyranny, authoritarian times where the individual citizen has little if any recourse. Corporations act that way, and it's not surprising that our government does now. Even this blog is the result of autocratic changes: unbelievable, the very blog that represented people power.

So, good for you Alice. It's citizens like you with the spunk, the courage, and the ability to maneuver in the system that represent the last vestiges of our democracy.

I'm thinking that to even blog is to acquiesce to this authoritarian takeover of the blog.

+0 Rating
Sharon_christmas_angel_119_tinythumb

- Those are useful tools Pat and

By Phil Specht on Jul 4, 2008 6:37 PM EDT

to not blog is to acquiesce

+0 Rating
Photo_124_tinythumb

- The Bill of Rights is just a bare minimum listing

By Monica Smith on Jul 4, 2008 8:54 PM EDT

of what the agents of government are restricted from doing.  If the Bill of Rights is honored by the agents of government, then there's a pretty good chance that our human rights will remain inviolate.

One of the things that bothers me about Obama on FISA is his reference to upholding civil rights.  At this point, civil rights (to vote, to hold office, to legislate, to sit on a jury) are not the issue.  Just as removing combat troops from Iraq is not the issue.  The issue is human rights and the removal of our military installations.

Lots of people find it convenient to talk about side-issues and non-issues.  It helps them avoid making commitments.

+0 Rating
Hs-2008_tinythumb

- We've gotten

By Sandra Verthein on Jul 5, 2008 9:57 AM EDT

new members for our DFA group via facebook -- and I don't mean new online members, I mean new people showing up at our meetings.  I think anything we can do to let people know what we are doing in our local groups, like the great story in the post above, is a good thing.  There are too many people who still see politics as something you watch, not something you participate in.  Getting stories like the one above out to more people by links to social networking sites and news sites helps with that.

+0 Rating
Sharon_christmas_angel_119_tinythumb

-

By Phil Specht on Jul 4, 2008 6:38 PM EDT
+0 Rating
Sharon_christmas_angel_119_tinythumb

-

By Phil Specht on Jul 4, 2008 6:46 PM EDT
+0 Rating
Default_user

- lots of new registrations today in Foster City today. Evens few GOP converts

By on Jul 4, 2008 6:51 PM EDT
+0 Rating
Sharon_christmas_angel_119_tinythumb

- Fired Up!!!

By Phil Specht on Jul 4, 2008 6:54 PM EDT

Ready to go!!!!

+0 Rating
Img19-1_tinythumb

- Ready to Go!

By Joan In Florida on Jul 4, 2008 7:42 PM EDT

 

So proud of Alice and you Denise. Lots of activity around our county as well, great weather today here, no usual heavy storms today. Perhaps great weather was meant to be everywhere today where Dems are registering voters ( preferably more Dems).

 

+1 Rating
Sharon_christmas_angel_119_tinythumb

- Park, blog, the obstacles are the same.

By Phil Specht on Jul 4, 2008 7:05 PM EDT

There are always people who will try and stop you from asserting your rights, let Alice show us the way. You have the power.

+0 Rating
Default_user

- good answer, Phil

By Pat in Colorado on Jul 4, 2008 7:22 PM EDT

Hi Denise.  Congratulations on your efforts.  I'm a fan of yours.

Well, off for now.  Glad that there are such dedicated people.  It gives me hope.

+0 Rating
334t262753

- nicely done...

By fake consultant on Jul 4, 2008 8:54 PM EDT

...and who wanted to be the city emploiyee explaining why patriotism was denied a room at the inn on 4th of july?

+0 Rating
Sharon_christmas_angel_119_tinythumb

- the guy disappearing posts here?

By Phil Specht on Jul 4, 2008 9:05 PM EDT
+0 Rating
Default_user

- Yes Phil all of mine have been moved

By on Jul 4, 2008 11:36 PM EDT

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