afterdowningstreet.org

Philly Rallies for Impeachment; Gravel Backs H Res 333

REPORT ON PHILADELPHIA IMPEACHMENT TOWN HALL MEETING July 5, 2007

By Jane Dugdale

The cavernous hall of First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia was full

Thursday evening as six speakers took to the stage to talk about

impeachment. John Nichols, Washington Correspondent of The Nation, was the

first to gain a standing ovation after reminding the audience how many times

the constitution talks about impeachment (six) without ever mentioning

religion, elections, or corporations. Journalist Dave Lindorff followed,

focusing on the crime of the President’s “signing statements,” when the

constitution explicitly directs the President to enforce the laws of

Congress. Debra Sweet, national coordinator for World Can’t Wait, pointed

out that the Democratic leadership needs to be held accountable for not

fulfilling its responsibility to impeach this lawless Executive. In answer

to a question about the absence of youth in the movement, she noted that

youth were prominent in the last two elections and really felt betrayed by

the electoral process that resulted in Bush being elected (2004) and the

Democratic leadership doing nothing about him (2006). She urged listeners

to wear orange, “as the people at Guantanamo are forced to wear it” to call

for the end of the Bush regime.

Presidential Candidate Mike Gravel followed, to much applause, as he urged

the audience to contact their representatives and demand action on the

impeachment motion submitted this spring and now co-sponsored by 12

Representatives. Lastly, the Rev. Lennox Yearwood, CEO of the Hip Hop

Caucus, reminded listeners of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, speech on August

28, 1963, which ended the era of Jim Crow, and compared it to August 28,

2005, when Katrina hit New Orleans and brought back Jim Crow.

The audience was attentive and grateful, asking many questions in the

discussion time, signing up for action notices, and taking information and

postcards to send to Congress. Many stayed the whole three hours. Various

press representatives were there. Donations were generous and paid for the

expenses of the speakers with a small honorarium for each. Organizers of

the event were gleeful at the success of the evening.

Several representatives of the Main Line Citizens for Impeachment were among

the audience, including Jane, Monique, Randi, David, John, Jeff, Freddy and

son David. Freddy offered to help organize “Honk to Impeach” rallies each

Saturday morning in Bryn Mawr, starting Saturday, July 14. Watch for more

information about this.

(Original Article)