Outrage in Ohio: November 3 release

MOBILIZATION FOR DEMOCRACY NOT DISENFRANCHISEMENT!

For Immediate Release:
November 2, 2004
Contacts: Chris Pease/David Solnit (419) 902-2909
Toledo: Terry Lodge (419) 255-7552/Steve Miller (419) 242-7317/
Amjad Doumani (419) 474-3111
Cincinatti: Ali Mramor (513) 602 5118
Oxford: Mieka Spain 216 571-0523
Athens: Roger 740 707-6611


November 3: "Democracy Not Disenfranchisement!"

Concerned Citizens in Columbus Join Thousands Across Ohio & US to Demand
Justice in Elections and Beyond

Outraged Ohio residents and pro-democracy, peace, and social justice
organizations will take to the streets to demand "Real Democracy, Not
Disenfranchisement" in demonstrations at the state capital building, as well
as 4 cities across Ohio, and in over 35 cities across the US. The Columbus
demonstrations will commence at 12 noon at the Columbus Statehouse and will
be followed by gatherings at 5p.m.at the Columbus Federal Building. A broad
coalition of groups have come together to organize these events including
the Columbus and Toledo League of Pissed Off Voters, Bowling Green Reach
Out, Central Ohio Peace Network and North-West Ohio Peace Coalition. These
events have been coordinated to coincide with other Ohio actions planned in
Toledo, Cleveland, Oxford, Athens and Cincinnati.

"This is a true grassroots mobilization to take back the democratic process
from the pundits and the stronghold of the Republican and Democratic
National Parties," declared Alessandra Hernandez. "We have seen thousands
of people newly activated by an election process that routinely marginalizes
the voices of the people most in need, and we are here to say we have had
enough. Democracy begins with each one of us, and it begins today!"

Emphasizing the need for health care, education, and the dangers of current
US foreign policy, these groups aim to draw attention to
mass-disenfranchisement and the flaws in the electoral system in the United
States. "Beyond Voting" demonstrators will hit the streets in over 30 cities
across the country including Washington DC, Chicago, Pittsburg, Vermont and
San Francisco. The demonstrations are designed to spark a grassroots
dialogue on "The Day After" about the real meaning of democracy and to
provide a local forum for neighbors to come together and assess the outcome,
or theft, of the 2004 election. They are intended to continue the movements
for peace and justice regardless of who is elected.

Today_s election was severely flawed by widespread voter intimidation and
suppression, polling place problems and voting machine problems. Thousand of
Ohio voters may have been disenfranchised today by partisan poll
challengers, intimidation incidents, voters polling places opening late,
lines up to three and four hours long--often in the rain. But even before
election day, the Baltimore Chronicle reported November 1st that "Through a
combination of sophisticated vote rustling, ethnic cleansing of voter rolls,
absentee ballots gone AWOL, machines that "spoil" votes---John Kerry begins
with a nationwide deficit that could easily exceed one million votes."
Additionally, the new touch voting machines being used in 29 states and the
District of Columbia, have been widely criticized by elections officials and
computer scientists as susceptible to hacking and malfunction.

Toledo: 6pm 1 Government Center
Cincinatti: 5pm, Fountain Square, 5th and Vine St.
Cleveland: 4pm, Public Square, Ontario and Superior
Oxford: Time tba Shriver Center, Miami University, Oxford Campus
Athens: 4pm, Courthouse steps, corner of Court and W. State Sts.

To view directories of planned demonstrations, see Beyond Voting
(http://www.beyong), This Time We¹re Watching (http://www.ttww.org) and No
Stolen Elections (http://www.nov3.us).

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