top
San Francisco
San Francisco
Indybay
Indybay
Indybay
Regions
Indybay Regions North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area California United States International Americas Haiti Iraq Palestine Afghanistan
Topics
Newswire
Features
From the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature

Dennis Kucinich at New College on 2/13/04

by Lady Monster
Dennis Kucinich came to New College in San Francisco to speak on February 13, 2004. Jello Biafra and Matt Gonzalez were also speakers. The night's activities also included an auction and a raffle of various celebrity items.
For more information about Kucinich's campaign go to: http://www.kucinich.us
Jello Biafra (http://www.alternativetentacles.com) opened the night by introducing the audience to his, Matt Gonzalez’ and Dennis Kucinich’s similar causes, campaigns and platforms. He also spoke of the injustices of the current presidential administration. Biafra informed the crowd how Kucinich saved the citizens of Cleveland nearly $200 million dollars over the years by not bowing down to corporations and maintaining the municipal power company. The several news items he mentioned, brought home the need for reform in government, to bring it back to the power of the people. He linked this with Matt and Dennis’ campaigns and how the fervor of the people is alive and can make a difference.

Dennis Kucinich entered the auditorium with a small entourage, which included the iconic actor/director Sean Penn. He and Mr. Kucinich took seats near the auction table, listening to Matt Gonzalez.

Matt has won an enormous amount of respect won with the people of San Francisco, the Green Party worldwide and now Dennis Kucinich. His gallant message spoken with gentle assuredness of the important place the people in the audience have in provoking a much needed change. He encouraged us to seize upon this new opportunity to vote our conscience, again. He made several points about Kucinich’s platform and how these issues mirrored many of Matt’s causes and how they are not present in the other Democratic candidates.

Both Jello and Matt mentioned Dennis’ confrontation with Ted Koppel (or as Biafra refers to him as “the Talking Walnut”). They stated that his standing up to corporate interests and Koppel’s desires to turn the debates into an argument for endorsements, not for a discussion on policy and platform issues.

After Dennis praised Matt Gonzalez and Sean Penn for their heroic careers and bold pursuits, he began with his campaign speech. I have taken notes of the speech, so some are exact quotes, while some are personal interpretations.

Kucinich: We are beings with the capacity for transformation. Anyone who steps forward is catalytic. They have a potential, an energy, an ongoing dynamic. This is the strength of a movement. It is a joy to work with Matt on his campaign. It is the same dynamic. It stirs the heart, quickens the pulse. It is exciting to be connected.

It reminds me of a speech that Kennedy gave in Cape Town. “A tiny ripple of hope creates a current that can sweep down the mighty walls of oppression and resistance”. It has a poignancy of our own affirmative steps.

Why not have the things we need and deserve? Why not be risk takers? That same instinct of being a risk taker is in every person. It is in the awareness, but for many - since September 11th - under a cover of fear.

This fear is represented in the Orwellian Weather Reports that are the color codes from the Homeland Security Department. Today is Yellow. Today is Orange. Am I supposed to feel different from one color to the next? The Bush Administration only wants us to respond with fear and trepidation – to have us overcome and feel the need for their brand of security.

I am glad I am a risk taker. If I wasn’t a risk taker, I wouldn’t have won the 21 out of 28 elections I have entered. First I ran for Mayor of Cleveland, then as Senator, now as Congressman and as a Presidential candidate. I am not accustomed to losing to incumbents, why should I stop taking risks and stop running for president now?

This world is waiting to be recreated. We have the power to wake the world up with a clap of thunder. Californians have always been on the cutting edge, beginning movements that spread across the country. Let the time be now to let the ripple effect makes waves across America, waking up everyone in its path to recreate the world. We have that power.

Kucinich thanked his supporters and Jello Biafra to a standing ovation from a robust audience.

Then there was time for a brief Q/A. The first question was about immigration.
Kucinich: Immigration is cheap labor. This is what the corporations and big business want. What we need is a new direction of amnesty. The INS are the cops on behalf of the corporations. Employers have the power to deport. It is a totally inhumane situation. Whenever someone wants to enter our country to work, we should let them. Give them a living wage and citizenry. Currently it is slavery. We need a new relationship with Mexico. We need to get rid of NAFTA and the WTO and bring back manufacturing jobs and responsibility to the workers and the environment by the corporations and get rid of corporate welfare and give it back to the people.

The second question was about the Media.
Kucinich: None of us should sell ourselves short as mediums. We shouldn’t concede our humanity to corporate structures. We need to fulfill the power of our humanity by communicating with each other. Don’t leave it up to the bureaucracies to determine the extent of your freedoms. Appeal to the more enlightened people. Engage the media in discussions. Ask them, “What do you think you should be doing?” Make them responsible for what they report. Make them aware that you are listening and want better results. But, don’t rely on them for all discussions - branch out, talk with others, use your freedoms.

The third question asked him to endorse another candidate currently running in a California election.
Kucinich: I am not getting involved in any other primary campaigns while running for president. I want to unite people from many different backgrounds, whether they are with the Green, Democratic or another Independent party. I just can’t focus on other endorsements right now.

The evening ended with a robust auction for his tie. He took the red silk tie from around his neck and the bidding began, starting at $50. The fervent fan and bidder that won was also awarded with Kucinich giving her the tie and getting their picture taken together.

I would like to give a big thanks to New College, the organizers, workers and volunteers and the other celebrities that offered up prizes for a raffle.
Add Your Comments
Listed below are the latest comments about this post.
These comments are submitted anonymously by website visitors.
TITLE
AUTHOR
DATE
Lady Monster
Wed, Feb 18, 2004 10:22AM
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!

Donate

$110.00 donated
in the past month

Get Involved

If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.

Publish

Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.

IMC Network