Go see a movie (protest) on inauguration day

[BlueStatesForever]

I would like to renew my push for folks to go see a movie on inauguration day (Jan 20) as a protest.

See any movie, take your family, your friends. Don't organize a group of protesters, per se, just go with whoever you can collect in 5 minutes.

Don't stand in the rain, in a free speech zone where Bush can't see you. Sit in a warm theater with your coke and popcorn.

See a thriller, a chick flick, a cartoon. See KINSEY because the "moralists" hate it. Make sure you don't see anything that stars Republicans.

Got to a Loews Cinema if you can, since (I think) they're the ones who heartily showed F9/11. (Correct me if I'm wrong).

Make January 20 newsworthy, not for "re-election" of the chimp, but because it's the biggest box office day EVER.

What do you guys think of the idea?

[fryguy]

1. but many movie companies - lowes, etc. - support 'pukes

so buy going to the movies you're helping them out.... why not protest by going to Washington and protesting.... like in 2001. Line the street from the White House to the Capitol and make it clear that there's no mandate.....

[BlueStatesForever]

2. Loews cinemas support Democrats.

Standing in the rain doesn't do any good. Sorry, but protesting in free-speech zones is a waste of time.

Making news by turning the 20th into the biggest movie day ever is good, especially if you see movies made by liberals.

[fryguy]

4. i stand corrected re: lowes....

but still not sure what boosting ticket sales will do.... if "standing in the rain" won't do any good, what will sitting in a dark movie theater accomplish? so the news will report that so-and-so millions of dollars were spent at box offices.... if people couldn't connect the dots before the election, I don't think they will now.....

and we're not talking about free-speech zones, we're talking about hundreds of thousands of people gathering in protest along the "parade" route..... in light of what is going on in Ukraine, that will be a loud and clear message.....

[BlueStatesForever]

11. In 2000, I found out about the huge protests

by watching Farenheit 9/11. The "liberal media" will downplay protests. They won't downplay expenditures.

[fryguy]

13. if F9/11 was how you found out about the protests

then you weren't paying enough attention in 2001..... it was widely publicized - much more than a single day spike in movie revenues ever would be....

[BlueStatesForever]

10. Loews cinemas, not LOWES hardware store

As I've said several times, Loews movie theaters showed F/911 when the others were fighting it.

Look at the spelling, these are DIFFERENT companies.

[fryguy]

12. thanks for correcting my spelling

but i was talking about LOEWS the movie company and know the difference between the two corporations.....

[Ninga]

3. January 20th is a Thrusday, a great

way to kick off the week-end.

I will sign up today, and will get my whole email list to do the same.

Who will join me???

[raggedcompany]

5. and I disagree.

Everyone who can possibly do it should go to D.C. and participate in some kind of protest. The major media may well ignore us, but seeing "National Treasure" instead sure as hell isn't going to do shit.

[BlueStatesForever]

7. But what if it's the biggest MOVIE DAY EVER

Don't you think the corporate media would pick that up?

[kayell]

16. Sure, they'd mention that all the people who called in with blue flu

were not really politically motivated, but a bunch of lazy slackers.

Why instead of an real protest, would I or any other serious dem even consider supporting a bunch of corporate profit-takers and their over priced snacks? Sorry, but this is a hopelessly silly idea.

[bvar22]

6. I'm going to DC.

I don't care that bush* won't see us, or that the CorpoMedia will marginalize us. I will stand with my brother and sisters in PROTEST. I don't do this for bush*; I do this for ME.

I will take pictures and post them to the InterNet, as I have done many times since 2000.

Those of us who DID STAND against this administration and the illegal war provided a service to the World and America. Our pictures and our voices were HEARD by the rest of the World that is not dependent on Whitehouse press releases for their news. The World knew that bush* did NOT speak with the voice of a UNIFIED America. Because of us, the World has cut us a little slack. Because of us, most of the World hates bush*, and not America as a whole.

Stay home or go to a movie if you want to, but I have work to do!

There is going to be a Progressive Summit in DC on Jan. 21st. I may stick around for that too.
http://www.pdamerica.org/

[deutsey]

15. Rise against Bush

RISE Against Bush
SHINE For A Peaceful Tomorrow

A Call for Anti-War Actions in Washington, DC, January 20, 2005

Every morning, the sun rises up, penetrating and overcoming the darkness
of night. What once was dark becomes bright, changed by the force of the
sun's rays.

Our world is in darkness tonight, plagued with war, poverty, environmental
destruction, and attacks on many of the liberties that so many of us hold
dear. The darkness over our world has grown yet darker with the election
of George W. Bush to another 4 years in office.

In the dark of the night, we need only wait for the sun. However, in the
dark of our world, we cannot wait. If we are to see a new dawn, we must
take action now. The DC Anti-War Network (DAWN) calls on the people of
the world to RISE Against Bush and SHINE For A Peaceful Tomorrow.

We RISE
· Against the needless slaughter in and occupation of Iraq;
· Against the assault on civil liberties, as represented by such acts as
the Patriot Act and the immoral detentions at Guantanamo Bay;
· Against US support of the Israeli government's denial of human rights against the Palestinian people;
· Against U.S. overthrow of Aristide in Haiti;
· Against U.S. attempts to overthrow any other democratically elected
leader, including Hugo Chavez in Venezuela;
· Against any U.S. military action in Iran.

We SHINE
· For a world that embraces peaceful dialogue instead of war;
· For a world where we respect the liberty of all beings;
· For a world that looks out for all those who are now oppressed,
including the poor, women, racial minorities, workers, the disabled,
gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered, as well as the earth and its creatures;
· For a world that embraces social justice;
· For democracy and the autonomy of all people to have a full say in how
they are governed;
· For each other.

The Call
DAWN calls for people all over the nation and world to converge on
Washington, DC, on the day of George W. Bush's Inauguration, January 20,
2005, for peaceful anti-war actions.

While DAWN is coordinating with many groups for a day of actions, DAWN
calls additionally for these specific actions:

1. A permitted nonviolent anti-war rally followed by a march to Bush's
inaugural parade route
2. A nonviolent civil disobedience die-in, following the rally, in
memorial to the dead at the hands of Bush and his Administration

DAWN also calls for organizations, affinity groups, and individuals to
partner with us in organizing these two actions.

Next Steps
If you or your group or organization wants to endorse DAWN's call to
action, please send an e-mail to [e-mail]. Write also if you wish
to collaborate in the planning or offer financial donations or other
material support.

Find out more information about DAWN's and other groups' actions at
http://www.counter-inaugural.org, by participating in the DC Cluster
Spokescouncil meetings (refer to website), or by participating in DAWN's
weekly meetings. Check our website, http://www.dawndc.net for more
details. Housing boards, events boards, working group information, and
(soon) ride boards can be found at http://www.counter-inaugural.org. We
will post updates of our actions, as they become available, to that
website.

The new dawn begins with our rising up. It will take a lot of light to
break through such darkness, but we can do it. We have no other choice.
Join us on J20!

***please forward widely***

[Radio-Active]

8. WTF?

what kind of protest is that? I'm not sure what message it sends.

[BlueStatesForever]

9. That we're ignoring him

That we're deliberately doing something else as a movement.

Protesting 3 miles away from the White House would be read by the right as "we're a bunch of liberal hippies".

Doing something else, which avoids watching TV, (with inauguration on every channel), which talks with OUR POCKET BOOKS, which avoids anything Bushist sends a real message.

The reason I chose going to the movies is because everyone can find a movie they'd like to see. The media typically reports movie sales and it often appears on the front page of Yahoo. I could easily have said, go buy a bag of Potato Chips at Costco, but not everyone has a Costco or a membership. And Costco weekend sales don't make the newspapers.

The idea is National Ignore the Ignoramus day, and we need some measurable way to show we're ignoring him. Movie ticket sales are measurable.

If you have a better suggestion which doesn't involve standing in the rain 3 miles from the inaguration (and frankly wasting time, because he doesn't give a sh*t), I'm all ears.

And Loews Movie theater was the one that had no problem showing Farenheit 911. Whoever said Lowes was a Republican contributor is thinking the hardware store (spelled LoWES), not the movie chain (spelled LoEWS).

[LisaL]

14. Sure, sure.

He would really care if you are ignoring him by watching a movie.
:spank:

[DawgHouse]

22. I'll have to take day the off

My coworkers will be huddled around the television in the conference room, and I'll have to listen to them chide me for voting for Kerry. Frikkin repugs! It will be a good day for me to go see a movie, for sure! Might just call in sick.

[hippywife]

17. I have a better idea

for those of us who can't afford to go to DC on Inauguration Day. Get out on the streets of your own communities. Organize with the other liberal groups in your area Human Rights, PFLAG, peace and justice groups. Get bodies out on the street not butts in movie theater seats. Be visible, be vocal, be there!!

[marions ghost]

18. Better to be seen and heard

Visibility anywhere--is better than invisibility in a movie theatre, if your purpose is to send a clear message. There are many ways to overcome lack of media coverage.

Your reference to supporting/not supporting certain businesses
on a large scale--now that's a good idea that has stood the test of time.

[trogdor]

19. Avoid Hoyts.

Not only do they SUCK, they refused to show F-911 (even though it was free money), but they pushed the Jesus Chainsaw Massacre as if it were the return of Star Wars.

In my area, Marquee Cinemas had F-911 the day their new cinema opened (New Hartford, New York). Most places in the Lake Effect Zone, there are dinky little indy movie houses that would appreciate your business.

[American Tragedy]

20. Maybe I'm slow... but I don't see how going to the movies is a protest

Going to the cinema on Thursday is not unheard of. I don't exactly see that upstaging the presidential inauguration.

If I can't understand it, I'm fairly certain that our media will totally miss it.

[MrSlayer]

21. I think a nice loud, rowdy protest is the best way to go.

Your idea isn't horrible but I think a couple hundred thousand screaming protestors throwing rotten vegetables sends a better message.

[ckramer]

23. Why add more wealth to Hollywood?

Just shut off the TV and read a book, like 1984.