Any creative ideas for activism?

[yurbud]

So far, after five years of letter writing, boycotting, and protesting, Cindy Sheehan seems to be one fo the few things that has gotten any traction witht he public and elected officials.

What are some other creative ways of agitating for change?

I've mentioned general strikes a couple of times, but few people seem to want to risk that.

[Wetzelbill]

1. run for office yourself

or find somebody who is like minded to do so. School board. Dogcatcher. State Senate. City Council. Whatever you can think of go for and use electoral politics as activism. I'm moving back to my home state to run for office, because I believe in the concept I just spoke of.

[FormerRepublican]

2. We need to get every single scrap of credible data on the Katrina after-

math out to the press. The Rovian spin is making Bush look clean, when we know he's guilty as all get-out. For example, the New Orleans buses. We need to get the info that they were being used for evacuations to the SuperDome until Sunday night into the press. We need to get the info that Contraflow prevented multiple runs to evacuate people even if they'd used them to evacuate, and people would have still been left at the Superdome and the buses would still have not been available. If FEMA ordered people to the SuperDome, we need documentation of that be sent to the press. If the levee broke and quickly flooded the buses, we need to get that info out. If use of school buses was denied to the city, we need documentation of that.

I think the biggest reason why Rove continually manages to spin is that no one is effectively countering him. We need to send the corrections to the press immediately after they spout Rove talking points.

Getting people wanting change is a good thing, but I think the first thing that needs to be done is getting the message right and to the public so our voices are heard and not spun into some lie.

Just my opinion as a lowly DU member not a member of the Activists.

[GeorgeBushytail]

3. Some of us are exploring whether Camp Katrina on The Mall makes sense

Imagine 50,000 Katrina survivors camped on Bush's doorstep. In the seat of government and media. Demanding answers and change.

Imagine Camp Katrina dominating the media during Katrina investigations, the SCOTUS hearings, 9/24, Bush's impeachment... I'd love to see a small encampment by 9/11 to cut the knees out from under the obscene triumphalism Bush will try to shove down our throats on that day.

There is a history of protest encampments in DC - the Bonus Marchers and VVAW and Kerry.

We've got a couple very positive responses in the DU state forums:

From Loisiana:
AnnInLa - "I think it is a fabulous idea, but people here are a little involved right now. I sure hope this idea takes off, tho, and thanks alot!"

From Mississippi:
expatriot - "Awesome idea. You have my full support. It should be a full blown DU co-sponsored event."
Liberty Belle - "Nominated. I have a large network of contacts and will help you spread the word, if this takes off. Be sure to tie it in to activities on Sept 24th, when you will have anti-administration activists in DC for the anti-war march and impeachment rally."

We are going to talk to more survivors and see if this makes sense to them. We only want to spread the idea and will let angry activist survivors run this. It has to come from them.

I am a very tired disabled keyboard activist. If anyone wants to help, jump in - it's not an organization but a bunch of people trying to spread the idea. Right now there are 4 of us pushing it.

Good news is that the Freeway Bloggers are going to be involved - some real in-the-street activists.

Some threads on Camp Katrina:

The chief activist slot is taken. For free, like I knew it would be.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4629758

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2059147


If Camp Katrina happens it will make history.

GeorgeBushytail

[GeorgeBushytail]

4. kick/