Rev. Jesse Jackson, David Cobb, and Others Lead D.C. Rally for Investigation into Vote Suppression
By Progressive Democrats of America, ILCA Associate Member  05 January 2005

Rally Begins: 10:00 a.m. January 6th, 2005
Lafayette Park, across from the White House (16th & H St., NW) Washington D.C. - Congress meets in joint session on January 6th to certify the 2004 Presidential election. Grassroots activists and nationally recognized figures will join voices to inspire members of the House and Senate to object to the certification of the November 2nd 2004 vote, forcing Congress to address the problems in our current election system.

Speakers at the rally will include Rev. Jesse Jackson, Medea Benjamin (invited), John Bonifaz, David Cobb, Congressman John Conyers(invited), Alysia Fischer (Progressive Democrats of America), George Friday, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (invited), Rev. Lennox Yearwood (Hip Hop Caucus) and others.

At the conclusion of the rally, participants will march to the Capitol Building to support those Congress members who contest the certification of vote.

"We need an investigation into what happened in Ohio on November 2 before any vote should be certified," said Tim Carpenter, Director of Progressive Democrats of America, "It is clear minority voters were disenfranchised through the use of such tactics as deploying disproportionately fewer machines to predominantly Black precincts, thereby creating absurdly long lines. We cannot hope to promote democracy around the world when our own voting system is set up to allow this kind of activity."

Alysia Fischer, National Policy Coordinator of Progressive Democrats of America added, ?Votes are the bedrock of our democracy, take away people?s vote and you take away their voice. As Americans, we cannot stand by when a community is clearly targeted for silencing. In a true democracy, all voices are heard and all votes are counted.?

On January 6, 2001, many Representatives, including members of the Black Caucus, demanded an inquiry into the Florida recount, but failed to gain the support of a single Senator. "This year, we?ll show our Senators that we, the people, expect them to take a stand on behalf of democracy!" said Carpenter.

This call to action is initiated by Progressive Democrats of America, United Progressives for Democracy, Backbone Campaign, Beyond Voting, Coalition Against Election Fraud, the Cobb/LaMarche campaign, Code Pink, Global Exchange, Green Party of the U.S., Greenwich Village Coalition for Peaceful Priorities, Independent Progressive Politics Network, International Labor Communications Association, Mercer Island, Wa. Peacemakers, Mercury Coalition for Honest Elections (Denver), No Stolen Elections!