FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2006
WORLD CAN’T WAIT– DRIVE OUT THE BUSH
REGIME
For interviews, contact: Connie Julian,
718-825-9119
Nationwide Protests
to Drive Out the Bush Regime-
OCTOBER 5– In 152 Cities and Towns, and Growing”
No Work, No
School– MARCH
On Thursday, October 5, people will walk out of school, take
off work, gather in town squares, and MARCH in cities across the country,
declaring their intention to bring
the Bush program to a halt.
In the past ten days, the number of cities and towns planning protests
jumped from 50 to over 152. Meanwhile, the Bush administration is bolting into
place an unprecedented new law which legalizes torture and severely restricts
habeas corpus, the basic right to legal redress first established in England with
the Magna Carta in 1215.
“Face it. The Bush regime is remaking the world, very
quickly, in a fascist way and for generations to come. Denial won’t help. And
the Democrats aren’t stopping them. But WE must. And we can. There are millions
of us”” This message calling people out on October 5 is being heard
nationally on Air America
radio spots. Thousands also contributed to publish a full-page ad in USA Today
on September 20, reading in
part: “Endless wars. Torture. Katrina. Theocracy” This regime does
not represent us and we will drive it out.”
Thursday’s protests occur as Bush threatens a new war on Iran and the “Military
Commissions Act of 2006” is approved in the Senate with bi-partisan
support. Presented as a
compromise, this “torture bill” legally enshrines the President’s category of “enemy
combatant,” allows evidence obtained by torture to be admitted to
trial by military tribunals, gives the President the right to interpret the
Geneva Conventions, and eliminates the right of habeas corpus for those held by
military commissions.
Debra Sweet, national
coordinator of World Can’t Wait said Tuesday, “We are at a defining
moment for this country and its people. There are millions who don’t want to
live in a theocratic new Rome
– but we don’t have unlimited time to stop this regime. Whether we act – or
fail to act – right now will impact the lives of millions all over the world
for generations. We are putting this to everyone: When all other avenues of
change are blocked, what do people do? Hit the streets. This is the chance we have on October
5.”
The World Can’t Wait – Drive Out the Bush Regime CALL has
been signed by tens of thousands of people, including SEAN PENN, GORE
VIDAL, HARRY BELAFONTE, DANIEL ELLSBERG, EDWARD ASNER, MICHELLE PHILLIPS,
JONATHAN KOZOL, FORMER SEN. JAMES ABOUREZK, ERICA JONG, U.S. REP. JOHN CONYERS,
CRAIG MURRAY, RABBI MICHAEL LERNER, MARK CRISPIN MILLER, THOM HARTMANN, OLYMPIA
DUKAKIS, JESSICA LANGE, KEVIN POWELL, MARGARET CHO, MICHAEL ERIC DYSON, CORNEL
WEST, HOWARD ZINN, MARK RUFFALO, JANE FONDA, CINDY SHEEHAN, PAUL HAGGIS, and
ALICE WALKER.
Check www.worldcantwait.org for continually expanding list
of locations for October 5 protests. Interviews
available with selected signers.
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