Activism grows into protest
‘I felt like I needed to do something with my outrage’
by christian hill
The Olympian, 10/5/06
OLYMPIA – Today’s protest advocating the ouster of the Bush
administration is the work of two men whose activism recently has been
kindled or reignited.
Kenn Dzaman, a 47-year-old independent contractor, lived in downtown
Seattle during the World Trade Organization protests there in 1999 and
participated in them.
He moved to Brinnon, on the Olympic
Peninsula, after growing disenchanted with what he perceived as the
strong-arm law enforcement tactics that followed.
Shawn McBrien,
also 47 and a public health professional who lives in Tumwater, has
grown more politically active as he has watched the Bush administration
move the country, in his mind, toward becoming a fascist state.
“I felt like I needed to do something with my outrage and my concern,” McBrien said.
As
it turned out, that “something” was organizing a South Sound protest
that will join more than 200 similar events around the country and in
Canada.
Supporters are urging residents to reorder their
priorities for the day, to skip school, shopping and work and to oppose
with a collective voice what they consider the abuses of the Bush
administration to include the war in Iraq and the debate over the use
of torture.
“I think he has just totally misused the office of the presidency,” Dzaman said. “He’s ruined it in a way.”
Dzaman
initiated the event after meeting with representatives of a national
organization, The World Can’t Wait! Drive Out The Bush Regime!, during
a fundraising visit by Bush. The group was handing out flyers
publicizing the planned protest and seeking people to organize similar
events in their communities.
Dzaman wanted to contribute to the
national protest but knew his hometown was too small. He considered
joining the protest in Seattle, but thought a protest in the state
capital would draw more people and media coverage.
During his
first organizing meeting Sept. 7, McBrien showed up 10 minutes early.
When Dzaman asked for someone who lived locally to take the organizing
reins, McBrien raised his hand.
McBrien secured a permit to hold the protest on the Capitol Campus.
It’s unknown how many people will show up, but the number could be has high as 2,000 people, both organizers said.
“We plan and intend for this to be a peaceful event,” McBrien said, adding that he wants it to be family oriented.
He hopes the event will help more Americans realize the country is headed in the wrong direction.
“I
hope the people listen,” McBrien said. “I don’t think anyone from the
administration is going to listen, because frankly, they have a
different agenda that doesn’t have to do with the well-being of
America.”
At capitol
The peaceful protest will run
from 10 a.m. today to 10 a.m. Friday with an overnight “full moon peace
vigil” on the Capitol Campus.
The event will feature music and
speakers. A march down Capitol Way to Sylvester Park and back is
scheduled for 2 p.m. State Patrol and Olympia police officers will be
there for security. More information is available at
www.worldcantwait.net.
Christian Hill writes for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5427 or at chill@theolympian.com.