It was standing room only in the Immanuel Presbyterian Church where the World Can’t Wait L.A. Chapter held the Sept. 7th organizing meeting. We estimate 150 people came from all over southern California and beyond. One woman even drove to the meeting from Las Vegas after hearing it on Air America. Others heard via KPFK, the local Pacifica station, saw the New York Times or the LA Weekly ad or got flyers at events or via email. Half of the room (early in the program) said this was the first time they had been to a political meeting like this.
Tomás Olmos, member of the national World Can’t Wait Advisory
Board, and co-founder and President of the Mexican American Bar
Foundation spoke of the crimes of the Bush regime and how we need a
movement of millions in the streets, taking inspiration from the
courageous actions of the immigrants this past spring. He spoke about
why we can’t rely on the Democratic Party to drive out the regime, but
must and can rely on ourselves.
David Zeiger, documentary film maker (“Sir! No Sir!”) spoke of the
kind of massive resistance in the military itself during the Vietnam
war and the kind of movement that is needed today. A Veterans for
Peace representative also spoke of the war in Vietnam and Iraq and the
need to resist.
Jesse Diaz, Jr., co-founder of the March 25th Coalition for
immigrant rights, spoke of how quickly things can change. He said
when he proposed a May 1st boycott nationwide with a group of only 8
people in the room, it seemed impossible. But 3 weeks later, over a
million people marched in the streets of Los Angeles, with similar
outpourings all over the country, with the help of radio show hosts and
many others. He pledged support and participation of the immigrant
rights movement in the World Can’t Wait and October 5th, and invited
World Can’t Wait to support the immigrant rights struggle.
People stayed and joined in break out groups; and left with boxes of
flyers and stacks of beautiful full color posters and stickers.
Some of the comments people wrote about their motivation to become a WCW organizer:
“As a woman and a frequent worldwide traveler, I have felt my rights
personally threatened and have seen first hand how the perception of my
country has devolved under Bush. The effects of this administration’s
policies chill me to the bone.”
“When I saw the ad in the L.A. Weekly, I got very excited, because I
have abhorred the way the regime is doing things from day one. I voted
for Al Gore, I don’t mind saying. When I watched election returns, and
watched with horror as my vote became irrelevant, I felt robbed of
power as an American. Thank you for organizing and giving me my power
back. I want to be part of the solution. I can give one full day a
week to the cause, and I am an active, extroverted person. I’m betting
you can find a job for me to do!”
People didn’t want to leave, deep in conversation and meeting a new
community of people committed to building October 5th and beyond. The
meeting ended with a spontaneous a cappella song by an organizer about
the Bush regime abandoning the “black babies of New Orleans.”