10-2-10 - One Nation Working Together

Last night dozens of buses filled with people left Buffalo, New York for the destination of Washington D.C. The trains are full, the charter buses are full and people are also travelling by air, cars and vans to join the ‘One Nation Working Together’ – this is a historic March on Washington scheduled for today 10.2.10.

Many groups have joined together - the NAACP will lead a broad coalition to bring America together and put America back to work. They are being joined by the Anti-War Groups ‘United for Peace and Justice’ and many of the Unions. Organizations - both national and local groups - are signing on. New organizing committees in cities big and small are coming together.

10.2.10 is just the beginning. The next step comes in November.

Are you registered to vote yet? Are your friends and family?

This will be one of the largest coalitions of progressive organizations in our lifetime and they will come together to demand a people's agenda from Washington DC.

It is a gathering of those deeply affected by our struggling economy: Youth (College and Non College), Women, the Faith Community, Working Class Citizens, Unionized Workers, and the Immigrant Population.

Organized labor and civil rights groups are looking to energize supporters at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where a month ago tea party activists gathered to hear conservative commentator Glenn Beck.

More than 400 organizations, ranging from labor unions to faith, environmental and gay rights groups, it is expected that tens of thousands of people will participate in the "One Nation Working Together" rally.

Here are some of the demands:

• Jobs, Peace, Justice!

• Bring Our Troops and War Dollars Home!

• Funds Jobs, Not War!

• End War, Rebuild America!

• End the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan Now! - Bring Our War Money Home!

The work as a movement goes beyond turning out large numbers of people for an historic event. This is an opportunity to help millions of people understand how the struggle to end the wars and occupation in Afghanistan and Iraq is directly tied to the urgent need to re-direct this nation's economic and social priorities. We can bring our clear call for cuts in military spending into the efforts to fund the needs of all of our communities, including creating millions of new, green jobs.

Since its inception, the NAACP has been committed to bringing the fundamental right to vote to every member of the black community. And despite huge strides in voter turnout during the Presidential election, only 69% of African Americans are currently registered to vote, compared to 75% of non-Hispanic whites.

The goal is to register every last voter, to verify every last voter, to mobilize every last voter, and to protect the rights of every last voter because in close elections, every vote counts.

We must stay strong and focused. In the last speech Dr. King gave he said, "Nothing would be more tragic than for us to turn back now." We have come too far to turn back. Join us in Washington, DC on 10.2.10 and, most importantly, register to vote.

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I am not able to attend because I currently have acute bronchitis and have to stay home but I am with the marchers in spirit.

I urge all of you to consider the reasons for the gathering and try to make some changes in your own community.

This march is not about liberals or conservatives, white or black. It is about everyone in pursuit of a better country for all.

ONE NATION WORKING TOGETHER -

REMEMBER TO VOTE