The People Have the Power
by Ed Democracy
On Saturday, June 29, "The People Have the Power" Tour comes to the
Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland.
Democracy Rising is a new organization founded by Ralph Nader as a means to
educate and empower citizens throughout the country. As part of that effort,
they sponsored Ralph Nader's 2001 "People Have the Power" tour in Boston,
Cleveland, San Francisco, Phoenix, Portland, and Toledo.
Most recently, according to their website www.democracyrising.org, 3,000 people gathered at the Atlanta
Civic Center and 6,200 people gathered in Tampa Florida. While Democracy
Rising is not affiliated with the Green Party, there is an obvious affinity.
As an independent non-profit organization, it can form a "big tent" which
enables participation by anyone interested in boosting grassroots democracy.
Those who pay the $10 price of admission ($15 at the door) will see Ralph
Nader, Patti Smith, and local speakers and performers.
The name of the tour comes from Patti Smith's song, "The People Have the
Power."
The tour's Maine visit will focus on the issues of prescription drugs,
single payer health care, clean elections, the living wage, and renewable
energy. Lots of local people power will be needed, so volunteer meetings
will be held weekly every Thursday at 7 pm at the Maine Democracy Rising
office located in the Peace and Justice Center of Southern Maine, 1 Pleasant
St, 4th floor (corner of Pleasant & Center Streets above Hi Bombay!)
Says organizer, Barb Payne, "We are impressed with Portland and everyone we
have talked to around the state of Maine. We think this is going to be our
best venue yet. We plan to have at least 5000 people but it could be many
more."
Businesses and organizations from Boston to Bangor to Presque Isle and into
Canada and the Maritimes and office volunteers are needed to sell tickets.
For local organizers there are two especially cool features to this event:
1) Sponsorship is free. Your group lends its name as a sponsor and it gets
listed on all the promotional material; 2) Tables are free. If you have a
ticket to get in, then you can have a table inside the venue. The Portland
Phoenix and WMPG are among the sponsors. There is no limit to the number,
but act soon to get your organization's name on the posters.
FMI: Barb Payne, Maine Democracy Rising Organizer, 207-879-4900 or bpayne@democracyrising.org
Back to Peace Talk Index, Summer, 2002