penismightier.com

In cities all across the country, as Bush attempts to deliver the State of the Union address, swarms of Americans will march into neighborhoods and bang pots, pans, and drums while singing, chanting and shouting their demand: “Bush step down and take your program with you.”

World Can’t Wait is organizing this event, and have announced their intentions with two full page ads in the New York Times, the most recent one printed Friday, January 20th – one year after Bush’s inauguration. That evening, it was the top CNN story, and has since caused Karl Rove to acknowledge the support amongst Democrats.

“Let me be as clear as I can be,” [Rove] said. “President Bush believes if Al Qaeda is calling somebody in America, it is in our national security interest to know who they are calling and why. Some important Democrats clearly disagree,” he said, referring to a full-page ad in Friday’s New York Times calling on Bush to leave office. Among those listed as supporting the demand were the Rev. Al Sharpton, who sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) and Rep. Major R. Owens (D-N.Y.)

The protest in Portland, Oregon on Tuesday, January 31st is going to be a fresh break from the central rally and march formula that most protests have adopted. The State of Emergency protest, timed to coincide with Bush’s State of the Union address, will be focused more on the state of the community, and on fostering neighborhood relations. Although there will be an event downtown at Pioneer Couthouse Square at 4PM, there are also house and neighborhood demonstrations happening simultaneously throughout Portland. Portlanders are being encouraged to attend the local events over going downtown. Even so, the downtown protest will go out into the four corners of Portland, marching through neighborhoods, connecting demonstrators to communities, and bringing the noise to drown out Bush’s speech. In this way, attention will be directed away from the TV and out the window into the neighborhood, and what their neighbors are saying.

The marches will end at a common destination, one for each side of the river where the marchers can meet for dinner and drinks, and celebrate their involvement with a significant expression of our collective demand saying BUSH STEP DOWN and TAKE YOUR PROGRAM WITH YOU. Plans for the march on Washington, DC the following weekend will be discussed as well. Oregonians are already buying their plane tickets (which are just over $200 on online sites such as cheaptickets.net), and the Washington, DC World Can’t Wait office is coordinating accommodations. Many churches have already donated space. People are encouraged to call the DC office to arrange accommodations at (202) 536-4313.

This decentralized, community-centered style of demonstration and protest is designed to plant a seed for how future events can be planned, and can build, as neighborhoods build community and continue to get more and more organized. Portland, as a progressive city, already values community. This value needs to be expanded upon to include how we organize and gather to express dissent, empowering our voice and strengthening our ties.

Portlanders are being encouraged to host neighborhood parties, and to contribute to the local effort. We still need to fully pay for Pioneer Square, renting out the community center, flyers, and other expenses, and we are relying on the community to help cover the cost. For more information about how to get involved, or to donate securely, visit EcoTV where there are updates, and a “Donate” button on the right hand side a bit down from the top. To help, or for more information, contact Portland Can’t Wait at portland@worldcantwait.org or (206) 666-BUSH.

Discuss. edit: a community center cancelled, so info was removed.