#media_7608;left#As vote fraud questions in Ohio Heat Up, Atlantans protest at the State Capitol demanding a recount. Meanwhile Ohio's Republican Secretary of State locks down voting records drawing the ire of Democratic Congressman John Conyers and Senator John Kerry steps into controversy.

Nashville, TN: More than 100 people gathered Sunday at the State Capital in Nashville, Tennessee to take part in the national, "Gathering to Save Our Democracy" organized locally by activist Bernie Ellis. Tennesseans concerned about this issue gathered beginning at noon and soon there were over 100 people demanding clear and accountable elections. Several speakers were confirmed ahead of time for the event including the State Coordinator for the Kerry/Edwards campaign. Participants were then allowed to speak their minds and many locals did get up to the mic to speak out. The corporate press was also invited and two television stations came to cover the event. Participants were asked to remember to wear orange (in solidarity with the Ukrainian people) and to bring signs. There was some orange at the event including a twelve foot long orange banner and many signs with slogans such as "I voted. Did it count?, Who won? Who knows?, Re-count the Votes, I voted. Did it matter?, A free and fair election???? and Let Every Vote Count!! Really!!" The protesters also participated in a live call-in from the gathering to a national radio program that was tracking similar events in state capitals across the country.

Attended by approximately 300-350 people, the protest featured speakers and music. Speakers included Pete Hamer, Oregon State Coordinator of 51 Capital March; Elizebeth Atly, of Portland Code Pink and Johnny Marie of Actions Speak Portland. The mike was then turned over for anyone who wanted to speak, including a 13 year old young lady and a phone relay from Portland with information from a press release concerning events in Ohio.

A commenter adds: Channel 6 had a brief account on their 5pm news, saying there were "dozens" of protesters... a quick shot of the crowd ... a smirking news reporter. Pretty disappointing, not even a serious attempt to research what the rally was about or that it was nationwide. No interviews with attendees.

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PHOTOS: [ 1 | 2 | 3 ]

related: [ Report-back from Democracy Is Dying gathering (11/21/04) ]

Republican Cites Voter Fraud

As reported on portland indymedia and throughout the alternative press, the 2004 pResidential sElection was not "free and fair". Across the nation, voters were illegally disenfranchised before sElection Day, intimidated at the polls, had their registrations lost, or dealt with long lines and faulty equipment. Additionally, evidence has been piling up that hundreds of thousands if not millions of votes were discarded, miscounted, or electronically manipulated. People of color were disproportionally targeted. "Third party" candidates Ralph Nader (independent), David Cobb (Green), and Michael Badnarik (Libertarian) have been pursuing legal means to demand recounts in various states, while independent researchers like Bev Harris of Black Box Voting have continued to uncover criminal shenanigans by election officials. Despite this critical mass of energy working toward justice, John Kerry has been nearly silent despite the resources allegedly collected for this very eventuality; either he and the Democratic Party leadership have no backbone (true in any case), or don't intend to win anyway.

Meanwhile, activists have been taking matters into their own hands, staging demonstrations across the nation, and planning to rally on and before Dec. 13, when electors will sit to certify their states' results.

[ Feature from Portland IMC I December 12th, at Noon, Everywhere: 51 Capital March ]

Call to Action "You Stole My Vote!" Protest in St. Paul December 12, 2004 at Noon At the State Capital Minnesota is one of at least 26 states organizing protests as part of the 51 Capital March Time: Noon -1:30 p.m. Place: Upper level mall of the State Capitol steps

As reported here on portland indymedia and throughout the alternative press, the 2004 pResidential sElection was not "free and fair". Across the nation, voters were illegally disenfranchised before sElection Day, intimidated at the polls, had their registrations lost, or dealt with long lines and faulty equipment. Additionally, evidence has been piling up that hundreds of thousands if not millions of votes were discarded, miscounted, or electronically manipulated. People of color were disproportionally targeted. "Third party" candidates Ralph Nader (independent), David Cobb (Green), and Michael Badnarik (Libertarian) have been pursuing legal means to demand recounts in various states, while independent researchers like Bev Harris of Black Box Voting have continued to uncover criminal shenanigans by election officials. Despite this critical mass of energy working toward justice, John Kerry has been nearly silent despite the resources allegedly collected for this very eventuality; either he and the Democratic Party leadership have no backbone (true in any case), or don't intend to win anyway.

Meanwhile, activists have been taking matters into their own hands, staging demonstrations both locally and elsewhere, and plan to rally on and before Dec. 13, when electors will sit to certify their states' results.

LOCAL EVENTS:
Two events at State Capitol Building, Salem:
Sun., Dec. 12, Noon - Protest & Rally
Mon., Dec. 13, 11am-2pm - Protest while Oregon's electors vote
more info: [ newswire post | TruthInVoting.org ]

Capitol Building in Olympia:
Sat., Dec. 11, Noon-2pm - 'Let Every Vote Count' Rally
details: [ newswire post ]

NATIONALLY: [ 51CapitalMarch.com ]

recent local efforts: [ ActionSpeaks meeting notes | Report-back from Democracy Is Dying gathering ]

related: [ A STOLEN ELECTION - THE VIEW FROM MY BLACK HELICOPTER | Columbus, Ohio: Protesters hand deliver letter to Blackwell | Conyers Hearings on Ohio Vote Fraud Coverage/Portland Indy | truthout reports from D.C. hearing on Ohio votefraud ]

For those planning on, interested in or wondering about attending the counter-inaugural protest in Washington D.C. on January 20th.

Don't Certify the Votes: Go on record with your Senator This list of 10 Senators are those which I hope to focus lobbying efforts to try and find at least one to protest the certification of the final vote tally in congress. I've set-up the thread with a topic for each Senator, so we can keep track of any feedback from the Senators. I've started a Thread at the forum on DU  http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php... target="_blank">Here.

Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb announced today that he would not pursue a recount in Nevada. Cobb and Libertarian Michael Badnarik had made the initial recount request on Monday.

"The Nevada Secretary of State's office presented us with hefty bill and a ridiculous list of tasks to be completed in an unreasonably short period of time," said Blair Bobier, Media Director for the Cobb-LaMarche campaign.

"We were asked to pay $349,000 but were not provided a detailed breakdown of the actual costs and we do not have confidence that our money will be spent wisely."

read more >>Judge rules Ohio recount will go forward in all countiesGreen Party presidential candidate David Cobb today expressed his satisfaction with a ruling by a federal judge taking jurisdiction over a Delaware County, Ohio lawsuit and denying the county's attempt to stop the recount of presidential ballots in that county.

"We are very pleased that the judge recognized our right to a recount and that the recount will go forward in each and every county in Ohio," said Cobb.

The judge also provisionally granted the motion by the Kerry-Edwards campaign to intervene in the lawsuit in defense of the position of Cobb and Libertarian Michael Badnarik.

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related: [ Voter Fraud in Florida and Ohio: Kerry Won the Election by at least 1,7 Million Votes | pdx indymedia sElection Fraud stories ]

In Solidarity with the DAWN (DC Anti-War Network,
 http://www.dawndc.net/) call for groups to converge from around the
country and around the world to converge on DC, we call on those who
cannot make the trip to DC to organize local actions in their own
communities.

This Saturday there will be a huge rally to Demand a Recount! and investigation into the Ohio voting problems. This is not about bush vs kerry, this is about American citizens being given equal access to vote. If we don’t demand Blackwell remove himself from the process and allow a full recount to proceed, then American democracy will be officially dead. You were given a democracy - are you going to let them just take it like this? Do you really think we’ll have a better shot in 2008? Wake up and expose this fraud they call ’the president’!"

Demand a Recount Rally Saturday 1pm at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus

[ Full Story I Rally Details I Citizens’ Alliance for Secure Elections I We Do Not Concede Coalition ]

Attorneys for Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb asked a federal court today to take jurisdiction of, and ultimately dissolve, a temporary restraining order issued by a Delaware County, Ohio judge attempting to prevent Cobb from seeking a recount of the presidential ballots cast in that county.

Cobb and Libertarian Michael Badnarik, who are jointly filing the recount demand, are named as defendants, along with their attorneys, in the restraining order sought by the Delaware County prosecuting attorney. The Delaware County judge issued the temporary restraining order without contacting or seeking any input from the candidates or their attorneys.

"This is an illegal and outrageous attempt to suppress our rights to participate in the democratic process. As a candidate, I have a right under Ohio law to demand a recount. If the Delaware County Board of Elections has a problem with that, they need to take it up with the Ohio legislature," said David Cobb.

read more >>Cobb & Badnarik file for recounts in New Mexico and NevadaDavid Cobb, the 2004 Green Party presidential candidate, today filed official requests for a recount of the presidential ballots cast in New Mexico and Nevada. As he did in Ohio, Cobb filed the requests jointly with Libertarian candidate Michael Badnarik.

"The Green Party's dedication to protecting the integrity of the election process has led me to file for a recount in both New Mexico and Nevada. We want to ensure that every vote is counted and verify the accuracy of the electronic voting machines, particularly those which produce no paper trail," said David Cobb.

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related: [ Collection of Green Letters to the Editor on Ohio Recount ]

11/29/2004: The Wellstone Democratic Club of Silicon Valley and The Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley organized a protest against the mainstream media and its "near complete silence concerning voting irregularities in the 2004 presidential election" today. Some speakers stated that the voting irregularities in the election needed to be investigated regardless of whether an investigation would swing the election to John Kerry. Others said that part of the bedrock of a democracy is verifiable election results that can be trusted.

RISE Against Bush
SHINE For A Peaceful Tomorrow

A Call for Anti-War Actions in Washington, DC, January 20, 2005

Jesse Jackson was in Ohio Sunday talking up the recount. Considering the excellent job he did calming everyone down in Florida in 2000, that makes me nervous. But he is bringing up some interesting calculations based on comparing Kerry's vote total to that of C. Ellen Connally, an African-American Democratic candidate from Cleveland for Ohio Chief Justice. Even though down-ballot races usually involve fewer votes than the much more prominent races at the top of the ticket, Connally received 257,000 more votes than Kerry across the state.

Firsthand accountof Rallies at KGO and Senator Boxer's Office Monday, November 29, 2004 in San Francisco urging media coverage of the important problems with the 2004 Presidential Election and Boxer's support in standing up for the voters and democracy.

Sunday evening, I bicycled to a nearby house, to join 18 people making banners and signs in anticipation of today's rallies. Eight of us carpooled to San Francisco, delighted to see a large group of protesters, with signs already assembled before KGO, well before the scheduled begin of the 11:00 AM rally. Many joined us to help carry our incredibly long banners, and carry our many home-made signs. Over a hundred very creative, articulate, informed people gathered on the sidewalk in front of KGO, not far from another Television Station, and we were glad to see the television cameras rolling. People had come from the East Bay, Marin, San Jose, as well as San Francisco.

Our main points were emblazoned across the signs that were carried and the stories that our speakers told- in brief soundbites-

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[ Other stories from Carol Brouillet | Questioning the 2004 Election ]

U-M Ann Arbor Counter-Inaugural First Coordinating Committee Meeting
Thursday, December 2, 8:00 p.m. at the "Posting Wall" in Angell Hall, 419 S. State St., Ann Arbor

On January 20th, 2005, our worst fears will come true. George W. Bush and Dick Cheney will be sworn in to another 4 years as president and vice-president of the United States.

This will mean violence, intolerance, and hatred for another 4 years, for Americans and for the world. The most recent attacks on Fallujah have left the region utterly devastated, with no signs of the destruction ceasing. The administration’s disregard for the opinions of the global community have left us even more vulnerable as a nation. We must join hands with our brothers and sisters of the world, and stand up for our future.

LOS ANGELES, November 9, 2004 - At 7:50 PM armored tanks showed up at an anti-war protest in front of the federal building in Westwood.

The tanks circled the block twice, the second time parking themselves in the street and directly in front of the area where most of the protesters were gathered.

Enraged, some of the people attempted to block the tanks, but police quickly cleared the street.

The people continued to protest the presence of the tanks, but after about ten minutes the tanks drove off. It is unclear as to why the tanks were deployed to this location.

Video

In the five days since the end of the 2004 Presidential election, protests and scattered acts of violence have greeted the triumph of the conservative agenda.

In the New York region on Wednesday, a small group of demonstrators in Union Square were greeted by the ESU armed with machine-guns [Pictures] The War Resisters League once again marched from Ground Zero, protesting war. In Red Hook, 200 Bard students shut down the main highway out of town. In Buffalo, vandals attacked the Republican Party headquarters.

Nationally, in Toledo on Wednesday, hundreds of Ohio residents stormed the statehouse to demand that all votes be counted. In Portland, thousands protested Bush. In Raleigh, North Carolina, hundreds of anarchists trashed the Republican Party headquarters. Plans are underway to protest the Bush innauguration.

Meanwhile, IMC readers are debating the merits of violence and protest in a second Bush term. This, as the U.S. military launches a full on assault on Falluja.

The Falluja Witness Vigil is calling for a candlelight vigil for the civilian population of Fallujah - many of whom will be killed by US forces taking the city - at Washington Square Park in NYC, starting 5:30 the day the ground assault begins.

The International Action Center has also organized a number of protests.