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Editorial Note: The
following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also
include corrections of Arabic names. |
SOMETHING IS HAPPENING IN
ATLANTA: US
Social Forum's first day draws over 10,000
.DemocracyTrack.org,
June 28, 2007
Ben Maski
(Atlanta) –
Something new, possibly historic, is happening in Atlanta. The
first 10,000 participants in the first ever U.S. Social Forum have already
arrived here from across the country, shattering predictions that the Forum
would draw that number over its entire five days of events. The early size
of the Social Forum suggests that this gathering, inspired by the World
Social Forums initiated by the South American left, will mark a period of
increased mobilization and militancy on the part of U.S. progressives.
“Something big is beginning here; its
total end result is hard to see, but already it’s clear that a major
movement for democracy has begun,” said Ben Manski, Executive
Director of the Liberty Tree Foundation for the Democratic Revolution.
The U.S. Social Forum launched yesterday with a march that stretched for
eight city blocks, drawing upwards of 7,000 into the streets to deliver the
message that if, in the words of the World Social Forum, another world is to
be possible, another U.S.A. is necessary.
Buses from around the country, from Minneapolis and Milwaukee to New Orleans
and New York, arrived throughout the march, adding hundreds to the thousands
already on hand. Visitors from around the world, notably including South
America, were also present to show their support.
As remarkable as its size is the youth and racial diversity of this
gathering. Although participants range in age from the small children and
preteens at their own Children’s Social Forum to octogenarians entering
their seventh decade of movement work, the bulk of those here are younger
organizers in their 20s and 30s.
Also remarkable is the multiracial character of this crowd, the first mass
national progressive forum in memory in which African, Latino, Native,
Asian, and European Americans are participating in significant numbers, with
perhaps a majority of participants hailing from communities of color.
A major component of the U.S. Social Forum, the Democracy Track, began this
morning. The track features over 70 sessions assembled by over forty
organizations, and is serving as the first major gathering of the new U.S.
democracy movement.
For more information:
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 27, 2007
CONTACTS: Ben
Manski - Exec. Dir. - 608 239 6915m
George Friday - Program Dir. - 862 668 8172m
David Cobb - Program Dir. - 707 362 0333m
Taylour Johnson - Admin. Dir. - 503 998 6127m
For video, audio, and stills: Sarah Grace Turner at 608 217 4497
Democracy Track http://www.DemocracyTrack.org
Liberty Tree http://www.LibertyTreeFDR.org
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