Activist group puts democracy on display
by state press
Monday, Oct. 11, 2004 at 10:45 AM
Activist group puts democracy on display
October 13th Alliance holds event on Student Services lawn
by Shaina Levee
Activist group puts democracy on display
October 13th Alliance holds event on Student Services lawn
by Shaina Levee
http://www.asuwebdevil.com/issues/2004/10/11/news/683841
Incense burned, children played and about 50 people sang together on the Student Services lawn Saturday night during a peace gathering.
The event was held to raise awareness about the meaning of democracy in America.
Noah Dillard, an ecology graduate student and Matt Sluder, an ASU alumnus, organized the event, put on by their organization, the October 13th Alliance.
Dillard and Sluder created the group, which serves as a network for Phoenix organizations that advocate social change, last spring.
"The debate coming here provided a perfect opportunity for us to create an alliance amongst various organizations in town and to give a shot in the arm to activism in Phoenix," Sluder said. "I have a strong desire to try to shift ASU away from its traditional role as an apathetic, apolitical university."
Five local and national organizations set up tables at the gathering, and local bands performed at the event.
"Democracy is not something that happens once every four years in a ballot box," Dillard said. "Our dreams and our aspirations can't be summed up, can't be fit into something the size of a ballot box."
The gathering kicked off a week of events, planned by the October 13th Alliance, ending with a Democracy for a Change march on Wednesday.
NARAL Pro-Choice Arizona came to the event to create awareness about the lack of women's voices in legislation, said Heather Terrell, a social psychology graduate student and board member of NARAL Pro-Choice Arizona.
"I don't feel that there's been much dialogue about women's rights," she said. "It's been almost absent from the presidential debates."
Luis Fernandez, a justice studies and social inquiry graduate student, said he came to the event because it was worthwhile to support grassroots organizations.
"It's real," he said. "It's just people coming together."
CALENDAR
Today
Memorial for War Dead
The exhibit will include one white cross for each U.S. soldier killed in the Iraq war.
Hayden Lawn. Monday and Tuesday.
Free (For All) Market
Participants encouraged to bring products or services to share with the community to simulate a "free market."
Birchett Park (Corner of Mill Avenue and Apache Boulevard). Noon-4 p.m.
League of Pissed-Off Voters "Die In"
Participants encouraged to lay on the ground to represent casualties in Iraq.
Memorial Union. 11 a.m.
March to Remember: Honoring the Victims of War
Rally and march to honor casualties of Iraq. Bring signs, banners and water.
Northwest corner of Mill Avenue and University Drive. 5 p.m.
Tuesday
Stop Recruitment and the Military Draft Rally & March
Gulf War I veteran Dennis Kyne will speak.
Memorial Union. 11:30 a.m.
A march to the Military Recruitment Cluster (Dorsey Lane and Broadway Road) will follow.
Arrive between 1:15 and 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Press Conference
"Unaddressed issues of the Iraq War and Occupation."
Copper Room at Twin Palms Hotel (225 E. Apache Blvd.). 10 a.m.
"Unemployment" aka "Pink Slip" Line
A protest spotlighting unemployment. Participants will wave pink slips at protest site.
To sign up for The Unemployment Line, send an e-mail to mlombardi@pfaw.org
Twin Palms Hotel.10 a.m.
Democracy for a Change March
Daley Park (located at College Avenue, south of Apache Boulevard), 3 p.m.
March leaves at 4 p.m.
Source: October 13th Alliance
Reach the reporter at shaina.levee@asu.edu.
