Democracy Fest Media Resources
619-698-7617
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AL FRANKEN TO EMCEE EXTRAVAGANZA AT DEMOCRACYFEST 2006,
NATIONAL FESTIVAL FOR PROGRESSIVE ACTIVISTS JULY 14-16 IN SAN DIEGO
Progressive activists from across America will convene at San Diego State University July 14-16 for DemocracyFest 2006, a national conference/festival featuring some of the biggest names in progressive politics. Democratic National Committee chair and former presidential candidate Howard Dean will join Air America talk show hosts/humorists Al Franken and Marc Maron, author David Sirota, filmmaker Robert Greenwald, Iraq War veteran/Senate candidate Paul Hackett and others at an extravaganza that also features leading California political figures headed by Congresswoman Maxine Waters. Gov. Dean's speech will be open to the public. Weekend highlights include a “Demstock” dinner and concert plus a “Saturday Night Beach Party Blow-out” extravaganza.
“It’s truly exciting,” said San Diego For Democracy Chair Charlie Imes, who predicts that this year will be the biggest Democracy Fest in the event’s history. “We’re very pleased to be bringing this impressive line-up of forward-thinking Americans to San Diego. We look forward to everyone coming out and having a great time.”
Produced by DemocracyFest Inc., this year’s event is hosted by San Diego for Democracy, the local coalition group of Democracy for America (DFA), an organization founded by Howard Dean.
In keeping with its “education by day, celebration by night” motto, DemocracyFest offers three days of training for grassroots activists plus two Saturday night events packed with star-studded appearances by prominent political leaders and award-winning musical talent.
All-event tickets for the weekend (excluding lodging) cost $125, or attendees may opt to purchase tickets for separate events as follows:
• Three days of training programs plus Friday evening activities -- $55.
• The Saturday Night Beach Party Blow-Out -- $25
• Saturday evening “Demstock” dinner and music -- $30 (BBQ) or $20 (Mexican Fiesta)
• Sunday Bloggers' Breakfast -- $15
Attendees may also opt for the “Whole Enchilada” package, which includes all of the above plus dormitory lodging Friday and Saturday nights for $245.
The weekend kicks off with a Thursday night pool party on July 13th.
On Friday, July 14th, Radio host Al Franken officially opens DemocracyFest with a live broadcast of "The Al Franken Show" coast to coast on Air America Radio from Montezuma Hall at San Diego State University. In the afternoon, the Grassroots Leadership Summit will feature representatives from grassroots organizations across America including Democracy for America, the Commonweal Institute, Progressive Democrats of America, Service Employees International Union and the San Diego County Democratic Party to share organizing strategies. Matt Kerbel, editor of Get This Party Started: How Progressives Can Fight Back and Win will lead a panel, and Narges Niedzwiecki leads a panel on “The XYZ VOTE” to address how to bring young voters into the progressive movement. “Friday Night Fun” includes Robert Greenwald’s presentation of his new film, “The Big Buy: Tom DeLay’s Stolen Congress.” The evening offers other activities including live music, bowling and billiards.
Saturday, July 15th, focuses on “rediscovering the roots of America’s core liberal values.”
“The idea is to cast back to the original founders of our country—the Declaration of Independence, and those inalienable rights that our founders claimed in declaring independence from England,” said Martha Sullivan, member of the host committee.
Truthout columnist Marjorie Cohn, a law professor and president-elect of the National Lawyers Guild, will speak on George W. Bush and the Declaration of Independence. Cohn draws parallels between King George III, who prompted the American revolution by holding himself above the law, and George W. Bush, citing many examples of how the President has refused to follow the Constitution and Congressional statutes.
Saturday also includes a showing of Votergate, a documentary on perils of computerized voting. A Voting Integrity and Election Reform panel features investigative journalist Brad Friedman, editor of BradBlog, Alan Dechert, president of Open Voting Consortium, Warren Stewart, co-editor of VoteTrust USA.org, documentary filmmaker Rob Cohen, and Senator Debra Bowen, candidate for California Secretary of State.
A panel on global debt cancellation features religious leaders, Nobel Peace Prize nominee Wahu Kaara of Kenya, and Congresswomen Maxine Waters, sponsor of a Congressional measure to help impoverished nations through debt forgiveness.
Saturday also features David Sirota, author of Hostile Takeover: How Big Money & Corruption Conquered Our Government – and How We Take it Back.”
Other panels focus on topics such as diffusing wedge issues (this panel includes Francine Busby, Congressional candidate in the 50th CD vacated by convicted briber Randy Cunningham), building communities, and containing the military-industrial complex. The latter features David Swanson, cofounder of the After Downing Street coalition and Washington director of ImpeachPac.org, Iraq War veteran/Congressional candidate Paul Hackett, and Colonel Ann Wright, a former U.S. diplomat who resigned in protest of the Iraq invasion.
Two Saturday night events constitute the weekend’s crown jewels:
“Demstock” is described as “our own version of Woodstock, only with no mud, much better food and bar service” at the event website
http://www.sdfd.org/democracyfest. The Flying Other Brothers band will perform at the Demstock dinner served on a softball field, with plenty of room for participants to kick off shoes, kick up their heels to celebrate. (Choose from the Barn Buster BBQ or Mexican Fiesta dinner.)
Later, the “Saturday Night Beach Party Blowout” in SDSU’s ampitheater will be a combination political rally and concert experience emceed by Al Franken, former Saturday Night Live comedian-turned liberal talk show host for Air America Radio. Speakers will include Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Paul Hackett, an Iraq War veteran and former Senatorial candidate from Ohio, and comedian and Air America host Marc Maron.
San Diego surfshop owner-turned-councilmember and grassroots mayoral candidate, Donna Frye will welcome guests. Musical entertainment for the beach party will include Surfdog recording artist Gary Hoey, award-winning singer/singwriting team Berkeley Hart, and Grammy winner/guitarist Laurence Juber. Juber, the former lead guitarist in Paul McCartney’s WINGS, is a composer and arranger whose music has been featured in film and TV soundtracks including Dirty Dancing, Pocahontas, Seventh Heaven, and Good Will Hunting.
Sunday starts with Darrell’s Famous Bloggers' Breakfast, followed by presentations on “Forging the Future.” Latinos for America and Root Camp coordinated training teams which will lead workshops on precinct operations, creation of think tanks, campaign strategies, voter training tools, Internet usage, and organizing grassroots training. A session for people interested in running for public office will also be offered.
Early ticket purchase is recommended, as a sell-out of some or all events is anticipated. Organizers aim to attract 2,000 people for the full weekend and 4,000 or more for the Saturday night blow-out event.
“We're going to show everyone how grassroots organizing is done,” pledged Imes, citing San Diego’s growing growing reputation as a hotbed for progressive activisim.
Sullivan predicts the event will serve as a magnet to attract concerned citizens and “connect theme with actual actions they can take, besides listening to the radio and ranting at their TV.”
DemocracyFest guests, speakers and musicians are featured on a new radio show, “Uncommon Sense”, hosted by Imes on AM 1360 KLSD on Saturday mornings from 7 to 8 a.m.
To purchase DemocracyFest tickets or obtain a complete list of scheduled events, visit
http://www.sdfd.org/democracyfest or call 858/472-4168.
DemocracyFest 2006/July 14-16, San Diego
"Education by Day. Celebration by Night"
www.DemocracyFest.us
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
