Reply #29: From Chicago - We went to Ohio Dec. 4

[Lydia Guerra]

We saw a film of the November 13 hearings in Columbus on Dec. 3 and were compelled to travel to Columbus Dec. 4. This is the report I sent to our local neighborhood newspaper, to Sen. Kerry, to our family and friends, to our alderman and state representative. We will do whatever it takes to help, Ohio:

"We are just back from Columbus, OH and thought I'd let you know that we are SO GLAD we decided to stand and cheer with the people in Ohio. The incidences of racism, voter suppression and fraud are simply astounding. The sense of betrayal felt by every-day Ohio citizens is palpable. When I asked some locals, at the rally, how they were feeling about the outcome of the election and about their struggle - most responded that a) they were surprised people from outside Ohio even knew about it - the media silence affects even them!, b) that people from outside Ohio even cared, and c) they felt embarrassed that this injustice happened to them. I talked to normal looking moms, dads, college kids, etc. not the people all dressed up with buttons and special interest t-shirts.

"There were not many people from outside Ohio there - except the speakers. We met up with our acquaintances from who filmed the whole thing. So, as far as I know, there were only 3 of us from Chicago and 4 from suburban IL. I heard there were a few people from Michigan and other states. There may have been about 1000 people at the rally on the state capital lawn. They thought it was a tremendous crowd. Being from Chicago, I was envisioning thousands!

"Ohio wasn't even the worst state.
The afternoon rally was - a rally. The evening program included school children from the host school, Africentric Middle School, with their African drum and dance group, a mixed chorus who lead the auditorium in singing "Lift Every Voice" and "Amazing Grace." And then, four tiny first-graders recited "I Am Somebody." There were many impressive local leaders as well as national leaders. Moreon that later. After the program was a time for questions and, of course, had a question, "What are the chances that ONE required US Senator will support the House Committee on the Judiciary and the GAO to conduct a full-scale investigation into election fraud?" The Executive Director of NAACP's National Voter Fund, Greg Moore, responded to the question. Mr. Moore said that he'd had two conversations with John Kerry within the last week and that JK is indeed interested and participating in following up on an investigation.

"We are so glad that we decided to go. Now, we are called to bear witness to these events and to tell of the still raw emotions of the Ohio people we met and repeat the facts we heard reported from the experts, rather than simply report on them from internet news stories, or report on the film we saw taken by the folks from Arlington Heights of the November 13 hearings in Columbus.

"I urge Sen. Kerry to Speak and Act Publicly and Legally: do the right thing, step up to the plate, throw your hat into the ring, etc… Call for a full investigation into Election Fraud not only in Ohio, but Florida, New Mexico, Washington, Iowa, etc."

Whatever it takes, Ohio, we are there.