“Key Issues in This Election are Unmentioned and Ignored” is the topic of an anti-war rally in New Paltz, N.Y., Saturday, Oct. 28, in Peace Park, next to Village Hall.
The 2-4 p.m. event is being organized by the Hudson Valley Activist Newsletter and is co-sponsored by the Peace Action Network, Caribbean and Latin America Support Project (CLASP), Dutchess Greens, New Paltz Arts for Peace, New Paltz Women in Black and Mid-Hudson ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism). The rally is one of many anti-war events taking place around the country in response to a call by the ANSWER Coalition.
Speakers include Howard Hawkins, Green candidate for Senator from New York; Michael Sussman, the civil liberties attorney and leader of the Democratic Alliance in Orange County; Fred Nagel, antiwar organizer and member of the Dutchess Greens; Jack A. Smith, editor of the Hudson Valley Activist Newsletter; Rebecca Rotzler, the Deputy Mayor of New Paltz, among others to be announced. Topical song musicians and singers include Bob Lusk from Ulster County and Pat Lamanna and Amy Strom from Dutchess.
The main issue will be the war on Iraq. Other “ignored” issues to be addressed at the rally include the fact that the government is failing the American people in matters of healthcare, welfare, affordable housing, affirmative action, a jobs program and a minimum wage that will end poverty.
Further unmentioned topics include the growing rich-poor gap; the continuing existence of racial discrimination in jobs and income; the absence of affordable childcare for all the country’s kids for families who need help; gender inequality; real campaign finance reform; the Israeli occupation of Palestine; Bush administration plans for regime-change in Cuba after the death of President Fidel Castro, and a possible U.S. war against Iran, among other censored issues.
