On September 26, 84 million people tuned into to watch the first debate of the never-ending circus known as the U.S. presidential election. The debate was held at Hofstra University in Long Island, NY. While the media focused on what was going on inside the walls of the university, there was also a lively occurrence happening outside in the streets — or rather, in the specially-designated Orwellian-sounding “free speech zone.”
Anyone wishing to express themselves about the political event was ordered to walk for blocks to join others in a barricade at a considerable distance from the university entrance and media teams.
Supporters of Gloria La Riva for President campaign came to protest the exclusion of third-party candidates, and even the protest outside was marked by ridiculous exclusions and blatant violations of democratic rights. Metal detectors surrounded the protest area, but police also barred La Riva supporters from bringing items such as as cardboard poles, clipboards, bullhorns and most dangerous of all, a wooden cowbell. All this was declared in the name of security, but later upon entry, it turned out that other groups had been allowed in with the same items. Perhaps the campaign’s “Black Lives Matter” and “Stop Police Terror” signs explained the police’s selective declaration of such “security” regulations.
Inside the “free speech zone” a wide spectrum of political groups operated from radicals to right-wing Christian extremists and conspiracy theorists. The Green Party had a considerable presence for their candidate, Jill Stein, as did Libertarian Gary Johnson. Some Hillary Clinton supporters were present to drown out the Greens with “Hillary!” chants — as if drowning out third parties by excluding them the televised debates was not enough.
Elizabeth Birriel of the Party for Socialism and Liberation told TeleSur, “Hillary represents women like herself: rich white women. She’s a former Walmart director who serves Wall Street banks, not working-class women.”
The PSL carried a banner with a picture of Trump and Clinton smiling together and the words “Either way, Wall Street wins — Fight for a Political Revolution.” Also present was the Haitian group “Komokoda,” which denounced the Clintons’ inhumane actions and profiteering in Haiti.
Groups of community members from the surrounding Hempstead area, many of them immigrants, came over to the protest to see the uncommon spectacle in their neighborhood. Many were receptive to the PSL’s pro-working class agenda and defense of immigrant rights. Aside from alternative media sources, there was no presence of major networks at the rally in the hours before the debate.
Ben Becker, an organizer with the Gloria La Riva for President campaign was interviewed on the Empire Files: “Even though our candidate is on the ballot in many states, she and other third parties are being excluded from tonight’s debate. Sixty to 80 million people might watch it but they will only see a very sanitized version of a debate, one between the Democratic and Republican parties which both stand for Wall Street and Empire.”
The sham debates serve as yet more proof that our current political system will just continue to entrench inequality and misery no matter who is elected president in November.
Gloria La Riva is on the ballot in nine states and is an official write-in candidate in many states, including New York.
