CHARLOTTE, NC — The Democratic National Convention kicked off this morning with a press conference previewing the week and repeatedly stressing two key messages: that the convention is the most open and accessible in history, and that a key Obama campaign theme will be “rebuilding America from the middle class out.”
The 50-minute presser featured DNCC Chair Steve Kerrigan, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, Convention Chair Los Angeles Mayor Antionio Villaraigosa, DNC Secretary Alice Germond, and Obama for America Press Secretary Ben LaBolt.
The main news from the session was that the draft platform will be distributed to all delegates when they arrive in the hall tomorrow, and that Georgia Rep. John Lewis has been selected as Sergeant-at-arms for the proceedings.
“It’s been incredible to see the ground energy for this convention and this President,” said Foxx, who expressed pride that Charlotte was hosting its first major political convention in 150 years, and while he predicted a close race, he expressed optimism about Obama carrying the state again in 2012. “The people of North Carolina understand that this President has had their back.”
Just as the convention four years ago in Denver helped the campaign focus the energy of its 25,000 local volunteers, Villaraigosa said that Charlotte would do the same for North Carolina. “This is the start of a new way to engage in the political process,” he said, promising a “working convention,” that would engage and energize volunteers and participants as well as laying out a vision and articulating a path forward.
And the people doing that work on the delegate side represent a true cross-section of America, said Germond, noting that among the 5,556 delegates and 407 alternates — 50% of them women– there were increases in African-American, Latino, and youth representation, with a record 644 young delegates, including 285 students. “In many cases, this is their very first convention,” she said. “We will learn from them.”
In the Q&A, LaBolt responded to a question about the significance of today’s Gallup results which found Romney’s convention speech last week produced only a marginal bump. “Most Americans who tuned in were looking for answers,” he said, “but the Romney convention speech didn’t address their questions.” He promised that President Obama’s speech — which he said is still being fine-tuned — would “lay out the pillars for rebuilding the economy from the middle class out.”
]]>After a protest in front of the downtown Bank of America building this afternoon at 5pm, about 15 Rhode Islanders are heading off to Charlotte North Carolina to join thousands of others from across the United States to protest at the bank’s annual shareholder’s meeting.
Today’s action in downtown Providence in front of the Superman building, said Christopher Rotondo, of DARE or Direct Action for Rights and Equality, “is so Bank of America knows there is a local group here in Rhode Island taking up these demands.”
The demands, according to a DARE press release:
Members of DARE and the Environmental Justice League of RI will then be taking a new-to-the road bio-diesel bus to Boston before making another 16 hour bus trip to Charlotte starting at 11 p.m. tonight.
DARE has been leading or lending to support to direct action against Bank of America id downtown Providence since October.
Here’s more from release from DARE and the Environmental Justice League of RI:
]]>The rally is part of a massive nationwide effort called 99% Power which Will be protesting outside shareholder meetings across the country to hold corporate America accountable. “Because of big banks like Bank of America, many families don’t have basic rights in this country. Because of banks like Bank of America, the gap between the rich and the poor is getting Wider. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. We the people bailed out the banks and they don’t feel justified or righteous enough to help provide jobs or help people in foreclosure,” explains Theresa, Board Glaixperson of DARE. “That’s why DARE and our alliance called Right to the Gty are going to North Carolina to protest Bank of America, RrtC Wants the people in the city to take back the city and to build cities that are just, democratic, and sustainable. The banks should not have us, we should have the banks.”
“The E] League understands that foreclosure and eviction are environmental justice issues. Bank of America evícts families and decimates whole blocks, attracting litter and rats, which impacts the environment and health of the entire neighborhood. Three of our Youth members are going to Charlotte to tell Bank of America to stop evicting families and stop bank-rolling fossil fuels and climate change,” explains Rodriguez-Drix, organizer with the Environmental Justice League.
The Right to the City Alliance will be converging in Charlotte, North Carolina as part of 99% Power to shed light on the divisions between the 1% and the 99%. Alliance members in attendance include: City Life/ Vida Urbana, Boston., MA, Mothers on the Move and Community Voices Heard, NY, Miami Workers C/enter and Power U, Florida, Direct Action for Rights and Equality, Providence, RI, Springfield No @ne Leaves, Springfield, MA and the Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island.