<div>keely et. al.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The truth can hurt, so maybe there is some "harm," when the medicine of facts is a disquieting treatment.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>We tried to head off the impending disasters of the Bush administration, with the J20 Coalition efforts in Seattle on Jan. 20, 2001, to protest the Bush administration, on Bush's inauguration day. Around 5000 protested in Seattle, taking over downtown streets from sidewalk to sidewalk, in a protest/activism event that was an all day community effort, with a stage set up for speeches, theater and music, from many organizations. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>I put up flyers in the Moscow/Pullman and Spokane areas to advertise this event, and attended. I expected protest related problems, and was prepared to be arrested. But amazingly, the police who monitored the event were rather low key, and the city cooperated with the protest in allowing city streets to be closed to traffic. Still, I expected someone to throw a rock through a window, or attack someone, after which all hell can break loose, after which the peaceful can get caught up in the ensuing crackdown. But nothing like this happened. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>One inspiring moment was when we linked arms surrounding the entire Seattle Federal building, a large urban structure, chanting various activist slogans. Cameras were firing left and right, some from the press, or for private use, but certainly some from the FBI. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>I look back on this event, and feel an sense of futility. What good did it do? The nation was so caught up in the emotion of events after 9/11 that reason, fact and compassion took a back seat to propaganda, revenge and fear.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Here's a press release on the J20 Coalition event held in Seattle on Jan. 20, 2001:</div>
<div> </div>
<div>THOUSANDS EXPECTED AT SEATTLE INAUGURATION DAY<br>PROTESTS ON JANUARY 20TH<br><br>The King County Labor Council(membership 130,000) and<br>the MLK Celebration March Committee have endorsed<br>demonstrations in Seattle on January 20th to coincide<br>
with national protests against the inauguration of<br>George W. Bush as U.S. President.<br><br>A group called the "January 20th Coalition" has called<br>for endorsements from labor unions, civil rights<br>groups, environmental groups, faith organizations and<br>
women's groups.<br><br>The protests will begin on January 19th with a<br>candlelight vigil for those citizens whose votes were<br>not counted. This event will start at 5 PM at the<br>Courthouse at 5th and Madison in downtown Seattle.<br>
<br>On January 20th a demonstration is planned for<br>Westlake Center at 1 PM. Following this event, a march<br>"March For Democracy" will move to the Federal<br>Building at 3 PM.<br><br>In the evening, a forum will be held at the Labor<br>
Temple (1st and Clay) with music and speakers<br>addressing the election results and complaints of<br>civil rights violations in Florida and other states.<br>Speakers will include King County Council member Larry<br>Gossett, KIRO radio talkshow host Mike Webb, and<br>
attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union.</div>
<div>-------------------------------------------</div>
<div>Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett<br> </div>