( – promoted by buhdydharma )
Voices for Creative Nonviolence, the Chicago-based group that staged a 500-mile Witness Against War walk to the Republican convention in St. Paul, will sponsor a presence from Jan. 1-19, in President-elect Obama’s Hyde Park neighborhood in Chicago. It’s called “Camp Hope: Countdown To Change.”
It’s called Camp Hope because organizers
earnestly hope his presidency will signal the dawning of long-needed progressive change in the United States.
The 19 days of activities are designed to help build popular momentum behind the progressive goals of President Obama’s campaign — and, one suspects, to remind him of those commitments.
It’s what the left should be doing right now. Instead of assuming the worst about Obama, and giving up on him before he even takes office, progressives should spend their energy giving him and the new Congress the political base and cover they need to pursue a progressive agenda.
We know the forces of darkness will be pushing hard in the other direction. A show of support for progressive policies can help offset that provide a brace for Democratic backbones that are in danger of softening at the slightest pushback from the right.
Camp Hope’s agenda is ambitious. It asks Obama to take executive action on eight critical issues upon becoming President: war in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan; housing, full employment, immigration, the environment, health care, nuclear weapons, and torture. The “asks” are designed to be actions which President-elect Obama could take on his own initiative and parallel commitments he made in his campaign for President.
Complete information on Camp Hope, and the specific “asks” of the campaign, is available at the website: CampHope2009.org
Camp Hope opens on January 1 at 1 p.m. at Drexel Square Park, at the intersection of E. Hyde Park Blvd and S. Drexel Ave in Chicago. In addition to daily vigils, community forums related to the “asks” are planned by a number of organizations joining Voices for Creative Nonviolence in sponsoring Camp Hope.
The program so far:
Jan 1, 8am – 6pm Camp Hope Kickoff in Hyde Park
Jan 2, 7-8:30pm Health Care Forum with Dr. Quentin Young
Jan 3, 7-8pm Emancipation Proclamation Pageant- Hyde Park Union Church
Jan 7 6:30-8:30pm Evening discussion on withdrawal of troops from Iraq
Jan 8 7-8:30pm Presentation by Michael McPherson of Veterans for Peace
Jan 9 7-8:30pm Premiere Showing of “War Against the Family”
Jan 10 7-8:30pm Myths and Realities about U.S. War in Afghanistan -A Presentation by Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid
Jan 11 7-9pm Witness Against Torture Forum: From Guantanamo to Streets of Chicago
Jan 15 7-8:30pm Immigration Reform and Workers Rights
Jan 16 7-8:30pm Blackwater Worldwide In Illinois and Beyond: The Dangers of Outsourcing Our Security
Jan 17 10am-noon co-Justice Collaborative- Morning Presentation
Jan 18 8am-6pm Closing of Camp Hope with Candlelight Vigil- Sending off of Caravan to DC
Jan 19 8am-6pm Vigil at the Federal Building to celebrate the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday
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See you in Chicago? Not sure what day(s) yet, but will make the trip from Milwaukee at least once, I’m sure.
Well said, Xoff!
I’m aware of this event already and am planning to attend a couple of days.
I think this is a good progressive movement, I believe.
…I totally agree — we need to make every effort to steer Obama onto the Progressive course he proclaimed in his campaign. I feel Obama has been calling us to stand behind him, to give him the massive support required for him to lead a Progressive agenda.
So I’ll repeat the link I made in a diary about a week ago. Obama transition team is holding a series of house meetings around the country this coming weekend, Dec. 13 & 14. There are 150 events listed around the SF Bay Area alone. I haven’t counted them for the nation.
To find a meeting near you and read about the various approaches and subjects to discuss you can go
here.
Go to Camp Hope if you can. Go to house meetings also. If we don’t keep Obama’s back and demand the progressive direction he promised, if we don’t stay there to back him, then we can truly blame ourselves. Just my opinion, but we must try.