Upcoming progressive events, Dec 2, 2005. Cheney-DeLay protest

Don't forget our big protest tomorrow evening (Monday) outside the
Cheney-DeLay fundraiser at Houston's Westin Oaks Hotel, on the
sidewalks at Westheimer Rd. at S. Post Oak. We expect several
hundred people to be there.

The weather should be nice Monday, but colder (high 56, low 38
degrees), so bring a jacket.

Let's tell Houston and the world that we believe in a strong
democracy based on ethics, and leading the world by example, while
Cheney and DeLay stand for corruption, torture, empire, and
pre-emptive war based on lies.

Ann Wright (former US diplomat who resigned because of the US
invasion of Iraq) and Diane Wilson (former shrimper turned
environmentalist, and co-founder of Code Pink) both hope to be there.
Truthout, MoveOn, and other national groups have asked for photos and
stories about the protest, so please take lots of pictures and post
them afterwards at http://houston.indymedia.org.

Don't forget the post-protest gathering (details below), where we can
wind down, eat, relax with other activists, swap stories, and network
and build solidarity with other progressive groups.

Bring my cell phone number (713-305-5346) with you, in case you need
to reach me tomorrow evening.

The list of co-sponsors for the protest continues to grow. They include:

Bay Area New Democrats, Civilians Down, Code Pink, Community
Involvement Committee of the 1st Unitarian Universalist Church of
Houston, Democracy for Houston, Gold Star Families for Peace-Houston,
Harris Co. Green Party, Harris Co. Young Democrats, Houston Global
Awareness Collective, Houston Peace Forum, International Socialist
Organization, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak
Out, MoveOn, Peace Action, Progressive Action Alliance, Progressive
Populist Caucus of the Texas Democratic Party, Progressive Workers
Organizing Committee, Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement, Troops
Out Now Coalition, Veterans for Peace, Worldwide Movement for Justice
and Peace, and more.

When
=====
Monday, Dec. 5
5:00 - 7:00 pm
Give yourself extra time to deal with LOTS of traffic in the area.

Where
=====
Outside of the Westin Oaks Hotel
Houston Galleria, 5011 Westheimer Rd., Houston 77056
map: http://tinyurl.com/94md5

We will assemble on the sidewalk along Westheimer near Galleria
entrances 2 and 3. If the turnout is as large as we anticipate, we
should be able to spread out along South Post Oak, south of
Westheimer, too. Thousands of cars pass by there each evening, and
it's a great place to be seen. We expect local and national media,
too.

Bring signs about DeLay, Cheney, torture, corruption, cleaning house,
etc., and/or still or video cameras, a flashlight (to make sure we're
noticed), but mostly you and your friends.

More details of the protest, along with suggestions for signs, etc.,
are at http://www.paa-tx.org/node/918 . Also see
http://houston.indymedia.org

Afterwards
========
Join us after the protest to relax, eat, and swap stories at:
Dave & Buster's
6010 Richmond Ave. at Fountainview, Houston 77057
713-952-2233
This is about 1.5 miles southwest of the protest.

Please forward this note to your friends in the Houston area.

I'll see you Monday evening!

Bill

Anyone want to participate in a sign- or mask-making party tomorrow, to help us have some good stuff for Monday's big protest? (See below for the protest announcement, in case you missed it.)

Anyone have a central location we can use?

Before or after Sunday's 2-4 pm HSF planning meeting would be better for me, but I'll be glad to give my materials to someone else if you'd rather do it at that time.

I have about 50 yard signs I pulled up at the precinct where I worked at the election last month. I know some other folks did that, too. These are sturdy but lightweight, and begging to be covered by a suitable paper sign about corruption, indictments, torture, etc., or by pictures of Cheney or DeLay. We can pull out the wire support and just hold the signs in our hands, wave them around, etc., or make large masks with their faces on them.

Masks with twice-life-size pictures of Cheney or DeLay's face would be great for the demonstration -- we can tape or glue large face pictures to the yard signs, cut holes for eyes, attach elastic and foam pads for foreheads and chins, and wear them at the protest. See http://insanereagan.org for ideas. They get lots of attention, especially if the faces are extra large.

Would someone like to volunteer to find us a location? And maybe a few others to make some printed (on paper) signs we can tape to the yard signs? Or we can just bring blank paper and markers and do them by hand.

If you just want to make your own sign or mask, that's fine, too. Lots of signs emphasizing Cheney's support of torture will be great, as one volunteer is making 50 Abu Ghraib torture costumes.

Whether you can come to a sign/mask making party or not, I hope to see you Monday evening. Try to come early because the traffic will be very heavy around the Galleria.

Bill

At 4:55 PM -0600 12/2/05, Bill Crosier wrote:
>...
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>Mon. Dec. 5 - Protest at Cheney-DeLay Fundraiser
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
>Dick Cheney, president of vice, is coming to Houston next Monday
>evening, Dec. 5, to raise funds for local corruption czar Tom DeLay.
>Join with others to give them the "welcome" they deserve.
>
>
>A large and growing number of organizations and individuals are
>working together to organize a large, spirited, and peaceful protest
>against Cheney, DeLay, and their policies of war, repression,
>torture, and injustice.
>
>We are united in our determination to send a loud, clear message of
>opposition to the occupation of Iraq; torture as a tool of foreign
>policy; the war against workers, immigrants, communities of color,
>women, and sexual minorities at home; the wanton corruption of the
>Bush Administration and Congressman Tom DeLay; Halliburton and war
>profiteering; and much more.
>
>
>When
>=====
> Monday, Dec. 5
> 5:00 - 7:00 pm
> Give yourself extra time to deal with LOTS of traffic in the area.
>
>
>Where
>=====
> Outside of the Westin Oaks Hotel
> Houston Galleria, 5011 Westheimer Rd., Houston 77056
> map: http://tinyurl.com/94md5
>
>We will assemble on the sidewalk along Westheimer near Galleria
>entrances 2 and 3. If the turnout is as large as we anticipate, we
>should be able to spread out along South Post Oak, south of
>Westheimer, too. Thousands of cars pass by there each evening, and
>it's a great place to be seen. We expect local and national media,
>too.
>
>Please stay on the sidewalks. Don't stand in the Westheimer median.
>Don't block the sidewalk for pedestrians. Be careful to stay out of
>the street.
>
>
>Afterwards
>========
> Join us after the protest to relax, eat, and swap stories at:
> Dave & Buster's
> 6010 Richmond Ave. at Fountainview, Houston 77057
> 713-952-2233
> This is about 1.5 miles southwest of the protest.
>
>
>Details & suggestions
>===============
>Please bring signs, banners, costumes, masks, puppets, and
>flashlights -- any or all of these.
>
>One volunteer is bringing 50 Abu Gharib-style torture costumes for
>others to use. Bring a box to stand on if you'd like to wear one of
>those outfits. Other folks are making signs. We need lots of signs
>about torture, and flashlights to shine on the costumes and signs!
>We need signs or T-shirts with BIG, EASY-TO-READ labelling. Think
>large, bold letters, with high contrast -- lighting will be poor
>after about 5:30.
>
>We don't have a single, simple theme, but anything bringing attention
>to DeLay's and Cheney's corruption, indictments, and/or support of
>torture, the occupation of Iraq, and the war at home (Katrina,
>immigrants, workers, etc.) would be great.
>
>We will have a sound permit, bullhorns, a video camera person,
>security volunteers, and a legal observer. More still and video
>photographers are needed, both to document the event, and to
>discourage illegal actions from police and security personnel and as
>evidence in case they try something that they shouldn't. Truthout,
>MoveOn, and other groups have already said they want us to send them
>material after the protest. Be sure to photograph both the
>protestors and any police or security folks who are nearby,
>especially any interactions with them. We don't expect any trouble,
>but it's best to be prepared.
>
>Please post your best photos, and any stories you wish to write about
>this, to http://houston.indymedia.org/ afterwards.
>
>Please let me know if you can bring a video camera, or if you would
>like to help with peacemaking/security (to ensure that this is
>non-violent and to discourage interactions with any provocateurs or
>counter-demonstrators).
>
>Please forward this announcement as widely as possible and contact us
>if you have questions or would like more information.
>
>Suggestions for signs & banners include:
> * Fundraiser for the Morally (or Ethically) Bankrupt
> * Why Does Cheney Support Torture?
> * Anything involving ethics, war, repression, injustice,
>Halliburton, or indictments, with Cheney's or DeLay's name on it
> * Cheney & DeLay Brought Shame to US Govt
> * Unprecedented Human Rights Violations
> * Park Here to Bribe Tom DeLay
> * We're Ashamed of You, Tom DeLay
>
>If you want to be part of a "counter-protest", you could have signs like:
> * Republicans for Torture
> * Ethics is for Wimps
> * We're the Govt. We don't need Ethics.
> * Billionaires for DeLay (or Cheney)
>
>
>Signs, masks, etc.
>=============
>Here's a web site with other good protest ideas for signs, masks,
>costumes: http://insanereagan.org .
>It's easy to make large masks like the ones shown there:
>*Use your favorite picture of Cheney or DeLay.
>*Blow it up to twice life size at your local copy center.
>(on more than one sheet is OK)
>*Paste it on corrugated cardboard.
>*Cut holes for eyes.
>*Paste blocks of foam to it at your forehead and chin level
>*Punch holes on each side, and tie elastic or large rubber hands to
>go around your head.
>
>If you'd like to participate in a sign or costume-making party this
>weekend, please post a note to our discussion list at
> .
>...