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see photos of this event, click here.
News Media report on the Second RPA Forum
Kucinich Delivers Richmond a Pep Talk
By
Liz Tascio
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
RICHMOND
- Residents may have come to the Civic Center on Monday night to show
their support for Dennis Kucinich, but he was the one giving the pep talk.
The Democratic presidential hopeful visited the city, known more for high
crime and struggling schools than for its political influence, because
people there are taking a stand for the same things he has in his campaign,
he told the crowd.
"You're right at the front lines," he told the crowd of about 350 people that filled the lobby.
The forum was organized by the Richmond Progressive Alliance. Candidates for City Council, local activists and the director of a San Francisco-based national human rights group spoke before Kucinich took the microphone about 7:30 p.m. The forum, which got off to a late start, was low-tech but high energy. With just the microphone and a modest stage, poet and youth organizer Cesar Cruz worked the crowd into applause. Cruz called on the community to demand what it needs, including more money for schools.
Though they didn't speak, the event attracted local leaders such as Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia and acting Police Chief Charles Bennett. As some were checking out a table full of pamphlets and Kucinich T-shirts, Ron Skoletsky and Marie Morel-Seytoux of Hercules were waiting in their seats, keeping their toddler busy with snacks. Between them, they said, they are in line with many of Kucinich's beliefs, such as his opposition to the World Trade Organization and his push for peace. But they are not placing their hope in his candidacy; Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry looks light years ahead of Kucinich, with 695 delegates to his two.
"I just want to show support for a candidate that's willing to step outside the standard democratic process," said Morel-Seytoux, 35.
Kucinich, however, is not backing down. He strode onto the stage and shouted hello to the crowd, already on their feet and applauding.
"I understand the process of neighborhood," he told them. "I understand that because I came from the city of Cleveland, and we fight those battles there." He cited Richmond's struggles with pollution, poverty and violence, calling them the weapons of mass destruction President Bush should be looking for and trying to eradicate.
"The types of environmental practices that would never be allowed in a community of wealth are considered common practices" in places such as the poorer neighborhoods of Richmond and Cleveland, he said.
Kucinich, the first presidential hopeful to visit Richmond since 1988, called on the crowd to organize for peace, better health care and a clean environment. He told them that as president, he would represent them as no other candidate could. Some were convinced of that before he even spoke.
"I think the fact that he came to the Bay Area will take him far," said Anita Booze, 47, of Richmond. "He doesn't think he's too good for the people of Contra Costa County."
Reach
Liz Tascio at 925-945-4780 or ltascio@cctimes.com.
______________________________________________________________________________________
KUCINICH DRAWS FULL HOUSE
Date: Mon, 23 Feb
2004
TOM BUTT E-FORUM:
The Kucinich Campaign and
the Richmond Progressive Alliance packed the Foyer of
the Richmond Memorial Auditorium with a standing room only crowd
of about 600 enthusiastic supporters and maybe some curiosity
seekers. Fred Jackson and Andres Soto warmed up the crowd with a musical
number, and Cesar Cruz recited poetry before Kucinich arrived.
Kucinich is still the hero of many progressive Democrats with his unswerving
support for free education through college, single payer health care for
all, opposition to the Patriot Act, opposition to the War in Iraq, support
for the Kyoto Treaty, opposition to FCC media deregulation and a plan
to replace NAFTA and the WTO with bilateral trade agreements conditioned
on human rights and environmental principles.
The Richmond Progressive Alliance has rallied a seemingly
unlikely group of Greens, Latinos, progressive Democrats, African Americans
and free spirits into a new Richmond political coalition that supports
civil rights, the environment, education, open government and quality
of life issues that could give the old establishment a run for its money.
It's the first Richmond coalition in memory united over ideals rather
than power and personalities.
To see
photos of this event, click here.Mail: RPA, P.O. Box 160 - Station A, Richmond, CA 94808-0160
Telephone (510) 595-4661