Jackson Free Press

NEW ORLEANS, La., Jan. 20, 11 A.M. Link Traditional New Orleans jazz funeral entitled "A Wake for Peace": Jazz Funeral for Democracy timed to coincide with the inauguration of George W. Bush. Street theater encouraged. March, rally and inaugural ball featuring local New Orleans musicians.

WHERE: New Orleans, Louisiana. It is projected that the staging area will be at Congo Square (Armstrong Park) located just outside of the French Quarter on Rampart Street. Plans are to proceed through the commercial district down Canal Street during office workers' lunch hour before entering the Quarter where a rally will be held on the Moonwalk beside the Mississippi River. The march will then continue down Decatur Street, on to Frenchman via Esplanade before settling down at Washington Square Park at which time our "Inaugural Ball" will commence.

WHEN: Thursday, January 20, 2005 @ 11:00 AM (CST).

WHO: A coalition of groups and individuals distressed about issues including, but not limited to, the occupation of Iraq and other instances of US military aggression, the mistreatment of "detainees", corporate control of America, the rollback of individual liberties, state sponsored homophobia, election fraud, the poisoning of the environment, and the class warfare instituted by the Bush Administration. Groups include military veterans, civil rights organizations, theater groups, regional peace coalitions, and gay rights activists. Individuals involved are good, patriotic Americans who come from all walks of life.

WHY: Because we still can.

Organizations and individuals wishing to participate can contact:

BUDDY SPELL
[e-mail missing]

Previous Comments

ID

137401

Comment

from jazzfuneralfordemocracy.com As George Bush placed his left hand on a bible to purger himself on the steps of our nation's capital, fifteen hundred mourners took to the streets of New Orleans in upbeat defiance in the Jazz Funeral for Democracy: "A Wake for Peace". Coming from all walks of life, the participants, some of whom traveled from across America to participate, rejected the tactics of anger and frustration and set out to celebrate in a gathering of the tribes in opposition to the Bush agenda. The common bond which held this spiritual coalition together as one was the resistance to the invasion of Iraq, government sponsored torture and the degradation of the Bill of Rights. The funeral dirge proceeded through the heart of the city's commercial/corporate installations before entering the historic French Quarter. On the banks of the Mississippi River, in the shadows of St. Louis Cathedral a speakers' rally inspired the tribes and set an agenda for the establishment of a Southern Front of resistance to the Bush agenda. Speakers included Kathy Kelly, Steve Bacchus, and thirteen year old Avery Friend who stole the show by demanding that Mr. Bush count the children who have died in Iraq and confess his sins to the world. A copy of the Patriot Act was buried in the river at the conclusion of the rally. Following the rally, this new coalition for positive change celebrated by second lining throughout the French Quarter led by the Treme Brass band. A second, ad-hoc jazz group, the Constitution Brass band, provided even more life blood to the festivities. We danced in the street in recognition of the potential of a new movement which was born in New Orleans on this day.

Author

Tre

Date

2005-01-24T14:55:07-06:00

ID

137402

Comment

thanks for that link, it's just great, am sending it to lots of people. the South is not totally out of the loop. well, isn't New Orleans sort of its own state (of mind)? ha.

Author

sunshine

Date

2005-01-24T17:25:38-06:00

ID

137403

Comment

ok, I just looked at all the photos , @#$, I'm so sorry I missed it! hurray for them . did anyone go ?

Author

sunshine

Date

2005-01-24T18:11:46-06:00

ID

137404

Comment

My family and I were there. It was great.

Author

Tre

Date

2005-01-25T14:51:25-06:00