Three Days to Shake the Nation


It's going to be an active three days. Today (Saturday) in New York City there are events culminating in a mass demonstration for Peace, Justice and Democracy. This is a national demonstration, with people coming from elsewhere in the U.S. to participate. Jesse Jackson, Cindy Sheehan and Daniel Ellsberg are speaking. This event comes at the end of the month with the most American casualties of this year in the Iraq war.

Tens of thousands are expected to demonstrate in Washington Sunday against the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. Events actually began Friday, when five members of Congress sought arrest in a protest outside the Sudanese embassy. One of those arrested was Rep. Tom Lantos of California, a survivor of the Nazi holocaust. Also bringing attention to this woefully undercovered story, actor George Clooney visited Darfur and returned to address the National Press Club in Washington.

Then on Monday, possibly the most massive event is a general strike across the nation by immigrant workers protesting anti-immigrant legislation that has already inspired some of the largest demonstrations in the history of several American cities, including Los Angeles. The one-day strike on May 1 may involve millions of workings and thousands of businesses. Some businesses are planning to shut down for the day, either in support or from necessity. ("This means parents in Beverly Hills have two days to learn their childrens' names," quipped Tonight Show host Jay Leno on Friday.) Those who do go to work on Monday can show solidarity by wearing white.

Monday's events also include marches, and Los Angeles is expecting even larger crowds than last time, up to a million people in all. Chicago and other cities also expect marches with large crowds. Schoolrooms may be empty in many places as well.