-------------------------
Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the July 27, 2000
issue of Workers World newspaper
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MILWAUKEE PROTESTS BUSH
By Phil Wilayto
Milwaukee
Texas Gov. George W. Bush's July 17 campaign stop in
Milwaukee was met by demonstrators condemning the execution
of Shaka Sankofa/Gary Graham and calling for an immediate
end to the death penalty.
It was Bush's first visit to Wisconsin since Sankofa's
June 22 execution. That state-sponsored lynching met with
worldwide condemnation.
While Bush wined and dined at a $500-per-plate Republican
Party fundraiser at the Midwest Express Center, over 70
people kept up a loud and spirited picket line outside.
They chanted, "Gov. Death, you can't hide, we charge you
with genocide!"
Ten people held up large signs spelling out the name "Gary
Graham." A banner read, "Bush, Gore, Clinton: Abolish the
racist death penalty!"
All the local media covered the protest. But as soon as
reporters left to hear Bush's speech inside, police moved
to shut down the protesters' sound system.
When organizers argued that they had a constitutional
right to free speech and had used the system dozens of
times before, cops seized the equipment and arrested
student activist Bryan Pfeifer.
A delegation went to the police station to support Pfeifer
while the protest continued. He was released with a
municipal citation.
The protest was called by the A Job Is A Right Campaign.
Other participating groups included Muhammad Mosque No. 3,
AFL-CIO Union Summer organizers and interns, Justice for
Janitors members, the Latino organizations Federation for
Civic Action and Education for the People, Casa Maria
Catholic Worker, Milwaukee Greens, Workers World Party and
several religious activists.
- END -
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