Democracy Extravaganza (anglicky)

15.1.2004
PRAHA [American Voices Abroad Prague]
Autor: Arianna Meadowlark, tel: 608819276

Worldwide Voter Pledge Drive for Americans Living Abroad
Launch Party in Prague
Jan. 19th at Globe Bookstore 4p.m. to midnight

American Voices Abroad Prague will celebrate the Prague launch of the worldwide 100,000 for 2004 Voter Pledge Campaign on Jan. 19th. A “Democracy Extravaganza” at the Globe Bookstore-Café from 16:00 to midnight will kick off the Prague effort to encourage US citizens living abroad to vote for a president who will reject the USA PATRIOT Act and the so-called doctrine of preemptive war. Americans abroad in international capitals, including Paris, Berlin and Beirut, will be launching the 100,000 for 2004 campaign simultaneously on Jan. 19 – 20. January 19th is the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in the U.S. and also marks one year and one day before the next presidential inauguration.

The Program for Jan. 19:

17:00 Marathon reading of the U. S. Constitution begins
18:00 Filmmaker Joan Sekler will screen her documentary "Unprecedented: the 2000 Presidential
Elections" and discuss the film with the audience.
20:00 Prague poets from the Alchemy poetry series will read on the topic of democracy
20:30 Screening of the documentary film "Uncovered: the Truth about the Iraq War.”
22:00 ‘til Midnight -- Live concert by "Zero King" and “Cleanhead Phil.’

The Globe Bookstore-Café will provide free beer to all those who sign the 100,000 for 2004 pledge.

The 100,000 for 2004 Campaign:

100,000 for 2004 is a pledge drive organized by American Voices Abroad, a coalition of US citizens living outside the United States. The campaign was inspired by the crucial role absentee ballots played in the disputed presidential elections of 2000 and aims to create a significant overseas voting bloc to influence the current US presidential campaigns.

Participants pledge to vote for the candidates in the primaries and in the general elections who are dedicated to 1. ending the doctrine of preventive war and 2. repealing unconstitutional legislation, specifically the USA PATRIOT Act. As a non-partisan organization, AVA will not formally endorse candidates but will inform candidates that this is the minimum standard platform they must fulfill in order to receive the support of voters within our block. Voters express their commitment by signing a voter pledge.

The independent voting block has three primary goals:
- to support presidential candidates willing to end preventive warfare and overturn the Patriot Act.
- to influence the pre-election political debate and campaign process in the U.S.
- to inform the people in our host countries about the existence of active political opposition in the US.

Prague Press Contacts:
Gwendolyn Albert: email avaprague@seznam.cz or phone
Vincent Farnsworth email vincent.f@volny.cz
Arianna Meadowlark: e-mail ariannameadowlark@yahoo.com or phone 608819276
AVA Prague website
100,000 for 2004 website

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