I was just informed of this. PRO-BUSH THUGS ARE BEATING PEOPLE UP.

I repeat: a week ago Saturday, at the Westwood (L.A.) Federal Building, FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WERE BEATEN UP BY PRO-BUSH THUGS. YES, THE CHILDREN WERE BEATEN UP TOO. I was just told this by an eyewitness.

THERE WAS NO MEDIA COVERAGE. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF IT ON ANY "PROGRESSIVE" LISTSERV I KNOW OF. I just found out today, a week after the fact.

WHERE IS THE MOVEMENT??????

This is now a FREE-SPEECH issue. This is like 1932, in that gangs of thugs are being encouraged by their apparent "success" in shaping the course of events. Intimidation in Miami-Dade, outright violence here!

In January, people stood up for Food Not Bombs at Pershing Square. In August, people stood up for the right to demonstrate at Staples Center. This is NOT less important!

NO ONE must EVER be physically assaulted at the Federal Building, EVER AGAIN!!! Brave words, let's make them true!

Yes, I know people are still mad about the DNC. Yes, I know people are still angry about how the Gore campaign treated the Nader campaign. Yes, I know many activists in L.A. are anarchists or socialists or somethingorotherists who don't believe in "bourgeois majoritarian elections." Yes, I know many people (including me!) think Gore deserves whatever he gets. But do WE, THE PEOPLE, deserve this??? NO!!!!!

This is NOT a time for revolutionary elitism, or for childish peevishness! Do not consent in the withdrawal of democratic rights from the millions of men and women who are not leftists and still believe (the silly suckers!) in voting and elections!

Just today I talked to someone who is just back from Cuba. The Cubans are amazed that there aren't thousands of people shutting down the streets right now!

After all, if the proto-fascists disguised as conservatives can steal the country, WHO DO YOU THINK THEY'LL COME FOR FIRST?

In the 1930's, the German Communist Party under Willie Munzenberg refused to make common cause with the liberals and the socialists in order to stop the Nazis. They would not ally themselves with the "social-fascists." At that time the fascist thugs were big, powerful and had a lot of "street power," just as they do now. They clearly needed to be stopped. But Willie and many or most of his comrades ended up dying in the concentration camps. Enough said.

If anybody out there agrees, throw me an e-mail. A few of us want to hold some fair elections protests that are not dominated by Nader-baiting Gore-ites.