Santa Monica sands a ground zero for Sunday protests Activists to demonstrate for labor and union causes in shadow of corporate-sponsored Democratic party on pier. By LAURA WIDES

SANTA MONICA--Question: what do members of the Blue Dog Democrats, sweatshop protesters, union organizers and puppeteers have in common?

Answer: They will all be out Sunday evening on the shores of Santa Monica celebrating their respective causes on the eve of the Democratic National Convention.

The city will draw thousands of representatives from a broad political spectrum to its shores that night. And, according to Santa Monica City Councilman Mike Feinstein, the interaction among these groups and police is likely to set the tone for the convention, which starts Monday at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

As a preview to Sunday's events, Santa Monica's 18th Street Arts Complex is organizing an artists protest Friday night. The event will include the opening of a new show on the history of political posters and a variety of performances throughout the evening.

But the real action begins Sunday.

The Blue Dog Coalition of fiscally conservative Democrats in Congress has rented out Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier for a private party Sunday evening. The group includes U.S. Reps. Gary Condit (D-Modesto), Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove), Ellen Tauscher (D-Walnut Creek) and Mike Thompson (D-Napa).

"In Chicago [in 1996] the Blue Dogs threw a great party, so people were looking forward to it again," said Blue Dog event organizer Adrian Levy of the Santa Monica-based event planning firm Spellbound Creative Concepts. Organizers expect 2,000 people to attend.

But the event's more than a dozen sponsors, which include tobacco giant Philip Morris, the National Rifle Assn.'s Institute for Political Action and defense contractor Raytheon, have drawn the ire of activists, who see the corporate tie as corrupting the country's political process.

Thus a coalition of activists and artists will also be out Sunday on the sand next to the pier in what they call the Santa Monica Celebration of Democracy Beach Party.

Prior to the beach party, activists from around the country will be gathering in front of the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel to demonstrate in support of a unionization effort at the hotel. A few blocks away, other activists will gather in front of the Gap store on the Third Street Promenade to protest what they say is the clothing company's use of sweatshops to produce its clothes.

The two demonstrations will converge at the Beach Party, which is sponsored by San Francisco-based activist group Global Exchange and the Southern California Fair Trade Network. Speakers will discuss local and national issues, while artists such as Urban Rhythm Volunteers, Soul Infusion Dance Troupe, and Billionaires for Bush or Gore perform.

Among the performers will also be a giant puppet named Philip Morris, which has made the rounds across the country on a mock campaign trail. Beach Party organizers say the puppet symbolizes the significant campaign contributions made by the Philip Morris Co. and other corporations to the major political parties.

Event organizers say Philip Morris has contributed $5 million in soft money to both parties between 1995 and 1998, a figure confirmed by the Federal Election Commission. Soft money is defined as the nonfederally regulated contributions to political parties that may not be spent on candidates for federal office, but are often used for "issue ads" in support of the party or to denounce the opposition.

Protesters also say Philip Morris actively encourages teens to smoke in countries such as Russia and Cambodia by using young-looking models in their ads.

Philip Morris spokeswoman Elizabeth Cho said the company does not market to those under 25 years of age, but acknowledged that, in the past, the company may have produced advertisements that unintentionally targeted young people.

"Nowadays we realize we have to make more of an effort to direct our marketing activities to the intended audience, which in this case is adults," Cho said.

The Democratic National Committee stated this year that it would not accept soft money from the tobacco industry. But Alisha Prather, spokeswoman for Blue Dog Chairman Chris John, a congressman from Louisiana, said neither the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee nor the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees have made such a pledge. "So there's no problem," she said.

Organizers for the Blue Dog event and Gap spokesman Jack Dougherty both said they hope the demonstrations will be a peaceful. "Our prediction for Sunday evening is that we will have business as usual," said Dougherty. As to the protesters' allegations, Dougherty said the Gap forbids forced labor and child labor in factories that produce its clothing and employee monitors visit factories on a regular basis.

Santa Monica Mayor Ken Genser said the city is expecting all the events to be peaceful, but is prepared if they are not. "People expressing their political beliefs is part of the democratic process," he said, adding, "our police are trained, and there has been special training recently to make sure they respect people's rights and freedom to express themselves." Genser cautioned, however, that the city is fully prepared in case anyone does decide to "cross the line to violate the law."

But activists say there has been too much media concern on tactics and not enough on message. "There is way more concern on the activist tactics and police tactics than why the activists are there in the first place," Global Exchange organizer Julliette Beck said. "That's why we're hoping to put on a good demonstration that will make blatantly obvious how these corporations are buying our democracy at these schmooze fests."

"My understanding is that the idea is to portray everyone on the beach as a much more fun alternative to the charade of democracy that will be on the pier," added Alli Starr, also a organizer for Global Exchange.

Feinstein, a featured speaker at the Beach Party, said he wants to emphasize the message that, "people who share the various progressive viewpoints ... can actually participate in local government and be successful."

Global Exchange's Beck and other organizers said they are concerned about the aggressive tactics of police in Philadelphia during the recent Republican National Convention and about statements from the Los Angeles Police Department concerning its preparations for protesters. In Philadelphia more than 300 protesters were arrested.

But California Fair Trade Network organizer Michael Everett said officials from the Santa Monica Police Department have told Beach Party organizers they do not need any permits for their activities and have been relatively accommodating of the organizers' plans.

During the festivities, the city plans to close automobile access to the pier. Beginning Friday night, workers will begin construction on a fence around around the pier's parking lot.

The 1550 Pacific Coast Highway parking lot will remain open throughout the weekend, according to Santa Monica Police Chief James T. Butts Jr. The pier itself will also remain open, although the Pacific Park amusements will be off limits to the public beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday.