[Peace-discuss] [Sdas] FW: Danny Glover under attack ... for opposing executions (fwd)

Sun Dec 23 10:43:30 CST 2001

Here's another case of something that we need to bear pressure on.
susan

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 18:36:27 -0600
From: Marianne Brun <manni at snafu.de>
To: sdas at onthejob.net
Subject: [Sdas] FW: Danny Glover under attack ... for opposing executions

----------
Von: portsideMod <portsidemod at yahoo.com>
Antworten an: portside at yahoogroups.com
Datum: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 17:33:12 -0800 (PST)
An: ps <portside at yahoogroups.com>
Betreff: Danny Glover under attack ... for opposing executions

Actor Danny Glover under attack ...
for opposing wartime executions

Danny Glover, actor, activist, and board member of the
Positive Futures Network, has been coming under a
hailstorm of attacks based on an incident following a
speech he gave at Princeton on November 16.

This is not just about Danny. It's about all of us. As
Danny noted in his speech "When we fear, we clamp down
on those who do not think like us or who do not look
like us." We see that happening everywhere, as our
leaders look for total support for their military
agenda and view dissent as unpatriotic.

As we enter this McCarthyesque period, I think we are
all called upon to be more courageous, more articulate
in our views, and more supportive of one another.

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED TO DANNY

On November 16, at the invitation of the local Amnesty
International chapter, Danny gave a speech about the
death penalty to a packed auditorium at Princeton
University. Danny is well known for his opposition to
the death penalty. He pointed out that 98 death row
inmates have recently been released after new evidence
demonstrated their innocence. He also noted the racial
bias in the system in which 43 percent of 741 executed
prisoners were African Americans. His speech was
received enthusiastically by a sympathetic audience.

After the close of the speech, when many had already
left the auditorium, a young man questioned Danny in
such racist language that the remaining audience booed
the questioner. Danny signaled for quiet, saying we
need to listen to all. The questioner accused Danny of
"playing the victim" and suggested he go back and fix
his own communities rather than blame racism. He also
wanted to know if Danny would extend his opposition to
the death penalty to Osama bin Laden. Danny affirmed
his opposition to the death penalty, period. The
provocative exchange continued, with Danny noting that
America has been a key purveyor of violence in this
world. Danny also voiced his objections to the
military tribunals that President Bush has created.

These comments have elicited a hailstorm of outrage.
For two weeks The Trentonian newspaper ran angry
comments suggesting that if Danny didn't love this
country he should leave it -- and worse. Ollie North
broadcast the story across the country on his Radio
America show, provoking hundreds of hate-filled calls
to Danny's agency in Los Angeles. Ollie urged his
audience to boycott The Royal Tenenbaums -- a movie to
be released in late December in which Danny stars
along with Gwyneth Paltrow, Gene Hackman, Anjelica
Huston, Ben Stiller, Bill Murray, and others.

In Modesto, California, the controversy caused the
City Council to pull out of sponsoring Danny as the
featured speaker for the celebration of Martin Luther
King Day. Fortunately, the local planning committee
for the event has maintained their invitation and
Danny plans to speak. According to the Modesto Bee,
"John Lucas, president of the Modesto Peace Life
Center, one of the sponsors, noted that King himself
was controversial and criticized the Vietnam War.
Lucas does not think Glover's views are much different
from those King might have had if he were alive today.
'The interesting thing I find is that Martin Luther
King wouldn't be invited to his own event,'" he said.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Those who would stifle dissent are quick to express
their opinions and target anyone who takes a larger
view of patriotism. We too must be ready to respond
quickly in our vigilant defense of real democracy.

**MODESTO: Show support for Danny -- and for free
speech -- in Modesto. If you know anyone around that
area, urge them to attend! Danny will speak on
Saturday, January 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the Christ Unity
Baptist Church at 1320 L St. in Modesto (Call the
Peace Life Center for further information:
209/529-5750).

Fax the Modesto City Council at 209/571-5586 or write
them at Modesto City Council, P.O. Box 642, Modesto CA
94341 saying you support free speech and disagree with
their decision to pull their backing for Danny's
appearance at the MLK Day activities.

**THE MOVIE: Here's an easy one. See the Royal
Tenenbaums -- don't let Ollie North's call for a
boycott depress the box office.

**MLK Day. Let's celebrate Martin Luther King Day with
an extra measure of clarity about his courage in
consistently urging this nation to live up to its
ideals of democracy, freedom, and peace.

**SUPPORT EACH OTHER. Let's look for every opportunity
to support one another. What happened to Danny is
happening to many others. This is a time for courage
and mutual support.

Fran

Frances F. Korten, Executive Director
The Positive Futures Network, publisher of YES! magazine
P.O. Box 10818, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
206/842-0216
fkorten at futurenet.org
www.yesmagazine.org
<<http://www.yesmagazine.org/>http://www.yesmagazine.org/>

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