Students Rally in Copley, Claim Bush ‘Stole’ Election

[Guest guest]

Students Rally in Copley, Claim Bush `Stole' Election

 

In the wake of the presidential election, Harvard students joined more

than 100 other political protesters yesterday in Copley Square for the

Rally and Vigil for Democracy.

 

The local rally, which began at 5 p.m., was part of a larger effort by

the No Stolen Elections! campaign, for which people from over 30

cities nationwide have promised to protest the election results in

upcoming weeks.

 

Over 15,000 people have already signed a pledge expressing their

concerns that the election was stolen by President Bush, said Michael

A. Gould-Wartofsky '07, a founding member of the Harvard Social Forum.

 

" I think Harvard students are more aware than others of how they can

make democracy happen, " said Gould-Wartofsky, who is also a Crimson

editor. " Some people might be staying home depressed, but we should

translate that to something visible by getting active. "

 

Though a handful of Boston police officers were needed to control the

flow of traffic, the rally was peaceful and attracted individuals of

various political affiliations and beliefs, including union

representatives, Socialists, Democrats, anarchists and radicals.

 

Many students from the Harvard Social Forum joined the other political

activists in Copley Square. The protesters paced back and forth at

intersection of Dartmouth and Boylston Streets, holding signs,

chanting slogans and distributing pamphlets while several cars honked

in support of their cause.

 

Many protesters said they were there to express discontent with

election results and Bush's foreign policy.

 

" Being out here is the start to rebuilding the movements against Bush

and the war in Iraq, " said Daniel DiMaggio '04, a former member of the

Harvard Socialist Alternative.

 

Gould-Wartofsky said that many of the protesters feel that the Kerry

campaign should have waited longer for the votes to be counted.

 

Early yesterday morning, Sen. John Edwards, D.-N.C., vowed to " fight

for every vote. " But by yesterday afternoon Sen. John F. Kerry,

D-Mass., conceded the presidential election.

 

The political rally, however, was more than just an anti-Bush

demonstration. The majority of protesters said they came out to voice

specific concerns on issues, including immigration, social security,

the draft and police brutality.

 

" I would have come out if Kerry won, too. I'm here to meet other

people who are also interested in radical ideas, " said Hank R.

Gonzalez, '06, treasurer of the Socialist Alternative.

 

Edward B. Childs, a cook in Adams House, said that even though he is

against " four more years of Bush, " the reason he attended was to focus

on the issues.

 

" It's important to go out the first day after elections to protest

against cuts in Social Security, Medicare, cuts to veterans and

workers' rights, " said Childs, who is also the chief steward of Hotel

Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 26.

 

As he watched the crowd of protesters, Gould-Wartofsky reflected on

the election results.

 

" More people are demoralized than I thought, but movements are what

really change American politics, " he said. " The power is still in the

people. We didn't just give it up to the President yesterday. "