Media Advisory: Nationwide Mobilization Against Bush Privatization Plans

CITIZENS LEADERS, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS NATIONWIDE UNITE TO MOBILIZE AGAINST BUSH PRIVATIZATION PLANS TO CUT BENEFITS

"The Tuesday July 24th meeting of the Bush Privatization commission will generate many news stories datelined Washington -- including coverage of the Institute for America's Future press conference where experts and lawmakers will dispute the commission's interim report.

But there is another important story outside the beltway: on Monday, July 23 citizens who oppose Bush's plans to privatize social security are mobilizing to protest the Privatization Commission. In over 50 communities all over the country, citizen groups are joining with elected official to conduct press conferences and public protests designed to promote public discussion about the devastating impact the Bush privatization plans will have on average Americans.

Many of these events will be attended or led by Members of Congress who actively oppose the Bush privatization goals. Other events will be organized by Democratic state party organizations, spurred by an unprecedented organizing effort by staff of the party's national committee. Almost every event will involve leaders of local organizations representing labor, women, religious communities, civil rights advocates, seniors and young people.

Some of the most significant events, bringing together strong statewide activist coalitions in defense of Social Security, are being organized by state affiliates of USAction, a national grassroots advocacy organization with dozens of chapters across the country.

The following is a partial list, as events are being added continually:

Alaska:
- Anchorage
- Press conference with state Democratic party leaders and community groups.

Arizona:
- Phoenix/Tucson
- Representative Ed Pastor's staff will be participating in a press conference sponsored by Arizona Citizen Action.

Arkansas:
- Little Rock
- Lottie Schackleford from the Democratic National Committee will be running a State Party Event. Representative Vic Snyder and staff will be participating.

California:
- Oakland
- Saturday, July 21nd Representative Barbara Lee will participate in a press conference with community leaders.

- Los Angeles
- Fernando Torres Gil, former Secretary of Aging, will lead a press event discussing Social Security's impact on the Latino community.

- Los Angeles
- Southern CA ADA press event with elected officials and community groups.

- Chico
- Press event with Democratic party leaders and community groups.

- Sacramento
- Press event with Democratic party leaders and community groups.

- San Diego
- Representative Bob Filner will lead a press conference.

- Fresno
- Press event with Democratic party leaders and community groups.

- San Jose
- Representative Mike Honda will be leading an event.

Colorado:
- Boulder
- On Wednesday July 25th there will be a press event sponsored by Colorado Progressive Coalition.

Connecticut:
- Hartford
- Representative John B. Larson will be participating in a conference with constituency and community leaders in a State Party Event.

Florida:
- Miami
- There will be an event involving community groups.

- West Palm Beach
- Press conference sponsored by area citizen and senior groups.

- Jacksonville
- Senator Bill Nelson will be participating in a press conference with Florida Consumer Action Network.

Georgia:
- Atlanta
- Press event with community leaders.

Hawaii:
-Representative Patsy Mink will distribute press releases.

Illinois:
- Chicago
- Representatives Danny K. Davis and Bobby Rush will be participating in a press conference sponsored by Illinois Citizen Action.

Iowa:
- Des Moines
- Press conference on Capitol steps sponsored by Iowa Citizen Action. Representative Leonard Boswell will speak.

Kansas:
- Kansas City
- Press conference with Democratic party leaders, and local elected officials and community groups.

Kentucky:
- Louisville
- Representative Kenneth R. Lucas will participate in a press conference.

- Paducah
- Press conference with local constituencies and local leaders.

Maine:
- Southern Maine
- Representative Tom Allen will participate in State Party events along with the Maine Council of Senior Citizens.

Maryland:
- Baltimore
- Representative Elijah E. Cummings will participate in a press event organized by the AFGE.

Michigan:
- Detroit
- Michigan New Century Alliance for Social Security will submit a press release.

- Lansing
- Press conference with organized by state Democratic party with state Representatives.

Minnesota:
- Saint Paul
- Representatives William Luther, Martin Olav Sabo, and Betty McCollum will be participating in a news conference along with other local elected officials and DFL Party Chairman.

- Duluth
- There will be a press event with local community groups.

Missouri:
- St. Louis
- Lieutenant Governor Joe Maxwell will participate in a press conference with Missouri Progressive Voter Coalition and other local community leaders.

- Springfield
- Speaker of the House Jim Cryder will participate in State Party events.

- Columbia
- Press conference with state Democratic party leaders and community groups.

- Jefferson City
- Press conference with state Democratic party leaders and community groups.

New Hampshire:
- Concord
- Press conference organized by New Hampshire Alliance for Social Security and Medicare with state Democratic party leaders and citizen leaders will.

New Mexico:
- Albuquerque
- Press conference with the Grey Panthers and other citizen groups.

New Jersey:
- Trenton
- Representative Rush Holt and Representative Frank Pallone will be participating in a press event and rally at the State House organized by New Jersey Citizen Action.

New York:
- New York City
- Representatives Joseph Crowley, Jerrold Nadler, Joseph Crowley and Carolyn B. Maloney will participate in a press event led by New York groups, including NY Statewide Senior Action Council, JPAC for Older Adults, and NY Citizen Action.

- Albany
- Representatives Maurice D. Hinchey and Michael R. McNulty will speak at a press conference led by NY Statewide Senior Action Council.

North Carolina:
- Raleigh/Durham
- Representatives Bob Etheridge and David Price will be participating in a press conference at Democratic Party Headquarters.

Ohio:
- Columbus
- Representative Sherrod Brown will lead a press conference.

Pennsylvania:
- Philadelphia
- Representatives Chaka Fattah, Robert A. Borski, Jim Hoeffel, and Robert A. Brady will participate in a press conference sponsored by PA Citizens for Consumer Justice. 10:30am, at City Hall

- Pittsburgh
- Representative William J. Coyne will participate in a press conference sponsored by PA Citizens for Consumer Justice.

South Carolina:
- Columbia
- There will be a Democratic state party event at a senior center.

Rhode Island:
- Providence
- Representative Jim Langevin will participate in a press conference.

Tennessee:
- Memphis/Nashville
- Tennessee Citizen Action press conference with Democratic party leaders.

Texas:
- Austin
- Press conference with state Democratic party leaders and community groups.

- Dallas
- Press conference with state Democratic party leaders and community groups.

- San Antonio
- Press conference with state Democratic party leaders and community groups.

- El Paso
- Press conference with state Democratic party leaders and community groups.

- Houston
- Representative Sheila Jackson Lee will lead a press conference.

Washington:
- Seattle
- Representative Jim McDermott will participate in a Washington Citizen Action event.

Wisconsin:
- Milwaukee
- Representative Thomas M. Barrett will participate in a press conference with state Democratic party leaders and citizen groups

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