Danny Glover incident

[Marta Russell]

Yet another attack from the "patriots"
marta
>FROM:      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
>
>DATE:      Tuesday, 12/18/01
>
>SUBJECT:      Danny Glover Under Attack
>
>
>Here's a message to act on and to send on to your
>networks.
>
>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 wold 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, California 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.
>

-- 
Marta Russell
Los Angeles, CA
www.disweb.org