The concluding panel, addressing a crowd of around 300 remaining participants at Cooper Union's grand and famous hall, discussed Which Way Forward for the Left. They were all very interesting, but much tilted in the direction of "Anyone But Bush," including Frances Fox Piven, Congr. Bernie Sanders, and Stephen Eric Bronner. Stanley Aronowitz, of the NY Greens spoke last, and did not engage the Nader bashers, and the others on the panel -- Hilary Wainwright (of Britain's "Red Pepper"), the head of one of the largest Labor Party unions in England whose name I've forgotten, and Barbara Bowen (Professional Staff Congress at CUNY) -- discussed other very important matters.
When Manning Marable spoke, he was interesting as he always is, but he came to the end saying that he'd voted for Nader last time but would vote for Kerry this time because of what Bush means for people of color. Suddenly, quite a few boos, very loud ones, were heard -- more than I'd expected, actually. And not just from the NY Greens entourage which was sitting a few rows behind me.
At first Manning was amused, but as the booing grew, he clearly was rattled. His case was very weak, and he could have just as easily said "And therefore I am voting for Nader again," with just as much logic.
I talked to him afterwards and he tried to smooth it over. When I said, "You have the right to tell people whom you think they should vote for, but you do not have the right to narrow their choices by saying that Nader should not run." Manning said: "Well, we don't really disagree then." And I said, "Yes we do. You've caved in to the pressure."
Meanwhile, Manning's wife, Leith Mullens, went over to the group of NY Greens and yelled at them that they were a bunch of racists!!!!! Just for booing Manning's public exhortation to reject Nader.
The main booer, Daniel Starling, is Native American (mixed together with other ethnicities) and challenged her back. She tried to walk away. But the Greens rightly persued her. It was a sad but proud moment, and a number of folks came over to my table afterwards and took Don Fitz's pamphlet, which I got out this weekend (should be in the mail toyou soon.)
This is what we have to look forward to.
Kudos to the NY Greens, for holding their ground.
Mitchel Cohen
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