Bookmark: MAP's link to shadow convention items:
http://www.mapinc.org/shadow.htm

Note: Shadow Convention websites:
http://www.drugpolicy.org/
http://www.shadowconventions.com/

SHADOW: THE '60S ALTERNATIVE

The other convention in town takes an activist approach to its issues. A
major focus is bringing the have-nots closer to the haves.

The last time America reached this level of prosperity and political street
protest was the '60s.

That combination of social forces helped set the stage Monday for the Shadow
Convention, which took on the appearance of a '60s revival meeting,
including a surprise standoff with riot police and street theater by author
Gore Vidal.

As Angelenos streamed in wearing jeans, caftans and Indian-print skirts, the
dusty neo-Mediterranean marble corridors of Patriotic Hall hummed with the
purposeful festivity of a '60s coffeehouse, the intensely engaged
sociability of a sit-in and the anticipation of a pre-rally meeting.

The veterans center was transformed into a center for another breed of
self-professed patriots, and cases of military medals shared wall space with
signs demanding "Ban soft money now!"

Local power politico Jodie Evans, the former campaign manager for Jerry
Brown for President '92, promised that "the whole building will be a
happening."

And speaker after speaker called for the American political landscape to be
reshaped, again, so that the growing divide between ordinary people and the
economically powerful does not threaten democracy.

Audiences exploded into applause at the mention of names shrouded in the
mystique of the civil rights era, such as Selma, Ala., or by invocations of
leaders of social justice movements, such as Nelson Mandela. Politicians
such as Antonio Villaraigosa and Jesse Jackson Jr. called on their own party
to return to the days when the Democrats represented the common man.

What people are hungering for, several attendees said, is some tangible
connection with the political parties, which seem increasingly distant and
impersonal.

The mutinous mood was mirrored back at attendees by the biggest collection
of political slogans this side of UC Berkeley's Sproul Plaza. "We can only
vote every four years. Money votes every day," read one sign.

The protest signs intermingled with floor after floor of military
paraphernalia: Mannequins dressed in Revolutionary War get-ups, complete
with fife and drum, were mingled with bright red signs demanding that
Americans "Wake up! To the budget deficit."

State assemblyman and Los Angeles mayoral hopeful Villaraigosa said: "We
need to say if people don't have health care, that's immoral. We've got to
create an America where the American dream is for all of us--not some of
us."

Attendees touted appearances by Warren Beatty and other celebrities, but few
seemed to be awaiting them.

Dan Johnson-Weinberger, 25, said he was more excited about seeing former
presidential hopeful Gary Hart and Green Party candidate for California
senator Medea Benjamin.

Then, shortly after 8:30, dozens of police officers in full riot gear
cleared the auditorium to follow up on what turned out to be an erroneous
report of looting at the site.

The officers cordoned off Figueroa and found themselves staring into the
faces of Vidal, noted journalist Christopher Hitchens and Shadow Convention
co-founder Arianna Huffington.

As a police siren wailed, Vidal leaped onto a nearby satellite truck and
told the crowd: "Offend them in no way at all and save your lives. I'll do
my best to report from the front. It reminds me of Chicago in 1968."

Finally, even author Huffington manned the barricades. "I think we sent a
clear message that we will not be silenced. And if they take us out of
Patriotic Hall, we will take to the streets," she said.