PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Progressives Continue to Organize at League of Independent Voters Conference
by Eric Christopher Sloss Friday, Aug. 05, 2005 at 7:00 PM

PITTSBURGH, PA -In front of the University of Pittsburgh Law School under gray skies, some rain drizzle and loud trucks roaring by, a spirited group of attendees of Smackdown 2005, the League of Independent Voters Conference, sat nestled behind a non-working podium for a press conference. There, Khari Mosley, Pennsylvania and Ohio Organizer for League stood ready and addressed the crowd with a legion of 100 supporters “getting his back.” The conference itself is in day two of activities August 4 - 7.

Smackdown 2005 is a national conference for League organizers, trainers and local organizations. The conference aims to educate people about organizing for political progressive purposes. After some panel discussions and a happy hour at a sponsoring hotel, the weekend continued with more discussion, performances, speakers, and panel discussions to teach all levels of organizing.

At the press conference, most of the crowd stood behind the podium, maybe unsure where to stand. A few meager reporters and stragglers became the few front audience members for the press conference. Organizers from the league itself came from San Fransico, Albuquerque, Portland and other locations around the United States States.

Curtis Jones Jr. who, at 29, won the right to take a crack at the City Council seat in Erie, made the trip to arm him with grassroots organizing skills. He, like many speakers attended as students as well. “I'm here to make connections with other progressive individuals throughout the country. To make connections locally in Pittsburgh and take them to Erie.”

Pittsburgh City Councilman Bill Peduto, not pleased with the folks in front of him decided to turn around and address supporters behind him. Everyone had a message today; he had one, and put the impact of the local organizers' work in an international perspective. “[Smackdown] is about empowering people with the tools to change the community they live in. We have elections coming up that are not only going to set the stage for national politics but for world policy. What we do right here goes far beyond what you are doing for Pittsburgh."

William Upsky Wimsatt, co-editor of “How to Get Stupid White Men Out of Office” and the founder of the League of Pissed off Voters said, “Pittsburgh is the shit, the whole process that Khari Mosley pulled together for this is unprecedented. The work of the young people in Pittsburgh who built a new political force in the city made this region a natural choice to host this conference.”

Additional speakers at the press conference included Celeste Hill, Pittsburgh for Open Government, Joni Rabinowitz, Just Harvest, Chuck Pennaccio, History Professor and US Senatorial Candidate for Pennsylvania and Shae McKinney, Project Blue Stone an internet organizing company. To end this meeting, as if straight out of the mouth of a WWE wrestler, Mosley said, “Are you ready for the Smackdown!” The crowd cheered and dispersed to make the 10 a.m. sessions, all knowing there is more work to be done.

Along with the workshops during the day, evening events, which are open to the public, highlight the mix of culture and politics. Tonight, at 9 pm, the Shadow Lounge in East Liberty, hosts open-mic night. It features spoken word and hip hop artists from Pittsburgh and around the country. Saturday night at 10 p.m., the Firehouse Lounge in the Strip District hosts a party for participants and the public.


For more information visit http://www.indyvoter.org/modinput4.php?modin=198

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