Anti-GOP Group Publishes RNC Delegate List; Urges 'Local Contact'

By Jeff Gannon
Talon News
August 19, 2004

The Washington, DC chapter of the leftist Independent Media Center has published a partial list of delegates to the Republican National Convention on its web site. The list includes names, home addresses, and telephone numbers as well as the hotel of each delegate for the New York convention. The IMC says that its objective is to "supply anti-RNC groups with data on the delegates to use in whatever way they see fit."

The group also aims to "facilitate making local connections," noting that many of the delegates are involved in politics and business on a town or county level.

It says that during the Republicans' "invasion of New York City ... the self-appointed managers of the world will be discussing their party platform of racism, imperialism and the violent suppression of human liberty."

The IMC lists numerous grievances against the Republican Party, key among them a terrifying increase in racism against Arabs and Muslims in the United States, claims of civil liberties infringements due to the passage of the USA PATRIOT Act, and "an accelerated continuation of the war against the poor and the oppressed."

It also accuses the Bush administration of seeking empire in the Middle East by the invasion of two sovereign states, Iraq and Afghanistan. American support of Israel is criticized along with the "bogus war on terror."

The IMC says that the information was obtained from a list that was released on the Internet earlier this summer by an "anonymous affinity group."

The activist group isn't alone in hoping to publicize information about GOP delegates.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe told the Associated Press, "These are the people who will ratify the Republican Party platform, and the American people have the right to know who they are."

He asked, "What do they have to hide?"

The RNC is leaving it up to individual states as to what information it will release about its delegates. Chairman Ed Gillespie said that security and confidentially figured into the policy. He noted that several web sites have suggested protesters should "show them the kind of welcome they can expect in New York."

New York City is bracing for a wave of protesters during the week of the convention. Law enforcement officials see a growing likelihood that some protesters may turn to violence. The FBI has been interviewing probable protesters to assess the potential for chaos.

A web site, www.RNCnotwelcome.org, is serving as a clearinghouse for information for convention protesters. It promotes a day of "non-violent civil disobedience and direct action" on Sunday, August 31 that will culminate in a convergence on Madison Square Garden, the site of the convention. The aim is to "confront the Bush administration's unjust policies at home and abroad."

Protest organizers say that they will not be bound by permits issued by New York City and intend to fill the sidewalks and streets with their numbers. Most left of center groups will participate in demonstrations during the week, including the socialist-backed International ANSWER, Code Pink, and United for Peace and Justice. Several of the groups protesting are the beneficiaries of funding from the foundation controlled by Teresa Heinz Kerry through a shadowy labyrinth of non-profit organizations.