Oct 23, 2004

MIAMI, Fla. — Sonia Bethel, a minimum-wage worker, immigrant and mother of eight children — all without health insurance — was the first voter in Florida’s early voting here. In Miami-Dade County alone, 12,000 people cast their ballots on the Oct. 18 opening day. click here for Spanish text

The Sarasota Herald Tribune obtained a “smoking e-mail” proving that Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was “personally involved” in ramrodding a new voter purge list for the 2004 election, even though the data firm that prepared it warned of its many “flaws.”

ST. LOUIS — Local community leader Zenobia Thompson welcomed 80 labor and community activists to a Friday evening People’s Weekly World forum, “Working-class media and democracy,” held here Oct. 15.

CHICAGO — “I can’t believe that seniors citizens have got to go through this mess,” Anna said to me as we stood in line for a flu shot early Monday morning out side the Atlas Center for the Aging here.

SAN FRANCISCO — Hundreds of Northern California grocery workers and supporters gathered in front of the Safeway store at Church and Market streets Oct. 15 to press their demand that health care coverage be maintained in the new contract being negotiated with area supermarket giants.

One key measurement of a president’s commitment to democracy is his (or her) commitment to civil rights. The following is a brief review of George W. Bush’s poor civil rights record.

PHOENIX — Students at Glendale Community College (GCC) marched against continuing racism in the Maricopa County community college system Oct. 12. The demonstration, which attracted about 150 people, was in reaction to the GCC administration ignoring a series of racist comments and e-mails from a faculty member.

PHILADELPHIA — After six weeks of extensions, members of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) approved a four-year contract with the school district Oct. 14.

KEENE, Calif.: Farm workers demand safe environment / NEW YORK CITY: Raise the standard of living / ERIE, Pa.: Religious leaders defend Jewish temple / MONTGOMERY, Ala.: Supreme Court candidate speaks to KKK