Nov. 18, 2006

CLEVELAND — Flush with victory in the Nov. 7 elections, Cleveland’s labor activists, like their counterparts elsewhere, are pressing to broaden the base of their movement and are already taking initiatives to guarantee that campaign promises are realized.

The nationwide peace coalition United for Peace and Justice has called for a mass march on Washington Jan. 27 to press the new Congress to “take immediate action to end the war.”

Sometimes you have to blow your own horn so people know about your accomplishments. This is one of those times. I can say — unabashedly — that the People’s Weekly World played an outstanding role in informing and activating readers around the midterm elections.

Already, the PWW’s friends have raised over $100,000 in this year’s fund drive, attaining half of the $200,000 goal earlier than expected.

CHICAGO — Health care activists from around the country gathered here for a strategy meeting Nov. 11-12, energized in the wake of the Democrats winning control of both houses of Congress.

Voters in six states that helped send Bush back to the White House for a second term in 2004 sent a different message this year, approving ballot measures that increase the minimum wage in their states.

CHICAGO — Gathering at the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial alongside the Chicago River to the musical refrains of “I ain’t gonna study war no more,” veterans and their supporters helped bring a distinctly antiwar cast to Veterans Day 2006.

FORT BENNING, Ga.: ‘Close torture school,’ thousands demand
RALEIGH, N.C.: Voters elect women to top courts
ASHLAND, Ala.: Tyson settles discrimination suit
BOONVILLE, Ind.: Miners sue Alcoa for toxic dumping
WASHINGTON: ‘Dream’ honored with King memorial groundbreaking

Among the most significant election results in California was the 53-47 percent victory of wind power engineer Jerry McNerney over seven-term U.S. Rep. Richard Pombo in the 11th Congressional District, despite a Republican 7-point advantage in voter registrations. The war in Iraq, the environment, and Washington scandals were key issues in the northern California race