A group of about fifty people gathered on the east side of the U.S. Capital building in Washington, D.C. today [January 6, 2001] to protest the theft of the recent American presidential election by George W. Bush.

The group carried signs and chanted pro-democracy slogans outside the building. Inside, Senators sat on their hands as Congressman after Congressman, and Congresswoman after Congresswoman, pleaded with the Senate to put a stop to the election fraud.

[Under the rules covering joint sessions of Congress, issues and objections must be raised by a Congressman AND a Senator. Numerous Congress men and women rose to protest the election fraud in Florida, but NOT ONE SENATOR WOULD SPEAK OUT! The Black Congressional Caucus walked out in protest.]

Sources on Capital Hill have told Crofton Online that Democratic Senators reached a deal with Republican Senators on a power-sharing agreement that included an unpublicized provision: in return for equal representation on Senate committees, Democrats promised not to support efforts in today's Joint Session of Congress to debate the election fraud in Florida.

Democratic leaders knew that the effort to count black votes in Florida was doomed to failure. By selling out black voters now, they reasoned, they would be in a better position to push their political agenda down the road.

Meanwhile, attention in Washington is turning to the coming fight over confirmation of Bush's appointment for Attorney General: the recently defeated radical right winger John Ashcroft.

If confirmed, Ashcroft will be in a position to put the full force and resources of the Justice Department behind his radical agenda. Soon, instead of fighting to preserve the separation of church and state, the Justice Department will be suing schools that don't require students to say Christian prayers. They will be going to court arguing against the right to choose, arguing on behalf of the United States that women should be required to have children against their will if a man tells them so.

[People for the American Way is leading the fight against the confirmation of Ashcroft.]

Clearly America's leaders do not have the will to preserve democracy, especially if it is inconvenient for them. To deal with the problem, citizens are beginning to recognize the need for street action.

January 20 is the final step in the process of disenfranchisement of black American voters. Numerous groups are coordinating efforts to bring hundreds of thousands of protesters to Washington to peacefully confront the enemy.

Crofton Online will be covering the voter protest that begins at 10:00 AM at Dupont Circle. Details may be obtained at the Voter March Web Site.

Additional information about related demonstrations can be found at the Trust the People Web Site, at CounterCoup, and at democrats.com.

For a comprehensive list of all the groups planning demonstrations January 20, including links to their web sites, click here.

More pictures below.