Hundreds Rally for Peace and Human Rights

May 29, 2008 by Lara Jones

Former SLC Mayor Keynotes Event

(KCPW News) While President Bush attended fundraisers for presumptive Republican Party nominee John McCain, hundreds gathered on the west side of the City & County Building last night to protest the war in Iraq and the Bush Administration in general. A fired up Rocky Anderson was pleased with the turnout:

"Everybody that's come down here, thank you for standing up. You, who are here today - raising your voices for an end to the tremendous abuses of power that are causing so much damage to our nation - are true patriots."

In what has become his calling card speech, the former mayor of Salt Lake City took the Bush Administration to task for what he called "unprecedented, egregious human rights violations, [and] vast deceit of Congress and the American people." And he blamed Congress and the mainstream media for being complicit in those acts. Still Anderson holds out hope:

"We gather today because we understand that it is only through citizens embracing our democracy, and demanding far better of our elected representatives, that our nation's course will be altered toward the restoration of the rule of law."

Since leaving office earlier this year, Anderson has embarked on a number of humanitarian causes through his new non-profit, High Road for Human Rights, lead organizer of last night's rally.

Use the media players below to hear Anderson's speech and those of other featured speakers:

  Marshall Thompson, Iraq veteran who calls for an end to the War in Iraq.

  Kathy Snyder, whose son, Captain Brian Freeman, was killed in Iraq last year.

  Daniel Ellsberg, Vietnam-era whistleblower who leaked what became known as the Pentagon Papers to the NY Times.

  Rocky Anderson, founder/president of High Road for Human Rights.

 

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