Ron Daniels to speak at Florida Coalition conference Oct. 4-6

Ron Daniels to speak at Florida Coalition conference Oct. 4-6
September 1996

"Regardless how the 1996 elections turn out, our democracy is in crisis, and we progressives need to meet the crisis with education, organization, strategy and action." So starts information on this year's Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice conference, Common Ground III: Democracy in Crisis. The conference will be held on October 4-6 at Rollins College in Winter Park, FL.

Planned to tackle some of the most pressing questions and challenges facing American democracy, the conference puts forth this challenge to participants: "Let's join together to move from a liberal complaint to a radical analysis, to find the tools and strategies we need for the long run, and to envision the solutions and the future we want as we continue working to achieve a common ground."

On Saturday, October 5, Ron Daniels, Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), will deliver the keynote address. The CCR has worked with such issues as domestic justice, governmental misconduct, international human rights, the new campaign to Break the Contract on America, and the Environmental Justice Project. Daniels also served as Executive Director of the National Rainbow Coalition in 1987 and ran Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign in 1988. Daniels also was an independent candidate for the President of the United States in 1992, and has taught at Cornell University, Youngstown State University and Kent State University.

"We are living in some of the most perilous times in the history of this nation," he says. "We need to educate, agitate, and organize as never before to advance a vision of a new society. We must become ungovernable, if necessary, in the pursuit of peace and justice. NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE!"

The conference will also include several panels and workshops, including "Towards Real Democracy", "Vision of a New Economy", "Campaign Finance Reform: Corporate Influence in Elections", and "Participatory Democracy: Direct Action and Community Organizing".

Registration is $40, $25 for students/low income, $25 for Saturday only. Child care and a limited number of private accommodations are available. Call the Florida Coalition for Peace & Justice at 352-468-3295 or write to P.O. Box 90035, Gainesville, FL 32607 for more info. Brochures with registration forms are also available at the Civic Media Center, 1021 W. University Ave.

Members of the Civic Media Center and Freedom Coalition will be staffing a major annual fund-raiser, parking cars at the GAMA Alachua Music Harvest, the same weekend and are interested in getting in touch with interested persons to tape record the conference and possibly carpool. Call 373-0010 to volunteer.