A Day of Mourning:
Counter-Inaugural Events Across America

A few days ago, we read a little item on another progressive blog, complaining that not enough is being done to plan for counter-inauguration protests against the policies of George W. Bush on January 20, 2005. Our first reaction was to groan. We've found that the best way to deal with a lack of preparedness is to prepare. When you want action, you have to act - even if it seems that no one else is doing so.

Our second reaction, more fruitful, was to question. The claim that there is not a lot of activity in preparation for protests on Inauguration Day sounded suspiciously uninformed. After all, we've heard quite a bit about people in our own communities organizing buses to bring protesters to Washington D.C. to take part in anti-Bush protests on January 20. We've seen quite a bit of hub-bub online around the idea of a National Day of Mourning. The sales of our National Day of Mourning bumper stickers, buttons, and posters and shirts has been quite heavy.

So, we decided to take a second look around, and find out what we could about counter-inaugural activities going on around the country. We've assembled what we found, so that we could present it to our readers to encourage their involvement. After all, Inauguration Day offers the first big opportunity for progressive Americans to express their resistance to the Republican agenda of nationalism and greed since Election Day of 2004.

Organizing Web Sites

• Day Of Mourning
• Blue Flu - Calling in Sick of Bush January 20, 2005
• Counter Inaugural
• Not One Damn Dime Day
• Turn Your Back on Bush
• Democracy Flu
• J20 Walk Out Discussion Boards
• J20 Walk Out
• NYC Counter-Inaugural
• Chicago Counter-Inaugural
• Twin Cities Counter Inaugural Coalition
• Boston Mobilization
• Black Armbands for Justice
• Counter Inaugural Ball
• Jazz Funeral for Democracy
• I'm Blue
• La contro-inaugurazione della presidenza di George W. Bush
• A.N.S.W.E.R.
• DC Anti-War Network
  
  

Day of Mourning Actions

• All across America: Buy nothing and call in sick for work.
  
  
• Anchorage, Alaska: Mock Inauguration. Meet across from Fox News Sears parking lot Denali and Benson at 4:00 PM. More Information
  
  
• Flagstaff, Arizona: Marching Band Counter Inaugural Extravaganza. Meet at Heritage Square at 4:30 PM. More Information
  
  
• Phoenix, Arizona: Afternoon march from Margaret T. Hance Park (across from Central Library) to the Military Induction Center at Washington & First Street. More information
  
  
• Long Beach, California: Silent vigil at the World Trade Center West, at the junction of W. Ocean Boulevard and Freeway 710. 6:00 AM. More Information
  
  
• Los Angeles, California: Protest. Westwood Federal Building at 6:00 PM. Call 323-464-1636 for more information.
  
  
• San Diego, California: People's Inaugural Ball, on January 21, 8:00 PM, at the Balboa Park Club Ballroom. More Information
  
  
• San Francisco, California: Protest. Civic Center at 5:00 PM. Call 415-821-6545 for more information.
  
  
• Santa Cruz, California: Inaugurate the people. Meet at the County Courthouse Building at 4:30 PM. 701 Ocean and Water, then march down Water Street to the Collateral Damage sculpture. More Information
  
  
• Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Demonstration against Bush at the U.S. Consulate, 360 University Ave. in Toronto. Meet at 4:00 PM More Information
  
  
• Melbourne, Florida: Counter-inaugural parade. Meet at Front Street Park at 4:00 PM and march to the Melbourne City Hall. More Information
  
  
• Miami, Florida: Counter-inaugural demonstration. Meet in the Bayfront Park at 5:00 PM. More Information
  
  
• St. Augustine, Florida: Mock Inauguration. Meet at the plaza directly west of the Bridge of Lions at 12:00 Noon. More Information
  
  
• St. Petersburg, Florida: State-Your-Cause counter-inaugural event at 12 Noon, 5858 Central Avenue. More Information
  
  
• Mexico City, Mexico: No Bush protest. Meet outside the United States embassy in Mexico City at 10:00 AM. More Information
  
  
• Bridgewater, Massachusetts: Counter Inauguration. Meet at the Bridgewater Common at 5:00 PM. More Information
  
  
• Springfield, Massachusetts: Meditation sit-in. A peaceful re-occupation of a little branch of the federal government at the Federal Building in Springfield on January 20. More Information
  
  
• Lansing, Michigan: Protest march from the campus of Michigan State University to the state capital building. Meet at: Southeast corner of Abbott Road and Grand River Avenue in East Lansing at 8:00 AM. More Information
  
  
• Traverse City, Michigan: Uninauguration and charade of a parade, 11:30 AM. Meet at the parking structure at the corner of Cass and State. More Information
  
  
• Duluth, Minnesota: Anti-war march and rally, 5:15 PM at Leif Erickson Park, heading toward the Minnesota Power Plaza. More Information
  
  
• St. Cloud, Minnesota: Inauguration Day protest: Meet at St. Cloud State University at 12:30 PM for a march to St. Cloud City Hall. More Information
  
  
• St. Louis, Missouri: Counter-inaugural ball at the City Hall Rotunda. 7:00 PM More Information
  
  
• Princeton, New Jersey: Open House and Tabling for Counter-Inaugural Peace. 4:00 PM, Palmer Square information table. Coalition for Peace Action Open House at 4:00 PM, RSVP. More Information
  
  
• Santa Fe, New Mexico: Funeral for Democracy. Meet at the State Capital Roundhouse at 12 Noon. More Information
  
  
• Ithaca, New York: Counter-Inaugural rally on the Ithaca Commons, Noon.
  
  
• Stillwater, Oklahoma: Say no to the Bush agenda. Meet at 11:00 AM at the corner of Husband and 6th More Information
  
  
• Bend, Oregon: Peaceful protest: Dowtown, fountain at the bottom of Hospital Hill at 12 Noon. Call 541 480-3017 for more information
  
  
• Portland, Oregon: Peace gathering at Terry Schrunk Plaza, SW 3rd & Madison at 8:00 AM. More Information
  
  
• Erie, Pennsylvania: Counter Inaugural. Meet at Perry Square at 3:30 PM. More Information
  
  
• Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Counter-inauguration peace rally at the corner of 3rd St & Walnut St, across from Strawberry Square at 4:00 PM, January 21. More Information
  
  
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: March in protest. Temple University Bell Tower at 5th and Berks. 3:15 PM. March ends at west side of City Hall. More Information
  
  
• Vermillion, South Dakota: Inauguration Day protest. An all-day protest at the corner of Cherry and Pine in Vermillion. More Information
  
  
• Nashville, Tennessee: Protest election fraud. Meet at 4:00 PM at the Federal Courthouse on 10th and Broadway. More Information
• Austin, Texas: Turn your back on Bush and war. Meet at the Congress Avenue Bridge at 5:00 PM, rain or shine. More Information
  
  
• Houston, Texas: March to downtown Houston. March begins at 12:30 PM on January 22 at Market Square Park, and ends at Hermann Square and City Hall. More information
  
  
• Bellingham, Washington: Counter-inaugural in downtown Bellingham, including a Peace Parade, an indoor convocation featuring music and speeches from community members and a Wake for Democracy potluck. For more information, call 360-734-7650 or 360-398-7326.
  
  
• Seattle, Washington: Protest at the Federal Bulding at 5:00 PM. Call 206-568-1661 for more information.
  
  
• Tacoma, Washington: Counter-Inaugural ball. At Jazzbones, 2803 6th Avenue in Tacoma, starting at 7:00 PM. More Information
  
  
• Washington, D.C.: Critical mass Inauguration Day bicycle ride, starting at Union Station, on the corner of First Street and Massachusetts Avenue at 7:30 AM. More Information
  
  
• Washington, D.C.: Line the parade route, before 9:00 AM. Call 202-544-3389 for more information.
  
  

Hm. Looks like quite a bit is going on January 20 after all - and this isn't the half of it. More events are in the planning stages, and, hey - if there isn't one near you, you know what to do, don't you? That's right - organize it yourself!