July 29, 2004

Anti-Bush rally set for city on Labor Day

Jesse Jackson to speak, Willie Nelson, Indigo Girls, Asleep at the Wheel to perform

By Paul J. Nyden
Staff Writer

A group called Reinvest in America is planning an all-day concert and rally featuring the Rev. Jesse Jackson and singer/songwriter Willie Nelson in downtown Charleston on Labor Day, urging people to vote against President Bush in this November’s elections.

Nelson, the Indigo Girls and Asleep at the Wheel have already agreed to perform during the festivities. Jackson will give the keynote speech during the program, which will begin at noon and end at 10 p.m. with a fireworks display over the Kanawha River.

George Korn, a professor at the Ohio University School of Telecommunications, is helping organize the event. He said it will continue Reinvest in America’s bus tour that stopped in Charleston on June 8.

“We are planning a large Labor Day event down on the river,” Korn said on Wednesday. “We will take over from the [Charleston Sternwheel] Regatta.”

The Regatta runs for five days over Labor Day weekend, but the only event scheduled for Labor Day itself is a car show at the state Capitol beginning at 8 a.m.

Korn said he had spoken with Charleston Mayor Danny Jones’ office about the event.

“We look forward to having a lot of people visiting Charleston to discover the many great things about our city and people spending their money in our hotels and restaurants,” said Jones aide Rod Blackstone. He said the group would pay all overtime expenses for city employees on the holiday.

“Obviously, we all want to have a good time,” Korn said. “But we also really want to get people to look at the issues as we roll into the fall: the need for well-paying jobs, the need for affordable and accessible health care and the need to for all kids to have access to quality education.”

Korn could not confirm whether Michael Moore, director of the anti-Bush documentary “Fahrenheit 9/11,” would attend the Labor Day festivities in Charleston.

On Tuesday, Moore told West Virginia delegates at the Democratic convention in Boston that he would visit West Virginia during the election campaign.

Korn said the Labor Day program also will feature “a number of other public figures and perhaps some political folks.”

Local musical groups, including the Carpenter Ants, will perform during the program.

Korn said he will release a longer list of speakers and performers early next week. “I cannot comment on that now. But there will be some folks you will recognize.”

Korn said he has worked with Jackson since 1998, helping handle communications and public relations for him.

Several labor organizations are helping organize the Labor Day program, including the West Virginia Labor Federation, the United Mine Workers union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. UMW spokesman Doug Gibson said the UMW is still planning its annual Labor Day picnic in Racine, Boone County.

To contact staff writer Paul J. Nyden, use e-mail or call 348-5164