By Tina Bui
For The Daily Bruin
Though city officials may expect the upcoming Democratic
National Convention to bring good publicity for Los Angeles, many
groups are hoping for something else.
The International Socialist Organization hopes to achieve
acknowledgement and awareness of global issues.
At last week’s ISO meeting, more than a dozen people
gathered in Ackerman Union to brainstorm ideas for protests during
the DNC. They also talked about revolting against political and
corporate greed.
The ISO’s objection to such greed will lead them and other
groups to Staples Center in mid-August, where, instead of cheering
for a Democratic presidential hopeful, they will demonstrate
against the U.S.-Iraq sanctions, labor and crime laws and
globalization.
ISO member Michal Myers said there has been an increase in
protests recently, such as those at the World Trade Organization,
because “people are sick of hearing there is not enough
money,” when the U.S. is one of the richest countries in the
world.
The motto for the ISO demonstrators at the convention is
“Human need, not corporate greed.”
The ISO plans to bring their motto to life by creating a puppet
to mock the political system. The puppet portrays a pig in a
business suit, signifying corporate greed.
On the two back pockets of the puppet’s pants are pictures
of presidential candidates George W. Bush and Al Gore. ISO member
Bill Neal, who led the discussion, said these pictures symbolize
the politicians’ dependence on big businesses to fund their
campaigns.
ISO members said they worry corporations sway the political and
economic agenda of politicians, causing public officials to promote
globalization.
According to one dictionary, globalization is the process of
“making world-wide in scope or application.”
Neal said organizations like the ISO condemn companies who
exploit third-world countries by establishing markets there.
“Globalization is the right of a corporation to go around
the world, doing whatever they want to do to make a buck,” he
said.
“There is no ultimate solution in the confines of this
system,” Neal said. “And with enough solidarity, you
can (create change).”
One ISO member said there is more to the group than the planned
DNC demonstration.
“The revolt is broader than just showing up at the IMF,
the WTO. There is a broader dissatisfaction.” Myers said.
During the meeting, ISO members discussed the World Trade
Organization protests in Seattle last November.
Unlike how the Seattle protest ended in chaos, ISO member Sean
Petty said demonstrators in Los Angeles plan to be non-violent.
Even so, activists said they continue to be challenged by
police.
Quinn Jones, a member of the ISO and Direct Action Network,
another activist organization, believe demonstrators are aware of
undercover officers who attend the protesters’ meetings and
the police jotting down their license plate numbers.
“The police will be harassing us up until the DNC,”
Jones said.