Students Rally in Copley, Claim Bush ‘Stole’ Election

In the wake of the presidential election, Harvard students joined more than 100 other political protesters yesterday in Copley Square for the Rally and Vigil for Democracy.

The local rally, which began at 5 p.m., was part of a larger effort by the No Stolen Elections! campaign, for which people from over 30 cities nationwide have promised to protest the election results in upcoming weeks.

Over 15,000 people have already signed a pledge expressing their concerns that the election was stolen by President Bush, said Michael A. Gould-Wartofsky ’07, a founding member of the Harvard Social Forum.

“I think Harvard students are more aware than others of how they can make democracy happen,” said Gould-Wartofsky, who is also a Crimson editor. “Some people might be staying home depressed, but we should translate that to something visible by getting active.”

Though a handful of Boston police officers were needed to control the flow of traffic, the rally was peaceful and attracted individuals of various political affiliations and beliefs, including union representatives, Socialists, Democrats, anarchists and radicals.

Many students from the Harvard Social Forum joined the other political activists in Copley Square. The protesters paced back and forth at intersection of Dartmouth and Boylston Streets, holding signs, chanting slogans and distributing pamphlets while several cars honked in support of their cause.

Many protesters said they were there to express discontent with election results and Bush’s foreign policy.

“Being out here is the start to rebuilding the movements against Bush and the war in Iraq,” said Daniel DiMaggio ’04, a former member of the  Harvard Socialist Alternative.

Gould-Wartofsky said that many of the protesters feel that the Kerry campaign should have waited longer for the votes to be counted.

Early yesterday morning, Sen. John Edwards, D.-N.C., vowed to “fight for every vote.” But by yesterday afternoon Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., conceded the presidential election.

The political rally, however, was more than just an anti-Bush demonstration. The majority of protesters said they came out to voice specific concerns on issues, including immigration, social security, the draft and police brutality.

“I would have come out if Kerry won, too. I’m here to meet other people who are also interested in radical ideas,” said Hank R. Gonzalez, ’06, treasurer of the Socialist Alternative.

Edward B. Childs, a cook in Adams House, said that even though he is against “four more years of Bush,” the reason he attended was to focus on the issues.

“It’s important to go out the first day after elections to protest against cuts in Social Security, Medicare, cuts to veterans and workers’ rights,” said Childs, who is also the chief steward of Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 26.

As he watched the crowd of protesters, Gould-Wartofsky reflected on the election results.

“More people are demoralized than I thought, but movements are what really change American politics,” he said. “The power is still in the people. We didn’t just give it up to the President yesterday.”