Defend the Role Principled Dissent: Rally in Support of Dixie Chicks 7/23 5:30 pm in Columbus

For the simple act of saying, "Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas," the Dixie Chicks were tossed off the radio. Children were lined up by parents to burn their records as their parents held signs calling for the Dixie Chicks' music to be banned from the air. Some said the Dixie Chicks should be arrested. Others -- too many -- threatened to kill the Dixie Chicks for the act of disagreeing with George W. Bush.

Censorship and death threats for disagreeing with the president? Is this your vision of America? What happened to America's constitutional rights? What happened to a culture that supports dissent and disagreement?

Those of us living in Columbus have an opportunity to reassert and invigorate the essential American tradition of free political expression on Sunday, July 23 at 5:30 pm at the Schottenstein Center on Lane Avenue, just by the Olentangy River. There, as the Dixie Chicks get ready to perfom in concert, we can make a visual statement to the gathered media: Columbus supports free speech, dissent and vital disagreement with the Republican powers that be.

If you're interested and have questions, contact organizer Steve Vargo at vargo.che@hotmail.com or 614-274-3147.