Downing Street Memos Hearing and Rallies Scheduled for Today

Rep John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) will lead the public hearing today (Thursday) at 2:30 p.m. ET into the Downing Street Memos, the recently-leaked confidential 2002 British documents recording Bush plans to attack Iraq, and "fix" intelligence and facts to support the attack. Some believe that such acts constitute impeachable offenses for Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld.

Congressional Republicans refused to allow use of any Capitol rooms for the hearings, so hasty changes were made to hold hearings from DNC offices. Yesterday, however, Conyers was able to secure a small basement room in the Capitol for the hearing, which will be televised live on C-SPAN 3.

Among those giving testimony will be former US Ambassador Joe Wilson, a WMD expert; Ray McGovern, a 27-year CIA analyst; Cindy Sheehan, mother of a fallen soldier; and famed constitutional attorney John Bonifaz. No Congressional Republicans plan to attend the hearings.

Later today at 5:00 p.m. ET in Lafayette Square Park, in front of the White House, a large rally, including more than 120 activist organizations, will support Congressman Conyers who plans to deliver to the White House a letter addressed to President Bush and signed by over 500,000 Americans and now 104 Congress Members. The letter asks the President to respond to 5 questions raised by the Downing Street Memos.

For all who can join the demonstration in front of the White House, you can find details and printable fliers at AfterDowningStreet.org. And check the Progressive Democrats of America website for live blogging from the rally.
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A scoop comes to me from Miriam Raftery, San Diego liberal activist extraordinaire and publisher of the progressive newsletter Liberty Belle.

"I just received confirmation that Congressman John Conyers will keynote "Defending Democracy: A Conference on Governmental Reform and Accountability" in San Diego on June 25th. The conference will run from 9 a.m. to evening at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego, 4190 Front St., San Diego.

We are also planning a major press conference and rally at noon in Balboa Park, at the corner of 6th and Laurel. We want this to be San Diego's biggest rally ever! Please encourage your readers to come out and support Congressman Conyers, our champion in Congress for election reform as well as demanding accountability from the Bush administration over the Downing St. Memos."