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Five-day forum on social issues begins in Atlanta

Immigrants, American Indians and refugees from the Katrina-ravaged Gulf Coast gathered on Wednesday in Atlanta to attend a five-day forum on social issues, from racial justice to globalization.

"Welcome to Atlanta in the spirit of nonviolence and justice," the Reverand Joseph Lowery, president emeritus of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, told participants assembled outside the state Capitol.

In a fiery speech, Lowery accused the US of "shacking up with the prostitute of materialism and greed."

"We continue as a nation putting corporate greed above social need," he said.

The participants marched through downtown Atlanta, chanting and stopping traffic along the way for nearly two hours.

A "People's Caravan" arrived on Wednesday morning from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Organizers said the nine buses contained more than 500 participants from New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi.

Atlanta police spokesman officer James Polite said about 1,000 people participated in the march.

The forum agenda spans a wide-range list of causes, from a panel on Gulf Coast reconstruction to another on immigrant and migrant rights.

Peppered throughout the crowds were signs supporting abortion rights and opposing the death penalty. One placard read "Keep Kids in Books Not Behind Bars." Another urged an end to corporate greed. One man wore a T-shirt proclaiming the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, were ``an inside job.'' Another held a yellow sign reading, "My H20, My Rights, My $."

Organizers said they expected thousands of participants from more than 50 organizations.
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