ACTIVIST GRANNY D TO ARRIVE IN WASHINGTON FEBRUARY 29

MARCH OF 500 TO BE FOLLOWED BY BRIGADE ACTION IN CAPITOL ROTUNDA

CONTACT: Nick Penniman, Alliance for Democracy, (781) 894-1179, (fax)
781-894-0279, (e-mail) npenniman@aol.com

After walking across the United States for campaign finance reform, activist Doris Haddock, otherwise known as Granny D, will arrive in the nation's capitol February 29.

The 90-year-old Haddock began her walk in Los Angeles on January 1, 1999. Despite having been hospitalized along the way, she has kept an average pace of ten miles a day, meeting with thousands of people who have come out to cheer her on and walk with her. She has also become something of a one-woman media sensation, attracting coverage from most of the major networks and many of the mainstream newspapers and magazines.
 
With fewer than 30 miles to go now, Haddock's journey will end in Washington, D.C., on February 29, 2000, where she is expected to be greeted by more than 500 supporters who will join her for the last part of her long walk.

"Members of Congress keep asking, 'Where's the outrage about campaign financing?'  the feisty Haddock recently said. "Our answer is, 'It's right here.'"

After her 12:30 p.m. keynote speech on the East steps of the Capitol, a group of citizens, calling themselves the Democracy Brigade, will enter the Capitol Rotunda and risk arrest while performing a "speak-out" in which they'll unfurl banners and perform spirited readings that call for full public funding of public elections. Their action will mark the third time in four months that citizens have risked arrest in the Rotunda for this cause.

Here's the timeline:

o  9:00 a.m.	Arlington Cemetery Metro, walk with Granny D to US Capitol begins
o 10:00 a.m.	Lincoln Memorial
o 11:45 a.m.	Freedom Plaza - 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue
o 12:30 p.m.	Rally on US Capitol East steps
o 1:30 p.m.	"Speak out" risking arrest in the Capitol Rotunda
o 6:00 p.m.	Campaign finance reform "revival" at St. Mark's Church (intersection of 3rd and A streets, SE)