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DC Statehood Party Mobilizes Ward 8 Against Prison

Ward 8, Washington, DC, 10/25/97-- John Gloster, Chairman of the DC Statehood Party, announced yesterday that the Party will continue to mobilize Ward 8 against a proposed prison there, even though the Federal Bureau of Prisons has indicated it will not build a prison in the District. Instead, Mr. Gloster indicated that the Party would organize another in its series of Ward 8 neighborhood canvassing and petitioning days on Saturday, November 1, in which it anticipates linking up with other area community leaders opposed to the prison. The DC Statehood Party began a program of grassroots mobilizing in Ward 8 over a month ago. Mr. Gloster commented, "Our ultimate goal is to position the citizens of Ward 8 so that whenever there was an issue that concerned them, they could ensure that their voices be heard and their strength be felt across the river in such a way that they could not be ignored." Mr. Gloster pointed out that he too is a Ward 8 resident.

Responding questions about the statement from the Bureau of Prisons, and Mayor Barry's quoted exasperation of shock and dismay, Chairman Gloster said, "I don't know what they have up their sleeves, but I do know that we are not about to pull back now. We were not born yesterday, and we are not going to let the citizens of Ward 8 be once again taken for a ride because we fell for some child psychology ploy."

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