Notes from the Producer, David Swanson:

Camp Democracy was a one-of-a kind experience. From September 5th to 21st, 2006, we gathered on the National Mall in huge tents to organize and train citizens and activists new and old in ways to oppose the Bush agenda. The idea for Camp Democracy arose out of discussions on listserves. A group of amazing volunteers (originally a handful, eventually hundreds) made it happen. And opposing the Bush agenda, in defense of democracy, was what united us.

Bringing together disparate movements was what made us unique. We brought anti-war activists together with those struggling to restore the homes of Hurricane Katrina victims. We made connections between climate change, the war, and immigrants' rights – connections of those issues and connections between groups and individuals working on them. Iraq Veterans Against the War met people at Camp Democracy who helped them acquire a bus, and they spent Thanksgiving helping Katrina victims in New Orleans. In the months since Camp Democracy I've run into people all over the country who met there and joined forces there. People remember it as an enjoyable experience full of music and marches and friendships. (Which is wonderful to hear, for those of us who remember it as a lot of work.)

The amazing thing about Camp Democracy was the array of experts and leaders who came and spoke so eloquently and personally to those gathered there. Howard Zinn led a history workshop. Arun Gandhi spoke with us about how to move toward peace. Congress Members Jim McGovern, Maxine Waters, Barbara Lee, and Lynn Woolsey came and talked with us about what could be accomplished through legislation. And we spoke to them. They discussed things with us in small groups, as well as speaking from a stage.

Many of the best parts of Camp Democracy happened away from the camp: protests, demonstrations, recruiting efforts, lobbying. A group of Iraq vets went to an open-house at the Pentagon and were arrested for putting flyers about depleted uranium on a literature table. So, we held a press conference the next day at Camp Democracy. The charges were later dropped. More than once we squeezed a new press conference with new activists into a packed schedule of events led by well-known experts and long-time leaders. The combination was fruitful for all of us.

Working with anti-war activists in the labor movement, we helped bring labor and foreign policy issues together. Working with homeless men in D.C. who were trying to keep a shelter open, we made connections between anti-war activists and the struggle against poverty in the United States. Those in desperate need of thousands of dollars became aware of how we were wasting hundreds of billions. Those opposing cruelty in Iraq became aware of its presence beneath their noses.

We also brought together activists from a variety of political parties and even independent presidential candidates. We trained people in electoral and get-out-the-vote work and encouraged everyone to oppose pro-war candidates on November 7th.

Halting the funding of the war on Iraq united us all, as did proposals to impeach and indict Bush and Cheney. We held forums with numerous experts on impeachment that helped jumpstart that movement around the country. While thousands of people came to Camp Democracy, many more were unable to. Many gave money to assist in covering expenses, but couldn't make the trip. Many came for a day or a weekend, but couldn't stay for weeks. A lot of people in the final days proposed either taking Camp Democracy on the road or holding it in front of the U.S. Capitol every year. My initial reaction was, of course, "Go away, I need some sleep." Eventually, however, I came around.

While we all hope that in future years our country will have recovered some of the democracy it has lost, there will always be a need to give it a jolt inside the Beltway. I hope Camp Democracy can serve as a model for future efforts, and that in the meantime people can benefit from some of the highlights of Camp Democracy that were captured on videotape.

Thanks to Barry Student for the footage, to Virginia Moore for the editing, to Karen Bradley for her leadership before, during, and after Camp Democracy, to everyone who helped plan, organize, and pull off Camp Democracy. Your names are on the website, along with those of all the organizations that took part and all the people who contributed money to help pay our bills. You're the best.