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The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) has descended upon Madison, Wisconsin. The conference will allow business leaders and U.S. mayors to set the agenda of U.S. cities during an array of high-priced meals and social events closed to the public, but open to corporations. Having been around for 70 years, the USCM has long played a crucial role in setting a corporate-biased agenda for over 3,000 U.S. cities and has a number of tools available for doing just that. Fortunately, the people of Madison also have tools for expressing their agenda, and have very creatively been doing just that. Members of the Poverty Action Network, a coalition member of Cities For People, braved the rain to greet mayors at Dane County Regional Airport. The activists held up signs stating "Danger: Free Speech Ahead," "Cities for People Not for Profits!", and more. [ Photos ] During Friday morning rush hour, renegade bipeds honored the auto industry's generous sponorship of the US Conference of Mayors. They hung banners from the bike path bridge over Madison's beltline reading "Vroom, vroom consume," "Your $UV is Killing Me," and "50,000 Die/Year." Ford, General Motors, Daimler-Chrysler, the American Petroleum Institute, and the American Trucking Associations are all members of the Mayors Business Council. [ Photos ] Creative People's Resistance and other activists have organized four days of events to protest the Mayors, including rallies, music and a parade. Perhaps some direct action that does not appear in the calendar will also occur. Visit Madison Indymedia for up-to-the minute coverage of this important expression of resistance to corporate power. [ Madison Indymedia | Creative People's Resistance | Calendar of Events | Background and breaking news at Madison Indymedia's Mayors Feature ]
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