Warren Beatty to Keynote Oakland Convention for California Nurses Association Thursday, Sept. 22

Warren Beatty to Keynote Oakland Convention for California Nurses Association Thursday, Sept. 22

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Actor, director, political activist Warren Beatty will be the keynote speaker Thursday night at the California Nurses Association's biennial convention in Oakland, the CNA announced today.

Beatty, who will be joined by his family, including his wife, internationally celebrated actress Annette Bening, has become known as a prominent critic of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the latest in a long line of progressive advocacy stances for Beatty.

It is anticipated that Beatty will address Schwarzenegger's record, including both the special election in November and the Friday announcement of his re-election bid, and recent developments in the national labor movement.

What: Keynote address by Warren Beatty When: Thursday, September 22 Time: Program begins at 6:30 p.m., doors open at 5:30 p.m. Where: Oakland Convention Center, East Hall Oakland Marriott, 1001 Broadway

In addition to Beatty, the CNA Convention Thursday night will feature a greeting from Oakland Mayor and former Governor Jerry Brown, and an awards ceremony.

CNA will honor registered nurses who have volunteered most recently to provide disaster relief for the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and RN volunteers who traveled to Sri Lanka following last year's tsunami catastrophe. CNA will also pay tribute to teachers, firefighters, and nurses for their role in challenging Schwarzenegger and his policies.

Other honorees will include eminent documentary filmmaker Robert Greenwald, who volunteered his time to direct a CNA ad about Schwarzenegger last winter; investigative journalist Jim Steele, co-author of Condition Critical: How Health Care in America Became Big Business & Bad Medicine; singer Country Joe MacDonald; and Jamie Court of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.

Thursday will also feature a march by some 500 CNA Registered Nurses to protest Arnold Schwarzenegger's special election this November, which includes a number of measures that will have a negative impact on RNs and their patients. The RNs will march from Oakland Convention Center at noon, to the state building at 1515 Clay Street, and conclude with a rally.

CNA represents 65,000 RNs in California and across the U.S. CNA has gained international renown for its record of patient advocacy and sponsorship of the nation's first law requiring safe RN-to-patient staffing ratios. CNA's challenge to the Schwarzenegger administration for actions viewed as harmful to nurses and patients is widely viewed as a key factor in the governor's declining public standing.

In recent weeks, CNA has also sent some 170 RN volunteers to Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas to assist with the disaster relief effort.

Source: California Nurses Association

CONTACT: Charles Idelson, +1-510-273-2246, or +1-415-559-8991, or Shum Preston, +1-510-273-2276, both of California Nurses Association

Web site: http://www.calnurses.org/

------- Profile: Ent