Michael Moore, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins are also scheduled to take part in the event, which will be hosted by actor Bill Murray.

It’s the sixth in a series of grassroots rallies that have drawn crowds across the country and are designed to bring attention to Nader’s candidacy and the exclusion of third-party candidates from presidential debates.

Pro-Nader rallies have drawn 10,000-20,000 people to venues in Portland, Minneapolis, Seattle and Boston, demanding Nader’s participation in the nationally televised debates.

“It mystifies me that this country will send troops to other countries in the name of preserving or achieving democracy, and yet we can’t seem to find a way to give candidates like Ralph Nader a voice in our own presidential debates,” Vedder said.

Not one to mince his political words, he added, “It would seem that a true democracy would pride itself in coming up with valid forums where a third party presidential candidate like Nader could be heard. Instead, we find out that the debates are corporately funded exercises where two like-minded candidates deliver practiced answers that leave the voter once again feeling that the real issues are not being addressed.”

The Nader campaign is not accepting corporate contributions or PAC money in its fundraising. Tickets to the Nader rally are available at the Garden box office for a suggested $20 donation.