building from the past to 2008

Muy Estimados Verdes,
First let me state that I do not see any clear path to success in 2008. But we do have some options for making gains in various ways, all long shots. We are simply mistaken to believe that there is "ONE RIGHT CANDIDATE" out there who will by their participation as our presidential candidate build our party.
NO, we will do that...or we won't. Either we are up to the task of building a political party or it will not happen, not with Nader...not with Mckinney...not with Dr. Jared Ball.

Certainly it matters who we partner with to conduct our residential campaign but we have to view that person that we put at the top of our ticket as a tool for achieving party growth. We need more people with skills and abilities who have a good grasp of our 10 key values, not folks who have committed them to memory but folks with whom they resonate as precursors to building tools for sustaining communities. For me it is a requirement that the person be a Green. How can we ask our other candidates to run as Greens if we don't expect that of the person at the top of the ticket?

Having worked as a Green on Green campaigns in many places ince 2000 I know that each time we have run candidates, including the presidential candidates, we have built a piece of the foundation that we need. What is the best way to make use of what we have built and push it to the next step? Bringing diversity to our party is the best thing we can do to build the party in 2008. All those disenfranchised voters from 2000 and 2004 are possible GP new members. It is not an accident that most of those voters were African Americans, they were targeted because they can swing an election. With the work that we did in 2004 we have an opening to reach out to those voters but we can only do that with an African American at the top of our ticket. And a Black/ Brown /Green coalition could develop a significant wedge of voters, significant enough to spoil everything for the "big parties".

As I write this I am thinking of the Greens who will see this message... most of you are white...most of you are men...most of you are people who I am very proud to work with... some of you are trusted consultants and some of you are friends. The creation of a successful diverse Green Party rests with you
and it must be a courageous and bold plan that you implement to bring it about.

Dr. Jared Ball has stepped forward so that we would have a Black/Green option and he is currently working to strengthen his base of support. We will soon be forming a presidential exploratory committee and he will be making personal contacts to those of you who have expressed an interest in his campaign.
This will be a heavy lifting...get your hands dirty...build it from the bottom up campaign. Jared is a true Green and is committed to building a credible Green campaign and has committed to supporting the candidate that the Green Party selects. Understanding that many of you must get started on your campaigns as soon as possible Dr. Ball is stepping forward to be of assistance to you in any way that he can. We are aware of which states need to get going and will be in contact with
you soon.

Sincerely,
Anita Rios, Jared Ball Campaign Manager
419-243-8772
ps. this campaign is only 3 weeks old and we are in the process of putting up a website but want to
initiate the exploratory committee first so in the mean time please check out:
www.voxunion.com

Defend Catherine Wilkerson

The Committee to Defend Catherine Wilkerson is asking Dr. Wilkerson's friends and supporters to please CALL and WRITE to Washtenaw County prosecutor Brian L. Mackie to ask him to drop the charges against Dr. Wilkerson. Many experts agree that next to a personal visit, writing letters and making telephone calls are the most effective means of influencing elected officials. So, please make a phone call or send a letter to Mr. Mackie--both would be best--in the next week or two. Mr. Mackie's office phone number is 734-222-6620. For your convenience, we have prepared a sample letter that people can use or alter as they wish (see below or check defendwilkerson.org in the next day or two).

Also, on Tuesday, July 24, 2007, attorney Buck Davis of Constitutional Litigation Associates will be arguing for Dr. Wilkerson's right to an evidentiary hearing. The hearing is scheduled for 9 AM in the 15th District Court, 101 E. Huron Ann Arbor, MI, before Judge Pollard-Hines. The Committee to Defend Catherine Wilkerson is asking Dr. Wilkerson's supporters to please come to the hearing, if they are able, and show their solidarity with Dr. Wilkerson.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sample letter:

Your Address
City, State, Zip

Today's Date

Brian L. Mackie,
Washtenaw County Prosecutor
P.O. Box 8645
Ann Arbor, MI 48107

Dear Mr. Mackie:

I am writing to urge you to drop your office's charges against Catherine Wilkerson, MD. The police record shows that Dr. Wilkerson did nothing except issue verbal medical directions and necessary criticisms to police and emergency medical personnel regarding the treatment of an arrestee who had become a patient in her care, as acknowledged by University of Michigan police officer West.

During Mr. Blaine Coleman's arrest, there were two instances when Dr. Wilkerson determined that the actions of police or emergency medical personnel placed Coleman in a life-threatening situation. As a physician and a conscientious human being, Dr. Wilkerson had an obligation to protest and advise. No good purpose can be served by prosecuting a medical doctor for doing her duty and nonviolently exercising her First Amendment rights. Please drop the charges.

Sincerely,
Your signature
Your Name


It is NO CRIME to protest against warmongers. It is NO CRIME to complain about police brutality. It is NO CRIME to complain about dangerous medical malpractice. Dr. Catherine Wilkerson will fight back. Will you stand with her?

http://defendwilkerson.org

Green Party vows to get 51 ballot lines in 2008

Greens at national party meeting pledge to seek 51 ballot lines for 2008

* West Virginia's Mountain Party joins the Green Party
* More updates from the Green Party's 2007 meeting in Reading, Pa., July 12-15

READING, PA. -- The 2007 national meeting of the Green Party of the United States <http://www.gp.org/meeting2007> is underway in Reading, Pennsylvania, with over 300 state delegates, party leaders, and other Greens from nearly every state convening for party business, workshops, and preparations for the 2008 national election.

The meeting was hosted by Reading Greens, Berks County Greens <http://www.berksgreenparty.org>, and the Green Party of Pennsylvania <http://www.greenpartypa.org>. Jennaro Pullano, Green candidate for Mayor of Reading <http://www.pullanoformayor.org>, was on hand to welcome Greens from all over the US.

Former Georgia Rep. Cynthia McKinney will screen the movie 'American Blackout' <http://www.americanblackout.com> and take questions from Greens on Sunday afternoon at the Green Party's meeting site, the Abraham Lincoln Wyndham Historic Hotel, in the Presidential Ballroom at 2:00 pm today (Sunday, July 15). The address of the hotel is 100 North Fifth Street in downtown Reading, 877-999-3223 <http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/RDGHT/main.wnt>.

Highlights of the 2007 Green Party National Meeting:

The Green Party of the United States announced its goal of 51 ballot lines in every state and the District of Columbia in preparation for the 2008 election, with a pledge to commit party resources for this purpose. 19 states (including DC) currently have ballot access. More information: <http://www.gp.org/statelist.shtml>

The West Virginia Mountain Party <http://www.mtparty.org> was admitted to the Green Party as a state affiliate. There are now 46 state parties (including the District of Columbia) affiliated with the Green Party of the United States.

On Saturday, July 14, consumer advocate and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader and former Green candidate Carl Romanelli, who ran for the US Senate in 2006, spoke at a press conference and party rally about Pennsylvania's grossly unfair and antidemocratic election laws, and about how state Democratic politicians and lawyers have abused the court system to block them from running and even penalized them for submitting ballots. The Green Party will post links to video clips of speeches by Mr. Nader and Mr. Romanelli, as well as other party events, at the party's web site <http://www.gp.org>.

Read more here.

Elaine Brown still seeking GP nomination

Dear Fellow Greens,

With regret, I will not be able to attend the national convention in Reading.

For the record, let me state here why I shall continue to seek the Green Party nomination for President. With the 2006 mass rejection of the Bush Administration’s policies, the People signified their readiness for a second political party.--It was not an embrace of the Democrats.--The Green Party is presently the only progressive party poised to seize this opportunity, toward electing progressives to national public office and effecting progressive change in the U.S. The Green Party, however, lacks the numbers to benefit from the national political shift, particularly among black and other poor people, who compose what I call the “marginalized millions”--there being an estimated 100 million people who did not vote in the last election who could have voted. My history as a Black Panther Party leader, as, my work as a community activist, particularly with respect to the prisoner movement, my candidacy as a Green for mayor of Brunswick (Georgia), and my reach as a renown author and college lecturer, I believe, give me the credentials and ability to raise consciousness among the disaffected and disenfranchised poor and working millions, especially black people and working women, to galvanize them to support and vote for an agenda that serves their interests, that of the Green Party. In this way, I hope to build the Party so as to work effectively toward establishment of a true second political party in the United States.

With love for the People,

Elaine Brown

Wow! What a trip!

Getting on the bus




Arriving at the Coca-Cola march.






Marian Kramer addressing the march.




On the march.






In front of Coca-Cola.





At the PPEHRC tent




Resting in the shade before returning to Detroit.