GREENS CREATE PETITION TO SUPPORT CINDY SHEEHAN'S PROTEST VIGIL IN CRAWFORD, TEXAS
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Rebecca Rotzler (Co-Chair, Green Party
of the United States) and son Lorin Rotzler pose with
Cindy Sheehan (Center) at Camp Casey in Crawford, Texas. |
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Rebecca Rotzler (Co-Chair, Green Party of the United States) and son Lorin Rotzler pose with Cindy Sheehan (Center) at Camp Casey in Crawford, Texas.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Peace Action Committee of the Green Party of the United States (GPAX) has issued a statement of support for Cindy Sheehan, co-founder of Gold Star Families For Peace, in her vigil near the vacation home of President George W. Bush in Crawford, Texas. The text of the statement follows below. You can sign a petition of support for her also below.
Ms. Sheehan is the mother of Casey Sheehan, who was killed in combat in Sadr City in 2004, a few days after arriving in Iraq. Over 1,800 U.S. troops and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians have been killed in the U.S. invasion and occupation.
Greens called Ms. Sheehan's protest a unique challenge to all Americans to speak out against the Bush Administration's betrayal of the trust of the American people and reckless disregard for American and Iraqi lives.
"The Bush Administration betrayed the trust of the American people, especially those serving in the armed forces in Iraq, when it launched a war based on fraudulent premises: WMDs that didn't exist, forged evidence of nuclear weapons deals, deceptive claims that Saddam Hussein colluded with al-Qaeda," said Jody Grage Haug, Peace Action Committee member and co-chair of the Green Party of the United States. "We must also hold Democrats responsible, since many of them supported the war and who joined with Republicans in surrendering Congress's constitutional power to declare war to the White House in October, 2002."
Text of the GPAX statement:
The Peace Action Committee of the Green Party of the United States applauds and supports the brave protest vigil taking place at the vacation home of President George W. Bush in Crawford, Texas by Cindy Sheehan, mother of Casey Sheehan who was killed in combat on 4/4/04 in Sadr City five days after arriving in Iraq. We insist that President Bush meet with Ms. Sheehan and other individuals who have firsthand experienced the pain of a profound loss resulting from the current invasion and occupation of Iraq. Our leaders should not hide from the reality of these grave losses resulting from a war based on unsubstantiated pretenses. The Peace Action Committee agrees with Cindy's quote: "Bring Our Troops Home IMMEDIATELY."
To contact and other info:
Green Party Peace Action Committee
http://www.gp.org/committees/peace/
Gold Star Families For Peace
http://www.GSFP.org
"Every Mother's Son"
By William Rivers Pitt, truthout.org, August 8, 2005
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/080805I.shtml
Sign the Petition to Demand that President Bush Meet with Cindy Sheehan
Join with the Peace Action Committee of the Green Party of the United States to insist that President George W. Bush meet immediately with Cindy Sheehan to answer her questions about the Iraq invasion.
http://www.gp.org/committees/peace/
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Bonnie Raitt
©2001 photo by Ann Cutting.
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"Ms. Raitt's efforts to stop war in Central America, participation in the Sun City anti-apartheid project, performances at 'No Nukes' concerts, dedication to ecology and rights for women and Native Americans, and work to ensure higher royalties for older R&B musicians are all consistent with the best Green principles," said Gwen Wages, SC Co-Chair "We're enormously proud that a member of the Green Party will receive the Harry Chapin Award this year. Congratulations, Bonnie!"
The Green Party's annual conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in July was front-page news there; local NPR and PBS stations also covered the happenings. The party's national committee elected new officers on Sunday morning, July 24. The new co-chairs, who serve on the Green Party's steering committee, are Pat LaMarche (Maine), and Rebecca Rotzler (New York).
Steve Kramer (Maryland) was re-elected co-chair. Holly Hart (Iowa) was elected secretary of the national party. They join sitting co-chairs Gwen Wages (Mississippi), Marc Sanson (Illinois), and Jody Haug (Washington) and treasurer Jake Schneider (Wisconsin), who were elected in 2004.
Steering committee terms are two years; elections are staggered, with half the committee elected every year.
LaMarche ran for governor of Maine in 1998 and was nominated for vice president of the United States in 2004. Rotzler is deputy mayor of New Paltz, N.Y., and serves as co-chair of the Green Party Peace Action Committee. Hart currently serves as co-chair of the Green Party's platform committee and is the National Women's Caucus delegate to the Green Party's national committee. It was announced that Nancy Allen (Maine) had stepped down from her position as one of two media coordinators for the Green Party. Starlene Rankin (Lavender Greens, California) replaces Allen, joining Scott McLarty (District of Columbia).
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Same-sex marriage is at the epicenter of the debate between Right and Left in America, and no community is more at the crossroads of this volatile political and social issue than New Paltz, N.Y. On Feb. 27, 2004, when Green Mayor Jason West solemnized the marriage of 24 gay and lesbian couples, New Paltz made news. From nearby New York City to Topeka, and from Paris to Tokyo, New Paltz became the small town byline for the big story.
Erin Quinn, of the Green Party of New York State, recently received the New York State Press Association award for "Best News Story in 2004" for her coverage of the historic events in the New Paltz Times. "Pride and Politics: The Tale of a Big Story in a Small Town" (Mix Multimedia, Inc.) is Quinn's account of the historic marriages that rocked this bucolic Hudson Valley community and sent ripples throughout the country.
The public is invited to attend Quinn's first book signing at Ariel Booksellers in New Paltz on Sat., Aug. 20 at 7:00 p.m. As part of the "Autogamy" show at The New Century Artist Gallery, 530 W. 25th St., New York City, Quinn will read from "Pride and Politics" on Thur., Aug. 25 at 7:00 p.m. For other readings, visit
http://www.hvmac.com.
Mayor West's own book, "Dare to Hope," (Miramax Books) is also coming out in August; he offers an accessible blueprint for everyday activism and engagement in your community.
With this book, West plants new hope into the political wasteland. He persuades us that common sense and frugality are more poetic than profligacy, that freedom and equality are our destiny, and that we alone must and can take charge of our stalled democracy.
Texas' Harris County Green Party is sponsoring a FREE Green Campaign School August 27-28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Workshops are devoted to developing and communicating an authentic message, focusing use of resources, and furthering integrity.
Topics include:
-Goal-setting
-Staff responsibilities and managing volunteers
-Budgeting, fundraising, and expenditures
-Messaging and the media
For information and to register, e-mail gcs@tx.greens.org.
A Chicago Campaign School is planned for Sept. 24-25; more information is available at
http://www.gp.org/committees/campaign/
SUMMER ISSUE OF GREEN PAGES NOW AVAILABLE
Read an in-depth feature on Elaine Brown, former leader of the Black Panther Party, who's now running for mayor of Brunswick, Georgia, as a card-carrying Green; a Q&A with Green rocker and activist Patti Smith; state reports from across the country; and much more. Discounts are available for bulk orders; order on line at
http://www.gp.org/greenpages.html,
or order any quantity by phone at 202-319-7191 or toll free, 866-41GREEN(4-7336).
SEPTEMBER 24-26 D.C. ANTI-WAR MOBILIZATION
Three Days of Action for Peace and Justice in Washington, D.C.:
-Sat. Sept. 24 March, Rally & Anti-war Fair. Gather 11:00 a.m. at the Washington Monument.
-Sun. Sept. 25 Interfaith Service, Grassroots Training
-Mon. Sept. 26 Grassroots Lobby Day and Mass Nonviolent Direct Action and CD.
Leaflets and more:
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3D2854
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