Greens Oppose Police State Tactics

From the Philadelphia Weekly Press:

During 2005, Philadelphia’s police made 102,319 pedestrian stops. When Michael Nutter became Mayor of Philadelphia in 2008, he ordered an increase in pedestrian stops under a policy commonly called "Stop-and-Frisk." By 2009, pedestrian stops by police had increased 148 percent to 253,333. Of that total, 72 percent of the victims were African Americans, but only 8 percent of those pedestrian stops resulted in an arrest.

I, for one, would like to know what we should call the other 92 percent of those pedestrian stops. Were those 233,066 citizens "harassed by the police?" Were they "intimidated by the police?" Or should we say, "Their rights under the U.S. Constitution were violated?"

The Green Party has a history of opposition to stop-and-frisk. Under the heading "Racial Discrimination," the Green Party national platform says, "We condemn the practice of racial profiling by law enforcement agencies, which are guilty of stopping motorists, harassing individuals, or using unwarranted violence against suspects with no other justification than race or ethnic background."

At a Philadelphia City Council hearing on December 14, 2010, Green Party leader Hugh Giordano, who had run for PA House of Representatives, made it clear that stop-and-frisk targets, urban, minority and young citizens. "This law is a form of Jim Crow law," said Giordano, referring to discriminatory laws used to maintain segregation of the races. "It attacks a certain group of people, and the numbers and testimony shows it." Giordano also criticized Philadelphia’s City Council for allowing stop-and-frisk to continue unabated.

Green Party Candidates Across the US in 2011

From Green Party Watch:

2011 may not be a big year for federal elections, but it is an excellent year for Green Party supporters around the US to pitch in and lend a hand to the intrepid Green candidates who are running for offices big and small. Here is a list (alphabetical by state)  of some of the Green candidates who have declared campaigns in 2011. If you know of more Green campaigns in upcoming elections, or if you notice anything wrong with the information here, we’d love to hear about it in the comments . . .

Philly: Green Party Candidate Hankala Files Nomination Papers for Sheriff

From Philadelphia Weekly:

A few months after kick-starting her campaign, Cheri Honkala has filed nomination papers with the city, hoping to “keep families in their homes” if elected sheriff.

Honkala, the Green Party candidate for the position, says her team of volunteer supporters garnered 4,422 signatures endorsing her nomination, as of today. As an independent candidate, she was required to collect at least 1,845 signatures in order for her name to appear on the ballot.

“I’m absolutely blessed to have hundreds of supporters, who … are willing to go out there each and every day and be in 100-degree weather and collect signatures,” Honkala says. “I think it just shows people are really tired of what’s happening right now, in regards to the housing crisis.”

Honkala, a longtime champion for the homeless, says she plans to create community land trusts to put the control of land back into communities’ hands. By doing this, Honkala adds, communities could protect land from becoming the site of a profit-making business and help neighbors who may be facing economic hardships . . .

NY: Green Party to Hold National Meeting this Weekend

From the Wall Street Journal:

The Green Party will hold its national meeting in upstate New York as it pushes to become a stronger third political party.

The Aug. 5-7 meeting in Alfred will focus on the group's platform that opposes war, increased coal production, and nuclear power.

CA: Green to Run in SF Mayoral Election

From Green Party Watch:

The Bay Area Reporter has a feature piece on Terry Baum, an out lesbian and Green who is challenging the Democratic Party status quo in San Francisco Politics by running for Mayor . . . 

AZ: Greens Organize for Tucson Mayoral Election

From the Tucson Citizen:

Meet and Greet the Green Party Primary Candidates for Mayor
Mary DeCamp and Dave Croteau
at La Indita Restaurant (Mexican/Latin American cuisine)
622 N. Fourth Ave in Tucson (north of E. 5th Street)
Every Monday at 6:30pm

If you’re a registered Green Party voter in the City of Tucson, or an Independent who registered by July 16 to vote in that primary on/before August 30, here’s your weekly chance to meet & talk with either or both Green candidates.

Previous blogs on Dave Croteau (click here) and Mary DeCamp (click here).

This is Croteau’s 3rd bid for Mayor having run before as a write-in candidate in 1999 and as the Green Party candidate in 2007, challenging Republican Mayor Bob Walkup when no Democrat ran.

DeCamp ran for the Ward 3 City Council seat two years ago in 2009 and lost to Democratic incumbent Councilwoman Karin Uhlich.

If you can’t drop by La Indita, then view these 2 Green Mayoral candidates on Friday’s KUAT Channel 6 interview: http://ondemand.azpm.org/videoshorts/watch/2011/7/22/1830-green-would-be-mayors-tout-first-primary/.

TN: Green and Constitution Party File Joint Lawsuit

From Ballot Access News:

On July 19, the Green Party of Tennessee, and the Constitution Party of Tennessee, jointly filed a new lawsuit in federal court, alleging that the new ballot access law passed this year is just as unconstitutional as the old one. As reported previously, in September 2010 the old law was held unconstitutional. In response, the 2011 session of the legislature deleted the language on the petition saying the signers are members, and moved the petition deadline from March to April. The case is Green Party of Tennessee et al v Hargett, middle district, 3:11-cv-00692. Here is the complaint.

Anonymous and the Greens

The Greens appear to be reaching out to Anonymous, or is it the other way around?  Or is it just plain satire?  From the Seattle PI Ethicist blog:

We don’t need a “new” party, we need to vote for a party that already exists and represents us. Vote Green. The Green party is in 49 states. Anonymous should vote Green. If you like Anon, you should vote Green. If you want a transparent government, Vote Green.

Do you like torture? Go on and vote Democrat.
Do you like being broke? Vote Republican.
Do you want to work at Walmart when you retire? Vote Democrat.
Do you want to see your children working as slaves? Vote Republican.
Do you hate having health care? Vote Democrat.
Do you love chaos and anarchy? Vote Republican.
It doesn’t really matter whether its Dem, or Rep, they’re two sides of the same coin: Corruption.

The Green party will ban lobbying INSIDE government offices. The Green party will make it illegal to vote on any issue for which large donations were paid, or to submit laws written by lobbyists.  Do you want GOVERNMENT, or this Fourth-Reich divine right insanity? America is already a Tyranny, already Fascist, already over the edge. It’s time to change. Obama had his chance and failed miserably. He extended the Patriot Act. he allows torture, and rendition. Look at how he treats Manning. Look at how he plots against Assange. Someone told the truth? How evil of them.
VOTE FOR CHANGE. Vote Green.

This ad paid for by Anon

MN: Ranked Choice Gives Greens a Boost

From Twin Cities:

In November, voters in the St. Paul City Council election will be able to choose up to six candidates per seat, ranked in order of preference. In other words, downtown residents could conceivably vote for all five candidates who have filed to run for office in Ward 2.
Nov. 8 will mark the city's first experience with the new "ranked voting" system, otherwise known as "instant run-off voting" or "ranked-choice voting," which was supported by voters in a ballot question last year. . .  

Jim Ivey, former political chair for the Green Party of Minnesota, said ranked-choice voting has boosted his party's chances at the polls. He thinks the Green Party will no longer be looked upon as a potential "spoiler" in tight races.

"We worked for years to make this happen," said Ivey, a Lowertown resident who is running for city council in Ward 2. "The Green Party was a key supporter. It's strategic for creating a third-party presence in local politics. It gives people a chance to vote for what they really believe in, and know that there's no risk in doing that....It's great for us."

It's been such a draw, in fact, that the party has recruited a slate of local candidates, some of whom have no previous Green Party affiliation but share the party's "progressive" values, Ivey said.

OH: State Legislature Wages "Attack on Democracy" Say Greens

From the Cincinnati Beacon:

This past week, according to the Green Party of Ohio, the State Senate passed a revision of Ohio’s election law that is nothing less than an attack on Democracy itself. “It’s highly ironic that on the Fourth of July, when we are supposed to be celebrating our political freedoms, the Legislature has passed a law that effectively eliminates our ability to peacefully assemble as a political party,” said Dennis Spisak. Spisak was the Green’s gubernatorial candidate in 2010. He established the Party’s current legal standing by receiving more than 50,000 votes.

HB 194 requires Parties to receive at least 5% of the vote for either Governor or President in order to maintain their status as a political party. This means that the Greens would have to receive approximately 200,000 votes. However, since they may have lost their status before the election in 2012, they would have to do so without the ability to raise money, name candidates, hold primaries, or establish membership.

Australian Green Party Leader Calls for Global Parliament

From UNPA:

In a speech at the National Press Club on Wednesday, the leader of the Australian Greens, Senator Bob Brown, voiced support for the creation of a global parliament. As the Greens control the balance of power in the Australian Senate, the Green’s position will potentially impact on government policy.

“The Howard government backed George W Bush's invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan in the cause of democracy”, Senator Brown said, “so why shouldn’t we now join vigorous moves in Europe and at the United Nations for a global people’s assembly based on one person, one vote, one value?” Such a global parliament, that according to Senator Brown “could be right here in Australia”, “would tackle international questions like nuclear proliferation, currency speculation, marine ecosystem destruction and those billion people who could be fed and literate if only a tenth of global military spending was sent to their assistance.” . . .

OH: Green Party May File Suit Against Discriminatory Ballot Access Law

From La Prensa:

Ohio’s Green Party intends to file a lawsuit challenging an election reform bill recently passed by the state legislature that the group claims could mean the end of minority political parties in the Buckeye state.

The bill is prompting Green Party of Ohio co-chair Anita Rios to run for Toledo City Council this year, before the party may lose its political clout. Sean Nestor also is a Green Party candidate seeking a city council seat.

“Whether the State chooses to outlaw us or not, we will continue to fight for what’s right,” said Ms. Rios. “Our fights to end nuclear power, protect workers' rights, and help minorities and women are too important to let the Republicans and Democrats stop us, just because they are afraid of a little competition." . . . 

NY: Greens See Influence in Passage of Gay Marriage Bill

A letter from the New York Green Party Co-Chair to the Green Party of Monroe County:

The New York State Senate gave final approval Friday night to legalize same-sex marriage. A big thank you and congratulations to everyone who help make this change including countless Greens.

In the past few months The Green Party of Monroe County has been active advocating for the passage of this bill through lobbying state Senators and state Assemblyman, phone banking, hand delivery literature, and of course attending rallies.

For the Green Party this journey started a very long time ago, legalizing same-sex marriages has been in the Green Party's platform since it's inception. Over the years we have been steadfast in our call for marriage equality, and full LBGTQ rights.

On February 27, 2004 our advocacy turned into real action when Jason West, the first Green to be elected mayor in New York State, began performing marriages of same-sex couples outside the village hall in New Paltz. Mayor West was on the Rachel Maddow Show, the day before this historic legislation was past, to talk about marriage equality in New York, and what role his actions had in moving the issue to the forefront on political debate.

Alison Duncan, the 2006 Green Party candidate for Lieutenant Governor of New York and the first openly gay candidate for a gubernatorial office in New York, toured the state speaking on a wide range of LBGTQ issues, and pushing marriage equality in the political discourse here in New york.

Today I thank Mayor West, Alison Duncan, the founders of the Green Party, and the countless Greens and the countless New Yorkers, and advocacy groups that helped change happen in New York. Today we celebrate, tomorrow we continue to fight for equal rights for all.

-Jason Nabewaniec
Co-Chair of the Green Party of the United States

CA: Obama's Endless War Policy Drives Lifelong Dems to Greens

A letter to the editor of the Napa Valley Register:

I have been a registered Democrat all of my life (the first time I voted in 1960 was for JFK) but today I went down to the county offices and re-registered for the Green Party.

The latest decision of the White House to reduce the almost 100,000 troops in Afghanistan by a mere 10,000 is the final blow that has been weakening my faith in the present regime.

Exactly one year before he died, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke out against the Vietnam War at the Riverside Church in New York City and alienated some of his supporters who thought he should concentrate mainly on the Civil Rights movement.

He said, “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death. We can no longer afford to worship the God of hate or bow before the altar of retaliation. History is cluttered with the wreckage of nations and individuals that pursue this self defeating path of hate.” . . .

NY: White Runs for City Council as Green

From 13 WHAM:

Saying "we need more", Alex White announced he is running for City Council in the South District against political veteran Adam McFadden.

"I have nothing against Adam McFadden," he says.  "We need more, more pressure, a better voice, and more vision of how we can get there."

White who will run on the Green Party line is no stranger to elections.  He has mounted several city wide campaigns most recently running for Rochester Mayor in the special election last March.  He was defeated by Thomas Richards, a democrat, but received nine percent of the vote.

CT: Supremes Refuse Greens

From the Washington Post:

The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from the Green Party of Connecticut challenging state requirements for third party candidates to qualify for public campaign funds. The justices did not comment Tuesday in refusing to disturb a federal appeals court ruling in favor of the state.

AZ: Tucson Greens Reach Out to Local Liberals

From the Tucson Citizen:

Now that the dust (dust storm?) has settled, we know who is qualified to run for Mayor of Tucson — only Democratic attorney Jonathan Rothschild, and two Green Party candidates — Dave Croteau and Mary DeCamp.

Both Green Party candidates will be at The Shanty on Sunday June 26, 6 p.m. to talk to the so-called “liberals” of Drinking Liberally about why they are running for Mayor, and the Green Party primary on August 30. Independents can vote in the Green Party primary, but need to inform the Tucson City Clerk’s office (520-791-4213) if they want a Green ballot by July 16, 2011.

German Green Party Calls for Study of Hazardous Sex Toys

From the Herald Sun:

GERMANY'S Green party have asked for a government investigation into high levels of potentially dangerous chemicals in sex toys.

"Consumers must be protected when it comes to sexual health. Feigned embarrassment or false taboos should not prevent information getting out and checks being done," MP Volker Beck said yesterday.

The party wants Chancellor Angela Merkel's government to investigate legal limits to the levels of certain chemicals in dildos, vibrators and other sex aids and announce plans to reduce risk . . .

MN: Greens Begin Recruitment Effort for Local Races

From the Twin Cities Daily Planet:

The Green Party of St. Paul began a new effort to recruit candidates for upcoming 2011 local elections June 16, as candidates and around 40 supporters gathered to launch the effort dubbed Green St. Paul.The campaign is an attempt to change the party’s sporadic track record in local elections by recruiting candidates to run for local office, said Green St. Paul co-chair Roger Meyer.

“We don’t have a history of running candidates in local elections,” said Meyer at the press conference outside the Greater Frogtown Community Development Corporation office. “I don’t even know the last time we had a City Council candidate.”

The Green Party has officially endorsed three candidates in local races. . . .

NY: Green Party to Hold National Meeting in Early August

From the Green party:

The Green Party of the United States will hold its 2011 Annual National Meeting at Alfred University in Alfred in western New York, from Friday, August 5 to Sunday, August 7.

The meeting will take place at the fourth bienniel New York Green Fest, "a gathering of folks interested in exploring the politics and practices that will help enable us to live in a sustainable world, and sharing a weekend of good discussions, good food, and good music" (http://nygreenfest.org).

"We look forward to meeting in New York, where the Green Party of New York State regained ballot status in 2010 with Howie Hawkin's Green campaign for governor," said Jason Nabewaniec, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States and a New York Green.

Green Party leaders will begin organizing for the 2012 election season, including the presidential race. The party will nominate a candidate for the White House at its 2012 national convention. The 2011 meeting in Alfred will also feature Green Party panels, workshops, meetings of the Green National Committee, and other events.

The meeting is open to the media and public . . .