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Greens Establish Peace Action Committee and Plan Protest Delegations for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. |
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Thursday, July 1, 2004 Contacts: Greens plan responses to the support by both major parties for President Bush's pro-war policies. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Green Party of the United States has established a national Peace Action Committee in preparation for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions later this summer. The Peace Action Committee will help plan nonviolent actions, educate antiwar protesters, and facilitate communication among various groups in the peace movement. "This is an excellent opportunity for the Green Party, America's antiwar party, to emerge as the political leader in the movement against military aggression and the ideology of global dominance," said Charles Shaw, Illinois Green and co-chair of the Peace Action Committee. "We're proud to have David Cobb and Pat LaMarche, our presidential ticket, running on a platform of nonviolence and opposition to President Bush's imperial policies, which both Republicans and Democrats have supported -- including Sen. John Kerry." Several prominent Green leaders, candidates, and officeholders have announced their support of the Peace Action Committee, including Cobb, LaMarche, San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Matt Gonzalez, New Paltz (N.Y.) Mayor Jason West, New Paltz Deputy Mayor Rebecca Rotzler, Medea Benjamin of Global Exchange, former presidential candidates Kent Mesplay and Carol Miller, Santa Monica, California Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown, former Santa Monica Mayor Mike Feinstein, congressional candidates Bob Kinsey (Colorado) and Mike Miles (Wisconsin), and party leaders George Martin and Ben Manski. Greens are helping to organize various events for the Democratic Convention in Boston and Republican Convention in New York City. The Green Party called for the impeachment of President Bush in July 2003, citing numerous deceptions and violations of the Constitution in launching the invasion of Iraq. The 9/11 investigations have confirmed many of the charges that President Bush misled the country about the need to invade. Greens have also sharply criticized Congress for transferring constitutional war powers to the White House. "We hope to see multitudes of Greens at the Democratic and Republican conventions," said Mark Dunlea of the New York State Green Party. "We want America to see that there's an alternative to the war parties." MORE INFORMATION search: prty, pce, gbl, fpol, dpol |