Friday, July 22, 2005
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator (on site), 202-518-5624, cell
916-995-3805, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Committee, starlene@greens.org,
cell 916-995-3805
Rachel Jackson, Co-Chair of the Green Party of Oklahoma (on site)
Annual National Meeting Coordinator, 405-205-6048, rachel@gp.org
AT NATIONAL MEETING IN TULSA, GREENS STRESS BALLOT
ACCESS EFFORTS IN OKLAHOMA AND OTHER STATES, CALLS FOR WITHDRAWAL OF
U.S. TROOPS FROM IRAQ
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Media Credentialing: Members of the press
attending the meeting may register on site at the University of
Tulsa, Media Room, Allen Chapman Activity Center (2nd floor, in
the Gallery).
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Press conference: Saturday, July 23 at 11:00,
featuring national meeting updates and Green candidates from
around the U.S., in the Media Room.
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Schedule of meeting events: http://www.gp.org/meeting2005/agenda.shtml
TULSA, OK. -- Green Party delegates, organizers,
and other members from all over the U.S. arrived in Tulsa, Oklahoma,
during the past two days for the national meeting of the Green Party
of the United States on the campus of the University of Tulsa.
Speaking before members of the press on Friday
morning, Oklahoma Green Party co-chair Rachel Jackson spoke of the
party's efforts to achieve ballot access in her state, calling
Oklahoma's rules "among the most restrictive in the
country." The Green Party of Oklahoma is the most recent
affiliate of the Green Party of the United States.
Marc Sanson, co-chair of the national party, noted
that 13 Greens have already been elected to public office so far in
2005. Mr. Sanson stressed the party's assistance for state Green
Parties, especially in their bid for ballot access -- one of the
reasons for the choice of Oklahoma for the national meeting site. (The
early 2005 victories raises the national total to 221 Greens holding
elected office in 27 states and the District of Columbia.)
Pat LaMarche, 2004 Green nominee for Vice
President of the United States, announced Maine's record number of
Green registrants. 24,155 Maine voters were reported registered Green
in November, 2004, up 50% from 16,169 Green registrants in November,
2002. At 2.3%, the 2004 number is the highest per capita percentage of
registered Greens in any state. Maine, Ms. LaMarche's home state, also
has the oldest state Green Party in the U.S.
Ms. LaMarche also discussed her Left Out Tour,
part of her 2004 vice presidential campaign. From September 21 to
October 4, Ms. LaMarche undertook an unprecedented two-week journey,
spending nights in homeless and domestic violence shelters across the
U.S. to draw attention to those left out of the election year debate
-- the homeless, victims of domestic abuse, people without health
insurance, and the working poor -- and to collect donations of
essential items for homeless shelters.
Jeff Peterson discussed a statewide voter
referendum, introduced by the Wisconsin Green Party, calling for
immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq <http://www.wisconsingreenparty.org/iraqreferendum/>.
Mr. Peterson, an elementary school teacher from Luck, Wisconsin, whose
1998 campaign for Secretary of State first gained Wisconsin Greens
their ballot access, noted that Greens intend to place the nonbinding
advisory referendum on the ballot in a spring 2006 nonpartisan
election. Wisconsin Greens are encouraging other state Green Parties
to launch similar efforts.
On Friday afternoon, the National Committee of the
Green Party began its plenary session.
For information about registration, lodging, and
the location, visit <http://www.gp.org/meeting2005>.
For a map of the University of Tulsa campus, visit <http://www.utulsa.edu/campusmap/>.
The University of Tulsa does not promote or
support any particular political party.
MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org
1711 18th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009.
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193