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Green Party Hires African American Affairs Director. |
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Monday, November 17, 2003 Contacts: GREEN PARTY HIRES AFRICAN AMERICAN AFFAIRS DIRECTOR WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Green Party of the United States has hired Jason Ravin as Director of African American Affairs, a new position created by the party at its national meeting in Washington, D.C. in July. Mr. Ravin has been involved in political activism since the age of 12. After a brief stint in Democratic Party politics, Ravin served as campaign manager for Roy H. Williams, Texas Green candidate for U.S. Senator in 2002. Mr. Ravin served as assistant to the Green Party's national fundraiser and as an organizer for the Green Party Black Caucus. He is a member of the steering committee of the D.C. Statehood Green Party. "The Black Caucus of the Green Party is the offspring of the grass roots organizations this nation witnessed in the 1960s and early 1970s," said Jason Ravin. "We are committed to galvanizing the grassroots of this country in a way that provides people self-determination, human dignity and self-worth. During the course of this next election year we will be traveling the country organizing and holding events to discuss the current state of affairs in America as it relates to people of African descent." "We will release a newspaper, unveil our website, conduct voter registration drives across the country, and support and recruit progressive black candidates for office," added Ravin. "We are dedicated to working with anyone who shares our commitment to grassroots democracy, ecology, social justice, and nonviolence and we will work tirelessly to achieve these goals in the spirit of progress." "The Black Caucus of the Green Party of the United States is pleased to announce that it has secured the services of Jason Ravin as Director of African American Affairs," said Michele Tingling-Clemmons, co-chair of the Black Caucus. "His primary task will be to work with the Black Caucus in its initiative to grow the party through implementing a series of black college/community tours, the first of which will be held in Washington, D.C. in early 2004. Expect to see some exciting announcements in the near future." Commenting on the political mission of the Black Caucus and the Green Party, Ravin said, "People of African descent in America have been in the same position for more than a quarter of a century. Neglected and disrespected by the obvious racism that plagues the two parties, the grassroots of Black America is seeking a political alternative. We have been prostituted by the Democratic Party in hopes of regaining the rural white vote and our issues have been all but forgotten by the Republican Party in hopes to maintain that same white vote. The grassroots are no longer in step with black leadership that is so wedded to the two party structure that they are willing to compromise or sell us all out for token gains. This is our battle for independence, and we have chosen sides with the Green Party." "The Black vote in America is the most consistent vote in American political history," Ravin added. "If the Democratic Party is unwilling to serve the interests of their most loyal supporters, the Green Party of the United States will. This is a war for the heart and souls of America's most significant political electorate and we are waging it with all the intentions of winning." Jason Ravin can be reached at 832-687-4290, 202-612-9416, or <JasonRavin@aol.com>. A reception for Mr. Ravin in Washington, D.C. will be announced soon. MORE INFORMATION search:
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