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| Green Party Marches Across Michigan, Supporting Peace -- and Justice. |
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Ecological Wisdom * Social Justice * Grassroots Democracy * Non-Violence Green Party of Michigan ===================================================== The Green Party of Michigan was out in full force this weekend, partaking in all of the major peace events in the state. Peace events were held all over the world, with millions marching in the streets, supporting peaceand protesting war against Iraq. In Lansing, an estimated 4,000-5,000 people marched in support of peace. GPMI Chair Marc Reichardt spoke on behalf of peace and the Greens' long history of supporting peace and justice for all. Greens marching behind the Detroit local party banner joined a crowd of some 5,000 people braving the bitter cold to march down Woodward Avenue to Cobo Hall. There, a rally was held at which many people had to be turned away from a 1,700-seat room for lack of space. In Petoskey, Greens played a major role in organizing and marching in that city's peace parade. Their work will not stop with the parade, as Greens in that area look forward to lobbying the city councils of Petoskey and Charlevoix to join the many other cities nationwide that have passed a resolution against the war. Reichardt spoke enthusiastically to the crowd at the Capitol about the need for people to come together, both to stop the war and to succeed in the other vital political struggles -- for universal health care, real election reform, a fair economy for all. "Some people might accuse me of class warfare -- I say, 'You better believe it!' " He also reminded the crowd that the Green Party of Michigan and the national Green Party are on record many times over as being for peace and justice in dealing with both the people and the nation of Iraq, and the terrorism of 9-11 as well as the terrorizing of US rights and Afghani civilian lives since then. Another speaker in Lansing was Jason LaFay, an English teacher at DeWitt High School and a member of the DeWitt Education Association. LaFay was a Green candidate for the MSU Board of Trustees last November. Capital Area Greens member and 2002 Secretary of State candidate Ray Ziarno worked the Green Party's warming station outside City Hall, providing soup and hot beverages for the marchers. As was outlined in Reichardt's speech, the Green Party of Michigan is involved in many other issues that directly affect our citizens. Earlier in the week, the GPMI joined forces with the Sweetwater Alliance and confronted Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in Mount Pleasant. The Greens demanded to know why the Democratic mayor supports a policy of turning off water and other utilities in low-income households. Rather than justify his actions or examine why Detroiters cannot pay for water in the first place, the Democrat from Detroit chose to blame the victims, calling them "lazy" and responsible for their own situation. The Green Party of Michigan is the only political party on the ballot in the state to include non-violence and social justice in its platform. GPMI will continue to support peace events and other social justice events in our state and beyond.
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