Green Party of Michigan home:
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Ecological Wisdom * Social Justice * Grassroots Democracy * Non-Violence
>> Green Party of Michigan <<
>>> ---------------- <<<
>>> News Release <<<
>>> ---------------- <<<
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 16, 2003
For More Information Contact:
----------------------------
Marc Reichardt -- Party Chair/Treasurer, GPMI
phone: 734-668-9628
e-mail: press@migreens.org
> Green Party Marches Across Michigan <
> Supporting Peace -- and Justice <
> =================================== <
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 peace and 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.
# # #
Green Party of Michigan * 548 S. Main Street *
* Ann Arbor, MI 48104 * 734-663-3555
-----------------------------------------------------------
The Green Party of Michigan was formed in 1987 to address
environmental issues in Michigan politics. There are Greens
organized in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each
state Green Party sets its own goals and creates its own
structure, but US Greens agree on Ten Key Values:
Ecological Wisdom * Grassroots Democracy
Social Justice * Nonviolence
Community Economics * Decentralization
Feminism * Respect for Diversity
Personal and Global * Future Focus/
Responsibility Sustainability
created/distributed using donated labor
Other Contacts:
Green Party of Michigan
548 S Main St
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-663-3555
info@migreens.org
page last modified 17 Feb 2003