Ecological Wisdom * Social Justice * Grassroots Democracy * Non-Violence
>> Green Party of Michigan <<
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>>> News Release <<<
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
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March 23, 2003
For More Information Contact:
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Marc Reichardt -- Party Chair/Treasurer, GPMI
phone: 734-668-9628
e-mail: press@migreens.org
>>> Greens Continue to Oppose, Protest Attack Against the Iraqi People <<<
As the United States continues its slaughter of the Iraqi people, the
Green Party remains the only party to actively oppose the ongoing attacks.
Faced with undeclared war, virtually no opposition to it by from the
Democrats, and almost lockstep agreement from the Republicans, the Greens
continue to protest the massive use of force in Iraq -- along with large
numbers of the public -- at locations across the nation and around the world.
Ironically, the government is calling this "Operation: Iraqi Freedom".
However, there has been little or no discussion as to how the United States
will maintain this "freedom" for the Iraqi people once US troops withdraw.
"This can only mean that we have no intention of withdrawing and will remain
in Iraq after the bombing stops, as our country continues its quest to
establish a worldwide state of obedience to US interests," said Green Party
of Michigan (GPMI) member and attorney Patricia Smith, of the Ann Arbor area.
In addition to actively opposing the war, the Greens are also supporting
the tenets of international and US law (in the form of the the Nuremberg
treaty and the UN charter) which stipulate that many current US actions are
unconstitutional, war crimes, or both -- and should be treated as such.
"Simply because Saddam Hussein and his cohorts are despicable individuals
does not excuse the Bush Administration's use of bribery, threats, and
outright violence in attempting to remove his regime from power," stated
Marc Reichardt, GPMI party chair. "Two wrongs do not make a right. If
we are to set the example claimed for the United States as the cradle of
democracy and all that is good and right with the world, then our first
step should be to end hostilities in Iraq before any more lives are lost --
Iraqi or American, British or Kurdish."
Furthermore, Operation: Iraqi Freedom stands in stark contrast to the
current attitude of the Justice Department, which has detailed plans for
the detention of some 11,000 Iraqi immigrants in the US for the duration of
hostilities. "This is just one more example of how the administration is
using the excuse of military action or threats of same to destroy our civil
liberties," said Jim Moreno, Mt. Pleasant city councilmember and Green.
"If we lose those freedoms in the name of preserving them, where are we
left?"
Meanwhile, the administration continues to press for tax cuts during
a time of expenditure, and the US populace begins to feel the pressure of
inflation and the ever-rising tide of joblessness. Where is the government
of, by, and for the People now?
# # #
Green Party of Michigan * 548 S. Main Street *
* Ann Arbor, MI 48104 * 734-663-3555
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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 8 May 2003