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> Occupy UC Davis: "No Support to Major Parties!"
This is major news, and that's a phrase I don't use lightly. I share it with tip of the hat to Margaret Flowers of our allies at October2011.org. The story was first broken by David Brown at wsws.org. His story begins:
"On Tuesday evening [November 29], the general assembly of Occupy UC Davis passed a resolution denouncing the attack on UC Davis students and calling for a break with the Democratic Party and construction of an independent social and political movement of the entire working class.
"The resolution, the first of its kind adopted at an Occupy protest, lays out a clear political perspective to counter the growing attacks on protests against inequality in the United States. It comes a week and a half after the brutal pepper spraying of unarmed students protesting against rising tuition and inequality.
"The attack on UC Davis students is part of a nationwide crackdown on Occupy demonstrators, organized by both Democrats and Republicans and overseen by the Obama administration. On Wednesday morning, police in Los Angeles and Philadelphia, both controlled by Democratic Party mayors, cleared out encampments."
Please forward this edition of the NPA Update widely. If we are wake up the huge percentage of the American electorate that pays attention to politics for perhaps four months out of every 48, new like this MUST get around! The full text of the original story is here.
> Jill Stein Tours CA; Presidential Campaign Gathers Steam
At least one mainstream news outlet has noticed the potential confluence of the populist movement spreading across the country and the values of one of the brightest political minds you've probably never heard of. Concurrent with her departure for an ambitious tour of California, The Hill reported this week on Jill Stein's candidacy for the Green Party nomination for president.
A highly noted physician whose groundbreaking work has shed important new light on the causes and potential prevention of Alzheimer's, Stein is also one of the most successful and experienced new party candidates in the nation. From Wikipedia:
"Stein was nominated for [Massachusetts] Secretary of the Commonwealth on March 4, 2006, at the Green-Rainbow Party state-wide nominating convention. In a two-way race with three-term incumbent Democrat Bill Galvin, Stein received 353,551 votes for 18% of the total vote. Stein's 18% marked the best finish for a Green Party candidate running for Secretary of State in any state to date."
Since 2005 she has held a Town Meeting seat in Lexington, MA, to which she was re-elected in 2008. This seasoned campaigned ran for Massachusetts governor in 2002 and again last year, and made a run for the state house of representatives in 2006.
> "Justice Party" to Launch December 12
Meanwhile, the new "Justice Party" is set to launch a week from Monday. Founded by Former Salt Lake City Mayor Ross C. "Rocky" Anderson, who will seek its nomination, the party has already begun ballot access work for next fall's general election.
You can see Rachel Maddow's recent interview of Anderson on MSNBC here.
> Commentary: What's Going On?
Jill Stein and Rocky Anderson held several phone conferences over the summer looking for common ground in hope of joining forces. While some are already floating the idea of Stein as potential running mate or cabinet official in an Anderson administration, it is far too early - and we know far too little about Anderson - for such talk.
The party whose nomination Stein is seeking, meanwhile, has problems of its own. Hamstrung by disorganization, our-way-or-the-highway hardliners and co-opting Democratic Party apologists throughout its existence in the U.S., the Green Party needs to recognize that time has come for coalition building, and that the people are demanding it. The good news is that Stein has been building coalitions all her life.
Stein and Anderson's failure to come to terms thus far does not mean we should stop pushing them to do so. Both have voiced strong support of the Unified Platform in direct meetings with me earlier this year. Will you please take a moment RIGHT NOW to encourage these two political veterans to work together for the country that growing numbers of people are calling for?
Write to Rocky Anderson at: rocky.highroad@gmail.com
Write Jill Stein at: jillstein1@gmail.com
Thank you!
Tony, NPA Facilitator
> NPA Adds Allies, Volunteers
Click here to check our Our Allies at NewProgs.org. Ed Griffith has done terrific work in this outreach, and if your organization would like to join with the NPA, drop Ed a line at info@newprogs.org.
While you're at the site, consider becoming a paid member or donating to support our work. We're also adding State Founders, and would welcome you as our representative in your locale.
Your membership contribution or purchase at the NPA Store pays for website maintenance, promotional items, literature, and office supplies at the national and state levels. We are a 100-percent volunteer organization and pay no salaries to anyone.
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