[adcom] Fwd: [statecom] Proposals up for discussion or vote in US-GP

[Dan Corrigan]

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>From: "Kraut, Karen" <KKraut at GBFB.ORG>
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>Subject: [statecom] Proposals up for discussion or vote in US-GP
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>Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 09:37:03 -0500
>
>Hi friends,
>
>In keeping with my US-GP report to the StateCom on Saturday, this LONG email
>lists four US-GP issues currently up for discussion or a vote. If you so
>choose, please get back to me with any comments. I'm not on the AdCom
>listserv, so if anyone can forward it to them, please do so.
>Thanks,
>Karen
>
>UP FOR A VOTE NOW:
>
>#1)	Green Party of the United States, Coordinating Committee
>	Call for Global Green Solidarity in Opposition to the War
>(Karen's note: this issue has been very controversial due to the criticism
>of the German Greens. Some people thought it is important for the int'l
>green community to weigh in if a nation's green party goes against the 10
>key values. Others thought it was unproductive and inappropriate to publicly
>criticize another nation's green party. Gil abstained on this vote. I have
>not yet voted.)
>
>The Green Party of the United States stands ready to strengthen global Green
>solidarity on a basis of our common commitment to the Four Pillars of
>Non-Violence, Grassroots Democracy, Ecology, and Social Justice.
>
>In recognition of the multiple violations of international law in the
>ongoing illegal war in Afghanistan and of the ever-louder drumbeat for the
>expansion of war to the peoples of other nations, the Green Party of the
>United States Coordinating Committee states the following:
>
>We affirm our determined opposition to the continuing military strikes
>against the people of Afghanistan, who have already suffered the deaths of
>thousands of innocent civilians, ostensibly in pursuit of a few or one.
>These actions have been conducted based on hidden evidence, perpetrating
>gross violations of civil and human rights in nations around the globe, in
>the very name of protecting those rights.
>
>We echo the call of the Green Party of Japan for Greens around the world to
>unite in efforts to end the war and to oppose any expansion to the other
>nations. The "war against terrorism" has already spread to many western
>nations as government officials attack our civil liberties and undermine
>democracy.  Greens here are outraged by the growth of police, military, and
>corporate power in the United States and request the solidarity of
>international Greens in supporting North American movements for democracy
>and peace in this current crisis.
>
>We have admired the historic commitment of German civil society to a
>demilitarized foreign policy, and we greatly respect the contributions of
>our partners in the BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN (German Green Party) to the cause
>of peace.  We are thus concerned by recent German coalition-government
>actions in support of the U.S.-led war, and by the involvement of our
>partner Greens in the prosecution of the war.  The opposition of BÜNDNIS
>90/DIE GRÜNEN to the expansion of the war to other nations is noted and
>appreciated, yet the position of the German Green Party of "Critical
>Solidarity" with the military strikes in Afghanistan led by the Bush
>Administration contradicts the position of the Green Party of the United
>States Coordinating Committee.  We ask the BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN for
>dialogue and cooperation in developing an anti-war solidarity with U.S.
>Greens and Greens across the globe.
>
>As a partner of the European Federation of Green Parties (EFGP) we support
>the efforts of most European Greens in opposing American and European
>military actions in Afghanistan.  We have confidence that all member parties
>of the EFGP can fully unite in opposing individual military deployments in
>their respective countries.
>
>For our part, the National Committee of the Green Party of the United States
>has made our opposition to the current U.S. military strikes clear in the
>recent statement "Seeking Justice for Acts of Terrorism" (
><http://www.greenpartyus.org/press/pr_12_21_01.html>).  We are ready to
>engage in global collective actions with Greens and others in the pursuit of
>a peaceful resolution to the current crisis.
>
>
>#2) SUBJECT:  Change Article III of the USGP bylaws
>
>BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:  Article III of the bylaws presently states that
>committees may have up to 3
> Greens from each state serve on a committee. However, the CC has in the
>past created committees with a limited membership.  This bylaw change would
>reflect that option while also specifically stating that the SC shall
>monitor and task the various committees.  This SC duty has not previously
>been outlined.
>
>FULL PROPOSAL:
>
>Current language of Article III:
>
>The Green Party may form committees to further its work. The committees
>serve at the pleasure of the
> Coordinating Committee and shall report regularly to the Coordinating
>Committee.  Each member state of
> the Association may have up to three (3) representatives on each committee.
>Voting on committees will be one vote per each member state represented. A
>member state may exercise its right to participate on a committee at any
>time. Committee
> participation need not be limited to those members of a state party who are
>representatives of that
> state on the Coordinating Committee nor to representatives of member
>states.
>
>PROPOSED LANGUAGE (changes in CAPS):
>
>ARTICLE III. COMMITTEES
>
>The Green Party may form committees to further its work. The committees
>serve at the DISCRETION of the
> Coordinating Committee and shall report regularly to the Coordinating
>Committee. THE STEERING COMMITTEE SHALL COORDINATE THE WORK OF THE
>COMMITTEES AND TASK  THEM WITH VARIOUS DUTIES WHEN APPROPRIATE.  NLESS
>OTHERWISE DECIDED BY THE COORDINATING COMMITTEE, each member state of the
>Association may have up to three (3) representatives on each committee.
>Voting on committees will be one vote per each member state represented. A
>member state may exercise its right to participate on a committee at any
>time. Committee participation need not be limited to those members of a
>state party who are representatives of that state on the Coordinating
>Committee nor to  representatives of member states.
>
>
>
>UP FOR DISCUSSION NOW:
>
>#1) 	SUBJECT: Creation of Coordinated Campaign Committee as Standing
>Committee
>
>IMPLEMENTATION - RESOURCES: The recently approved 2002 Budget provides for
>the allocation of $2,000 to the existing SC Ad Hoc Coordinated Campaign
>Committee.  This allocation will be transferred to the standing Coordinated
>Campaign Committee upon its creation.  Field staff and legal advisors will
>assist in the committee's work in an ex-officio capacity.
>
>REFERENCES: See recent Green Party press statements on Fast Track and
>congressional candidates, as well as recent election results as reported by
>Mike Feinstein, California.  All of these are to be found on our website at
>http://www.gp-us.org/
>
>  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>
>FULL PROPOSAL
>
>Whereas the Ad Hoc Coordinated Campaign Committee of the Green Party of the
>United States was formed at the August, 2001 meeting of the GP-US Steering
>Committee, and has met several times to develop the bylaws proposal
>contained herein, as will as carry out other activities; and
>
>Whereas the coordination and support of Green electoral activity within the
>United States is a fundamental responsibility of the Green Party of the
>United States;
>
>Whereas the responsibilities of any Coordinated Campaign Committee are such
>that the committee requires greater accountability than other standing
>committees of the Green Party;
>
>Now Be It Resolved that the Ad Hoc Coordinated Campaign Committee become a
>standing committee of the Green Party of the United States, subject to all
>the rules and regulations of such committees, unless otherwise here
>specified; and further
>
>Be it resolved that the Green Party of the United States Coordinating
>Council hereby establishes the Coordinated Campaign Committee (CCC) as a
>standing committee, which shall cooperate with state and local parties in
>the coordination and support of federal, state, and local Green Party
>electoral campaigns. Specific functions of the CCC include:
>
>a) Tracking of Green Party candidates at all levels of government.
>b) Facilitation of discussions regarding electoral strategy among state
>parties.
>c) Identification of target communities and districts for national support.
>d) Support for candidate recruitment in targeted communities and districts.
>e) Volunteer, media, celebrity, and resource mobilization for specific
>candidacies in targeted communities and districts.
>f) Training and materials support for Green Party candidates and activists.
>g) Analysis of past campaigns for lessons learned.
>h) State-by-state tracking of ballot status and laws.
>i) Publicize an annual call for candidates.
>j) Organization of a Green Party campaign school.
>
>In carrying out these specific functions, the Coordinated Campaign
>Committee shall consider the following priorities:
>
>i) Securing and maintaining state ballot lines.
>ii) Existing on-the-ground support for candidate.
>iii) Likelihood of winning.
>iv) Racial inclusion, diversity, and gender balance .
>v) Four Pillars and 10 Key Values of the Green Party.
>vi) Potential for Green Party growth in targeted area.
>vii) Past electoral success in targeted area.
>viii) Likelihood of gaining majority or of securing an executive office.
>ix) Districts/States where incumbent is unopposed or only one other
>candidate has announced for office.
>x) Districts/States where Green candidates are likely to run at least
>second.
>xi) Districts/States where all other likely candidates are highly
>objectionable.
>
>The Coordinated Campaign Committee is composed of 10 voting members drawn
>from affiliated state parties. CCC members are selected annually by the
>members of the Coordinating Committee, and may be members of that committee
>or of an affiliated state party; no state shall have in excess of one
>member on the CCC. Vacancies on the CCC are filled by the Steering
>Committee. The members of the CCC annually elect up to three co-chairs from
>among its members.
>
>The Coordinated Campaign Committee works with a pool of CCC Associates;
>these include one liaison from each affiliated state party not already
>represented on the CCC as well as staff or other persons necessary to the
>productivity of the CCC who shall be chosen as deemed appropriate by the
>CCC. Associates may participate in CCC discussions and meetings as needed
>but are not regular voting members of the CCC.
>
>
>
>#2) SUBJECT:  Green Party Statement on DEFENDING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
>
>BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:  During the discussion of our last statement on the
>war, it was the opinion of many that the statement needed to include
>language condemning the the assault on Constitutional Rights.  It was
>decided that the last statement should stand on its own and that a separate
>statement needed to be drafted to address the issue of Constitutional
>Rights.  This statement is an attempt to address that issue.
>
>FULL PROPOSAL:
>
>Green Party Policy Statement on
>Defending Constitutional Rights From Anti-terrorist Assaults
>
>Originally drafted December 23, 2001
>
>It is appropriate for our government to heighten security to protect
>ourselves from terrorism. However, heightened security measures should not
>infringe on the rights of individuals guaranteed by the Constitution. The
>Green Party of the United States opposes the PATRIOT Anti-terrorism Act and
>a many newly enacted federal and state powers because they undercut
>constitutional rights, deplete judicial oversight of investigative powers,
>and create a culture of intimidation which stifles political debate. Among
>our concerns are the following:
>
>Secret Investigation of Political Groups
>
>The PATRIOT Act of October 26, 2001 provides the government with the right
>to secretly investigate members of groups who engage in acts "dangerous to
>human life that are a violation of the criminal laws... and appear to be
>intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or to influence the
>policy of a government by intimidation or coercion." By defining domestic
>terrorism in such a broad and subjective way, groups protesting the World
>Trade Organization, the Vieques bombings, or abortion laws, for example,
>could have their members secretly investigated if a single person in their
>group were to perform a criminal act such as cutting a fence, throwing a
>stone, or crossing a police barrier. More overtly, on November 30 government
>officials announced that Attorney General Ashcroft is considering altering
>FBI guidelines to allow the FBI to investigate political and religious
>groups. Thus, the Administration appears to be in the process of undoing the
>domestic surveillance restrictions which were imposed on the FBI in response
>to their widespread domestic surveillance which included Martin Luther King
>and other civil rights activists, antiwar activists, the American Indian
>Movement, and the Committee In Solidarity With the People of El Salvador.
>The PATRIOT Act undercuts the First Amendment to the Constitution which
>protects people from guilt by association, thereby intimidating people from
>engaging in the freedom of speech and assembly.
>
>Unwarranted Search and Surveillance
>
>The PATRIOT Act allows the FBI to secretly search an individual's home,
>computer, or business, listen to phone conversations, as well as obtain
>Internet communications, medical records, financial records, and student
>records for "intelligence" purposes under the PATRIOT Act's definition of
>domestic terrorism. In addition, the PATRIOT Act allows the government to
>search for evidence in a criminal investigation without first issuing a
>search warrant when it contends that issuing a warrant would impede the
>investigation. In common language, it allows the government to "fish" for
>information that may be relevant to a criminal investigation without having
>to show reasonable cause that the information it seeks may reveal evidence
>relevant to a crime. The PATRIOT Act undercuts the Fourth Amendment which
>protects citizens from unwarranted search and surveillance.
>
>Detention and Deportation of Non-Citizens Without Cause
>
>For non US citizens who are members of a designated "terrorist
>organization," the consequences are much worse than unwarranted search and
>surveillance. Non citizen members of such groups are inadmissible to the
>United States, and deportable if they are already in the United States.
>Furthermore, if they are not deportable because they have no state, would be
>subject to torture if returned, or because their home country refuses to
>receive a person so-designated as a member of a "terrorist organization,"
>such a person could be indefinitely incarcerated without showing that they
>have committed any crime. Around 1200 immigrants have been detained by the
>United States government since September 11 for undisclosed reasons.
>
>Ethnic Profiling and Investigation Without Reason
>
>On November 9 the Administration announced a policy of ethnic profiling in
>which it would discriminate against granting visas to men from Middle
>Eastern countries. In addition, it would "invite" 5,000 Arab immigrants who
>have entered the United States since January 2000 to submit to questioning.
>
>Eavesdropping on Attorney-Inmate Conversations
>
>On October 31 new regulations were issued that allow the government to
>listen in on conversations between an attorney and an inmate when the
>Attorney General "suspects" such a conversation may have a connection to
>terrorist activity. This is in accord with Attorney General Ashcroft's
>belief that "the constitution does not apply to terrorists." This regulation
>clearly undercuts the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution which guarantees
>the right to competent legal defense.
>
>Undercutting the Right to Public Trial
>
>On November 13 the Administration announced its intention to create secret
>military tribunals to try immigrants and other foreigners for terrorism. The
>usual rules of evidence and right to defense counsel would not necessarily
>apply. There would be no right of appeal. This is particularly striking
>since the US succeeded in pressuring Peru to retry an American citizen, Lori
>Berenson, in a civilian court after she was convicted of revolutionary
>activity in a secret military tribunal. Such tribunals would clearly undo
>the right to a public trial guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment of the
>Constitution of the United States.
>
>Use of Torture
>
>The administration has considered allowing the use of torture to obtain
>information from suspects under investigation for terrorism. The use of
>torture is specifically outlawed by the 1984 United Nations Convention
>Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
>Punishment.
>
>Establishment of "Patriotic" Behavioral Codes and Intimidation of Dissent
>
>In Wisconsin there is a mandated recital of the Pledge of Allegiance and/or
>National Anthem in state public schools. In addition, registration for the
>draft will become a prerequisite for employment within Wisconsin higher
>educational institutions in 2003. US Veteran Vic Lancia of the Connecticut
>Green Party was attacked and injured by police while peacefully protesting
>the war in Afghanistan and falsely charged with inciting to riot. A freshman
>at Durham Tech was investigated by the US Secret Service for allegedly
>having "anti-American material." Such violations of free speech create an
>atmosphere of political intimidation and diminish political discourse
>essential to democracy.
>
>Conclusion
>
>Our constitutional rights are under attack in the name of counter-terrorism.
>Measures to counter terrorism have exacerbated an already hostile, fearful
>climate that is now stifling freedom of expression, freedom of movement,
>freedom of association and other political activities essential to a
>democracy. Throughout the nation several murders, hundreds of hate crimes
>and other racial profiling incidents, as well as over 1200 detentions of
>suspected "terrorists" have been reported since the Sept. 11th attacks.
>
>Such acts - whether instigated or tolerated by the state - are unacceptable
>in a democratic society, and must be challenged. The Green Party of the
>United States supports rescinding the PATRIOT Act of 2001. In addition, we
>urge all citizens to not be intimidated by counter-terrorism measures and to
>continue to exercise their hard-won constitutional freedoms. Those who
>suffer violations of their civil liberties are encouraged to immediately
>contact the Green Party of the United States, publicize their experiences,
>and seek legal assistance from the National Lawyers Guild, the Center for
>Constitutional Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union, and other legal
>advocacy groups.
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