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

[Andrew Griswold]

Dear Adcom,

Oyez, oyez, forwarding attached in my capacity as regional rep

PS: I wanted to say thanks to the Adcom for including me in your meeting at 
Cambridge last Saturday. I regret not having been able to make previous 
meetings, but now feel as though I have a much better sense of both how 
Adcom operates and the challenges it faces to try to keep our organization 
running on a day to day basis. I will try very hard to have good attendance 
at future meetings for as long as I continue to be a regional rep.

Andy Griswold
Medford, MA

-----Original Message-----
From:	Kraut, Karen [SMTP:KKraut at GBFB.ORG]
Sent:	Wednesday, January 16, 2002 9:37 AM
To:	'statecom at massgreens.org'
Subject:	[statecom] Proposals up for discussion or vote in US-GP

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 BUNDNIS 90/DIE GRUNEN (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 BUNDNIS
90/DIE GRUNEN 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 BUNDNIS 90/DIE GRUNEN 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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