CAMPAIGN 2006 STRATEGY
Now Playing: part 3 of 10
Topic: Green Party

ANTI-THREE STRIKES MOVEMENT

During the Gubernatorial and the 2004 campaign whereever possible I
tried to raise the issue of the death penalty and three strikes. At
some of my campaign meetings Geri Silva the Executive Director of
FACTS (Families to Amend Three Strikes) spoke with me. At one meeting
Donna Warren brought Harold Hall an African American who served 18
years in prison until it was discovered he was innocent. Watching
several hundred young people listening to Harold Hall himself explain
how such injustices occur in our society has an educational impact
that cannot be easily expressed in words.

Leading this work and educating the Green Party on Three Strikes has
been Donna Warren the African American Green leader from South Central
LA. As our candidate for Lt. Governor she was the only African
American in 2002 running for a State office and made such an enormous
difference to the perception of our campaign and Party.

Under her guidance I raised at every televised debate in 2003 the
issue of three strikes. The impact this had was reflected when African
Americans became the racial group delivering the largest vote
(percentage wise) for the Green Party in the recall election (6%),
Latinos came a close second at 5%. Keep in mind the Democrats were
running a Latino for Governor, Cruz Bustamente. For the Green Party to
receive such a solid vote in the Latino community reflected the
support we are gaining. Our largest support was demographically from
youth and the poorest people in California (9% for each category).

Again we need to continue our efforts on these issues. I especially
want to raise the case of Santo Reyes now doing life in prison for
cheating on a DMV test trying to get a driver's license so he could
work as a roofer to support his family.

LABOR AND THE MINIMUM WAGE

Thanks to the relentless work of a group of Greens, especially Tim
Smith of Sonoma, and also Cres Fallucci and Pat Driscoll from
Sacramento the Green Party with other allies is now petitioning to try
and place a referendum on the ballot to raise the minimum wage. Just
to match what it was in 1968 the minimum wage needs to be increased to
$8.65 per hour. This effort will result in many benefits for working
people's perception of our Party. It will provide a way for
progressive leaders in the labor movement to break ranks with the
Democratic Party's control over the Unions and join with us in an
effort desperately needed and supported by millions of Californians
possibly a majority. We should welcome sympathetic labor leaders to
come to our rallies and speak on this issue.

Most of the speakers we want to bring to the podium will be strategic
allies of ours even if they cannot endorse us. Let us become the
vehicle to educate the labor movement on what having a party that is
independent from the corporate rulers can mean. When Matt Gonzalez ran
for Mayor the AFL CIO would not endorse him but some union locals and
union leaders did. In Matt's race they all so Greens can win. They
need to see we can organize and that people are listening to us.

When Aimee Allison ran for city council in Oakland California an
historic bolt of lightening occurred when a large meeting of long
shore men at their union meeting endorsed her and said they were
endorsing her because she is a Green and will no longer automatically
endorse Democrats!