{"article":{"id":12665,"heading":"USGP advisory on detention of a Green at Maine airport","author":"Starlene Rankin, USGP Media Team","created":"2001-11-05 22:08:15","modified":"2001-11-06 05:36:55","last_modified":"Tue, 06 Nov 2001 12:36:55","article":"<p>THE GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES <br><br> PRESS ADVISORY <br>  <br> For immediate release: <br>  <br> Sunday, November 4, 2001 <br><br> Contacts: <br>  <br> Nancy Allen, Media Coordinator <br>  <br> 207-326-4576, <a href=\"mailto:nallen@acadia.net\" rel=\"nofollow\">nallen@acadia.net<\/a> <br>  <br> Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator <br>  <br> 202-518-5624, <a href=\"mailto:scottmclarty@yahoo.com\" rel=\"nofollow\">scottmclarty@yahoo.com<\/a> <br><br>  <br>  <br> CORRECTION of erroneous information in press <br>  <br> reports on the detention of a Green at Maine <br>  <br> airport <br><br>  <br>  <br> WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party organizers are <br>  <br> attempting to confirm a report from sources in <br>  <br> Maine that a Green was detained by officials at <br>  <br> Bangor International Airport because of her <br>  <br> political affiliation.   <br><br> Greens support measures to keep air traffic safe <br>  <br> during the current crisis, as long as <br>  <br> constitutional rights are not violated and people <br>  <br> who engage in nonviolent political dissent are <br>  <br> not targeted.  Numerous Green Party organizers <br>  <br> and activists have flown over the past weeks <br>  <br> without incident, and they have complied in every <br>  <br> way with airport security measures. <br><br> PLEASE NOTE: Recent press reports on the incident <br>  <br> contained incorrect information about the <br>  <br> affiliation of the Green Party member, stating <br>  <br> that Nancy Oden is a \"coordinating committee <br>  <br> member\" of the Green Party of the United States.  <br>  <br> Ms. Oden is not a member of the party's <br>  <br> Coordinating Committee (which consists of <br>  <br> delegates from affiliated states), but of a <br>  <br> different organization. <br><br> The Green Party of the United States is the only <br>  <br> Green political organization organized nationally <br>  <br> as a party, in which at least 31 states are <br>  <br> represented (with other states' memberships <br>  <br> pending).  It organized the Green National <br>  <br> Convention in Denver in June, 2000, at which <br>  <br> Ralph Nader was nominated to run for President, <br>  <br> and is recognized among Green Parties around the <br>  <br> world.   <br><br> The Green Party of the United States has filed <br>  <br> papers with the Federal Election Commission for <br>  <br> recognition as a national party with national <br>  <br> committee status, and expects an announcement of <br>  <br> the FEC's decision within the next few weeks.   <br><br> Media inquiries about national policies and <br>  <br> activities of the Green Party should be directed <br>  <br> solely to the Green Party of the United States, <br>  <br> through its media representatives as listed in <br>  <br> the heading above.  To contact state Green <br>  <br> Parties, visit the Green Party of the United <br>  <br> States web site &lt;<a href=\"http:\/\/gpus.org\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/gpus.org<\/a>&gt; and follow the <br>  <br> links to the state parties and their contacts and <br>  <br> web sites. <br><br>  <br>  <br> MORE INFORMATION <br><br> The Green Party of the United States  <br>  <br> <a href=\"http:\/\/gpus.org\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/gpus.org<\/a> <br><br>  <br>  <br> END<\/p>\n","contact":"starlene@greens.org","link":"http:\/\/gpus.org","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"CORRECTION of erroneous information in press\r\nreports on the detention of a Green at Maine\r\nairport","numcomment":2,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2001\/11\/12665.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":12670,"heading":"Hypocrites!","article":"You people (Starlene Rankin, Brent White, et al.) who claim yours is the only \"TRUE\" Green Party are really beyond the pale. In your \"press release\" (above) you first state that the \"Green Party\" is \"attempting to confirm ... that a Green was detained by officials at Bangor International Airport because of her political affiliation.\" However, further down you state unequivocally that the \"Green\" in question, Nancy Oden, is in fact NOT a \"Green\" at all but from \"a different organization\". It seems to me you are not \"attempting to confirm\" anything.  \r\n\r\nIn your \"press release\" you also state \"Greens support measures to keep air traffic safe during the current crisis, as long as constitutional rights are not violated and people who engage in nonviolent political dissent are not targeted.\" The incident at Bangor Airport runs seriously afoul of this stated policy, yet as the self-appointed arbiters of *Green Party Purity* you have spent the better part of two days badmouthing Ms. Oden and rationalizing that she deserved the illegal and unconstitutional treatment she received. It appears you are very selective in whose rights are defended, and all too eager to throw anyone to the wolves if they are not someone you consider a \"REAL\" Green.\r\n\r\nI have in the past supported and contributed financially to the Green Party, but no more! Not only was I unaware of the petty viciousness that apparently is one of the party's hallmarks, I was also ignorant of \"Starlene Rankin's\" position against abortion and free choice. It's apparent that your organization - and I mean no disrespect to individual members - is not about ideals but about politics, and dangerously self-serving politics at that.","author":"?","parent_id":12665,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2001-11-06 02:17:45","modified":"2001-11-06 02:41:38","fileurl":""},{"id":12676,"heading":"what a beautiful day in chicago!","article":"hey friends,\r\n\r\ni believe no one should interfere in a woman's intensely personal choice about whether to have a child.  i support the right of women of all ages to full reproductive freedom.\r\n\r\npeace,\r\nstarlene\r\n","author":"Starlene Rankin","parent_id":12665,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2001-11-06 05:36:55","modified":"2001-11-06 06:00:02","fileurl":""}]}