{"article":{"id":142907,"heading":"Greens Best\/Worst list of 2005","author":"twirl","created":"2005-12-31 18:12:18","modified":"2013-11-11 00:37:16","last_modified":"Mon, 11 Nov 2013 07:37:16","article":"

News Advisory

THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA www.cagreens.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, Dec. 30, 2005

Contact: Susan King 415.823-5524

Pat Driscoll 916.320-6430

Green Party of California tabs Schwarzenegger, Bush as 2005 ‘Bad Guys,' lists Cindy Sheehan,

Green activist killed in Iraq among ‘Heroes'

SACRAMENTO (Dec. 30, 2005) – The Green Party of California today released

its annual \"Heroes & Bad Guys of 2005\" list – featuring Gov. Schwarzenegger

and Pres. Bush – and also noted the progressive party's highlights for the

year.

HEROES: *(Special Remembrance) The Late Marla Ruzicka. Longtime human rights

activist and Green Party member Marla Ruzicka died tragically in Iraq in a

car bomb blast in April. Ms. Ruzicka, who was from Lakeport, California,

was the founder of Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC), which

negotiated with the U.S. government to compensate civilian victims of the

war in Iraq. * Cindy Sheehan: Honored for waging a powerful campaign for peace in the

name of her son, Casey, who was killed in Iraq. Cindy's call for an

immediate end to the war in Iraq is consistent with the Green Party

platform for peace, and her own bravery in the face of tragic personal loss

has inspired anti-war activists around the world.

* June Brashares: This Green Party member and Code Pink activist exposed

Bush's lies about the Iraq War on his home turf at the Republican National

Convention. June was prosecuted for exercising her Constitutional right of

free speech, but was acquitted on all counts in the Summer of 2005. * Aimee Allison: This anti-war activist brought fresh ideas and community

activism to Oakland in her run for Oakland City Council in a Special

Election in early 2005. She did not win, but the Gulf War conscientious

objector and expert counter recruiting organizer is considered a favorite

in her next run for public office.

* Malik Rahim: New Orleans Green for his leadership in starting the

Common Ground Collective in New Orleans and was one of the first responders

to meet the needs of the people abandoned in New Orleans after hurricane

Katrina. Today, Common Ground operates a free medical clinic, distributes

tons of food, supplies and cleaning equipment and provides advocacy and

support for the returning residents of New Orleans.

BAD GUYS:

* Arnold Schwarzenegger: He killed Tookie Williams, attacked unions,

thumbed his nose at nurses and patients and continues to break his promise

to get special interests out of politics by taking money from big

pharmaceutical companies doing business with state of California.

* George W. Bush. Name for repeatedly violating the law, and so far,

getting away with it

In other Green Party of California highlights for 2005:

* State Minimum Wage Initiative. In the wake of Gov. Schwarzenegger's

second straight veto of a modest hourly minimum wage increase, Greens

announced they will spearhead an effort, for the November 2006 ballot, with

other progressive political, labor and social justice groups to raise the

minimum wage by as much as $2 an hour.

* Ross Mirkarimi Assumes Office. The Green Party's highest elected

official in one of the nation's largest cities was sworn in as San

Francisco Supervisor, replacing outgoing Board President Matt Gonzalez,

who chose not to run. Ross has recently broken an impasse over Medical

Marijuana and the regulation of \"pot clubs.\" He is also working to stem the

increasing tide of violence in his district, and has introduced legislation

to bring public financing to San Francisco's mayor election.

* Greens Win More Seats. The Green Party of California won four seats –

of five races entered – during November's Special Election, giving Greens

64 elected seats statewide, including seven positions in Los Angeles

County. Hilary Bradburg-Huang defeated a longtime Republican incumbent for

a seat on the Pasadena City College Board of Trustees. Green incumbents Jim

Harvey and Paul Perkovic won re-election to the Montara Water and Sanitary

District Board in San Mateo County, and Nicole Vigeant won a seat to the

Community Service Area in Tomales Village in Marin County. Earlier in the

year, Karl Warkomski became the first Green Party mayor in

Republican-dominated Orange County when he was elected by fellow Aliso

Viejo city council members.

* Greens Denounce Killing of Tookie Williams. As the only major political

party opposed to the death penalty, the Green Party of California denounced

Gov. Schwarzenegger's decision to not grant clemency to Stanley \"Tookie\"

Williams, who was executed.

* Councilmember Goes Green. Three-term Napa City Councilmember Harry

Martin – the founder and owner of the Napa Sentinel – announced mid-year

that he re-registered as a member of the Green Party.

* War as a Congressional Issue. Special election congressional candidates

Pat Driscoll (5th CD, Sacramento) and Bea Tiritilli (48th CD, Santa Ana)

make immediate withdrawal from Iraq their campaign battle cry in spirited

elections, creating a series of media events that made the war the hot

topic to reporters covering the races.

* The Iraq War. The Green Party, led by Green veterans, took the lead in

demonstrations against the war. From counter recruiting at military

entrance facilities to the schools, Greens pressed to end recruiting and

the war.

* Legislation & Civil Rights. The GPCA supported Muslims harassed by the

federal government, worked for legislation apologizing to Mexican Americans

who were unfairly and illegally sent to Mexico in the 1930s and also

supported Hilton, UC, farmworkers and other unions who had to strike, or

threaten to strike to receive fair wages and benefits.

-30-

www.cagreens.org





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