Maine Green Independent Party to hold Fundraiser Dinner this Sunday

Featuring a Local Peruvian menu and a Presentation on
Street Cars

On Sunday, September 16th a plate dinner will be held at the Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St. in Portland.  Dinner will be prepared by local Peruvian Chefs Maria, Crystal, and Heather Cron.  Vegetarian and gluten free options will be available.

The dinner will feature a presentation by Green Independent Portland City Councilor David Marshall on the history and future of streetcars in Maine.  

Proceeds will benefit the Maine Green Independent Party.  All are welcome!

“This event is comprised of delicious, homemade food and education on the timely & imperative topic of transportation choice in Maine.  It will benefit a grassroots, third-party movement based on peace, sustainability, & equality that does not take corporate or PAC contributions of any kind.  You don’t want to miss it,” said Asher Platts, Chair of the Maine Green Independent Party.

Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday and dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. The cost is $20 at the door.  For more information call Tom at 207-272-5833 or visitwww.mainegreens.org.

We hope to see you there!!

National Convention shows Green Party is a Political Home for the Occupy Movement

Occupier-turned-candidate for US Congress, Ursula Rozum of New York

Whether it was the slew of Occupiers turned candidates, such as US Congressional Candidate Ursula Rozum of Syracuse, NY, or State Senate candidate Asher Platts of Portland, Maine, or the attendance of prominent figures within the movement such as Captain Ray Lewis, Margaret Flowers, Rev. Pinsky of Batten Harbor, MI, or the Wisconsin Capital Occupation organizer-turned-Jill Stein-campaign-manager Erika Wolf, this year at the 2012 Green Party convention it became incredibly clear that the Occupy Movement has a political home in the Green Party.

Occupier-turned-candidate for State Senate, Asher Platts of Maine

“This seems a really natural fit,” said Asher Platts, who since returning from three months of Occupying Wall St in NYC, and Freedom Plaza in DC, was elected Chair of the Maine Green Party, “the Green Party has been working on the same issues as the Occupy movement for the past 20 years. These long-time activists have been building this organization for two decades, and now people are finally beginning to understand what we've been saying all along-- the two party system isn't working, corporate money buys our politicians before they even get elected, and we need to make rapid and radical changes to the way we organize our society for a more just, equitable, and peaceful world.”

Dr. Margaret Flowers, a long-time single-payer advocate and an organizer of the October 2011 occupation of DC, addressed the crowd in a Keynote speech saying, “Social Movements are what is needed to make change, but when they have been most successful is when they have had an electoral arm to that movement. The Green Party is that electoral arm of this movement.”

Long-time homelessness activist and Green
Party Vice Presidential Nominee Cheri Honkala

Cheri Honkala, a long time anti-foreclosure activist, founder of the Poor People's Economic Human Rights campaign, and formerly homeless single mother accepted the nomination of Vice President.

Recounting how in the 1980s, she occupied an abandoned house after a drunk driver hit and totaled the car that she and her son were living in after losing their apartment, “I faced a choice-- occupy an abandoned heated home, or freeze to death in the streets. I chose to live, and I chose to let my son [actor and screenwriter Mark Benson] live. It was at that moment, that awoke in me, a burning desire for Justice.”

Green Party Presidential Candidate, Jill Stein

The Green Party's National Convention concluded with the nomination of long-time environmental activist Dr Jill Stein as their presidential candidate.

May First - General Strike Against the Status Quo

The Maine Green Independent Party is proud to join the growing list of organizations, businesses and individuals calling for a general strike on May 1, 2012 to express solidarity with workers across the world who both celebrate the achievements of the global workers’ rights movement and press for further progress.

We call on the more than 31,000 Greens across the state to join with Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Maine,  Occupy USM, Teamsters, the Maine AFL-CIO, local businesses and others in showing our true power as members of the 99%, by halting the flow of capital for just one day.

Events in Portland will be starting with a student and teacher walkout of USM at 10:30am, followed by a free university on Payson Smith Green.  Events are also schedualed all day by Occupy Maine in Congress Square.  Find a location near you (or start one) at www.mainemayday.org.

Occupy Wall Street is also engaging in a range of activities, ranging from teach-ins, gift economies, and street theater, to direct action.

Hope to see you!

Portland Green Independents Champion Rejection of Corporate Personhood

The Portland Green-Independent Party commends the Portland City Council for its passage of a resolution calling for a Constitutional amendment abolishing the concept of “corporate personhood.”

The Council passed the resolution in a 6-2 decision Wednesday night. The resolution specifically calls on Maine’s Congressional representatives to support a Constitutional amendment overturning the Supreme Court’s recent, highly controversial decision, Citizens United v. FEC. That ruling allows corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money on political advertising, thus further entrenching the influence of powerful business interests in elections. Councilor and Green Party member, David Marshall introduced the resolution, which he helped draft with members of the Portland Greens, the League of Young Voters and Occupy Maine protesters. The resolution was co-sponsored by Councilor Kevin Donoghue and Mayor Michael Brennan.

Though the resolution is largely symbolic, it nonetheless generated over an hour of public testimony from concerned citizens from in and around Portland. While Councilor Cheryl Leeman, one of the two dissenting votes, along with Councilor John Coyne, questioned whether it is the City Council’s place to take a stand on such a broad, national issue, most of the resolution’s proponents who showed up for the vote believed it is.

“It is absolutely the business of the City Council,” said Portland Green, Anna Trevorrow in her public comments. “The community has come together and asked you to make a statement.”

The Portland Greens offer their gratitude to the City Councilors who voted in favor of the resolution and to Councilor Marshall for proposing the measure. We also extend our thanks to the various local progressive groups who worked with us on crafting the language of the resolution—specifically members of Occupy Maine and the Portland branch of the League of Young Voters.

"The PGIC looks forward to taking this fight to end corporate personhood to the next level. We hope others will join us in our efforts," said Adam Marletta, Chair of the Portland Green Independent Committee.

Maine Green Party Leader Attends Occupy Wall Street Protests Encourages Protesters To Run for Office

Portland, ME - 9/30/2011  The Maine Green Party stands in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street protests, and the upcoming October 6th Protests in Freedom Plaza in Washington DC, and asks protesters to run as Green Party candidates in 2012.

“There is a real excitement surrounding these protests, a feeling that a better world is possible,” said Maine Green Party activist Asher Platts.  Platts will be attending the Occupy Wall Street protests on his way down to the October 6th occupation of Freedom Plaza in Washington DC, where he will be filming a documentary about these occupation protests.

The Maine Green Party recognizes the influence of Wall Street on both major political parties.  The financial sector has contributed over $5 billion in the last decade to assert political influence.(1)  Goldman Sachs gave over $1 million to President Obama’s 2008 campaign and over $200,000 to John McCain’s campaign.(2)  In contrast, the Green Independent Party does not accept corporate campaign contributions. 


“The Green Party has long recognized that the wealthy elite have polluted our electoral system with unlimited campaign contributions,” said Platts.  “This in turn has perverted the act of public service, as politicians put the needs of Wall Street before those of the people they are elected to serve.”

 “These peaceful protesters are very much aligned with the Green Party’s platform and values.” said Asher Platts.  “I want to see the people occupying Wall Street bring about the major reforms they are demanding. It’s my hope that they will carry this energy and excitement to their home towns, build their local Green Party, and run as candidates in 2012.  And in 2013 we hope to see them occupying their state capitols not as protesters, but to claim seats of power in government.”

Greens Come Out On Top in League of Young Voters’ Endorsement Slate

The Maine League of Young Voters announced their endorsements last week for Portland, municipal candidates including the historic mayor’s race. The Portland Green Party’s slate of candidates came out on top in every race in which they are running.   

In the race for mayor, both Green Independent candidates,  sitting city councilor David Marshall and former Green state legislator John Eder, received endorsements within the top 3 rank recommendations, with Marshall receiving the first-place League endorsement..  The mayoral election will be decided by ranked-choice voting.

Josephine Okot, the Green Party candidate for at-large school board who is seeking to become the first African immigrant to win office in Maine, earned the League’s endorsement over the incumbent candidate.

John (Jack) Safarik, PhD., the Green Party candidate running for water board of trustees on protecting the local watershed from privatization and pollution, also earned the League’s endorsement.

Portland Green Independents Announce Four Candidates for 2011

The Portland Green Independent Party is proud to announce that four of its members have qualified for the 2011 municipal ballot.

Monday morning Josephine Okot, a candidate for At-Large School Board, and John (Jack) Safarik, candidate for Water Board of Trustees received word from the City Clerk’s office that their nomination papers had been certified.  Both registered Green Independents will appear on the November, 2011 ballot. 

“Okot and Safarik make experienced and dynamic candidates for municipal office this year.  Portland Greens are proud to provide individuals that not only will offer common sense yet progressive policy ideas, but also come with such rich, sophisticated backgrounds,” said Anna Trevorrow, Chair of the Portland Green Independent Committee.

Okot, a resident of the Back Cove neighborhood, supports anti-bullying and mentoring programs in our schools.  Having moved from Africa to Portland at 13 years old, she is a mother of two Portland public school children and a graduate of King Middle School, Portland High, and USM.  She is a multi-cultural youth coordinator by profession in Portland.  Safarik, Ph.D., is a retired civil servant, teacher, and science writer.  He resides in East Rosemont.  His platform includes maintaining a clean and public water supply safe from runoff and other hazards.

Okot and Safarik bring the total Green Independent municipal slate up to 4 this year.  Earlier this month, two Green Independent candidates for Mayor, former State Representative, John Eder and sitting City Councilor, David Marshall’s nomination papers were also certified.

Green Party Demands Mural's Return

The Maine Green Party strongly condemns the unwarranted removal of the labor mural in Augusta by Paul LePage.  This action, taken by a governor elected by only 38% of Maine's voters in the last election, is an insult to all Maine people - to Maine's artists and its hundreds of thousands of Maine working people.  It is a gratuitous and uncaring assault on Maine's proud history.  The Maine Green Party questions why so much energy is being spent by Governor LePage on symbolic attacks on working people instead of devoting his efforts to policies that would improve the lives of Maine's working people by bringing sustainable jobs to our state.  The Maine Green Party strongly opposes this symbolic attempt to revise and delete Maine's rich labor history.  We demand the mural's immediate restoration and an apology by the Governor.

US Greens celebrate Egypt's success

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States congratulated the Egyptian people and called President Hosni Mubarak's resignation a huge step towards democracy, human rights, and stability for their country.

"The Egyptian revolution is a victory for the people of Egypt, and also the victory for an idea -- the idea that violent regimes can be overthrown through nonviolent means," said Romi Elnagar, member of the Green Party of Louisiana and wife and mother of Egyptian-Americans. "While police and rampaging pro-Mubark thugs killed 350 and injured thousands more, the protesters themselves remained overwhelmingly peaceful."

Green Party response to State of the Union

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party leaders offered comments on President Obama's 2011 State of the Union speech to Congress and the nation, scheduled for Tuesday, January 25. The Green response covers major issues the President will discuss in his speech, as well as topics he won't address.

"There's a lot of talk about Democrats and Republicans 'reaching across the aisle' during the State of the Union. What about the gap between Washington and the rest of the country, much wider than the aisle between the two Titanic parties?" said Carl Romanelli, 2006 Green candidate for the US Senate in Pennsylvania.

Release: Green Party Election Results

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Maine Greens congratulate candidates for running strong campaigns, strengthen the call for electoral reform

Maine Green Independent Party Candidates who ran for the office of state house and state senate ran strong campaigns, often finishing a close second in the race Tuesday night. Fred Horch, of Brunswick, ran a close second with 34% of the vote in District 66.

Release: Green Independent Party Platform in line with Election Results

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Greens score 100% on Election Day ballot issues and congratulate Mainers on voting for Question One. Maine Green Independent Party in line with mainstream Maine values.

Portland, Maine - June 10, 2010 -- Members of the Maine Green Independent Party were pleased to find that every ballot issue they supported on Tuesday's election has won. Residents in Maine continually prove their alignment with MGIP's values: grassroots democracy, ecological wisdom, social and community-based economic justice, personal responsibility and sustainability.