We are in this Struggle for Freedom and Democracy
For a functioning democracy, we must have an informed public, leading to full political participation. It is challenging for the public to be informed about important issues when the media is focused on sensationalism rather than journalism.
There is a culture of fear in this country perpetuated by those who hold all the power and money to enable them to maintain their strangle-hold on our lives and our democracy.
Greens maintain that we can have a non-violent revolution that gives power to the people so that Government fears its people not the other way around.
To do this we have to understand the situation we live in and have to operate under and systematically reform the laws that prevent participatory democracy and favor profits for the few over the long-term sustainability & welfare of the land and the people.
The deeper volunteers of the Green Party (which is almost all of us) get into the inner workings of the existing system, the more we understand just how deeply difficult the task we outlined for ourselves really is.
Yet, we continue the struggle because without struggle against those who repress our rights and pollute our environment, there will be no community to represent in government.
We invite everyone to work with us on this path regardless of whether you identify as a Green, Democrat, Independent, Republican or other. Together, working on common ground issues, we can build the coalitions necessary for substantive change!
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July 9 Press Release: GPTX Responds To TDP Request For Dismissal
Today attorneys for the Green Party of Texas (GPTX) entered a response to a motion filed yesterday before the Texas Supreme Court by the Texas Democratic Party (TDP). In the motion, TDP concedes that the injunction ordered by a Travis County District Court, which was intended to keep Green Party candidates off the ballot in the 2010 General Election ballot, is now moot.
Our response observes that the suit filed by the TDP refers extensively to sections of the election code that are relevant only to candidate campaigns and are not germane to party operating expenses. It further notes that "they cite no statute, court opinion, administrative rule, legislative history, or ethics opinion that states that a minor political party in Texas may not use corporate contributions to defray its ballot access costs."
We are requesting that the Supreme Court direct the District Court to vacate its temporary injunction and prevent the TDP from seeking endless depositions from us and injunctions against our participation in the electoral process.
The net result of such a ruling would be to remove the Green Party of Texas and our candidates from the ongoing fishing expedition by the TDP for mud to sling at Rick Perry. In light of the fact that we have never in any way supported Gov. Perry's campaign for re-election, we feel that this would begin to provide appropriate remedy to the TDP SLAPP(1) suit.
"I've been disappointed to watch the Democratic Party leadership use the courts as a political and media arena. The Green Party is clearly within the limits of the law, and yet we and our supporters are being persecuted by an ongoing witchhunt. Our top priority now is to move forward with the 2010 campaign, and we hope that the Supreme Court will rule in a way that allows us to do so without further harassment," stated Christine Morshedi, co-chair of Green Party of Texas.
We continue to object to the current scheme of corporate sponsorship of elections, which results in Texas Democrat and Republican Parties accepting millions of dollars from for-profit corporations each election cycle, as evidenced by the corporate sponsorship banners that routinely adorn the walls of their state conventions. We call, without reservation, for an end to corporate participation in elections in the United States, and, indeed, for the termination of the misguided notion of corporate personhood(2).
Our candidates are looking forward to the opportunity to debate these and other issues of vital interest to all Texans with candidates from the three other ballot-qualified political parties during the upcoming campaign season.
(1) SLAPP - Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation. Ironically, SLAPP suits were pioneered by polluting corporations to prevent grassroots environmental groups from public participation.
(2) MoveToAmend.org
kat swift
Statewide Coordinator
Green Party of Texas
Democratic Party attempts to silence the voices of 92,000 Texans: A Timeline
Facts relating to the legal wrangling over the Texas Green Party's ballot access effort in chronological order:
During the specified period of March 10 through May 23, signatures were collected by petitioners; some petition signature gatherers were paid by Free & Equal, a petition-gathering company, and funded by a non-profit, 501(c)(4) corporation. The Green Party of Texas received no money from a corporate source. Without exception, no petition signers were paid for signing the petition.
On May 24, petitions bearing over 90,000 signatures were turned in to the Texas Secretary of State's office to supplement lists of precinct convention attendees. At that time, the Green Party was not aware that donations for signature collection were given through an incorporated entity.
On June 9, the Secretary of State certified that the Green Party had satisfied requirements to be on the ballot by virtue of turning in lists of precinct convention attendees and supplemental petition signatures.
On June 10, the Texas Democratic Party obtained a temporary restraining order (TRO) to keep the Green Party State Chair from certifying statewide nominees with the Secretary of State. (The TRO was voluntarily signed by the Green Party without benefit of legal counsel.)
On June 12, as specified by state law, elections for nominees of the Green Party were held at the state convention. Four statewide nominees were elected:
Deb Shafto - Governor
Herb Gonzales, Jr - Lt Governor
TX Tour: Declare Independence from Corporate Rule - a community dialogue
Declare Independence from Corporate Rule
David Cobb, long-time TX Green and national spokesperson for the movement to Declare Independence from Corporate Rule, will lead a community dialogue about this growing movement for democracy in the United States. He will illustrate how unelected and unaccountable corporations have hijacked our government and describe the national coalition of diverse public interest, community, and business organizations which has issued a bold call to amend the U.S. Constitution to restore the power of people over corporations.
Entertainment: MCs Chuck Robinson of OxyMorons & Tiffany Ross, Chris Gavito, Anthony the Poet, Michele Simpson Dallas/Ft Worth area Thursday 8/12, 6 PM - Veggie Garden Restaurant, 516 W. Arapaho, Richardson, TX
All are suggested donation of $10 mas o menos/more or less - no one turned away for lack of cash!
June 23 Press Release: Greens Stand Firm Against Democrats' Challenge to Democracy
The Green Party of Texas called on the Texas Democratic Party to give Texans democratic options in the November elections. Over 90,000 signatures of registered voters were turned in to the Secretary of State in May. These petitioners indicated that they wished to see Green Party candidates on the November ballot. The day after the Secretary of State's office certified the petitions, the Texas Democratic Party filed a temporary restraining order against the Green Party, attempting to prohibit Green Party candidates from appearing on 2010 ballots.
Based on the unfounded allegations presented in the Dallas Morning News, the Texas Democratic Party accused the Green Party of accepting illegal campaign contributions. The Democratic Party claimed that its candidates would be "harmed" by the presence of Green Party candidates on the ballot.
In response to this action, Green Party of Texas co-chair Christine Morshedi stated, "Although we feel the ballot access laws in Texas are unnecessarily restrictive, it is the system that we are working under. We have complied fully with the spirit and the letter of the law. I regret that the Democratic Party has seen fit to launch a lawsuit based on unfounded allegations. We are determined to do all we can to bring an alternative message to the Texas public."
GPTX Announces Successful Petition Drive
MEDIA ADVISORY
Green Party of Texas to Hold Press Conference
Turning in of Over 90,000 Petition Signatures
to Secretary of State on Monday
 |
WHEN
Monday, May 24, 2:00 p.m.
Signatures will be turned in immediately after the press conference.
WHERE
Outside the Secretary of State’s office, Rusk Building
208 East 10th Street, 3rd Floor, Austin
WHAT
The Green Party of Texas will turn in over 90,000 signatures on Monday, in an effort to get the Party on the General Election ballot this November. If accepted, this will be the first time the Green Party has had ballot access since 2002.
The State of Texas maintains one of the nation’s most restrictive ballot access policies. Currently, a political party seeking a place on the ballot must gather 43,991 valid signatures before the Secretary of State recognize it as an official political party.
To further complicate the process, Texas requires that signatures be gathered during a very narrow time period of 75 days, and only registered voters who did not vote in the primary are eligible to sign. This “primary screen-out” provision is exclusive to Texas. All other states that previously had this provision have since eliminated it.
Press Release: Texas Greens Oppose Afghanistan Escalation
12-2-09 For Immediate Release:
“Green Party of Texas Disagrees with Obama War Escalations”
The Green Party of Texas totally disagrees with President Barack Obama’s decision to send 30, 000 more US troops to fight in Afghanistan. Like many in the US, the Green Party of Texas had high hopes that “change” had truly come to America. For the first time in the nation’s history, the White House houses a “person of color” whose ancestors historically were people who had been oppressed. Therefore, we expect more sympathy for other oppressed people in the world. With this decision it appears this president does not share those sympathies. And still there will be others in the country who would say, “Hold your tongues; our nation is at war with those who attacked us. Don’t forget 9-11!” Our very hearts go out to those innocents who lost their lives in that terrible attack, and we are in great sympathy with them and their loved ones. However, we also must not forget that no Afghans were among the nineteen suicide bombers who flew planes into the towers that fateful day; no matter how hard it’s tried, you can’t bomb people into peace! Yet we know from the past that this is precisely the time to challenge the government on decisions of an unjust war.
That champion of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., came to the very same decision decades ago and stands as a model for our position today.
King said, “Even when pressed by the demands of inner truth, men do not easily assume the task of opposing their government's policy, especially in time of war. Nor does the human spirit move without great difficulty against all the apathy of conformist thought within one's own bosom and in the surrounding world. Moreover when the issues at hand seem as perplexed as they often do in the case of this dreadful conflict we are always on the verge of being mesmerized by uncertainty; but we must move on.”
The Green Party of Texas reached this decision in this light and takes solace that we stand on the shoulders of such a giant thinker and awesome person of courage. To speak against one's government is not easy, especially when it is against one of such progressive historical importance, but as King said, “We must move on.” We call on other Texas organizations to join us in this call. “President Obama, this is the wrong decision. You must turn around and end this and all US wars, now!”
Green Party of Texas Co-Chairs: Thomas Muhammad and Christine Morshedi
For more information, write to txgreens@txgreens.org.
GPTX in the News
GPUS News
Our Candidates
Deb Shafto
Governor
Herb Gonzales, Jr
Lt. Governor
Edward Lindsay
Comptroller
of Public Accounts
Art Browning
Railroad Commissioner
Jim Howe
US Congress, District 11
Ed Scharf
US Congress, District 23
Paul Cardwell
State Board of Education, District 9
Ryan Seward
State Representative
District 94
Joel West
State Representative
District 144
Don Cook
County Clerk,
Harris County
Earl Lyons
County Clerk,
Bexar County
kat swift
County Commissioner,
Pct 2, Bexar County
Chuck Robinson
Justice of the Peace,
Pct 1, Place 1,
Bexar County
Joy Vidheecharoen-
Glatz
Justice of the Peace,
Pct 3, Dallas County
Esther Choi
County Clerk,
Dallas County