In the spirit of the season: Amnesty should be given to military who refused to fight the ‘unjust’ war in Iraq, urges Green Party of California

News Advisory
THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, December 21, 2007
Contacts:
Susan King, spokesperson, 415.823-5524 funking AT mindspring DOT com
Cres Vellucci, press secretary, 916.996-9170 greenparty-press AT comcast DOT net
Dr. Robert Vizzard, spokesperson, 916.206 8953, thevizz AT earthlink DOT net
Sara Amir, spokesperson, 310.270-7106 saraamir AT earthlink DOT net

SACRAMENTO (Dec. 21, 2007) – Military personnel who have refused to fight in an “unjust” war in Iraq should be given an immediate grant of amnesty – because it would be right, and in keeping with spirit of the season, said the Green Party of California today.

In a resolution approved by the GPCA’s General Assembly, the Greens noted that the war was “created from lies and deception. Our (troops) should not be punished for refusing to fight an unjust war and speaking the truth about the injustice inflicted on our soldiers, the citizens of the United States, and the citizens of Iraq.”

The resolution goes on to state:

“Men and women across the United States are refusing to fight in this war…on strong moral grounds. They are making difficult decisions, risking their life, career and harm to their families. They should not bear the shame of a dishonorable discharge, prison and humiliation. We do not want our (troops) to be victims for the rest of their lives. This would be a great shame on the United States.

“Let us restore honor to our brave military men and women who stood up and refused to fight a war they determined to be morally corrupt and criminal…those who have refused to fight as well as those who have fought or are currently fighting, are deserving of compassion and support. Amnesty will allow our country some healing. Our leaders need to provide moral strength and courage and grant amnesty to (troops) who have refused to fight in the Iraq War.

“We call on the United States government to grant amnesty to military personnel who have refused to fight in the Iraq War, and to reinstate them to active duty status or discharge them with full veterans¹ benefits. We call on Congress

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Greens to Dems: probe Pelosi on Torture

Forwarded by the Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org

News Advisory
THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA
http://www.cagreens.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, December 10, 2007

Contacts: Susan King, spokesperson, 415.823-5524,
funking at mindspring.com
Cres Vellucci, press secretary, 916.996-9170,
greenparty-press at comcast.net
Dr. Robert Vizzard, spokesperson, 916.206 8953,
thevizz at earthlink.net
Sara Amir, spokesperson, 310.270-7106,
saraamir at earthlink.net

Democratic Party state leadership urged by Greens
to lean on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to learn
the truth about her complicity in CIA torture

SACRAMENTO (Dec. 10, 2007) – The Green Party of California today called on California Democratic Party state and federal lawmakers to urge House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) to respond about what she knew, and what she did – if anything – in 2002 when she was given a “virtual tour” of the CIA’s torture program.

According to reports this past weekend, the CIA said there were no objections raised by members
of Congress, including at least two democrats, who were briefed and given a virtual tour of the
CIA’s torture program, including the use of the illegal and controversial waterboarding
technique.

“We are asking the Democratic state leadership, including elected state and federal lawmakers, to
urge Rep. Pelosi to tell all of us what happened in 2002, and not hide behind a cloak of secrecy,” said Cres Vellucci, a Vietnam veteran and member of the GPCA Veterans Caucus.

While the Democratic Party leadership, including Pelosi, have maintained they are opposed to the
Iraq war, and torture, and blame the Republican Party and the Bush Administration, the Green
Party has insisted both of the major parties are complicit in the continuing killing in Iraq.

“That Democratic Party lawmakers are being briefed about torture, and then tacitly agreeing
with it is one more example that voters in California are being misled when they are being
told the Democratic Party is the answer to ending this war.

“The complicity of Democrats in CIA torture is not necessarily a surprise to us. The Green Party
of California has been opposed to the war before it even started, and our candidates for local,
state and federal office have insisted they are the true anti-war alternative choice for voters,
not the Democratic Party,” added Vellucci.