PA Greens endorse Occupy Movement

Philadelphia , PA -- The Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA, www.gpofpa.org ) supports the Occupation of Wall Street. It is a peaceful demonstration against a predatory financial order. GPPA supports the expression of direct democracy that this occupation embodies and encourages the participation of Green Party members. GPPA condemns the arrest of those who nonviolently exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights to assemble and express their grievances.

"Those gathering on Liberty Plaza and holding a daily General Assembly are demonstrating what real democracy looks like," states Green Party Wyoming County Delegate Jay Sweeney. "Wall Street uses its economic largess to circumvent democracy through campaign contributions and lobbyists."  

"People are fed up. Fed up with the two major parties, fed up with our diminishing economy, fed up with bankers forcing people into foreclosure, fed up with rising unemployment and an uncertain future," begins GPPA Philadelphia Delegate Carol McLean. "Ninety-nine percent of the people in our country are adversely affected by the policies of just one percent of the richest and most powerful: financiers and big business investors. It's time for change. Agitate, demonstrate and vote Green!"

Twenty days into the Occupy Wall Street action, and on the tenth anniversary of the ongoing war in Afghanistan, protesters in Washington, DC, occupy Freedom Plaza, while activists in Salt Lake City and
Philadelphia join in the Occupy movement. The actions, now in dozens of cities, are powered by people from across the political spectrum: anarchists to socialists, libertarians to labor unions, activists to pacifists. Planning meetings of "the other 99%" are working to launch Occupations in dozens of additional cities including Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, PA.

The GPPA supports these nonviolent actions, and endorses the demands for an end to corporate dominion over our political and economic realms. The Green Party reiterates calls for an end to the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan, an end to our military occupation of Iraq and a stop to the increasing number of covert military actions around the globe.

The Green Party remains committed to defending civil rights, opposing torture and calling out corruption. "The abuse of power by the police is particularly disturbing in light of the $4.6 million contribution by JPMorgan Chase to the New York City Police Foundation," said GPPA Steering Committee Member Charles Sherrouse. "This pat-on-the-back highlights whose interest the bloated police and security apparatus serves."