Greens make mark at RNC
Hold own festival, join mass protest
By Daniel Starling
Green Party of New York State

	Green presidential candidate David Cobb speaks at "A Green World Is Possible" Aug. 28. Daniel Starling / Green Party of N.Y. State

As hundreds of thousands of Americans converged on New York City to oppose the Republican agenda during that party's national convention, the Green Party established an independent presence by hosting "A Green World Is Possible: A Festival of Non-violence, Grassroots Democracy, Ecological Wisdom, Social and Economic Justice" on Saturday, Aug. 28 in the city's historic Washington Square Park.

"After four years of protesting the Bush Administration and its imperialist neo-con, neo-liberal agenda, Greens came to celebrate the values of the fastest growing political movement in the United States and the world," said Robyn Sklar, co-chair of the Green Party Office Committee and member of the festival organizing committee.

Greens were able to dissent in peaceful and creative ways while reaching out to thousands of visitors and local residents. Over 25 different Green-friendly organizations tabled around the park to disseminate information on issues ranging from the death penalty to the War in Iraq, drug law and electoral reform and the Green alternative.

The festival took part amidst a massive gathering of interest groups and individuals opposed to the Republican agenda. Greens also took part in the next day's United for Peace and Justice march, which organizers estimated drew 500,000 people to the streets going past Madison Square Garden, where the convention was getting underway, and many other events held throughout the week. Reacting to the protest and its strong anti-war theme on "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer," commentator David Brooks argued that the protesters "have no party. John Kerry doesn't speak for those people. John Kerry has said even now he would vote for the war in Iraq knowing what he knows now." Greens sought to articulate an independent role within the anti-war and anti-Republican fervor by offering voters opposed to both the Republican and Democratic agendas their own party.

Green Party candidates and officials who attended "A Green World Is Possible" included presidential candidate David Cobb; Peter Camejo, independent candidate for vice-president with Ralph Nader; Green U.S. Senate candidates David McReynolds from New York and Efia Nwangaza from South Carolina; Adam Eidinger, candidate for shadow Congressperson in the District of Columbia; Joe Fortunato, candidate for Congress in New Jersey; Jason West and Rebecca Rotzler, elected officials in New Paltz, N.Y.; Gloria Mattera, co-chair of the Green Party of New York State; and Charles Shaw of the Peace Action Committee.

Greens declare their independence at the United for Peace and Justice march against the Republican National Convention Aug. 29. Daniel Starling / Green Party of N.Y. State

After the festival, Cobb appeared at a "loft party" with Green Party state legislative candidates Mark Borino and Rebecca White of New York and Carolina Johnson of Massachusetts to rally support for their campaigns.

"A Green World Is Possible" was organized by a small group of New York City Green Party activists who met regularly for nine months in order to negotiate the necessary park, vending and sound permits with the New York Police and Parks Departments. With the aid of the New York Civil Liberties Union, the Green festival was held without any arrests despite a large contingent of New York police being on site.

"We would like to thank all the speakers and bands who generous donated their time and energy to making our festival a reality," Sklar said. "The organizers of 'A Green World Is Possible' consider our efforts to bring a unifying and peaceful vision of the values of the Green Party a success. It was our hope to show the world that the Green Party is here to stay and will present a serious challenge to the two-party system for many years to come." The festival was sponsored by the Green Party Office Committee in Manhattan, the Green Party of the United States, Green Focus: Activism and Education Center and the Green Party of New York State.

Eric Prindle contributed to this report.

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