National

Sounding Off on Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, Dr. Jill Stein Launches Presidential Campaign


Speaks of Systemic Racism in the U.S. and a Lawsuit to get in the Presidential Debates 

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—June 24, 2015 Dr. Jill Stein officially launched her Presidential campaign Monday in a Democracy Now Exclusive stating “I have a people-powered campaign. I am running with the only national party (the Green Party) that does not take corporate funding.”

When host Amy Goodman asked (full transcript) how Dr. Stein differs most from Bernie Sanders and from Hillary Clinton, Dr Stein responded:

“I think if you had to look for differences, you would find them in foreign policy, where my campaign is perhaps more critical—I would say definitely more critical—of funding for regimes like that of the Netanyahu government, which are clearly war criminals. You know, so we would not be funding the weapons used in the massacre on Gaza. (…)With Hillary, you know, I think, across the board, Hillary is the Wal-Mart candidate. Though she may change her tune a little bit, you know, she’s been a member of the Wal-Mart board. On jobs, on trade, on healthcare, on banks, on foreign policy, it’s hard to find where we are similar.”

A the Campaign kick off on Tuesday at the National Press Club in Washington D.C., Stein introduced her platform, calling it the POWER TO THE PEOPLE PLAN (read it here) which aims “to create deep system change, moving from the greed and exploitation of corporate capitalism to a human-centered economy that puts people, planet and peace over profit.”

In her introductory remarks, Dr. Stein told the assembled press and her supporters [ full video and text of speech here ]:

“This work for Democracy and Justice is the antidote to the converging crises we face, crises that Martin Luther King described as racism, militarism and extreme materialism, now made even worse by the climate crisis. Communities across the globe are rising up against these disasters – from Ferguson to Gaza, Baltimore to Cairo, Detroit to Pine Ridge.

This struggle for justice is especially wrenching today in the aftermath of the latest act of racist terrorism in Charleston, South Carolina, where nine magnificent lives were taken from their families, communities, and all of us. This tragedy is a painful reminder that our nation’s roots in the criminal institution of slavery go deep. And that legacy carries forward from slave trade to lynchings, to Jim Crow, to drug wars, mass incarceration, police violence, the school to prison pipeline, and unconscionable racial disparities in health, wealth and education.

We must see the continuity between the covert violence of institutional racism and the flagrant violence of white supremacy. And it must all be stopped. In the face of this horror, the courage, forgiveness and love of the victims’ families is utterly astounding, and a model of the transforming power of human spirit. Let their example be a living inspiration for the broader movement for democracy and justice.”

LAWSUIT AGAINST COMMISSION ON PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES

Dr. Stein’s official entry into the 2016 Presidential race coincides with the filing of a lawsuit against the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). Alexandra Shapiro is the star litigator leading the effort on behalf of Level the Playing Field (LPF), the successor to Americans Elect, LPF’s chairman, Peter Ackerman, and the Green Party.

In the fall of 2012, Jill Stein and Vice Presidential Candidate Cheri Honkala were arrested as they tried to enter a Presidential Debate sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). Now, that fight moves from the streets to the courts.

Dr. Stein was deeply involved in negotiations with Level the Playing Field to have the Green Party join as co-plaintiff in this suit.

Here is a quick sample of media hits about the lawsuit, which was filed on Monday, from the AP, New York Times, CBS, ABC, and more.

Source: www.Jill2016.com

 


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