Current Areas of Concern
The state party has been active in organizing on the issues of peace, anti-death penalty, minority language rights, gay rights, rural sustainability and academic freedom. The party has also worked with the Oklahoma Libertarian Party and the Oklahoma Constitution Party in seeking to reform Oklahoma's restrictive ballot access laws through the Oklahomans for Ballot Access Reform coalition (OBAR).
In 2000 the party unsuccessfully petitioned to place Ralph Nader on the Oklahoma Presidential ballot. In 2004, the party held a "protest petition drive" (gathering a nominal number of signatures as a form of protest) to place GPUS presidential nominee David Cobb on the Oklahoma Presidential ballot. Following this, the party joined with other members of the OBAR coalition in calling for Oklahoma voters to cast a blank ballot for President as part of a so-called "None of the Above" Presidential campaign.
In 2005, the state party was accredited as a state Green Party by the Green Party of the US. (see Green Party US Voting Page (external link).
In 2006, Green Party member James M. Branum ran to represent State House District #99 in northeast Oklahoma City as an Independent. He was endorsed by the local and state Green parties as their first candidate for public office in Oklahoma. He received 306 votes, or 4.81% of the votes cast in the three-way race. Also in 2006, Bob Waldrop was endorsed by the Oklahoma County Green Party in his non-partisan campaign for Oklahoma City mayor.
In 2007, the Oklahoma County Green Party endorsed Fannie Bates in her run as a Democrat for the Oklahoma County Commission.
The state party also called for a boycott in 2006 of Starbucks in solidarity with the National Lawyers Guild and other groups protesting the firing of workers who were members of the Industrial Workers of the World union.
In 2010, the Green Party endorsed Edward A. Shadid in his unsuccessful race for the Oklahoma State House. The following year, Mr. Shadid won a non-partisan seat on the Oklahoma City Council.
Read more about this topic: Green Party Of Oklahoma
Famous quotes containing the words current, areas and/or concern:
“Phlebas the Phoenician, a fortnight dead,
Forgot the cry of gulls, and the deep sea swell
And the profit and loss.
A current under sea
Picked his bones in whispers. As he rose and fell
He passed the stages of his age and youth
Entering the whirlpool.”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)
“... two great areas of deafness existed in the South: White Southerners had no ears to hear that which threatened their Dream. And colored Southerners had none to hear that which could reduce their anger.”
—Sarah Patton Boyle, U.S. civil rights activist and author. The Desegregated Heart, part 1, ch. 16 (1962)
“The square dance fiddlers first concern is to carry a tune, but he must carry it loud enough to be heard over the noise of stamping feet, the cries of the caller, and the shouts of the dancers. When he fiddles, he fiddles all over; feet, hands, knees, head, and eyes are all busy.”
—State of Oklahoma, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)