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Green Party 101

If you are new to the Green Party learn the basics with this overview article.

About Us

 

Our Roots

Inspired by the sucess of the German Green Party, a group of U.S. activists came together in 1984 to form the first U.S. Green organization. Growing rapidly, the group soon encompassed scores of locals across the country.

Successes Nationwide

Activity at the grassroots level has blossomed, with Green organizing in almost every state plus the District of Columbia. Greens are creating sustainable alternatives to polluting industries, supporting labor unions, helping to rebuild inner cities, fighting nuclear waste dumps, seeking electoral and finance reform, and educating communities about environmental and social justice. More than 200 elected Green officials, including three in Seattle, now hold office from Hawaii to New England.

The Green Party of Seattle

Inspired by the 1996 Ralph Nader presidential campaign, the Green Party of Seattle organized to promote the Ten Key Values of the Green Party and to offer an alternative to the two major parties. The entry of the Greens into the traditional two-party system is changing the nature of political debate -- injecting new ideas into what has become a stale repertoire. Greens work to improve society through electoral politics, community organizing, personal responsibility, and direct action.

Electoral Campaigns

Over the past eight years, the Green Party of Seattle has:

  • Supported Ralph Nader's 1996 and 2000 presidential campaigns
  • Supported successful city council campaigns of Peter Steinbrueck and Richard Conlin in 1997, Judy Nicastro and Steinbrueck again in 1999, and Nick Licata in 2001
  • Supported Joe Szwaja's 2000 campaign for U.S. Congress, garnering 20% of the vote and pressuring incumbent Jim McDermott to adopt more progressive positions on several issues
  • Supported the city council campaigns of Curt Firestone, Dawn Mason, Michael Preston, Grant Cogswell, and Angel BolaŅos; the port commission campaigns of David Ortman and Chris Cain; the state legislative campaigns of Angela Toussaint and Linde Knighton; and the monorail board campaign of Brent McMillan
  • Supported successful initiative campaigns for medical marijuana in 1998, for a trapping ban in 2000, for the monorail in 2000 and 2002, and for making marijuana the lowest law enforcement priority in Seattle in 2003
  • Opposed the initiative to eliminate affirmative action in Washington state
  • Supported the successful school board camaigns by Green Party activists Sally Soriano and Brita Butler-Wall in 2003

Issues and Campaigns

Over the past eight years, the Green Party of Seattle has:

  • Pressured Seattle Public Utilities to include a no-logging option in the Environmental Impact Statement for the Cedar River Watershed Habitat Conservation Plan
  • Pressured the Seattle School Board to rescind its Corporate Sponsorship and Advertising Policy
  • Campaigned against public funding of the Seahawks' stadium
  • Opposed the Sidran "civility" laws
  • Endorsed resolution calling for the creation of a Community Police Review Board
  • Supported unionized school bus drivers and mechanics in Seattle
  • Joined in coalitions and protests opposing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq
  • Lobbied in Olympia for implementing instant runoff voting
  • Participates in the Washington Tax Fairness Coalition to reform state tax laws

Get Involved

  • The Issues page has more information on current projects of the Greens
  • Read the Ten Key Values of the Greens
  • Get involved at our next meeting
  • Join the Green Party