[Sosfbay-discuss] Greens focus on electing Malik Rahim, La. candidate for US House on Dec. 6

[Drew Johnson]

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Monday, November 17, 2008

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614,
mclarty at greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene at gp.org
Christian Roselund, Media Contact for the Malik Rahim campaign,
504-905-5676, c.roselund at gmail.com http://www.votemalik.com


Greens focus on electing Malik Rahim, Louisiana Green Party candidate for
the US House on Dec. 6

• Rahim, co-founder of the Common Ground Collective, receives Thomas
Merton Award for his relief work in the aftermath of Katrina

• Video clip: Rahim's keynote speech at the Green Party's 2008 National
Convention, July 12 in Chicago
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7226475852159421918


WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders are focusing on the campaign to
elect Malik Rahim, Louisiana Green candidate for the US House in New
Orleans (District 2) (http://www.votemalik.com), urging local and national
support and assistance for Mr. Rahim.

The election for the 2nd District US House seat will take place on
December 6 instead of November 4 because of election delays caused by
Hurricanes Gustave and Ike.  District 2 is currently represented by
William Jefferson, who is facing trial on 16 counts of corruption.

"Malik Rahim is more than just a welcome change from Rep. Jefferson and
the corrupt political culture he represents.  New Orleans voters have a
chance to elect a hero who organized thousands of Common Ground volunteers
to provide food, health care, and other basic services to hurricane
victims in the wake of Hurricane Katrina," said Jody Grage, treasurer of
the Green Party of the United States.  "We're encouraging Greens and
friends all over the US to donate to his campaign, and those who can get
to New Orleans to work on his campaign."

Mr. Rahim is co-founder of the Common Ground Collective
(http://www.commongroundrelief.org), an organization that provides
short-term relief to victims of hurricane disasters in the Gulf Coast
region.  Mr. Rahim is a former Black Panther and ran for New Orleans City
Council in 2002 as a Green Party candidate.

On November 12, Malik Rahim received the Thomas Merton Award
(http://www.thomasmertoncenter.org) for his work in community organizing
and providing relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  Under Mr.
Rahim's leadership, the Common Ground Collective opened the first free
health clinic in the city of New Orleans, helped reopen schools, gutted
over 3,000 homes that needed repair in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, and
provided direct services to nearly 200,000 returning residents.

Malik Rahim's political agenda include support for a national health care
program (with an endorsement of HR676, 'The United States National Health
Insurance Act'), federal money to rebuild the Gulf Coast region's
healthcare infrastructure, federally funded Category 5 flood protection,
and comprehensive storm protection by maintaining and preserving ecosystem
services, including rebuilding the region's cypress swamps.


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
• Running tally of Green election victories
http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
• Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
• Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

Cynthia McKinney/Rosa Clemente 'Power to the People' Campaign for the
White House
http://www.runcynthiarun.org
http://votetruth08.com
http://www.rosaclemente.com


~ END ~







_______________________________________________
usgp-media mailing list
usgp-media at gp-us.org
http://lists.gp-us.org/mailman/listinfo/usgp-media