[GPCA Updates] GP Release: Greens mourn Peter Camejo, candidate for governor, party leader

[Green Party of California Updates]

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Distributed by the Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org

News Advisory
THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA
http://www.cagreens.org

URGENT NEWS ADVISORY
Saturday, September 13, 2008



Peter Camejo, social justice activist and Green Party gubernatorial
candidate, dies at his Folsom home Saturday after long bout with
cancer

• Videos of Peter Camejo in the 2003 California gubernatorial recall campaign
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTktNX0EbCA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6aO4MiH3H8
• Pictures of Peter Camejo for Governor
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30416867@N07/sets/72157607232338914/


FOLSOM, CA  - Peter Camejo, three-time Green Party candidate for
Governor and 2004 running mate with Ralph Nader in his independent run
for President, died Saturday morning here at his home, just a few
miles from the State Capitol. Mr. Camejo was 68.

Mr. Camejo died after a long bout with an especially virulent form of
lymphoma. He had recently returned home after his health had declined
rapidly over the last few days because of the "aggressiveness of his
cancer and strength of the drugs used to combat the disease,"
according to a statement issued by his family.

The following statement was issued on behalf of the Green Party of
California by Mike Wyman, 2006 Green Party candidate for Attorney
General:

"The Green Party of California is honored to have had Peter carry our
standard in the recall and two gubernatorial elections, and to work
with him as a national progressive candidate for the vice presidency
with Ralph Nader. We join with the Camejo family in their grief and
mourn for the passing of a truly unique and exemplary individual. He
will be sorely missed by us all. Peter Camejo was a man of great
passion and boundless compassion for the poor, uninsured workers and
for immigrant workers in their struggle for justice and legalization.
He became a leader in the environmental justice movement and helped
organized communities of color around environmental issues that
affected them directly."

Mr. Camejo was the Green Party candidate for Governor in 2002, 2003
(the recall) and 2006. He received 5.3 percent of the vote in 2002 and
in 2003's recall election finished fourth of the 135 candidates. He
was also the Socialist Workers Party presidential candidate in 1967.
Mr. Camejo was also a leader in the Free Speech Movement in the 1960s
at UC Berkeley, and fought for social justice on a number of fronts.

Mr. Camejo was born in the U.S. and raised in Venezuela. He was on the
1960 Venezuelan Olympics team, and was a socially responsible
investment planner. Mr. Camejo is survived by his wife Morella,
daughter Alexandra, son Victor, three brothers Antonio, Daniel and
Danny and three grandchildren Andrew, Daniel and Oliver.

Arrangements and memorial services are pending.


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