Greens Focus on LA House Race

Posted by Joshua Frank on November 16th, 2008 | Link

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@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
Christian Roselund, Media Contact for the Malik Rahim campaign,
504-905-5676, c.roselund@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