Regarding violence and bullying or the threat of such in the Green Party of the United States:

The Black Caucus issues the following statement regarding concerns of bullying, intimidation, and threats of violence within the Green Party. 

The Black Caucus will put forward a resolution for the purposes of ensuring that GPUS must be a vanguard of safety, equality, and integrity.

Under no circumstances should instances of bullying, intimidation, or violence be tolerated within GPUS.  Allegations of such must be taken seriously and investigated to conclusion.   Every member of GPUS should feel welcomed and safe in attending any GPUS function or activity, and especially attending any national meeting.   The feeling of being unsafe is not limited to a single or series of incidents alleged to have occurred during the ANM.  This concern for safety was foreshadowed by even longtime Greens being concerned about safety, which resulted in preemptive conversations with potential parties where intimidation or violence might be perceived as a threat. However, it is the allegation from the ANM that are most startling. The accounts may differ, but what GPUS must commit to doing is being fair, thorough, and consistent in its treatment of these issues. 

We must be careful about demanding from victims certain types of proof, that we  know have been used to demoralize, belittle, or discredit the alleged victim.  Sometimes, intimidation is about physical presence, posturing, and language used that often can be over looked or unrecognized by those not being intimidated. And at the same time we must ensure that the alleged perpetrators are treated with fairness. To be accused of something is as traumatic as being victimized GPUS must be careful to maintain integrity in its treatment of these delicate situations BUT it must in no way be afraid to address these very grave concerns. 

To this end, the Black Caucus supports efforts to enhance the Dispute Resolution Committee’s ability to compel participation in these instances, as well as seeing outside consultants who can manage processes when the internal challenges could prevent honest and consistent resolution processes.