WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party leaders and activists expressed appreciation for President Obama's pardons for Oscar Lopez Rivera and Chelsea Manning and urged him to use his final days in office to pardon other political prisoners and whistle-blowers.

Greens called for presidential pardons for political prisoners Leonard Peltier and Mumia Abu Jamal, as well as whistle-blowers Edward Snowden, Julian Assange, Jeffrey Sterling, and all others who were punished or face punishment for revealing military, government, and intelligence crimes, public deception, and corruption.

Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org
@GreenPartyUS

For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Contact:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-904-7614, [email protected]

Statements from the Green Party's Latinx and Black Caucuses

Those convicted for whistle-blowing or for political reasons and have already served their sentences should have their criminal records expunged, said Green Party leaders.

Greens said that organizations and individuals who've been working, for many decades in some cases, for the release of those unjustly convicted and incarcerated deserve the deepest gratitude for the pardons.

Statements from Green Party Caucuses

LATINX CAUCUS

"The independence of Puerto Rico has long been a concern of the Green Party's. We are grateful that Oscar Lopez Rivera is free and even more grateful for the long years of resistance and direct action that has pushed for his release. The Green Party's platform has long called for Puerto Rico's independence, as well as for Lopez Rivera's release.

Greens support the right of the people of Puerto Rico to self-determination and independence in conformity with United Nations Resolution 1514(XV) of 1960. Puerto Rico is not free until the island is released from the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) and from colonial status under U.S. rule."

See also the Green Party's national platform: Section 6 at http://www.gp.org/democracy_2016#demForeignPolicy

Green Party endorses Day in Solidarity with the Independence of Puerto Rico on June 17
Press release: Green Party of the United States, June 10, 2016

BLACK CAUCUS

"The Black Caucus stands with the Latinx Caucus, Lavender Caucus, and Women's caucuses in celebrating the release of political prisoners during the final days of the Obama presidency. We stand in solidarity with our comrades who for decades have fought for freedom and democracy.

The Black Caucus asks for pardons and clemency for other political prisoners, past and present to include, Mumia Abu Jamal, Leornard Peltier, and Marcus Garvey. And as we stand for freedom for Puerto Rico, likewise, we stand with our brothers and sisters in Washington, District of Columbia -- who still have not been freed of the tyranny and colonization that amounts to taxation without representation and a lack of self-determination afforded other US.. citizens in the various states.

Finally, we call for a moratorium on surveillance of Black, Latinx, and other leaders and activists targeted by the FBI and other intelligence agencies."

See also:

Green Party National Women's Caucus
Contact: Cecile Lawrence, 607-343-4987

Lavender Green Caucus

MORE INFORMATION

2016 Elections
Wrap-up of the 2016 Green National Convention
Election Central: Results for Green candidates in the Nov. 8 general election
Wrap-up statements from Green candidates and state Green Parties

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