Peace and Freedom Party

Posted on May 8, 2012 by the Website Workers Council

Posted on September 8, 2011 by the Communications Committee

Because of changes in election law, Peace and Freedom must almost double its registration by the end of 2014 to stay on the ballot. By registering Peace and Freedom, you are joining with tens of thousands of others who want to take control of our political system away from the ruling capitalist class.

Reject the twin parties of capitalism. Register in the only working class, socialist, and feminist party on the California ballot: Peace and Freedom.

For more information, click here.

Posted on April 9, 2012 by the 2012 Campaign Committee

Each candidate for President is entitled to submit a statement of up to 250 words to the Secretary of State, who publishes them on her website. Three of the following statements are from that source (click here for the originals). Because Peta Lindsay is so far being excluded from the primary election ballot (see this article), her statement is the one she would have submitted if she could have.

All four candidates for President responded to a questionnaire from the Los Angeles County Peace and Freedom Party. Their responses are here, along with other campaign coverage.

By Alan Benjamin and Peter Brown

Posted on March 15, 2012 by the Website Workers Council

Introduction

UPDATE -- There will be a rally and press conference, sponsored by Occupy Education California, on Tuesday, March 20 in downtown Oakland. Click here for details.

During the weekend of March 10-11, leaders of the California of Federation of Teachers (CFT) struck a bargain on tax proposals with Gov. Jerry Brown. The governor agreed to make his proposal slightly less regressive. (Well, maybe. News accounts acknowledge that the revised version might not make it on to the ballot, while petitioning will continue for the original version in case it doesn't). In return, the CFT will no longer push for it's Millionaire's Tax proposal.

The Peace and Freedom Party supports the Millionaire's Tax (see this article). We urge its supporters -- including the CFT --- to continue the petition drive and get it on the ballot. The letters reproduced below explain why. Although progressive taxation is not a real solution to the problems of capitalism, we must defend working people's interests in the present, while also building a socialist movement.

Letter to activists

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Many of us were stunned to learn yesterday [March 14] in the media about a deal between the CFT and Governor Brown that would have us withdraw the Millionaires Tax in favor of a slightly modified Brown measure (which now includes a regressive sales tax) in exchange for ... nothing -- as the Governor would not be withdrawing his plan.

Throughout the day, I was in touch with countless unionists and activists, who, like Peter Brown [see letter below] felt, as I do, that we simply cannot let this agreement go through -- no matter how solidly it appears to be etched in stone. Nothing of this kind is ever etched in stone. It can just as easily be reversed.

Posted on February 28, 2012 by the Website Workers Council

On February 28, Secretary of State Debra Bowen added Stephen Durham to the list of generally recognized candidates in the June 5 presidential primary. Now Peta Lindsay is the only candidate still excluded from the Peace and Freedom Party ballot.

Referring to the joint press conference and rally scheduled for February 29, Peace and Freedom Party State Chair C. T. Weber wrote:

... the Secretary of State added Stephen Durham to the list of generally recognized candidates. He was sent a letter today announcing Debra Bowen's ruling. That will change the focus of the demonstration to putting Peta Lindsay on the ballot. I still think that we need to move forward with the media alert. FSP [Freedom Socialist Party] can claim victory but won't be satisfied until Peta Lindsay is placed on the ballot. I think PSL [Party for Socialism and Liberation] must pursue a writ of mandate or other legal actions as possibly the only way to force Debra Bowen to put Peta Lindsay on the ballot.

Earlier in the afternoon a staff member in the Secretary of State's office gave this explanation in an email to a reporter:

Since the list of generally recognized candidates was released on February 6, Stephen Durham mailed a Statement of Candidacy to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) postmarked on February 6, which was received by the FEC on February 10. Therefore, his name has been added to the list of generally recognized candidates: generally-recognized-president-2012.pdf.

Posted on February 17, 2012 by the Website Workers Council

The following statement was submitted to Secretary of State on February 16 for inclusion in the statewide Voter Guide, mailed to every registered voter before the June 5 election.

The Peace and Freedom Party is a working-class party in a country run by and for the wealthy and their corporations. We should not have to sacrifice our health, our livelihoods and our planet for our bosses' profits. We can tax the rich, whose wealth is entirely created by workers, to pay for the people's needs. We favor:

• Decent jobs and full labor rights for all.
• Free education for all from preschool through the university.
• Free health care for everyone.
• Good services for disabled people.
• Bringing all troops home now.
• Ending all discrimination.
• Full rights for immigrants.
• Real democracy and fair political representation.
• Restoring and protecting the environment.

Vote for those who will fight for what you need, the candidates of the Peace and Freedom Party.

Peace and Freedom Party of California
P.O. Box 24764, Oakland, CA 94623
(510) 465-9414, (916) 422-5395, or (323) 960-5036
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.peaceandfreedom.org

Posted on February 7, 2011 by the Website Workers Council

Our campaign website is at peaceandfreedom2012.org. This article is a summary. (Note: an earlier version of this article misspelled Lee Chauser's name. We regret the error.)

Presidential Primary

All four announced candidates for the Peace and Freedom nomination for President have been nominated by other parties. These affiliations are noted for identification only. The State Central Committee has not taken a position for or against any of the candidates in the Presidential primary. Listed in alphabetical order.

• Stewart Alexander, nominee of the Socialist Party U.S.A. - candidate website
• Ross C. "Rocky" Anderson, nominee of the Justice Party -- candidate website
• Stephen Durham, nominee of the Freedom Socialist Party -- candidate website
• Peta Lindsay, nominee of the Party for Socialilsm and Liberation -- candidate website

The results of the primary are not binding on the nominating convention, which will be held on August 4 and 5 in Southern California. Delegates to the convention will be the new members of the county central committees elected at the same time (see below).

Posted on December 13, 2011 by the Website Workers Council

The Peace and Freedom Party supports five ballot measures that will be voted on in November, 2012 -- but only if supporters collect hundreds of thousands of signatures to get them on the ballot. They would tax incomes overs $1,000,000, tax oil extraction to fund education, end the death penalty in California, and shut down the state's two remaining nuclear power plants, and ensure marriage equality.

Please help the sponsors get these measures on the ballot. Links to each campaign are provided below.