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Colleagues, I got the following email, and I'm asking one or more of you to step forward to coordinate our activities:
Dear Chairwoman Merida:My name is Kevin Hennegan with the March for Science Denver. I am contacting you on behalf of the Outreach, Diversity and Inclusion committee with the hope of finding a way for the Colorado Green Party to participate in our event. The March for Science is a celebration of our passion for science and a call to support and safeguard the scientific community. The march will take place on April 22, 2017, in conjunction with hundreds of other marches around the country and the world, including Washington D.C. We abide by the mission of “Science, Not Silence.” As an organization, we are a non-partisan voice for evidence-based policy, scientific research, science education, open access to information and public discussion and debate. This march is for scientists and science enthusiasts, of all races, religions, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities, socioeconomic backgrounds, political perspectives, and nationalities--united by a love of science and an insatiable curiosity. There are numerous ways to get involved and we would be happy to give you more information to find a place at this event to suit your organization's interests and constraints. Additional information about the march is available at http://www.marchforsciencedenver.org.Could you please let us know if we can count on your party's participation at the march? I can be reached at this email address with any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you and working together for this movement.Sincerely,Kevin Hennegan
Hennegan's email is khennegan19@gmail.com. Who wants to step forward and coordinate?Thanks.
I've been planning to do the March for Science in Denver for some time now and I'd be glad to coordinate with Kevin Hennegan on behalf of GPCO. It will truly be a nationwide event.I'd like one or two people from other chapters "co-coordinate" (if that is a word) with me. Volunteers?
Thanks, Scott and Veronique. I just sent a letter to Kevin Hennegan, Scott and Veronique to get communications established.This March for Science on Earth Day will be HUUUGE!
Harry, I'm hoping we'll have a march in Fort Collins, so I'm intending to participate locally. Good luck with your Denver march.
Andrea,We are on it. Details about the March will be posted at http://marchforsciencedenver.org/ as they develop.At this point we have corresponded with Kevin and the Green Party of Colorado will be listed as an official sponsor of the March for Science in Denver on April 22.We are looking forward to a conference call with March organizers. We will discuss opportunities for tabling and speaking and ask about other venues for the march in Colorado that would be close to chapters located far from Denver.We will produce promotional material, with logistics for gathering, for publication on the state party website, Facebook and Twitter.I would think late March or early April will be the right time for publicity to go out. Does the party have deadlines for submitting articles for a monthly newsletter or other publications?More later,Harry
An announcement of the March for Science was sent to chapters today. For people attending the march in Denver: The march in Denver will start and end at Denver Civic Center Park. Events include the march, teach-ins and speakers, beginning at 10:00 am. Colorado Greens will assemble just to the west of the Greek Auditorium on the south side of the park. Look for the big Green Party banner. Bring your signs and banners!
To Chapters of the Green Party of Colorado:The Green Party of Colorado has joined with March for Science (https://www.marchforscience.com/) to support a nationwide March for Science event on Earth Day, April 22, 2017. Marches will be held in Washington, D.C., around the country and around the world.In Colorado, March for Science events are planned in Aspen, Avon, Breckenridge, Carbondale, Colorado Springs, Denver, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Grand Junction and Gunnison. Detailed information about the events in each city is at https://www.marchforscience.com/satellite-marches/?state=ColoradoThe party's statement of support for the Denver march is at http://marchforsciencedenver.org/blog/march-for-science-denver-supporter-statementPlease announce the March for Science at your next chapter meeting and plan to participate in a city near you.Denver: The march in Denver will start and end at Denver Civic Center Park. Events include the march, teach-ins and speakers, beginning at 10:00 am.Colorado Greens will assemble just to the west of the Greek Auditorium on the south side of the park. Look for the big Green Party banner. Bring your signs and banners!Science, not silence,Harry Hempy, Scott Lupo and Véronique Bellamy March for Science – Denver: Mission Statement: The March for Science champions publicly funded and publicly communicated science as a pillar of human freedom and prosperity. We unite as a diverse, nonpartisan group to call for science that upholds the common good and for policymakers to enact evidence-based policies in the public interest. Diversity: Scientists have voiced concern over many issues - gag orders for government science agencies, funding freezes and reversing science based policies. We recognize that these changes will differently and disproportionately affect minority scientists, science advocates and the global communities impacted by these changes in American policies. Addressing these issues is imperative in understanding how recent developments will affect all people. We must work to make science available to everyone and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to pursue science careers. A diverse group of scientists produces increasingly diverse research, which broadens, strengthens and enriches scientific inquiry, and therefore, our understanding of the world.
We had planned to order tee-shirts with a Green Party for Science design for sale (donations) to Greens around the state to have for the march. Proceeds from the shirts would have been added to the state coffers. This will not happen because, per Veronique's discussion with Andrea on March 27, the state coffers are not sufficient to front the money to order any shirts.Scott and I have signed up as volunteers with March for Science Denver to assist during the day and clean up the park after the march.
So…Linda Templin sent me the following note the March for Science organizers sent her:
Due to the nature of the Denver March for Science, we cannot back any political party.However, we are assembling a "Meet Your Representative" table where we would be happy to host Green Party elected officials. This table will encourage representatives to meet with the public and discuss the importance of science and scientific backed policies in politics. There will be representatives from the Democratic party and we are continuing our outreach efforts to get elected Republicans and Libertarians at this table. We have been in contact with other members from the Green Party (Harry Hempy, Scott Lupo, and Veronique Bellamy) and they have offered to facilitate getting Green Party leadership/elected officials at this table.
Even though they invited us, and given the nature of their sensitivity, I don't think we should bend over backward to participate in this.
I am delighted that March for Science Denver has decided to have a Meet Your Representatives table to discuss the importance of science and scientific backed policies in politics. This was a result of our queries about speaking and tabling opportunities at the march and, I would assume, similar queries from Democratic electeds who, also, signed the March for Science support statement. And delighted that Greens will be participating visibly and on an equal footing with Democrats. It is not clear, yet, whether there will be any Republican, Libertarian or American Constitution party representatives willing to speak up for science. This is an opportunity for thousands of Coloradans to see the Green Party at work. This call for participation was just sent to all chapter co-chairs. Responses are requested by Friday, April 14.
March for Science - April 22 - Call for Green ScientistsTo Chapters of the Green Party of Colorado:The March for Science in Denver Civic Center Park will have a "Meet Your Representatives" table to encourage representatives to meet with the public and discuss the importance of science and scientific backed policies in politics.There will be representatives from the Green Party and the Democratic party. March organizers are trying to get elected Republicans and Libertarians to participate as well.We need to staff the table with Greens that have recognized scientific credentials from 10:00am to 2:00 pm on April 22. It would be ideal to have four scientist volunteers, each taking an hour at the "Meet Your Representatives" table.This is an opportunity for Greens to be visible, side by side with Colorado's elected officials. I believe the Green Party will stack up just fine.Please reply to this note by 4/14 to nominate Greens from your chapter who are willing to take an hour to represent the Green Party with a science-based message (ecological wisdom, sustainability, the precautionary principle, population pressure and exponential growth, etc, etc).Science, not silence,Harry Hempy, Scott Lupo and Véronique Bellamy
The March for Science was the biggest march in Denver since the Women's March the day after Donald Trump was inaugurated. See Denver Post photos at http://www.denverpost.com/2017/04/22/photos-march-for-science-rally-draws-a-huge-crowd-to-downtown-denver/Thanks to everyone who worked to coordinate GPCO's participation in the march, marched with the Green Party, and volunteered with March for Science Denver. This is Kevin Alumbaugh's account of the march:
It was a pretty impressive turnout. Apparently the lead marchers were returning to Civic Center Park before the end of the line had left. Begs the question how many potential Green voters were among the tens of thousands of enthusiastic and very concerned citizens that attended? Scott Lupo and I carried the Green Party banner and talked to some folks. There was a woman and her kids behind us representing federal employees who told us that Trump was investigating federally-employed scientists who were attending this and other events and had the authority to fire them if they participated. Lots of cameras along the route so we speculated about facial recognition technology being used.A quality line up of speakers (Harry was stuck at the Science and Policy table) in the amphitheater and enthusiastic crowd. And the weather cooperated too! When Gov Hick got up to speak the anti-fracking folks took to the steps and got in front of him and began chanting and nearly blocked him off with their signs. You could hardly hear him at times. He actually handled it pretty well-talked louder into the mic and paused a few times but it was a pretty short speech. Surprisingly no security reaction. A great morning all around!
Candidate Recruiting: I found two people who may be interested in running for office as Greens. One is receiving a PhD in environmental studies at CU Boulder this year. The other is a young, articulate person from Denver.I'll send them the link to the GPUS online candidate training and copy the appropriate chapter co-chairs, by way of introduction. These "potential" candidates have made no commitment to run; but are interested.Yours,Harry
What are these folks names?Have you forwarded this information to the Political Director, Youth Coordinator, or the Executive body of the State party? There are a few reasons other rank and file Greens would want to know this as well since in the past we have fielded candidates who wanted to force women of color receiving state assistance to be sterilized etc, I think it's ok for us to know who they are and to check them out.
Out of respect for the privacy of the individuals involved, I don't intend to publish their names or contact information publicly or to Council. They have contact information for their chapter co-chairs and can make contact when/if they want to get involved.The last thing I want is for random Greens to descend on them when factions of the party are talking about throwing bricks and punching people in the face.
I agree with Harry that we should let the potential candidates explore possibilities and make up their minds before we descend upon them. Some people in the Green Party seem eager to demand from potential candidates a standard of purity that they themselves do not uphold. There will be plenty of time for vetting if the potential candidates decide to go any further than merely expressing interest.
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