The Green Party of New Jersey Joseph A. Fortunato For 8th Congressional District Updated May 08, 2008

FROM THE CANDIDATE:

One of the reasons I decided to take this leap into the electoral arena at this time is the great respect I have for our Presidential candidate,  Ralph Nader.  The esteem in which he is held by the American people presents us with a rare opportunity to have progressive views heard on a much greater scale than is usually the case.  Ralph Nader's coattails may not be as long as those of the Democrat and Republican presidential candidates but his coattails are certainly cleaner!  I expect that his candidacy will help other Green candidates and will greatly help the Green Party become a viable and lasting political force in America.

I intend to make as a centerpiece of this campaign a strong peace platform,  an uncompromising defense of clean air and water initiatives, support for a living wage for workers and support for strong Federal initiatives to wipe out the scourge of police brutality and racial profiling.

For instance, on peace issues, ( unlike BiIl Pascrell) I will support the entire Peace Action agenda, (which I became familiar with when I lobbied with a Peace Action delegation to Congress two years ago), including the signing of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, and will also advocate reductions in military spending and elimination of military and economic support for brutal dictatorships with records of human rights violations. I will also support
ending the embargos on Cuba and on Iraq because these embargos have caused untold human suffering to children in those countries.

I will also pursue new and creative initiatives to stop police brutality, including mandatory record-keeping by the police of the race of individuals who are stopped -and-frisked or subjected to motor vehicle stops.  I will support the expanded use of special prosecutors to investigate and prosecute cases of police brutality and will support strengthening our Federal civil rights laws.

As I was writing this release, I received a telephone call, which resulted in my first campaign endorsement. Arthur Kinoy, Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus of Rutgers Law School and former political candidate, offered his congratulations and endorsement.

This will be a campaign powered by people. obviously , we will not raise much money. I will not accept corporate contributions.  

ENDORSERS*: Howard Zinn, author of "A Peoples History of The United States"; Arthur Kinoy, Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus, Rutgers Law School; Larry Hamm, Chairman, Peoples' Organization For Progress; David Dellinger, anti-war activist; Pat Sordill, Womens International League for Peace and Freedom; Trina Paulus, author of "Hope for The Flowers," Nancy Winkler, Montclair Civil Rights Coalition.