The Democratic convention is under a gentle but persistent siege as peaceful protests from a variety of democratic and liberal groups seek recognition of their causes. Clean energy groups protested on Sunday, with easily 5,000 protesters in attendance. Green-minded activists feel neither the Democratic Party nor the Republican Party is paying attention to their pleas to protect the Earth. Protesters representing a variety of causes are increasing in numbers each day as more groups cluster on the steaming hot streets of Philadelphia.
Green Party candidate Jill Stein spoke at the Democratic convention on Tuesday evening, according to the Washington Times . While her name was not on any speakers lists, Jill spoke just outside the convention to protesters who quite possibly outnumber the democratic delegates and guests inside. The video below captures part of her speech.
“Forget the lesser evil, fight for the greater good like our lives depend on it.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOb5jlLOssY
The Democratic convention is the perfect place for Jill to pick up supporters for her party. The whole convention area is crawling with tens of thousands of more or less disgruntled liberals of all descriptions, as well as a few anti-abortion conservatives, who have been kindly received by the other groups, according to Philly.com .
Green Party candidate Jill Stein, clad in an understandably sweaty white tank top, has been braving the summer heat in the Philadelphia streets for three days now, getting out the word regarding her hopes for a green revolution. Dr. Stein is pitching her Green New Deal, which includes 100 percent clean renewable energy by 2030 and putting real wealth into the hands of average Americans. She addressed the crowd on Tuesday, as quoted by Philly.com .
“Thank you so much for your courage, for your conviction. Thank you for starting this revolution and refusing to let it die.”
Outside the Democratic convention is a great place to campaign. With both Occupy and Bernie or Bust groups planted firmly outside the convention, there is fertile ground for Green Party candidate Jill Stein to make converts for her party. The 99 percent are there asking for income equality, and the populists continue to believe people are more important than corporate profits. Black Lives Matter protesters are among those camped outside, but they also represented inside. Dr. Stein shares their passion for all these issues.
Green Party candidate Jill Stein has converted a lot of blue to green in the last few days, and perhaps she even won over a few reds, as she made speeches on street corners, in parks, and in various locations near the Convention site. Naz Okam, a 21-year-old new convert from blue to green , put it simply as she spoke to the Bucks County Courier Times .
“The two-party system is destroying the Democratic vote.”
The Democratic convention has revealed a deep divide between the decades-old democratic neoliberalism, and the new populist and income equality movements arising within the party. Could green overtake blue someday? Could Americans be looking at a political map with red, blue, and green states in November? It might sound impossible, but Dr. Stein is working hard to make it happen by boldly going to the other party’s convention to make converts.
Green Party candidate Jill Stein might even gain a few votes from the boys in blue who are out in force guarding the convention. The Philadelphia Police Union is reportedly angry with the convention because the families of fallen officers were not invited to speak about their recent losses, according to Penn Live . Are they disgruntled enough to go Green? To be sure, Jill will ask them.
While Democratic convention protests have been peaceful so far, there have been about three flag burning incidents, one involving Israel’s flag, but two of these were put out by other protesters with a minimum of disagreement. There was also an incident in which a few protesters were detained for climbing an eight-foot fence, according to KSLA 12 News . Overall, the Philadelphia Police are still optimistic about the protests, and there have been very few issues considering the size of the crowd.
The Democratic convention is proving to be a great place for Green Party candidate Jill Stein to wage her campaign.
[Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images]