Below is a press release from John Anthony La Pietra who is running in Michigan's 63rd District for the office of State Rep. La Pietra is a Green. In the release, he is specifically responding to some entity entitled "All Lives Matter" (physical address of the entity is: 16192 Coastal Hwy Lewes, DE 19958):
Non-violence is one of the Green Party's Four Pillars – the leading four
among our Ten Key Values. We oppose violence for the sake of violence –
or for the sake of oppression of others.
But like other principled supporters of non-violence, Greens recognize a
right of legitimate self-defense – and defense of others. And we know
not everyone has the confidence or training to stay patient in the face
of assault, the luxury of another place to go and be safer, or the
assurance they'll survive even an accidental brush with authority.
It gives me pause to get a call to oppose violence which was sent under
a name designed to reject the concerns of a group – Black Lives Matter –
formed by citizens to oppose violence . . . against them, their
families, and their communities. I also notice you talk about ending
*political* violence – without saying what is and what isn't political
or who decides, and what makes it worse than other kinds of violence.
You mention *destruction* a lot, too . . . in ways that sound like
you're concerned about protecting property as much as life and liberty.
If you are, then there's something you should know.
Monday afternoon, I recorded a brief impromptu statement for a candidate
forum I heard about only a few already-busy hours before it was
scheduled to start. (It was not a great video; I'd definitely make a
better legislator than I do a campaigner. But I did what I could,
honoring my commitment to do my best to answer all campaign questions.)
In the video, I said – as I have said before on the campaign trail –
that we need justice systems that serve the needs of the 99% ahead of
the whims of the 1%. I said that I will support justice for all ahead
of unjust law or order, and protect life and liberty ahead of property.
It was someone else, years ago, who said those who make peaceful
revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable. I still hope
that peace is not impossible – that we can all learn non-violent ways of
resolving our conflicts, and use them. Even someone who responds to the
taking of a life by threatening or damaging property could be seen as
de-escalating that conflict on an important level – resisting the
flat-out eye-for-an-eye vengeance that blinds our world so often.
But if peace becomes impossible, I say the prime suspects in that crime
against humanity will include the wealthy few who wreak economic
violence and destruction – class warfare – on the rest of us.
As long as any lives, Black or any other color, are threatened – or
actually taken – in order to protect the lifestyles of the rich and
comfortable, we can't honestly say that all lives matter. Doing so
nullifies the efforts we've made to make and keep our society great – in
the Gandhian sense, by caring for others who faced troubles we knew we
might face too one day.
We can't say all lives matter as long as any lives are threatened – or
stolen from our communities – in order to "defend" hatred or fear of
those who are different. In our crisis-filled times, we can't afford to
waste any talents, abilities, or efforts due to discrimination.
We can't say all lives matter as long as any lives are threatened – or
destroyed – to keep Us the People fighting among ourselves, and stop us
from realizing the political power Michigan's state constitution
confirms belongs to us. Or recognizing that "political violence" covers
more than just physical force at polling places.
We can't say all lives matter as long as lives keep being threatened –
or obliterated – to try to make this country seem bigger in a world
whose livability we're constantly shrinking out from under us.
But I want us all to be able to say it – all together.
So I will gladly pledge to you to oppose violence for its own sake,
whether against people or property . . . if you will first join me in
opposing violence and destruction – political or not – for the sake of
wealth, fear, hatred, or power. Once we can convince everyone else to
agree to that, then maybe we will be able to say that all lives matter.
I'll start the ball rolling. I'm posting this on my campaign pages –
and sending this to all four of my opponents for the 63rd District State
House seat . . . and area media as well. I look forward to hearing back
from them – and from you.
Thank you for contacting me.
John Anthony La Pietra
2020 Green candidate
John Anthony La Pietra for State Representative/63rd District
611 North Linden Street
Marshall, MI 49068
Facebook: jalp4thePeople
269-781-9478
#BYthePeople4thePeople
#2020VisionIsGreen
The Four Pillars of GPMI:
Grassroots Democracy
Social Justice
Ecological Wisdom
Non-Violence
For our Ten Key Values, add:
Community-Based Economics
Decentralization
Feminism
Future Focus/Sustainability
Personal and Global Responsibility
Respect for Diversity
Some of my e-mails are intended to include
legal information provided in the course of a case --
or of deciding whether or not to take on a case.
So their contents are private, and privileged,
to the extent the law says they are.
If you got this e-mail but weren't supposed to have gotten it,
please let me know -- and then
delete the contents from your computer.
Thank you.
I do not consent to collection, storage, or any other use
of any of my e-mails (or any related metadata)
by anyone to whom the e-mail is not directly addressed --
whether government agencies, corporations, or individuals.
John Anthony La Pietra for State Representative/63rd District
611 North Linden Street
Marshall, MI 49068
Facebook: jalp4thePeople
jalp4thepeople.wordpress.com
269-781-9478
