Young EcoSocialists of the Green Party of the United States condemn efforts of Republican lawmakers to censor educators. 

Recently in the state of Louisiana, Republican lawmakers proposed a bill to criminalize librarians who join the American Library Association.  The bill also states that librarians would also be subjected to hard labor, and would also be in prison for “not more than two years or both.”  This directly and indirectly chills freedom of speech and association of librarians who use and have used the ALA as a resource during their career. It is also an attempt to weaponize the state to punish an organization that does not cater to the ideology of a political party.

The Green Party of the United States steadfastly opposes censorship in the arts, media, press and on the internet. Our platform values diversity, respect for women, the disabled, and communities who are routinely marginalized in the mainstream media. Direct and indirect attacks on these communities by targeting books that reference them and their values and librarians who maintain those books are unacceptable. The Green Party supports a society that values freedom of thought and expression. We cannot legislate away minority communities in an effort to erase their values, nor should a diverse and free society seek to do so.

We urge young Louisianans to start organizing and spreading awareness about this. As Republicans seek to use the power of the state against marginalized and minority communities, we need a large organization that will fight these forces head on.  So we can start making bigger changes for the betterment of us.

To join us, visit https://www.yesgp.org/join or contact [email protected]. As a dues paying membership caucus, we urge our members to pay dues (as little as $10 a year) to support our work.

You can read the pledge here: http://climate.dsausa.org/about-us/sign-the-pledge/

YES signs on to Embassy Protection Collective supporting those who are protecting the Venezuelan embassy (some of whom are Greens such as GPUS Co-Chair Margaret Flowers) as YES. Further context, Ajamu's Black Alliance 4 Peace has a presence and of course CODEPINK, founded by Medea Benjamin who is a former Green candidate.

In June of 2020, the YES Steering Committee voted to approve a "Solidarity Fund" with the purpose of supporting new members who cannot afford dues at this time.

Members and non-members can contribute.

Funds will be used on a rolling basis in $10 increments to cover one year of dues for new members.

This option will be offered to new members upon joining and onboarding with the Accreditation/Outreach committee.

The member will be expected to contact either the Accreditation/Outreach Chair or the Finance Chair if this situation applies to them.

The Young Ecosocialist of the Green Party of the United States, support the World without War Peace  Pledge, which simply states: 

“We understand that wars and militarism make us less safe rather than protect us, that they kill, injure and traumatize adults, children and infants, severely
damage the natural environment, erode civil liberties, and drain our economies, siphoning resources from life-affirming activities. We commit to engage
in and support nonviolent efforts to end all war and preparations for war and to create a sustainable and just peace.”

YES Officially Signed on March 8, 2021.

Special Thanks to Shannel Pittman for bringing this to YES.

The Young Ecosocialists Caucus of the Green Party of the United States of America has cosigned a federal petition along with prominent environmental organization including but not limited to; Center for Biological Diversity, Communities for a Better Environment, Food & Water Watch, RISE St. James, The Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition in requesting methane and ethane be regulated as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under the Clean Air Act. 

Read Full Petition: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z78V21ZcStO5DQWCrrRQzfdWR3-ZynO2/view?usp=sharing 

YES Official signed on to the petition on March 15, 2021.

Special Thanks to Shannel Pittman for bringing this to YES.