From: "Tom Condit" <tomcondit-AT-igc.apc.org>
To: marxism-AT-jefferson.village.virginia.edu
Date:          Thu, 28 Mar 1996 08:44:55 +0000
Subject:       Atlanta independent politics meeting


                THIRD PARTY SUPPORTERS TO CONVENE
                 IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA APRIL 12-14 
     TO ADVANCE MOVEMENT AND SUPPORT INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES

For Immediate Release                       For more information:
March 21, 1996                           Ted Glick, 718-624-7807
                                          <tglick-AT-igc.apc.org>

     Declaring that "It is TIME to create a responsive, new,
national, independent, progressive, movement-based political
party, or alliance of parties," delegates from scores of grass-
roots organizations around the country will be convening at Clark
Atlanta University, April 12-14 for "Summit/96."

     Summit/96 is an outgrowth of the National Independent
Politics Summit held in August, 1995 in Pittsburgh, PA.
Representatives from more than 100 organizations attended that
event. 

     Among those confirmed or expected to attend and speak are:
Connie Tucker and Anne Braden, leaders of the Southern Organizing
Committee for Economic and Social Justice, Ronnie Dugger, founder
of the newly-formed populist Alliance, Jim Hightower, former
Texas Commissioner of Agriculture and nationally-syndicated radio
commentator, Bob Clark, Secretary-Treasurer of the United,
Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), Burt
Corona, long-time Chicano leader in the Southwest, Shafiya
M'Balia of Black Workers for Justice in North Carolina, and
Stephanie Luce of the Wisconsin New Progressive Party.

     The Atlanta Summit will advance several projects: a National
Peoples Pledge Campaign to gather a million names of people
committed to a new, progressive party; the Caravan/March for
Social Justice scheduled to end at Wall Street in the week before
the election; and development of a National Slate of Local
Independent Candidates.

     There will also be discussion about whether or not the
conference should support Ralph Nader's, or anybody else's,
independent Presidential candidacy.

     At Atlanta a national platform for a coordinated slate of
local candidates will be adopted. Plans will also be made for
nationally-coordinated Days of Action in the fall to publicize
important issues in the platform. 

     Summit/96 will conclude by establishing a democratic
structure for an on-going national network of organizations
committed to an independent movement and party, including the
election of a National Steering Committee.

                              -30- 




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