Why Van Jones (runariannarun.com) supports Arianna
Dear friends,
Statement from Van Jones
WHO AM I & WHY AM I EXCITED ABOUT ARIANNA?
By the way, my name is Van Jones, co-founder and coordinator of RunAriannaRun.com. In my normal life, I am an African-American attorney and a police abuse activist who has worked at the grassroots level in the SF Bay Area for more than a decade. I met Arianna in August of 2000 at the west coast Shadow Convention, which she spearheaded. The Convention addressed three tough issues that both major political parties were desperately trying to ignore: the big money that is corrupting U.S. politics, the widening gap between rich and poor, and the failed drug war. It was a powerful, moving and impressive event - one that brought media attention to many important social problems. But I came away impressed, most of all, by the intelligence, integrity and wit of Arianna Huffington.
Since then, I have called her on many occasions, asking her to take a stand against numerous injustices and outrages in the U.S. criminal justice system. And, consistently, this woman of great wealth and fame has spoken out. She opposes the pointless suffering that the racially-biased, budget-busting and wholly ineffective U.S. prison system is causing African-Americans, Latinos and others. She never hesitates to blast politicians who shovel more of our tax dollars into the infinite rat hole of prison expansion - after they deposit their fat checks from prison guard unions, builders of private prisons, and others with a financial stake in the incarceration industry. Arianna has been brave enough to point out the obvious: that smarter spending on education, youth centers and drug rehabilitation programs would not only be more humane; it would achieve better results - with less money. On this issue, and so many others that matter, Arianna Huffington is a consistent, courageous champion for solutions based in both decency and common sense.
Arianna used to be a right-winger. And because of that, there are those who still doubt her sincerity. But I have seen for myself that Arianna Huffington is unimpeachably sincere in her commitments. And the fact that she possesses the strength of character to change her mind - and to do so for the sake of principle and not for personal gain - merely ADDS to her leadership credentials.
I know that many agree with me. So do the other activists who are already a part of RunAriannaRun.com. Working together, I know we can make a difference in California. Online, please find the media attention we have garnered so far (from the Oakland Tribune, The San Jose Mercury News, the SF Chronicle’s web page and Alternet.org).
Van jones.
http://www.runariannarun.com
African-American attorney
Why do African Americans call themselves African Americans? And not all do this - my friends don’t. Just as I don’t walk around saying I am a white stay at home mother. I mean...who gives a flip what color you are??????? I want to know what you BELIEVE; your THOUGHTS; your PHILOSOPHY. Van Jones could have been hidden in a box, and I still would feel the SAME way about him! He’s a fruit loop wanting to take down our capitalist society.
Jeez Louise Obama. Grow the heck up, and stop manipulating & toying with Americans.