Red, Green, and Blue

On Saturday, September 13, 2008, Green Party Vice Presidential and gubernatorial candidate Peter Camejo died from lymphoma. He was 68 years old. Former running mate Ralph Nader wrote:

Peter was a friend, colleague and politically courageous champion of the downtrodden and mistreated of the entire Western Hemisphere. Everyone who met Peter, talked to Peter, worked with Peter, or argued with Peter, will miss the passing of a great American.

In 2002, 2003 and 2006, Camejo ran for governor of California on a platform of abortion rights, the legalization and taxation of marijuana, universal health care, and a moratorium on the death penalty. In 1976, he was the Socialist Workers Party presidential candidate. In 2004, Camejo was Ralph Nader’s pick for vice president. I have voted for Camejo on several occasions.

Camejo had the honor of being called “one of the most dangerous people in California” by Ronald Reagan for his anti-Vietnam War activism. Camejo continued his “dangerous” activities by co-founding Progressive Asset Management Inc, a sociably responsible investment firm, and as a board member of Earth Share, where he promoted solar energy with 400 environmental organizations. He conceived of the Environmental Justice Fund to unite environmentalists of color. Furthermore, Camejo created the first environmentally screened fund for Merrill Lynch. Mike Wyman of the Green Party described Camejo as:

Peter Camejo was a man of great passion and boundless compassion for the poor, uninsured workers and for immigrant workers in their struggle for justice and legalization. He became a leader in the environmental justice movement and helped organized communities of color around environmental issues that affected them directly.

Throughout his life, Camejo stressed environmental conservation and fair treatment of workers. Whether you value third party candidates or not, we have lost one more independent voice for social responsibility and the environment in our nation this weekend. My condolences go out to his family.

Image: LA Times

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