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As of 2001, the Green-Rainbow Party has become an official political party in Massachusetts! This is a huge step in increasing our political power and being able to work for progressive changes in the Commonwealth.
The Nashua River Green-Rainbow local is your local connection to the state and national parties. Please join us at our next meeting or local campaign event. Contact one of our local officers to find out more.
Green-Rainbow Party History
It's Official! We Are the Green-Rainbow Party!
On Friday, February 21st, 2003, the co-chairs of the Mass Green Party submitted official papers to the state changing our name to Green-Rainbow Party. If you are registered Green, there is nothing you have to do as the name change does not affect your registration.
Press conference and celebrations were held on Saturday, February 22nd, 2003, to announce the uniting of the Greens and Rainbow, both in eastern Mass at the Middle East Restaurant, Central Square, Cambridge, starting at 11am and later in western Mass at 5pm at Bart's Ice Cream Shop in Northampton.
We have started the big task of changing content to reflect our new name. Please be patient while there are both names in use.
The Massachusetts Green Party and the Massachusetts Rainbow Coalition Party each gave the final go ahead to join forces at their respective 2002 state convention to give a united front for progressive politics in Massachusetts. The final step in the process was changing the name of the Massachusetts Green Party to the Green-Rainbow Party.
Registered Greens Are Automatically Registered Green-Rainbow
While the party has changed its name, everyone who registered Green by checking the "Green" box on a voter registration form is automatically registered as "Green-Rainbow". As part of the joining of forces with the Rainbow Coalition Party, all of their members are being instructed to reregister as Green-Rainbow.
The state is about to print new voter registration forms since there are new federal regulations about what must be asked when someone registers. Until those forms are distributed with our new name on them, anyone wanting to register "Green-Rainbow" should use the "Green" check box on the form.
But it is important to note that there is another Green designation, "G/GPUSA". There are still 1291 people registered in this designation that we would like to see registered Green-Rainbow. If you don't reregister as "Green-Rainbow", you can't vote in the "Green-Rainbow" primary.
If you think you may be registered as "G/GPUSA" call your town or city clerk and they can tell you. If you are, please take the time to reregister. You can request a registration form be sent to you by mail by going here. You can always stop off at your city or town hall and do it there.
A Short History of the Green Party in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Green party was founded in 1996. Based on the Ten Key Values, it's mission is to promote the Ten Key Values, encourage development of green locals, serve as a networking struture, and nominate green candidates for elected office.
The Massachusetts Green Party ran its first candidate for US Senate in 1996, Charles Laws from Martha's Vineyard. They also worked on a write in campaign for Nader in 1996 and established an office in Lawrence, MA. In 1998 a green candidate Stephen Elliot received 12% of the vote for State Senate. In 1998 the MA Green party worked to expand democracy through its work on the campaign for clean elections in MA.
This past year has been quite historic for the Massachusetts Green party, having established the first paid position and having gathered over 20,000 signatures (more than twice what was needed) to put Nader/LaDuke on the ballot. Having received the 3rd highest percent in the US for Nader/LaDuke votes is no small feat, and Massachusetts did it. Getting 6% of the vote, well over the 3% needed for ballot status; we achieved political party status! The Massachusetts Green Party is proud to be emerging from the 2000 campaign with 2 paid staff, a state-wide steering committee and three dozen local green groups.
A Brief History of the Rainbow Coalition in Massachusetts
By M. K. Merelice
When one of the Party's cofounders, Mel King (the other being Bill Strickland of Amherst), served five terms in the State Legislature, he was a Democrat. When he ran for Mayor of Boston (being the only Black ever to make the final run-off), he was still a Democrat, but the Rainbow Coalition became the campaign's banner. When he ran for Congress the following year (the same year Jesse Jackson ran for President), the Rainbow Coalition became known nationally. But both Mel and Jesse ran as Democrats. (Jesse still is a Democrat.) Both also founded Rainbow movements; the list of accomplishments of the Rainbow Coalition here in Massachusetts was significant during the next 10 years or so.
It was not until 1996-1997 that the Rainbow's fledgling efforts AS A POLITICAL DESIGNATION began. In 1999, Chuck Turner was elected to the Boston City Council. It is a nonpartisan race, but he was billed as a member of the by-then Rainbow Coalition PARTY. In 2000, the Rainbow met several times with members of the Green Party, endorsed Nader/LaDuke, and worked in that campaign. Until then, the Greens (which had existed slightly longer than the Rainbow as a political designation) was no more of a political player (one could argue less) than the Rainbow.
The Nader campaign changed all that. With the Greens achieving ballot status, efforts between the two parties to work together shifted into high gear. The FIRST THING both parties did was a mailing to their respective memberships about the possibility of 1) working together and 2) possibly merging. We both got the go-ahead (with, of course, reservations expressed on both sides). Communications with our respective memberships continued to be frequent and thorough.
While on paper the Greens might have a broad agenda, in the public's perception, it is an environmental party. Adding the Rainbow's strong credibility in Massachusetts to the Party's name gives it instant breadth and shows that the Greens mean business when they claim to represent social justice as well as the environment. The Rainbow lives up to its name, and we have worked very hard to make sure it represents a range of constituencies, with strong leadership from communities of color and women.