OFF: Jello Biafra for president

[Bart Brugmans]

For more info: http://www.angelfire.com/punk/jello2000/

                       For Immediate Release

                                   January 24, 2000 /Alternative
                                   Tentacles/ -- Much to his surprise,
                              Jello Biafra was nominated for the Green
                              Party Presidential Primary in New York
                              State.  Biafra, former lead
                              singer/songwriter of the seminal
                              political punk band Dead Kennedys,
                              accomplished spoken word performer, and
                              renowned social commentator, will be an
                              official candidate in the March 7
                              election.  Also on the ballot are
                              consumer advocate Ralph Nader, Stephen
                              Gaskin, founder of The Farm - a commune
                              in Tennessee, and Joel Kovel, a doctor,
                              peace activist, and college professor.

                                   No stranger to politics, Jello
                                   Biafra ran against Diane
                              Feinstein in the 1979 San Francisco
                              Mayoral race, where he finished in
                              fourth place with over six thousand
                              votes (3.5% of the total).  In June
                              1986, criminal charges for "Distribution
                              of Harmful Matter to Minors" against
                              Dead Kennedys' Frankenchrist album
                              thrust Biafra into the spotlight as a
                              spokesperson on First Amendment rights.
                              It marked the first case in history to
                              try a recorded work for obscenity.  The
                              trial ended in a hung jury and the judge
                              ultimately dismissed the case.

                                   Biafra joined forces with other
                                   concerned musicians, including
                              Frank Zappa, to combat the PMRC
                              (Parent's Music Resource Center), an
                              organization dedicated to forcing the
                              de-facto censorship of musical lyrics.
                              Biafra locked horns with PMRC leader
                              Tipper Gore twice on the Oprah Winfrey
                              Show; he has also appeared on Donahue,
                              Crossfire, and Politically Incorrect.
                              After numerous musical and spoken word
                              albums, Biafra continues to perform
                              internationally, stirring his fans with
                              scathing political insights paired with
                              razor sharp wit.

                                   Biafra is owner/founder of
                                   Alternative Tentacles Records, a
                              respected independent label.  ATR
                              recently celebrated its twentieth
                              anniversary, and boasts more than two
                              hundred, often controversial, releases
                              to date.

                                   Jello Biafra, a registered Green
                                   Party member in California for
                              several years, has chosen Mumia
                              Abu-Jamal, an award-winning journalist
                              currently in prison on death row, as his
                              vice-presidential running mate.  This
                              decision will focus attention on
                              Abu-Jamal's case and on opposition
                              towards the death penalty in general.

                                   The following list outlines the
                                   other key points of Biafra's
                              platform.  Biafra does not plan to
                              actively campaign.  For further
                              information concerning the Green Party
                              (including volunteer positions) contact
                              Craig Seeman at (718)797-0045 or
                              cseeman at earthlink.net.  Direct press
                              inquiries related to Jello Biafra or
                              Alternative Tentacles Records to
                              Michelle at (415)282-9784 or
                              michelle at alternativetentacles.com.


                               Jello Biafra's Platform for 2000 Green
                               Party Presidential Primary
                              (State of New York - March 7):

                              - Enactment of a maximum wage
                              - Payback through free healthcare,
                                education and public transportation
                              - Withdrawal of the US from NAFTA and
                                the World Trade Organization, ideally
                                forcing their dissolution
                              - A moratorium (or at least mandatory
                                labeling) of irradiated and
                                genetically engineered "frankenfood"
                              - End the "War on Drugs", disband the
                                DEA, and commute the prison sentences
                                of all small time drug offenders to
                                "time served"
                              - Abolish the military and CIA, and
                                destroy all nuclear weapons
                              - Shift the United States Government to
                                Parliamentary rule, with proportional
                                representation, and a sixty day limit
                                on election campaigns

                              - "None of the Above" option on all
                                ballots, whereby a majority of
                                dissatisfied voters can force a new
                                election
                              - Allow taxpayers to choose exactly
                                where the government directs their
                                money
                              - Citizen election of police officers
                              - Legalize squatting in abandoned
                                buildings
                              - Eradicate all SUV's!!!!!!!!

 ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
   ++++ if you agree copy these lines to your sig ++++
     ++++ see http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank ++++