Two Stick Concert to benefit Green Party

Circuit Riders, Swole to perform

BRANDON NEIMEYER
DM Staff Writer

A concert to benefit the Green Party will be held tonight at Two Stick Market and Sushi Bar starting at 9.

The concert will feature Green Party videos and local acts the Circuit Riders (with members of the Kudzu Kings) and Swole. Admission is $5, four of which will go to benefit the Green Party.

"It's a good way of seeing two bands even if you're not interested in the Green Party or its beliefs," Wesley Duffee-Braun, a member of the Green Party, said.

The concert is designed to raise awareness of the Green Party and its presence in Oxford. The party has two organizations in the Oxford area, the University Greens and the Freedom Hills Green Party of North Mississippi.

Voter registration will be a large focus of Thursday night's benefit, with registration forms available at Two Stick.

"Two Stick is hosting this event because the owners want to see more students become politically active," Duffee-Braun said. "It's mainly a drive to get Oxford college students registered to vote. Almost everyone I've talked to in the Green Party has a friend who wants to register to vote but doesn't know where to go."

"The Green Party offers the only alternative to media-hyped presidential candidates who are pawns of big business," said Charlie Dawson of Swole. "We are grateful to be able to show our support for voter registration."

Justin Showah, a member of Circuit Riders thinks voters can find an ideal candidate for president in Ralph Nader.

"Ralph Nader gives us a political hope," Showah said. "He's got common sense and he tells America that we don't have to succumb to machines and corporations. His platform is freedom."

The Green Party has been running a grass-roots campaign, The Party has also received support from Rage Against the Machine, who made their recent music video "Testify" as an endorsement of Nader.

"The Green Party wants to provide an option from the two party system that has become the standard of American politics," Duffee-Braun said. "It's a good alternative. The Green Party is for individual rights, consumer rights and a loss or lack of big business having such a strong effect on Washington."

The Green Party's presidental candidate, Ralph Nader, has been involved in Washington politics since the 1960s, advocating for consumer rights and protections such as fighting for air-bags in all passenger vehicles and to recall the Chevrolet Cosair. Vice presidental candidate Wynona LaDuke has been an advocate of many issues affecting the Native American community including poverty and racial awareness. However, many are skeptical of Nader and LaDuke's ability to win the presidency in the November elections.

"There are some people who are saying they will not vote for Nader because there's no chance he's going to win. But his chances won't be decided until Election Day," Duffee-Braun said.

Two Stick Market and Sushi Bar is located off the Square in downtown Oxford.