A large turnout of Peace and Freedom members overwhelmingly elected new officers on September 27 to head the Venice P&F. Outgoing Chairperson Karl Abrams wished them well and pledged to help make the transition as easy as possible.

The new officers are primed to continue and expand the activist orientation of the Venice Chapter. During the fight against pay parking in Venice (OPDs), Venice P&F printed and distributed more than 10,000 postcards throughout the community. It also played a key role in the unsuccessful fight to save the Venice Post Office. In the past, it has held more than 100 marches, rallies and pickets against Bush’s, and now Obama’s, wars. Venice P&F has fought for a Free Venice, including cityhood, for the rights of poor and homeless Venetians, against police brutality and against gentrification.

The Cindy Sheehan campaign for governor gives us an opportunity to campaign against fracking (which Gov. Brown supports), for full employment, free health care and education, and affordable housing, in addition to issues specific to Venice. The Peace and Freedom Party also is in favor of abolishing the out-of-control NSA and for ending all foreign wars and using the billions of dollars now going to the military for social programs which will allow all of us to engage in “the pursuit of happiness.”

– Jim Smith