CYNTHIA McKINNEY Vs DONALD RUMSFELD - CYNTHIA JOINS AV3 EVENT IN NOVEMBER Video

THE ALTERNATIVE VIEW EVENT
13TH - 14TH - 15TH NOVEMBER 2009
www.avlll.co.uk

Cynthia is an American politician who has been a member of the Green Party since 2007. Previously, as a member of the Democratic Party, she served six terms as a member of the United States House of Representatives. In 2008, the Green Party nominated McKinney for President of the USA (they had attempted to recruit her for their ticket in both 2000 and 2004).

In the 1992 election, Cynthia was elected in the newly re-created 11th District, and then re-elected in 1994. When her district was redrawn and renumbered due to a Supreme Court ruling, Cynthia was easily elected from the new 4th District in the 1996 election, and then re-elected twice more without substantive opposition.

McKinney was defeated in the 2002 Democratic primary, in part due to Republican crossover voting in Georgia's open primary election, which permits anyone from any party to vote in any party primary, and also due to her controversial profile, which included a suggestion that President George W Bush knew in advance of the September 11 attacks.

After the loss in 2002, Cynthia served as a Commissioner on The Citizens' Commission on 9/11. In 2004, she was re-elected to the House, following her successor's run for Senate. In Congress, she advocated unsealing records pertaining to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr, as well as an investigation into the murder of Tupac Shakur. She continued to criticise the Bush Administration over the 9/11 attacks, supported anti-war legislation, and introduced articles of impeachment against President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and Secretary of State Rice.

She was defeated in the 2006 Democratic primary, after finding herself in the national spotlight again over a confrontation with a Capitol Hill Police officer who did not recognise her as a member of congress. She left the Democratic Party in September 2007.

On 30th December 2008, McKinney was aboard the ship Dignity as it attempted to reach the coast of the Gaza Strip. Aboard were physicians, medical supplies, and activists. The Israel Navy rammed and holed the ship at night whilst in international waters.

Exactly six months later, on 30 June 2009, Cynthia was aboard the Greek-flagged Free Gaza Movement's ship Spirit of Humanity, carrying 21 activists as well as medical supplies, a symbolic bag of cement, olive trees and toys. It was seized by the Israeli Navy 18 miles off the Gaza coast. She was held at the Givon immigration detention centre until her release on 5 July, and subsequent deportation to the USA.

We look forward to welcoming Cynthia to AV3, where she will share her experiences at the forefront on global politics and human rights activism.