TULARE COUNTY GREENS CHALLENGE TARGET

TARGET TRUCE AND MEDIATION

Dear Greens and Voter Registration Rights Supporters:

On Saturday, November 27th, 2004 after calling only about a sixth of the registered Greens with phones we managed to get six volunteers to man a table in front of Target to register voters. We had called in advance to the Visalia Target management and alerted them we were coming. We called the Visalia Police when they said Target would not allow us to do so. The Officer of the Day, Rose, checked with her supervisors and came back to tell us that yes they would protect our right to do this activity and would be there in a moments notice if Target in anyway approached our tables or tried to prevent us. It turned out that the Friday shift of the Visalia Police and the Saturday shift did not speak to each other. When we called for back up they asked us to leave the site. We refused and so they said they would come to arrest us. We were five Veterans and an elder woman, four of whom were disabled. We refused to leave and told them to come arrest us but we were confused with this change. Their answer was that Target had a National Policy. We argued that National Corporate Policy does not over ride California Supreme Court rulings such as the Pruneyard Decisions and especially the extra protections given to registering voters, which is not solicitation.

After standing in the rain for a couple hours, not blocking any entrance and not bothering any customers and after three separate conversations with the Saturday Visalia Police Department it seemed neither Target nor Visalia Police wanted do act. Eventually the Visalia Police called Target and told them they just weren’t coming. Target Management and Security came out and offered either to serve us with Trespass Papers or a number we could call for mediation. “Perhaps something could be worked out.” We told them that are what the Pruneyard Decision was all about. We took the phone number and packed up our wet papers and left promising to be back by December 19th if this wasn’t resolved.

We had contacted Devin Nunez’ office the day before and was assured they could support us in any legal matters. We called the Democrat Party and they assured us we could get volunteers by December 19th after their December 18h Fundraiser at the Quaker Meeting Hall. We have Councilwoman Nettie Washington willing to go into mediations with us and we are working on getting someone from the Bishops office to sit in also, as the Salvation Army won’t their rights and the Catholic church is very concerned about the negative impact on poor people’s Christmas.

I finally got the correct phone number to Target’s Executive Offices after much run around and spoke to a junior executive that would present our case. I sent a Registered letter and this morning Friday the 3rd of December have been offered negotiations. The District Assets Protection Team Leader, Shane Bennet, in Fresno spoke with me. He claims the Pruneyard Decision has been overturned by a Bakersfield case. I asked him if he had the case citation for that and he said yes. When asked for it he said he would have to talk to his lawyers.

Meanwhile he is expecting us to come back with the California Election Code Sections that further protects voter registration. I am trying to research that now and would appreciate any assistance in this endeavor. I doubt his claim that a Bakersfield Judge in a Sacramento court has overturned our rights. I doubt that he will provide the case citation but we must be ready. Negotiation will be in Fresno at short notice. If you have legal expertise now is the time to step forward. Also, if you know any other elected who can sit in with us contact them and give them my number, Voter REG Working Group, David Silva (559) 684-0197.

So, let us get organized and ready. I am pretty sure they are bluffing and we need to show up in a constant flow of volunteers as of December 19th. The truce is called till then but the battle for the right to vote and register voters is enjoined.

Our next Tulare County Green Party Meeting is December 11, at 11:AM.
We will have a pre-meeting conference call from now on the night before each month, this month the teleconference call is Dec 10th at 6:30. Just call into (641) 497-7400 and then punch in the access code 935880#. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to help build our consensus towards the next day’s agenda. The etiquette is simple, when you get on line announce your name and say “on the call”; each time you wish to speak say you name and “stack” and the facilitator will list you to speak in turn.